#Reverb13, Day 1: At the Start

Throughout the month of December, I’ll be participating in #reverb13: Reverb is a way to reflect on the past year and project into the next year with a prompt a day for 31 days.  December is the perfect time to reflect on 2013 and start to create intentions for 2014.

Day 1 – At the start
Where did you start 2013?  Give us some background on this year.

I began 2013 with one main goal in mind – to reach the weight loss requirement to qualify for weight loss surgery.  You can read about my decision to have the surgery after a lifetime of obesity here.

After 2 1/2 years of struggling to lose the weight required by Kaiser, I finally reached the goal in March 2013.  To say I was overjoyed would be a huge understatement. It was like I’d won the lottery!  I knew that WLS wasn’t a magic bullet, and that I’d have to work hard to lose the weight even after surgery, but I also knew that it would be a “restart” of sorts, and that my hard work would actually show off. I was right. I had the surgery on May 20, 2013, and have since lost a total of 108 pounds!

2013 (and the past 5 or so years) has been a very single-minded year for me – weight loss has been my main focus.  Now that I’m well on my way to my ultimate weight loss goals, I want to begin to focus my energies on other efforts.  I know that losing and maintaining my weight will always been a top priority for me, but I’d also like to find new hobbies to enjoy.  Fitness has been one of the major components to my weight loss, and I can see myself moving into new levels as I get fitter.  But I’m also open to other things – meeting new people, dating, exploring who I am as a more “normal sized” person.

Which is why this year’s Reverb is going to be so exciting for me.  I get 31 days to write, reflect, dream, wish, create, and figure out where I’d like to be in the year ahead.  I can’t wait to see where I find myself!

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#Reverb12, Day 31: Where Are You Finishing?

Throughout the month of December, I’ll be participating in #reverb12: celebrating the successes of 2012, honoring the challenges of 2012, and planting the seeds for a rich and rewarding 2013. December is the perfect time to reflect on the year that has passed and start to manifest dreams for the new year.

Day 31:Where Are You Finishing?

Take a moment to yourself, somewhere quiet. Take a deep breath, and if you have the time/space/inclination do something that has significance for you e.g. light a candle, brew a pot of your favorite tea, play your favorite music, whatever. Think back to where you were all those moons ago, on 1 December when you started #reverb12. All the way back then, I asked: “How are you starting?” Now, I am not going to ask you “Where are you finishing?” because this is not the end. What I want to ask is, “Where are you now?”. You have spent a month honoring everything that has brought you to this place: the highs, the lows, the messy middles, the exuberant rainbows, the turbulent storms, the fresh strawberries dipped in dark chocolate, the too-tight jeans, the unexpected windfalls, the toddler tantrums (theirs or yours!), all of it. You have thanked each end every one of these things for the things they have taught you and brought you, and fully know that they reside benignly in your physical, emotional and spiritual being. You know know that while they brought you here and will always be with you, there is no reason for them to hold you back any longer. You are standing where you are, all that you are, splendidly imperfect and right in the middle of this messy delicious life. Take another deep breath. Now quickly and without thinking too much about it, finish these five sentences:

2013 is going to be MY YEAR because… I am worth it.  I have a destiny to fulfill and it’s just waiting for me.

In 2013, I am going to… finally achieve my weight loss goals.

In 2013, I am going to feel…strong, accomplished, and content.

In 2013, I am not going to…give up.

In December 2013, I am going to look back and say…What an amazing year! I turned my life around and REALLY started living the life I was meant to have all along.

Happy New Year, everyone!!!  I can’t wait to see what 2013 brings for all of us.

 

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#Reverb12, Day 1: How Are You Starting?

Throughout the month of December, I’ll be participating in #reverb12: celebrating the successes of 2012, honoring the challenges of 2012, and planting the seeds for a rich and rewarding 2013. December is the perfect time to reflect on the year that has passed and start to manifest dreams for the new year.

Day 1 – How Are You Starting?
Take a moment, close your eyes, take a deep breath and ask yourself the question: how do you feel… … in your body? in your mind? in your day job? in your creative life? in your heart?

I feel excited at the start of December, the freshness of the month, the cusp of the holiday season that I love so much. I’m going to do my best to enjoy each and every day of this month.

My body is a bit of a mixed bag. I’m feeling great in terms of my weight loss, which has been going so well for the last couple of months. My foot, however, is really painful. Dealing with plantar fasciitis and now the torn fascia has been really challenging. I am not going to let this injury stop me from working out, or achieving my goal, so I’ll be doing a lot more swimming this month.

My job has been wonderful lately, even though this time of year (the end of the semester) brings a ton of grading to do, I’ve worked out a system that will let me get it all done, but still maintain the work-life balance that I’ve tried so hard to achieve.

Creatively things have never been more fulfilling. I have so many fun projects that I’m doing in December:

• decorating the house and my classroom for Christmas
• #reverb12 posts
• #idearoom 2012 December Photo-A-Day Challenge that I’m posting on FB & Twitter
• Christmas craft projects I’ve found on Pinterest
• taking up/learning how to crochet

My heart feels so full of peace and gladness as I begin this month. I cannot wait to see all the possibilities unfold as I embark on this journey.

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