Thursday, June 28, 2012

Move 2 Motivate

Move 2 Motivate

As I move to motivate my self, I keep pushing along. My weight is up and my energy level is down. There are a myriad of reasons and excuses as to why. None of that matters. I need to keep moving.

As I was exercising at the fitness trail this morning, I realized that my fitness level hasn't gone down. Thank God! I wish I was better than a year ago, but again I will keep moving 2 motivate. I can still do level 3 at each station. I can still do 30 jumping jacks. That is good. I am still fighting diabetes, osteoporosis, and many others. I am still keeping my arthritis from getting worse.

As I was walking the trail, runners kept breezing by me. I wondered what they thought as they saw this little chubby women, walking along, sweating. I assume, if they noticed me at all, they were sending motivational vibes. I try to for those I notice while exercising. Especially those who seem like newbies to fitness. I try to send good thoughts to keep them moving. It is interesting how things like that are relative. You see someone who seems to be in a earlier stage than you, fitness wise, and you hope they stay with it. And you are that someone to others. We are all on a journey and we should be pulling each other along.

Move 2 Motivate, is the name of my business. I haven't done anything with it, except register the name with the state. Life has a way of getting in the way. Maybe soon I will get back to it. I have all these ideas and plans. It takes time and money to get something like this going. Maybe I will sell the idea to someone who has time and money. Who knows what God has in store for me.

I hope as I Move 2 Motivate myself, I can Move 2 Motivate some of you.
Keep pushing, Keep moving, Keep motivating.

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

The capacity of the Human Spirit

"The most authentic thing about us is our capacity to create, to overcome, to endure, to transform, to love and to be greater than our suffering."
Ben Okri

What a powerful quote! Our capacity to overcome is amazing to me. It is amazing to me to think about where I came from to where I am now. But I look at those around me, I know some of the struggles alot of you have faced, I can only imagine the struggles you hide. I see, read and meet people who have suffered tremendous tragedies. The ability of the human spirit to heal and grow in spite is awe inspiring.

Elizabeth Smart has taken her tragedy and used it to motivate her to do good. Jacey Dugard has shared her story in hopes of inspiring. There are stories of forgiveness from Rawanda and across the globe.

To be greater than our suffering. To take that suffering and turn it around for good, That is something. I have moved on, I have created a good life for me and my family. I wouldn't say I turned it around for the greater good. I walked away and created a new life. That is a good thing. But for those special people who have used it for the greater good is above and beyond.

Our life on earth isn't an easy one. We humans have ways of hurting one another, we turn on each other. We murder, molest, rape, pillage, bully and hate. We can be very creative in our ways of hurting one another. The fact that we haven't blown ourselves out of the universe is a testament to the human spirit to continue on.

As we struggle to live together on this planet, let's take our struggles and turn them around to create a better world. Let's use the challenges in life as motivation to move forward and be better. Love yourself and Love those around you, even the most challenging people in your life, even those who have hurt you. Love truly does conquer all things.

Thursday, June 21, 2012

"Sins of the father"

"Sins of the Father"

What does this mean? Are kids punished for the bad things done by their parents? Not literally, sure, but kids are impacted by the choices their parents make.

How we act, how we live, what we do everyday, how we handle our relationships... All of these are modeled by our children. None of us are perfect. None of us will ever be perfect. We have to live our lives happily making good choices for our selves and our family.

But I am thinking about the bigger issues. The detrimental impact things like alcoholism, drug addiction, physical, emotional and sexual abuse can have on families and children for decades to come.

My parenting skills, or lack there of, are a direct result of my childhood. (The same holds true for Steve, for you) For example, my mother wasn't a good housekeeper. I am not a good housekeeper. My children may not be the best housekeepers.

When Steve and I decided to make a life together, we brought our own issues and baggage to the relationship. We had to work through these. We are still working through these. I still can fall back into some of my childhood issues. I am still not a good housekeeper, better than I used to be, but not the best.

But getting back to the heavier issues. How far back do you need to go to figure out where the road turns and a cycle of dysfunction is created. Families get caught in this cycle and can be there for decades. So the issues I face, that effect my children, are a result of issues created by my parents. The issues my parents faced were a result of the issues their parents faced. So on and so on. You could keep going back in the family tree forever. I am not making excuses for peoples choices. At some point your life becomes your own and the choices you make are yours. Not excuses just some rational for how things go bad.

My Grandparents struggled. I don't know that whole story and probably never will. But I know there were some serious issues. These issues impacted my mothers life, very negatively. Subsequently our childhood was very bad. I am not laying blame or making excuses. Just trying to understand how thinks got so...

To change things takes effort, conscience effort. Takes recognition that something is wrong and needs to be different. Takes work to break old habits and create new ones. This is very challenging. Maybe one of the hardest things to do.

When Steve and I began our lives together, we knew we wanted to move out of the city. To create a different life for our children. I have written about how moving to Ann Arbor was a culture shock for me. I have tried to create a different life for my children. I have done that. They way they grew up or are growing up is so completely different from my childhood it is incredible. There is no way to put it into words. You would have to live it to see it. But the issues I face because of my childhood are still a part of me and subsequently are a part of my childrens lives.

My extended family(my sisters, brothers, mother) are dealing with some of the trauma from our childhood. We are struggling right now. We are in a better place to deal with them. We are stronger. We can get through this. Sometimes I wonder if we are strong enough. I lose faith. But then I look my Mom and her resolve. I know that changes she has made in her life forthe better. I know the family will heal and come out stronger. I know God is watching over us and hears our prayers.

God Bless you all. Please pray for me as I do for you.

Hello Friends

My blog. We have been so busy it has been hard for me to find time to write. I do enjoy writing this blog but it doesn't come easy. I need to really block out time to get my thoughts down. I am not one of those that just writes easily and naturally.

Why write a blog then? I ask myself that. I have written early on about why I decided to write a blog. But I guess sometimes it is nice to just hear your voice, figuratively. I could write a journal but then who would ever read it?

As I write this I have 3 blogs in the process that should be posted soon.

One thought that has been swirling around my head is the phrase "sins of the father". What does this mean? How does this impact our lives or does it?

I always have thoughts on politics. That is easy to write about. I could probably just do a blog on the political arena. So many issues there.

I am also trying to write one on marriage. The joys, struggle and work of it.

I do appreciate those of you that read these. Thanks!!!