Love Song

 

Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am home again
Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am whole again
Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am young again
Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am fun again

Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am free again
Whenever I'm alone with you
You make me feel like I am clean again

However far away I will always love you
However long I stay I will always love you
Whatever words I say I will always love you
I will always love you

(Thirty years later...I finally understand it.)

Breathe

I voted a week ago...

I have been "absentee voting" for about 20 years now.
I do believe I started voting this way one time when I knew I was going to be out of town on Election day...and they just kept sending me the ballots in the mail.
Why would I do it any other way?! 

I can't tell you the last time I went to the polls to vote.
Instead, I actually sit down with the ballot and the voting guide, have time to read through the propositions and make (somewhat) educated decisions.

It's brilliant.
And...no stress to get to the polls on voting day before or after work.

I highly recommend it. 
For next time of course.

Things I love about exercising...

Today marks three full months of faithfully exercising. And, I have to say, I've been blown away by the benefits of this five or six time a week activity.
Yesterday, as I once again ROCKED a short, sleeveless, size 6 dress, (at age 49!) I was SO happy and was SO very amazed at how GREAT I felt!
Working out is no longer a burden or a chore for me. It's a hobby...it's a passion...it's something that I invest my time in and reap AMAZING benefits from. It's part of my day now.
And for the rest of my life.

Here's what I love about working out (in no particular order):

1. I sleep SO well now. I used to watch the clock all night, toss, turn...I was always a terrible sleeper. No more. In the last few months I have been sleeping a solid seven hours every night without waking up at all. 
2. I love my new friends at the gym. Clarence, Michael, Jason, Brady, Tamlyn...I KNOW these people and they know me. We talk baseball and...well, we talk more baseball! They give me encouragement, tell me I'm looking good, help me with the machines and weights--they make me feel welcomed at the gym. And THAT makes me look forward to going back!
3. I love love love that my body responds--I love seeing results! My arms look amazing--I love wearing sleeveless clothes! My legs have seen the light of day more in the last few months than in my entire life! My rear end is taking shape and firming up--and even my tummy is getting in on the action. I look good in clothes. (And out of them.)
4. I feel so confident. So positive. My self esteem has gone through the roof. I am no longer mad when I get on the scale, no longer upset that my clothes don't fit and no longer cropping photos at the waist! Who knew?!
5. Working out has caused me to totally change my dietary habits. I eat vegetables and salad and oatmeal and fruit! Hooray for healthy eating! I've taken vitamins faithfully for three months now! I no longer avoid certain food groups (carbs) and LOVE that I have a truly balanced diet now! And, incredibly, I'm rarely hungry anymore.
6. I have SO much energy! I get out of bed easily (yep, even at 4am!) My stamina has increased like crazy! I can work all day, come home and work out and then have friends over...and feel good. 
7. I am using my time wisely! Rather than taking an afternoon nap, I head to the gym. Rather than sitting on Facebook for another hour...I head to the gym. Rather than watching ANOTHER hour of TV...I head to the gym. Do you know that one hour is only 4% of your day? You can certainly afford to invest THAT in your health! 
8. I want to look and feel good...and be a productive part of society...and be a good employee, girlfriend, sister, aunt....LONG into my 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s! I NEVER want to be a burden on anyone and being healthy NOW, staying in shape NOW will help to assure good health in the future!
9. I breathe easier. Literally. I relax, I'm less tense, I don't stress like I used to. I don't worry about things all night long. I breathe deeper and fuller and with more intent. I am so much calmer than I used to be.
10. It's fun!  It's rewarding! It's fulfilling! It's life changing! It's mood building! It's self esteem improving. It's energy increasing! It makes me smile! It makes me feel like I'm working toward a life-long goal...one day at a time.

Honestly, it just feels good.
And it makes me happy. OK, happi-er!

Happier Ever After

 So fun to attend Josh and Ange's wedding today! I've known each of them since they were pre-teens! So have they! They took the long way around in finding each other and OH was it worth the wait!

 The wedding itself was spectacular...a Pinterest dream!

 Plus there was the added bonus of SO many long time friends...an All STARS reunion!

 Ange's SWEET momma!

 The All STARS staff!

 LOVE LOVE LOVE this shot!

YES!!

I'm so happy for you

Please practice saying these words...
"I'm so happy for you!"

And now, every time someone shares with you something exciting that's happening in their life...
please say these words!

Please don't say that you're jealous...or that they're lucky.
Please please please don't say, "Must be nice."(In a bitter, sarcastic way...)

You have no idea what it took for them to get there.
How hard they've worked. How much they have sacrificed to get that point.

Just say, "I'm so happy for you."
and please, learn to mean it.

And, to take it one step further--if you want good things to happen in your life--start making them happen! If you want a new job--start pounding the pavement! Fill out 10 applications a day!
If you want to finish college--sign up for a class--or two or three!--and start GOING to school!
If you want to start traveling--work hard, SAVE UP SOME MONEY and go somewhere!

And, in the mean time, please don't be jealous, angry or envious of others' achievements, accomplishments or adventures. If you find yourself doing this--stop, take a good look at your own life, and make some changes. Please! Only YOU can make the changes you need to start living a better life.

Here's the key: If you want to be happy for others, you have to be happy for yourself.
Nothing comes easy for anyone...everyone has to work for the good things they have.
If you want good things to happen to you...start working toward that goal. And your first goal is to be happy for others.