Hi there, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. It has been far too long since we’ve talked. Lately, I’ve talked too much, eaten too much, and probably gained too much. (I say probably, because I’m afraid to get on the scale to check!) but that‘s just what one does during the holidays. Now it’s time to get serious, fun time is coming to an end and I need to make some difficult changes this New Year. I hesitate to call them New Year’s resolutions, because that seems like just setting myself up for failure. So, I'll share with you my New Year's changes.
One of the first things that I need to do is to become more diligent in my bible studies. I go to a great bible study class, but I only do the lesson assigned. I need to read my bible more so that I can have that spiritual Godly connection that is intended specifically for me. I need the peace that the connection affords. Don’t get me wrong, I believe and I pray, but I’ve got a long way to go. It’s a lifetime journey, but I’m on my way. Again I need to work on me and those things that contribute to my happiness and well being. This brings me to my next change. I have to learn how not to let folks upset me.
There are many people be they friend or foe, who don’t know how they affect others. I’ll give you an example of one such person, my father. He’s the type of person who is never wrong, who takes issue with everything and everyone. This makes conversation with him tedious at best. He never backs down, and he thinks that no one else knows anything. His reality is right and that’s all that there is to it. It’s difficult to talk to someone like that. There is no such thing as a casual conversation with people like him; everything becomes a debate and cause for heated discussion. My new mantra is going to be Listen, Leave it alone, and Let it go. If he says that the sky is green and I know that it’s blue,he can have his reality as long as it isn’t harmful to anyone else. I’m going to try to apply the above (henceforth known as the three L’s) to any conversation with someone who is inadvertently stealing my joy. Life is too short to be bothered just because someone else would rather fight than switch. (Old cigarette ad reference.) No but really, I have to choose my battles, because my psyche can’t take too much negative energy. All in all I need to take better care of myself, mentally and physically.
I’ve mentioned before that at the tender age of 52 there is so much that I need to do, just for me. As a mother, a wife, a sister, a friend, I’ve spent a good deal of time worrying more about everyone else and how they feel. Well my question is who cares about me? I mean really, if I don’t take care of me, no one else will. I must, yes I said must, lose weight and exercise to become healthy. It seems as though whenever I listen to the news,some famous person around my age has died. Blue eyed soul sistah Teena Marie is the latest in a string of deaths of people around my age. They said that she died of natural causes. What does that mean? I imagine that anything short of an airplane dropping out of the sky or a train wreck would be considered a natural cause. I have to assume that she had a heart attack or something. My gosh, she was only a few years older than me! I’m fortunate, despite the fact that I’m overweight with a few medical problems, I’m relatively healthy. Unfortunately food has been my friend, my comfort, my port in the storm, you get the picture. I’m just saying... I don’t have much money, my job is temporary and my buddies are spread out all over the country. All of this and I have to deny myself a piece of chocolate cake? The injustice of it all! Yet, I know that I can do this.
Over the last 20 years I’ve reached a couple of marvelous milestones. When I was in my late 30’s I began to drive, up until that point I’d renewed my license every year, but I was scared to drive. At the young age of 45 I completed my undergrad degree; so one might assume that I’m a late bloomer. Well, I’m bound and determined to lose weight. I want to look good and feel good while I’m young enough to still really enjoy life. Pray for me, this weight thing is difficult. I swear I think that my metabolism is on permanent hiatus.
Help me, help me please! I want to wear a t shirt and jeans and look good! I know that I can do this, but I’m just weak, weak to sugar, and weak to the problems that cause me to crave sugar. It’s a known fact that it’s harder to lose weight the older that you get. Everything slows down, no fair!!!! That’s life and there’s nothing I can do but accept it. So, it’s off to the treadmill, the track, or whatever gets me moving. I am determined to be that vital 50 something woman who looks fresh and full of life. I want to be like one of the models in the commercials for osteoporosis. After taking their medication they are full of vim and vigor. I want to be like that; walking along the beach, with pants rolled up wind blowing my hair in the breeze. Oh alright so that's TV, but I can still look good! I want to be healthy, look and feel better. I want to improve on me and in doing that I'd also like to fulfill some of my longtime dreams.
I'm going to change my habit of being scared to do things. I've always wanted to go to the Essence Jazz Festival in New Orleans. I love music and I've always wanted to go to New Orleans. I'm planning to go this year. I need to start saving my money for my trip, maybe I'll rent a car too. I would love to go with a girlfriend, but none of my buddies really want to go. I'll do it alone; and it will be an adventure. I guess now in my life travel is more appealing to me. I also want to do a weekend trip to New York to visit with friends and take in a play. I'm going to do it. In the past I have restricted myself from doing things, and I don't know why. NO MAS! It's a new day for Trena Rosette Poole Carpenter (ok so now you know my middle name, keep it to yourself!)
I've chosen to focus on a few big changes, wish me luck! Change is always a challenge, but I'm going to try to stop my emotional obstacles from stifling the me that I am. My friends, I support you in your changes also. We can do it, we can go on that trip, lose that weight, get that new job. Just do it! Feel free to share with me those "changes" that you hope to make this New Year. Have a safe Happy New Year! Don't drink and drive, we want you around so that you can implement those New Year's changes. Talk to ya next year!!!!!!
