I have been wrestling with my weight ever since I could remember. It's not something I'm proud of, and I have always had a bit of low self esteem because of it all. A few years ago, I said enough was enough and I began to loose the weight. I've pretty much hit a plateau. And now-a-days I am in a constant battle. On one hand, I want to be happy in my skin. Happy with how I am. Enjoy life, and not always be concerned about my weight. On the other hand, I am still sickened by what I look like. I feel like I am still unhealthy. I don't get this from many outside force... in fact my husband is probably the most supportive of the way I look. He has always liked my "curves". I know that it is mostly just my perception and societal values on thinness that is coming at me.
In society, we are still completely obsessed with being thin, and many are upset with the prejudice that happens with overweight people... but I think that there is a way that we can not coddle people who are extremely obese and being understanding. I do not think that we need to be making allowances for people who are very overweight. Yes, I do believe that we should be charging extra for people who are over a certain weight for things like plane tickets, or if you need to take up 2 seats on a train or bus. I'm sorry, but that should be a reason to loose the weight.
I may add more on this later... my thoughts are swirling in my head.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
The Alphabet Sisters
I bought this book a few years ago. I do that a lot... I'm completely obsessed with books, I buy them a lot, don't always read a lot. Which is why I am trying to read a book a week. This book started out fabulously, loved the plot... sisters have a big row and not talk for 3 years, and then have a reunion of sorts, all because of their batty grandmother. It was great... then of course it takes a turn, and one of the sisters finds out she has a horrible cancer... and yes, dies (Sorry, spoiler alert). I was BALLING!! All I could think about was my cousin, and how it may have been in her life, and how I wish that I didn't leave it til the last min to see her.
I can't change anything... and I'm trying hard to not let that happen in my other relationships in life, and yet there are still plenty of family members that we don't see. I will admit that I try... it is important to me, and I come up against brick walls sometimes. But I don't want years to go by before seeing someone, and realizing that they are gone too soon and I can't have that time back!
Live each day like it were your last! Make sure to keep in contact with those you love, and tell them often!! Even if they barely make the time for you! If it is important to you, then make it happen!!
I can't change anything... and I'm trying hard to not let that happen in my other relationships in life, and yet there are still plenty of family members that we don't see. I will admit that I try... it is important to me, and I come up against brick walls sometimes. But I don't want years to go by before seeing someone, and realizing that they are gone too soon and I can't have that time back!
Live each day like it were your last! Make sure to keep in contact with those you love, and tell them often!! Even if they barely make the time for you! If it is important to you, then make it happen!!
Sunday, October 23, 2011
What would you do with $1 million?
Today, the kids and my husband were playing a "game"... My husband asked them... What would you do with $1 million? It's something we all think about from time to time, and most of us probably come up with a lot of the same answers... Pay off debt, buy a house, give something to our parents... perhaps IF there is money left over, give it away to charity. Of course, my children were no different then anyone else... They would want a new house, a new car, video games, maybe give some money to family. At least they thought about giving some of the money away. They are children, still in that "ego-centric" time of their lives, so even just that little glimpse of giving is important in my eyes.
This past week, as part of my job, I had to make our monthly newsletter. In it, our pastor makes a "stewardship" plea to the congregation for "thanks giving". Of course I had read through this as I was proofreading the newsletter. On of our pastor's points was to give FIRST... First givings. Think about it. What if you gave or donated your money FIRST instead of at the end IF you had money left over. It's pretty crazy to think of. I mean, we all have household budgets to maintain. We all have responsibilities to our families and to what we need to provide. Of course there are things that we don't need. We don't need to go out to dinner, it is cheaper and more healthy to buy food from a grocery store and prepare it ourselves. We don't need to purchase that new video game, go out to the movies, etc... though entertainment is an important part of being healthy and God did tell us to live life, and live it abundantly... but to what end. So, hm... I have contemplated this "first giving", and especially in light of this game that my children played with their dad.
What would I do with $1 million? At first, everything that I owe goes through my mind! oh, to be out of debt! How wonderful that would be... But really, If I simply won $1 million and didn't spend a dime on myself, would I be better off or worse off? I would still have the debt, but then I would have that debt if I didn't win $1 mil. I would still have all my old stuff, some of it falling apart, not working, barely working ... but that I would have that regardless of my winnings. Hm.. something to think about, huh? I already have such a blessed life. We are up to our ears in debt, it's true. We have items that we want to buy, things that would definitely make life easier, but... it is not like we are going to be worse off if we won $1 million and spend none of it on those things.
I have been thinking about thoughtful Christmas, and how this year... toys and materials are not a priority... they are great sometimes to have, and there is some things that we really want, but it's not all about toys and materials. This year, I want to give back, in a way I never have before. So... I made a list of all the local organizations that I want to support. I will be giving to those organizations instead of Christmas gifts to family and friends. I may not be able to give much, but it will be thoughtful. It is amazing how far $20 can go. And as I think about my $1 million... I think that I would first give to these organizations, before giving to myself. And the more I think about that, the more I think that in the end, I would be BETTER off. I would feel that I was doing the most good with what I had been given.
So, what would YOU do with $1 million. And though you don't have $1 million, what will you do with what you have been given?
My local organizations:
Humboldt Wildlife Foundation
Companion Animal Foundation
Eureka Symphony Orchestra
Humboldt Community Breast Health Project
Humboldt County Library
The Church of the Joyful Healer
This past week, as part of my job, I had to make our monthly newsletter. In it, our pastor makes a "stewardship" plea to the congregation for "thanks giving". Of course I had read through this as I was proofreading the newsletter. On of our pastor's points was to give FIRST... First givings. Think about it. What if you gave or donated your money FIRST instead of at the end IF you had money left over. It's pretty crazy to think of. I mean, we all have household budgets to maintain. We all have responsibilities to our families and to what we need to provide. Of course there are things that we don't need. We don't need to go out to dinner, it is cheaper and more healthy to buy food from a grocery store and prepare it ourselves. We don't need to purchase that new video game, go out to the movies, etc... though entertainment is an important part of being healthy and God did tell us to live life, and live it abundantly... but to what end. So, hm... I have contemplated this "first giving", and especially in light of this game that my children played with their dad.
What would I do with $1 million? At first, everything that I owe goes through my mind! oh, to be out of debt! How wonderful that would be... But really, If I simply won $1 million and didn't spend a dime on myself, would I be better off or worse off? I would still have the debt, but then I would have that debt if I didn't win $1 mil. I would still have all my old stuff, some of it falling apart, not working, barely working ... but that I would have that regardless of my winnings. Hm.. something to think about, huh? I already have such a blessed life. We are up to our ears in debt, it's true. We have items that we want to buy, things that would definitely make life easier, but... it is not like we are going to be worse off if we won $1 million and spend none of it on those things.
I have been thinking about thoughtful Christmas, and how this year... toys and materials are not a priority... they are great sometimes to have, and there is some things that we really want, but it's not all about toys and materials. This year, I want to give back, in a way I never have before. So... I made a list of all the local organizations that I want to support. I will be giving to those organizations instead of Christmas gifts to family and friends. I may not be able to give much, but it will be thoughtful. It is amazing how far $20 can go. And as I think about my $1 million... I think that I would first give to these organizations, before giving to myself. And the more I think about that, the more I think that in the end, I would be BETTER off. I would feel that I was doing the most good with what I had been given.
So, what would YOU do with $1 million. And though you don't have $1 million, what will you do with what you have been given?
My local organizations:
Humboldt Wildlife Foundation
Companion Animal Foundation
Eureka Symphony Orchestra
Humboldt Community Breast Health Project
Humboldt County Library
The Church of the Joyful Healer
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Children's Author Festival in Eureka
Today was the somewhat annual Children's Author festival at the main library in Eureka. I love to go to this with my kids because I let them pick out a book, and then we find the author and have them get autographs from the authors, and sometimes the illustrators. This year was more cool then others. First of all, a specific author came to the school to talk about her books. This got Xavier especially excited about these books, and that makes me excited because it is hard to get Xavier into new books. But also because this year, I got a book for myself. Earlier this year, a friend of mine got me all excited about a new book series. It's for teens/young adults, and therefore not difficult to read. I wasn't sure about the first book, but realized that the author grew with the other books in her series, and that the series itself was very good. The author is Aprilynne Pike and her first book was called "Wings" the second "Spells" and the third, which I have not gotten a chance to read yet, is "Illusions". Well, she was there! I was only able to purchase "Spells" and got it autographed, but what was great was getting a chance to meet her. I'm kind of always in awe of authors... people who can come up with such wonderful stories out of their own imaginations!
Sunday, October 9, 2011
A book a week
As any mom, I feel that reading is important... and not just for my children, but for me as well. Not too long ago, I decided to read a book a week... I thought this would be difficult, being a busy mom. Nope, just quite the opposite. I find that this is quite easy. I am more relaxed as well because I take the time to decompress and just sit with my book every evening.
Because I thought of this late, I thought I could write my thoughts about the books I read here...In case anyone wants to read the book I just read.
There are too many that I've read since I chose to do this... I think it was only a month ago, and I've already finished 8 books. So, I will simply go on from here on out with the books that I have recently read. Happy reading everyone.
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