Tag Archives: health

August 13, 2020 · 7:27 am

My Covid Excuses.

Do you have Covid excuses?

“I need to lose weight and eat better, but quarantine really through me off.”

“I need to finish that project or that commitment, but I just haven’t been inspired since Covid.”

“I don’t really have a set schedule. It’s a crazy year, you know! Covid!”

“It’s whatever goes here right now with these children. We are in survival mode, because, you know…..Covid.”

“Sure, I haven’t achieved what I hope to this year, but, Dear Jesus. What a year this has been! COVID!”

I have Covid excuses. PLENTY of them. I’ve made them with my routine (or lack of one.) I’ve made them for my last semester of Life Coaching school (that I’ve had plenty of time to complete.) I’ve made them for not writing as much, because I tell myself I’m just not as inspired. (Even though God has shown me more this year than any year…..but, here I sit not pouring it ALL out the way I should.) And, I’ve made excuses with my weight and eating habits. Let’s talk about that part.

I was already on a road to not so healthy habits last November when I began having back issues. If you’ve had debilitating pain, you know exercise is difficult. Sometimes, that’s beyond our control. But how I nourish my body? That’s on me. Now, I’ve eaten a gluten-free diet for almost 4 years now. But you know what can also be gluten free? Lays Stax Potato Chips (if you know, you know), crackers, bread, and even JUNIOR MINTS. All gluten free. But none of them are good choices. By April, I had fallen into giving myself permission to eat what I want to eat, because these are “unprecedented times.” And, then by June? I was all, “I’m just going to love myself as I am, because, this is SELF-CARE.”

Self-Care. What a term that has become an excuse for not doing the things we SHOULD do. I don’t knock real, healthy self-care. We need that. But, we have to determine true, authentic self-care by answering the questions: What SHOULD I do? What is better in THIS moment? And, then we choose the better. When making choices of what to do in any given moment, we have to sometimes say no to something that may good, so we can yes to something better.

Well, about a week ago, I became tired of my Covid excuses. And, I was reminded of this scripture in 1 John 4:4. “But you belong to God, my dear children. You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.” In this context, John was writing to a group of people telling them they are going to hear all kinds of things from all kinds of people that may not align with who God really is. John calls them “false prophets.” He reminds the people he’s addressing to not be weighed down by all of that. Because, the Spirit within them is greater, and they can rise above the noise.

Sidebar. I like how after this passage, John goes right into “Dear friends, let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God. Anyone who loves is a child of God and knows God. But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (4:7-8) In other words, not only can you rise above what’s going on in the world, but you’re response to it has to always be LOVE. This includes differences of opinions on masks, political candidates, and other issues permeating our society.

But back to my point. Last week, I said to myself: “The Spirit that lives in me is greater than Covid.” And, I’ve said that very thing to myself every single day since. Every time I go for that processed food. Every time I go for that oneeeee piece of chocolate. I said it to myself this morning before I wrote this, so I wouldn’t use the excuse, “It’s Covid. I don’t have to write.”

We definitely all needed to take a mental pause and break in the beginning of this. But, too much of it is just too much. Our bodies and health are at stake. Our dreams are at stake. What we are called to do is at stake.

Don’t make excuses anymore. The Spirit that lives INSIDE OF YOU is GREATER than that thing that is hovering over you. Write that down. Post it everywhere you can see it. Take back control, and remember who you are. There are certainly things beyond our control, but SO MUCH is within it. I’ve got this. YOU’VE got this. Let’s do it.

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August 3, 2018 · 8:49 am

Choose Hard.

Choose hard

The easy way out. We all want it sometimes. The easiest way, however, isn’t always the best way. Usually the easy way means there was no growth, there was little or nothing gained, and there was no positive change. I think I’ve been looking for the easy way out lately. And, since I write and post a lot about our triumphs, I think I should also write about the revelations of when I also realize I’ve been falling short.

I’ve been choosing the easy way out in my health. What’s the quickest and easiest way to satisfy my hunger? What’s the easiest excuse to justify not being physically active and taking care of my body?

I’ve been choosing the easy way out in my attitude. Being positive is hard and takes daily discipline. Being careless with my words and sliding into being negative about a few situations have been really easy. That ease leads to habit. That habit leads to automatic negative responses to the most ridiculous things. Embarrassing things.

And, the real kicker: I’ve been choosing the easy way out in my relationships. In some relationships, I’ve just taken a step back and justified it with our busy summer. In some relationships, I’ve put up a wall and justified it by calling it a healthy boundary. In some relationships, I’ve created in my mind who I think they are and what I think their intentions are, because it’s easier than being a seeker of the heart.

I’ve been happy. I’ve been content. I’ve had an amazing summer with my family. But, I have also sacrificed the more. The more in my health, the more in my attitude, and the more in my relationships. I haven’t been intentional in how I walk in these things lately. And, when we aren’t intentionally living life in every area, something will go lacking. Something will be sacrificed. The first step is to quit making excuses for them. The second step is to remember that the easy way out isn’t always the best way.

Hard means work. But, hard means growth. Hard means you’re choosing discipline, because your health matters. Hard means you’re allowing those around you to hold you accountable for every careless word and taking those words captive and replacing them with truth. A truth that is grounded in love. Hard means that you invest in your relationships even, at times, when you are tired, because you will always be strengthened by their presence. Hard means if you want a relationship with someone, you fight for it…..even if it’s been a struggle. Hard means you rise to your higher self and see people the way you’re meant to see them. You eliminate judgment, and you see the light in every person.

Hard means you’re living an intentional life. And intentional life means you are living the life you’re meant to live. It’s the more in life. It’s the cherry on top in life. It’s the “I came that you may life and have it to the full” in life.

Easy won’t get you where you’re supposed to be. Where you’re meant to be. Hard will.

Today, I choose hard.

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September 10, 2009 · 6:00 am

How Fragile We Are.

Angela, a friend of mine, posted this on Facebook yesterday:

“Had a young client today age 9 who has cancer, and I had to shave her head.  She will get her wig from Locks of Love within 4 months.  I have thought about her since she left.  It makes you stop and thank God for a healthy child.”

It makes me stop and consider how consumed I can become with things that, at the end of the day, really aren’t so significant. 

How even when one of my children are home sick with a cold, my life stops and centers on him or her. 

How even in our weakness, He is still so very present, and so very strong.

How precious.

How fragile.

How sweet.

Life really is.

Can we all just take a moment out of our day and pray for a little girl most of us have never met?

Father, we lift up this young girl to You.  You know her name.  You even know the number of hairs on her precious, little head.  Touch her body.  Heal her.  Comfort her.  Restore to her health.  In Your Name that is above ALL Names.

Amen.

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September 12, 2008 · 6:00 am

Healthy Livin’


Okay, Shari Lynn.  You asked for it. 

I’m not as skinny as I used to be, ‘cause I like food.  But, I do try to stay within my healthy weight range.  Which gives me about a good 20 pounds of leeway. 

I am far, far from perfect.  And, I can eat my weight of eighty pounds more than one-hundred pounds in chocolate.    

But, most days, I am generally mindful of what foods enter my mouth.  Most days.  I do believe that our weight is eighty-percent of our diet.  I don’t say that to discount exercise.  Exercise is good for the body, mind and soul.  I try to get in a decent work-out four days a week.  I used to push for six days.  Hence, the “I’m not as skinny as I used to be.”  Since John Henry started Kindergarten, I’m finding that I have to make myself go to the gym.  ‘Cause nothing beats sitting on the sofa in my PJs eating a box of Cheez-its.

Here are a few things I do day-to-day to maintain a healthy-ish weight:

1)  I never, EVER skip breakfast.  You’ve heard it said a gazillion times.  Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.  I believe it.  Not only does it get the brain and body functioning efficiently, but it also jump-starts the metabolism.  When you skip this necessary meal, you teach your body to store fat.  Our bodies are smart.  It will store fat and subsequently slow down the metabolism, because it knows it will be a while before it gets more nutrition.  This is no problem for me.  I wake up starvin’ Marvin.  EAT BREAKFAST.   Mmkay?

2)  I drink water.  A lot of it.  Not as much as my momma drinks.  She is about outlandish with her H2O consumption.  But, I usually always choose water, even over diet sodas.  And, it’s good for your complexion.  Remember, sometimes when you think are hungry, you might just be dehydrated.  Drink up.  Water, that is.  My new favorite water beverage is Smart Water.  It’s pricey.  But, I love the way the bottle feels in my hand.  And, I have this secret hope that it will make me look like Jennifer Aniston.

3)  I don’t deny myself foods I love.  I just don’t over-indulge.  All things in moderation – except chips and queso.  No such thing as moderation there.

4)  I exercise.  You don’t’ have to sweat until you pass out.  Just move the body.  And, the older we get, the more important strength training becomes.  So, they tell me.  I do a lot of floor exercises and don’t use a lot of weight.  For my upper body, I do push-ups.  The real kind.  No wimpy girl-stuff here.  My lower body presently needs my attention.  Suggestions?  Please, don’t say squats.  Puh-leese don’t.

I have good food choice days and bad.  I don’t let guilt consume me for making a poor choice.  There is always tomorrow, according to Scarlett O’Hara. 

Okay.  Your turn.  What do you do to stay healthy?  Christie Arnold, I’m sure you can add to this one – you healthy, personal trainer you.

Oh, and my friend, Kim Heinecke, loves the Magic Bullet.  I have no idea what it does, but she is skinny.  Must be the magic?

Have a good weekend, and go easy on the wings.

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