Celebrating A Victory

*Pic from our back deck.  I love an Arizona sunset.

It isn't always easy doing the hard stuff.  Well, I guess that is obvious, because that is why it is called the hard stuff after all.  Of course what is hard for me may not be hard for you and vice versa.  There are a few hard things that I am working on right now.

One hard thing for me is keeping organized.  Organization has never been my strong suit.  See, I had a very nosey mom, and the easiest way to keep her prying at bay was to make things hard for her to find.  Sadly this has become an ingrained trait that I battle with constantly.  For example, I have five work bags.  Yes.  Five bags that I use for work.  I have been whittling away at those bags in hopes to one day keep things up enough to just use one.  Ahhhh yes I dare to dream.  

Going to the gym at least five times a week is another tough one.  It is hard giving up free time in order to work out, but I know it is necessary and I appreciate the results (as slow as they come).  I often wish that I had some of the exercise equipment at home for those days when I just don't want to make the drive.  I'll get there though.  I am really appreciating the results I am starting to see.

Another difficulty and quite possibly my biggest is dealing with BUGS!  Oh man, oh man I cannot deal with bugs!  The problem with not being cool with bugs is you really can't get away from them.  This becomes a bigger problem when one lives in Arizona.  

Last night I decided to tackle this hard bug stuff.  I was on the computer and checking out email when my eye was drawn to the kitchen.  There it was.  A BIG black cricket!  I know. Big deal.  What can a cricket do to me?  Not much, but they are unpredictable.  They jump when you least expect it and they lose limbs way too easily!  Yes...I am even freaked out by bug limbs.  Now normally, I would just call out to my husband, and he will get the bug and take it outside.  Last night my wonderful husband was already in bed, and the big black cricket was vying for attention from me and my cat Dizzy.  Dizzy was eying the bug right along with me.  You might think that this would be no big deal for me.  Why not let the cat take care of it?  Because as much as I dislike bugs.  If they are harmless, I really don't want my cat noshing on them (not to mention there will be more bug limbs hanging about).  So it was up to me to take care of the buggy business.  

I picked up the cat and put him in my son's room, and then I grabbed a cup and an index card and did the whole cover and slide trick (cover the bug with the cup and slide paper between the floor and cup to capture the bug).  I ran to the door and let ole Jiminy out the door and into the front yard.

Now in the grand scheme of things this is a rather small victory.  But I think we should celebrate every victory.  Each time you do something difficult, it gives you more confidence for the next challenge.  Our courage builds each time we reach beyond our comfort zone.  How about you?  Have you any victories to celebrate today? 

When Cravings Get Chatty

Does this happen to you?  You work out for a good hour at the gym, get a good sweat in, and burn a couple hundred calories, and then head out to the grocery store for a quick errand.  Once you walk into the store...you decide you want to eat EVERYTHING!!!  

That was me today.  My son was home with a cold so I changed into gym clothes after work, headed to the gym, and happily got my sweat on while also reading Randy Singer's "The Last Plea Bargain."  Because Alex wasn't feeling well, I knew I needed to pick up a few things to help out his cold. 

Picture this...here I am...chubby me (yes I'm definitely still chubbin) strolling into the store with pure mission in mind:  Get more vitamin C, more orange juice, cough drops and something simple for dinner because I have a lot of show prep to do tonight for tomorrow morning.  I walk by the cooler and there are a bunch of yummy Bare Naked drinkage.  I stopped for a second and reminded myself that this is not what I was at the store for.  I moved on to the back of the store to look at the clearance section.  A voice suddenly whispers in my head "Hey grab some yogurt. That will make a nice snack."  It isn't on my list, but I think that my husband does like yogurt, and it is also something I should eat more of so I agree with the voice and grab some.  

I continue on to pick up some organic cereal for my husband (working on eliminating morning crash from his old sugary cereals).  My eyes were pulled like magnets to the Newman-Os!  No joke!  I looked at the container.  I stroked the container.  I picked it up, and then...I quickly put it down and raced to the produce section as my brain said "Wait!  You worked out.  You've been losing weight now.  You can get some Newman-Os!  They are good for you.  Well...they aren't made with hydrogenated oils anyway.  Go back!!!!!"  NOPE NOPE NOPE...I practically sprint the last little bit to the produce section.

THAT was close!  

A couple oranges later, I feel calm and composed and I realize that I need to give myself some self talk before the voice comes back.  "Kelly" I say, "YOU just worked out hard.  You feel good about that work right? Enjoy the victory of that work out.  You have some raw nuts and raisins in the car.  Enjoy those when you get to the car."  

The beautiful thing is...I listened to that voice.  I listened as I put the items on the track to pay and I listened as I avoided looking at the chocolate bars and goodies.  I paid for my purchases and happily strolled to the car.  When I got there, I enjoyed my raw nuts and such and it was  GOOOOOOOOD!!!

VICTORY!!!!!

Lesson learned.  When cravings start talking...TALK LOUDER.  :)