Hey Friends –
How are you coming with your 2016 Resolutions? Are you seeing the success you’re hoping for?
Or are your resolutions, goals, and dreams for 2016 already tucked away much like your sparkly Christmas ornaments and decorations?
Recently I had a pretty eye opening experience in the goal-setting area.
Bultema’s 2004
I was looking through a prayer journal I kept in 2004.
This was the year I had my last baby Sarah (remember, I had three kids in four years – one in 2001, 2003, & 2004 plus my son Jake).
2004 was a crazy year, to say the least.
What struck me as I read through my 2004 prayers regarding my physical health is that I could have written the same words today— over 10 years later.
God, help me to take better care of my temple. Help me to lose the extra baby weight. I want to focus on pleasing You, not the number on the scale. I’m sick and tired of being sick and tired. Help me choose good things for my body — water, exercise, veggies, fruit. Lord, empower me so that I might live free and shine bright for You.
Friends, I still pray this same prayer over a whole stinkin’ decade later — and I’m just not ok with that.
If God is huge and powerful and able to accomplish all things (which I 100% believe that He is) — the problem isn’t Him, the problem is me.
Now, the good news is that over the past decade I’ve made peace with my body.
I stopped the fat talk.
I quit the self-destructive, self-defeating behaviors.
I no longer struggle with an eating disorder. (Victory IS possible!)
I believe with my whole heart that my worth is not equal to my weight. (Thank You, God!)
BUT — if I’m completely honest (and y’all know I gotta be real), I know I need to take better care of my temple.
- I need to exercise more consistently (not just when I feel like it–because I never feel like it!)
- I need to increase my daily intake of water. And yes, even though water is used to brew coffee, it doesn’t count as my water intake. Shoot.
- Basically, I need to take care of me, even when I have big ministry deadlines.
You get the drift.
Friend, I wonder if you can relate?
Do you ever find yourself weary of wanting different results, but unwilling to make different choices?
It’s time to tackle these “healthy living” goals and put my physical health back on the To DO list.
I recently read online –
“’He who would learn to fly one day must first learn to stand and walk and run and climb and dance. One cannot fly into flying.’
Rarely does life change miraculously; solutions don’t just show up on your doorstep. You’re not going to get a job or a promotion unless you work at it. Life is a process, a step-by-step, baby step process.”
Here are the baby steps I am taking on my healthy living process.
1. I wrote down my goals. (They are specific, but not a “weight loss” goal. More of a “take care of Cindy” goal.)
2. I cleaned off my treadmill. Easier said than done—but I did it!
Before
After
3. I rehired an in-home personal trainer with my Christmas money.
My new work-out hat (post-workout, thus the sweaty, natural look)
4. I made a walking/running schedule and hung it by my treadmill.
5. I asked my family for accountability. Trust me, kids are great at holding their parents accountable.
6. I showed up.
My friend Lisa once shared, “It only takes a small change to make a big difference in your life.”
It’s so true, isn’t it?
Even working out with my trainer this morning –although with my “tennis elbow” I can’t do anything upper body– has helped make a big difference in my emotional well-being today.
Saying “No, I’m sorry, I have an appointment” when the appointment is my treadmill time feels wonderful and life-giving.
And I’m working on memorizing the book of 1 Corinthians this year, so guess what I do on the treadmill each day? Yep, recite my verses over and over again. My “baby steps” are helping me spiritually as well!
Friends, it’s your turn! What are some of your 2016 goals? Are you taking baby steps to get there? How can I encourage you on your journey? I would love to hear from you!
I’ll close with some inspiration from Leah–my trainer/coach extraordinaire. 
Thanks for stopping by *She Sparkles*! Have a wonderful, joy-filled, healthy week!
Sweet blessings,
