Wednesday, March 30, 2011

A scary moment, taking my own advice, and a shout-out to my sister Cara...

I have to start and tell a funny / scary story that happened to me yesterday.  I was working in a small town in East Tennessee (the name is not important just in case anyone is from there or the townspeople decide to come get me).  Because there were not any hotels in this town, I stayed about 30 minutes outside of it.  As I checked out of my hotel, the nice lady at the front desk asked where I was heading to today.  I said the name of the town, and she looked at me and just said, "Oh."  She then preceded to tell me that I should be careful in that town because there used to be a group of people that would go around stealing cars to sell for parts, and it used to also be a big moonshine town.  There was also a big bust by the feds when they found out they were holding cock fights.  The interesting part was that it was the local political people of the town actually holding the fights.  After that enlightening conversation, she thanked me for staying at the hotel and hoped I had a good day.  How could I not after that information?  Of course, I was curious to see what I would find when I got there. 

I rely on TomTom to get me everywhere.  I really have no sense of direction and so my GPS is the only way I can find anything.  As I followed the directions to the church I was supposed to be working at, I came to a - shall we say, somewhat scary - neighborhood.  TomTom wanted me to proceed down this one narrow street that went into the woods.  I looked over to the side and noticed a sign that said... and I quote:  Dead End!  Turn Around!  Your GPS is wrong!  Since I was in an area that looked like a scene from Deliverance, I turned around - but TomTom could not find any other way to get to my destination.  I decided to be brave (or stupid) and drive to the dead end and see if the church was on this street.  I drove on this narrow little road into the woods (said a prayer) and noticed a church up ahead.  However, this was not the church I needed to go to.  The name of the church was Hard Core Biker Church!  The motto was something about - for those not easily intimidated.  I then saw 3 guys - definitely hard core biker guys - sitting off to the side and staring me down.  As I recalled the stories that the nice hotel lady had told me, and the warning sign at the front of the street, I did what any normal person should do in that situation - I squealed my tires and sped off!  I finally found the right place I was looking for and enjoyed my experience in this small town.  And let it be said that I am very glad that the hardcore biker population has a place to go and worship - maybe I should go and visit sometime - I am sure I would fit in perfectly :)

I also wanted to say that having this blog is actually good therapy for me at times.  Things are a little rough with my job situation and I am currently coming up with a plan of action, but yesterday I was reminded of the previous blog dealing with laws of attraction.  At times I can go into a "Kevin freak out" mode and it is never good for myself or those around me at the time.  In dealing with my job and the future I had to remind myself that if I constantly worry about it, then the results will only be more worry and headache.  It does not mean that I should sit around in la-la land just thinking happy thoughts, but I will put that energy into action, keeping in mind that the end result will be what is best for me.  Being productive with our concerns definitely brings about positive results!  This may sound weird, but I enjoyed reading some of my own blogs and keeping myself in that right frame of mind.

Lastly, I want to give a shout out to my sister, Cara!  She is simply the best and I love how close we are as brother and sister and how we can talk about anything (there really are no boundaries in our conversations)!  She has a lot going on in her own life with work, school, and being a wife - but she does a great job at keeping everything balanced and is really excelling in all areas.  She and I both enjoy running, eating at Blue Coast Burrito, and staying caught up on our favorite TV shows.  So for no reason in particular I just wanted to say how thankful I am that she is my sister!  And this paragraph is completely unrelated to the fact that she called me yesterday saying that she did not see her name mentioned in many of my blogs :)

Today I am grateful for:  1.  Interesting experiences in new places  2.  Beautiful sunshine yesterday  3.  The chance to always meet new and unique individuals with my job  4.  Encouragement from my family  5.  My amazing sister Cara!!!!

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

The laws of attraction...

One idea that I have really grown to believe in over the last few years is the laws of attraction.  Simply stated, what you put out into the world will also be what you attract to yourself.  This concept can be applied to every area of your life and once you put it into practice, you will see how it really works.  The Secret is a book that details this belief even further and I would recommend it - and if you do, read it with an open mind. 

Even if you have never heard of the laws of attraction, it really does make a lot of sense.  When you focus more on the good things in life, then more good things are bound to come your way.  The opposite is also true.  When you focus on the bad things in your life, more bad things are likely to come your way as well.  I really do believe this to be true.  Those who tend to focus on the negative seem to always have something to complain about.  It is as if they attract bad things into their lives because in essence, they are seeking out those bad things.  However, those who focus on the positive things in their life always have something to be thankful for.  They also are attracting good things because that is what they seek out. 

In The Secret, it talks a lot about energy and how energy is everywhere and that is what attracts the good and bad things into our lives.  I agree with part of that because I do think that we all give off good and bad vibes.  It is part of what attracts us to some people and makes us run from others.  But I also see this from a Biblical perspective.  There are many scriptures that tell us to dwell on things that are good, true, right, and honest (Philippians 4:8).  It makes sense that if we focus our minds and lives on more positive things, then good things are going to come into our life because that is what we are lined up to receive.

The laws of attraction also work in setting goals and seeing them become a reality.  If you want to start a new job, own a new home, be in a great relationship, see a life-long dream come true, or any other goal you have - then you need to live with the confidence that it will happen.  Not just believing that it can happen - but that it will.  One thing I do when praying about my own goals is to be thankful for the way that it will become a reality.  We are told to pray believing that it will happen and that it will be the best for our lives.  When we doubt, it shifts our focus and can easily get us off track.  Writing these things down as well as having a vision board really helps us stay focused and helps attract these things into our lives. 

I am currently doing this in my own life when it comes to the kind of life I want to live, the dreams I want to become a reality, and the people in my life that I feel very blessed to have.  I encourage you to do the same.  Whether it is small daily goals or larger life goals - make sure that the decisions you make keep you in line with the bigger picture.  Also think about what you are putting out into the world - does it attract more good or more bad into your life?  The really good news is that what you attract into your life could be better than anything you ever dreamed!

Today I am grateful for:  1.  Church Sunday morning - being reminded of all the good things in my life 
2.  My free chocolate-of-the-month from Godiva (sooo good!)  3.  Hearing about others' weekend and what they were thankful for  4.  A text from a friend reminding me to make the most of life  5.  Safe travels to East Tennessee last night for work

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Great transitions and lots of parenthesis...

I just got home from work a little while ago and with not much time before midnight - this one will have to be short and sweet.  I did not post anything yesterday mainly because a conversation with a friend caused so much to swirl around in my head that I could not figure out how to write about it.  It's all good now, but for a guy like me who does not have many buttons - when one gets pushed, it's not pretty.  This friend knows who he is and knows that I at least had to make mention of it in the blog world ha! 

Just a couple of quick observations though:  In a matter of one day, we have gone from warm summer-like days to cold winter nights!  I do enjoy cooler weather, but I was really getting used to the warm temperatures.  My neighborhood was starting to come alive with runners and dog-walkers.  I had lunch with a friend the other day and we sat outside at the restaurant - love that!  Speaking of eating, if you have a Cheesecake Factory anywhere close to you - try the 30th anniversary cheesecake that they have right now.  If you love chocolate (and we all know that I do) then you will love it!  I could not finish eating all of it - but I really wanted to.  And speaking of finishing, I still have a few things left on my "to-do" list from last week (Extreme Week).  I am hoping to get all of that done over the next few days so that I can give an update on my New Year's goals and how things are progressing there.  I have a couple of new ideas (I'm always coming up with something new to try) that I am seeking help and advice with but could be exciting and help keep things in line with my dreams. 

I have to say that the previous paragraph had great transitions and lots of parenthesis haha!  Hope everyone is having a great week!

Today I am grateful for:  1.  A self-examining conversation I had with my button-pusher friend (I didn't like it but I guess it's good to get other's perspective of your own life at times)  2.  Hearing that Mamaw is still improving well from her stroke  3.  Seeing a video of Wylie rolling over for the first time!  4.  Laughing really hard with a friend tonight talking about our crazy lives  5.  New things that life brings

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

Just a few thoughts...

Well it has been a few days since I posted anything and I really have no excuse except to say that I just did not get to it.  Some of you brought it to my attention that you notice when I don't blog and I take that as a good thing.  So here are a few thoughts from the past couple of days.  Oh, and I am trying something new with the advertisements on the side of each post.  I hope that it is not distracting.  They are supposed to be somewhat relevant to what I write about so feel free to click away and see what you find!

Yesterday I did my long run for the marathon training.  I had 8 miles to run and decided to do it first thing that morning.  This was the longest distance I had run in a long time.  The weather was beautiful and I had my iPod on and ready to go.  Mile 1 and 2 were great - I was running a good pace, loving life, feeling good, singing with my music and thanking God for this great run!  Mile 3 and 4 were still good but I could tell that I was starting to breathe a little heavier and trying to focus on those positive thoughts I always talk about.  By mile 5 and 6, I was not feeling as great and sweating a lot - but still persevering.  At mile 7 I was struggling to keep up the pace, no more singing, and praying that God would get me to the end!  Then at mile 8 I found that extra burst of energy and got to the finish line and then collapsed :)  I always talk about how running a race, especially a long-distance race, is as much mental as anything else and I proved that to be true once again.  I was very glad to make it to the end and afterwards I had to laugh at myself for going from great bliss at the beginning to gasping for breath at the end!!

On a different note, I wanted to touch on a specific moment during my day today.  When I do laundry, I wash my clothes and then take them to a laundry mat to dry them.  This is simply because I have not taken the time to find the parts to properly connect my dryer.  Some of you may also know that I enjoy going to this particular laundry mat because it is nice, there are flat screens TV, and you get free popcorn - how much more can you really ask for in a laundry mat?  I have been many times but today as I pulled into the parking lot, I noticed two homeless guys sitting off to the side.  There is a creek that runs in front of the laundry mat and a bridge not far off.  I looked and noticed that a few other homeless guys actually lived under that bridge.  They had created a shelter of sorts and spend their days just trying to make it to the next.  I know that Nashville has a homeless population, but to see it so up close really left me frustrated.  I always wonder what their story is and how they got to this place.  We all struggle with what to do when we see someone in need.  Of course you want to help, but it is hard to know what is best.  I know that many of these people are ignored and overlooked but in all actuality, we are all the same.  A few really hard moments in life and any of us could be in that situation.  I have tried to help when I can and I always remember my dad helping many people out - but it always makes you want to do more.  I definitely want to search out ways that I can make a more impactful difference than just giving a dollar here and there.  I would love to hear any ideas, suggestions, or experiences any of you have had. 

I love running and it always a metaphor for life.  In a race you have to persevere and your mental attitude plays a large role in what will get you to the finish line.  Life is the same way.  We set goals and some days are great and some days are not.  However, getting the most out of life has a lot to do with our attitude towards it and learning the lessons that come our way.  Today, my lesson learned was that we are all in this together and we are much more alike than we are different.  I should not ignore, overlook, or prejudge others simply because of their circumstances.  Instead I would encourage all of us to look for ways that we can really make a difference and be a friend to those in need.

Today I am grateful for:  1.  A great run yesterday (for the most part) and finishing it  2.  Really nice weather and being outside to enjoy it  3.  Trying a new restaurant last night - I will definitely be going back  4.  Being reminded to sometimes see others in a different perspective  5.  Challenged to look for more ways to make a difference

Friday, March 18, 2011

Life takes determination....

On Wednesday of this week, my Mamaw (my mom's mom) had a stroke.  She is 92 years old and when we found out, we were of course very concerned and worried.  For anyone to have a stroke is serious, but the effects are even greater when you add age to the factor.  I was able to go to the hospital today with Mom and my sisters to see her.  It was amazing to see how much she has improved in only two days.  Even the doctors were surprised at how well she was doing.  The stroke affected the right side of her body as well as her ability to speak.  Today she was using her right hand very well and was able to walk around some, too.  Although her speech is slurred some, that has not kept her from still talking a lot... yes, a lot haha! 

However, to know Mamaw is to know a woman who has always lived life with determination.  Even at 92, she has lived by herself and still drives places.  As we sat there and talked with her today, she told a lot of stories of her life and all that she has gone through.  She and Papaw went through times of separation during their early months together while Papaw served in the War.  They lived through the Depression and all that it entailed - all the while building a beautiful life together.  Papaw passed away in 1996 after almost 60 years of marriage and yet Mamaw has continued to stay strong even to this day.  As she talked about all this and more, I realized how consistent Mamaw has been throughout her entire life and even at 92 years of age - she is still determined to make the most of life and that has shown in her quick recovery.  She still has a road ahead of her and parts of life will now be different but as with every other chapter in her journey - she continue to lives with determination.  That is very inspiring to me.  I hope that as my life continues, I am able to live with determination in the good and the bad.  Thanks Mamaw for showing me that today!

Today also ends my extreme week.  I have to say that it has been a very productive, disciplined, and fun week - and that was the goal.  I got a lot of things marked off of my "to-do" list and was able to hang out with family or friends every day this week.  I did fall short the last 24 hours on the healthy eating part but everything else was all good!  And anyone who has had the chocolate chip paradise pie from Chili's understands why I had to break the rules a little :)

Today I am grateful for:  1.  Hanging out with family  2.  Having some time with my little nephew Wylie today  3.  Seeing how much Mamaw is improving  4.  Being inspired by Mamaw's determination  5.  The end of a great week!

Thursday, March 17, 2011

It's always good to come home...

Tonight I am in my hometown of Jackson, Tennessee.  After thinking about it, I realized that it has been almost ten months since I've visited - which according to my mom is way too long!  I guess it is bad since I only live two hours away.  So I have been looking forward to today and getting to see a lot of friends I have not seen in almost a year as well as hang out at Mom's house.  I definitely could not ask for a better day to drive and hang out - 75 degrees and lots of sunshine!  The windows down and Adele playing on the radio - I love it!

I went and saw my best friend at her salon (she introduced me to some new healthy chips from Target - they are delicious!) and then went and had lunch with one group of friends, went and visited a few others, and then had dinner with another group of friends.  It was great catching up with everyone and hearing about what is going on in their lives.  I really miss all of them but I am so happy that they are all doing great and whenever we get together, it is always the same - lots of stories, lots of laughter, and a few glances from others because we are possibly being a little too loud!  I do consider myself very blessed with great friends and am thankful for each one of them.  They are the ones who love me for the good and the bad.  When I am being weird at times, they just keep on loving me and at times help put me back in my place - that's real friendship. 

I do have a confession to make on the healthy eating part of my extreme week.  I did really good at lunch today by having a salad but we went to Chili's for dinner and I had the chips and salsa with the chicken tacos for my meal.  That is not just horrible I guess but then.... after we left.... I made one of my friends go back in and have the chocolate chip paradise pie with me!  Correction - she made me go back in and have dessert!  We did it as a tradition of ours, and yes Natalie - I am calling you out by name and placing all the blame on you!!  But I have to admit that those moments of eating that dessert were simply divine.  It is one of my all time favorite desserts and I just could not leave Jackson without carrying on that tradition... right? 

My sisters and little nephew Wylie are here at Mom's house as well.  And no, Christy did not leave Martha Ann at home - she is spending the night with her Nana tonight.  So we had a lot of fun being together and playing with Wylie and talking and laughing.  (There is a lot of laughter in my life).  Everyone has gone to bed and I am about to head there myself.  This week of extreme plans definitely has me more sleepy at night, but it is worth it.  It has been a great week and it is not over with yet! 

Today I am grateful for:  1.  Beautiful weather today  2.  The chance to see close friends who are such an important part of my life  3.  Seeing such a positive change in one of my friends and knowing she is so happy and it's so deserved  4.  Being at Mom's and hanging out with everyone  5.  Being reminded of how people play such a key role in making life so full - and my life is definitely very enriched because of them

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Extreme Week - Day 2

Today has been another really great day.  I still did not wake up as early as I wanted, but it was earlier than yesterday so we will count that as progress!  I went out and ran my scheduled 3 miles, had my focus time, and worked on part 2 of cleaning my house - the bathrooms.  I then got ready and ran a few errands that needed to be done and met my sister, Cara, for lunch.  We ate at Logan's and I had a grilled shrimp salad that was delicious and healthy.  When the waiter brought out our basket of bread I immediately asked him to take it away.  He gave us a weird look and Cara went on to explain that she didn't eat bread and I was eating healthy this week and could not have the bread.  Lunch was great and as usual, there was a lot of laughing between the two of us!  We covered a variety of topics and somehow in the midst of our conversation, I agreed to visit an art museum with Cara tomorrow and help her write a paper. 

After lunch I did a some shopping and came home to attempt something I have not done in almost a month...the dreaded P90X!  I got out of the habit for a few reasons, but mainly I will be honest and say it is just as not as fun as going to the gym.  However I really want to improve my physique so I will suffer through the DVDs for now.  Any of you that have done P90X know that it is insane and it will often bring you to the point of death and then push you a little more.  It is definitely a great workout though so today I started back and hope to stay consistent with it.  After recovering from the cardio workout, I worked on some emails that needed to get done, then dinner (Chipotle, which is a great Mexican grill restaurant that emphasizes healthy eating) and now watching TV and getting ready for bed. 

It was another productive, disciplined, and good day.  I know that the best parts of this week are still to come so that's exciting.  I can tell that there are parts of this week that I will want to continue as much as I can but I will admit that it's only day 2 and I am craving chocolate!  I will make it to the end of the week and then maybe reward myself with a chocolate cupcake :) 

I do want to present a challenge to everyone who reads this.  I always end my blogs with the 5 things I am grateful for that day.  Sometimes they are big things and sometimes small moments in my day - but I can promise that it helps keep life in perspective.  Focusing on being grateful will bring about more things to be grateful for.  I do believe that what we focus on produces more of that in our lives so if we focus on the good - then more good will happen.  I like writing it down but even if you don't write it - at least think about what you are thankful for that happened that day.  It does not take long to do, but it will make lasting impacts on your life. 

Today I am grateful for:  1.  Running 3 miles  2.  Lunch with Cara  3.  Chipotle dinner  4.  Surviving P90X  5.  The opportunity to mark some things off my to-do list

Extreme Week - Day 1

Well my first day of extreme week was definitely full because I fell asleep last night before I could post anything.  So this morning I will write about yesterday and then tonight write about today - make sense?

I did get most everything done yesterday that I wanted to accomplish.  My plan was to wake up early but I slept in a little while longer than expected.  I blame that on two things - the time change, even though we only lost an hour Saturday night it seems to take a day or two to recover from that.  Also, I washed my bed sheets, blankets, and comforter on Sunday night so my bed was extra comfy which made it harder to get out of yesterday morning.  And yes, I guess there is that third reason too - I just didn't get up!

I started my morning off with a 5-mile run.  It felt great and I focused on not letting my mind wander too much, but trying to stay present.  Instead of thinking about the worries in life or what I needed to get done, I just really enjoyed that run and actually made it home without almost passing out - so progress is being made!  I then had my focus time which was really good.  Since I finished The Purpose Driven Life, I am starting to read through the New Testament.  I read outside on my front porch which is always great and as I finished, I was reminded of how the Bible really is nourishment for the soul.  It always motivates and challenges me to live out my faith and to stay focused on what really matters. 

I spent most of the day cleaning house.  I got the first half done which included cleaning ceiling fans (they get really dusty which I still don't understand because it seems to me the dust would just fall off, but anyway), cleaning all the windows as well as doors and baseboards.  Basically I worked on the the things I have not done in awhile!  This took up most of the day.  I did cook a very healthy lunch that consisted of whole grain pasta with fresh vegetables on a bed of spinach and mixed greens.  It was delicious and oh so healthy!  For my fun part of yesterday (although to me, cleaning is fun) I went to the movies with a friend of mine.  We saw The Adjustment Bureau.  I really liked it and it dealt with the ideas of free will and how sometimes the smallest decisions we make can affect the direction of our lives.  So by the time I got home, ate dinner, and watched Harry's Law (another really good show), I was ready for bed. 

One other thing I wanted to talk about was what the last chapter of Purpose Driven Life dealt with.  It said to write out your life purpose statement.  This would be a summary of your life's purpose, the direction your life will take, what defines "success" for you, how you clarify your role, and how you express your shape (which is the unique aspects of your life that tell what you contribute to the world)  As you write out this purpose statement, these are the 5 questions to consider:  What will be the center of my life?  (You faith, beliefs, who or what really drives your life)  What will be the character of my life?  (Your morals, what really defines your life and behavior)  What will be the contribution of my life?  (How you will make a difference in the world, what parts of your life will live on even when you are gone)  What will be the communication of my life?  (Life lessons, passions and dreams)  What will be the community of my life?  (Who you surround yourself with, family, friends).  I do really like this idea of writing a life purpose statement because it helps keep us focused on what is important.  It also helps in making many of the decisions that come our way - if it aligns with our life's purpose then most of the time the answer is yes; if it does not, then most of the time the answer is no.

Day 1 of Extreme Week was a success!  There were a few things on my list that did not get done, but I have also decided to not have any regrets this week so anything I do not get done will just be added to another day.  Here's to a great rest of the week!!

Yesterday I was grateful for:  1.  A great night's sleep  2.  Enjoying my 5-mile run  3.  Getting my house clean  4.  Healthy eating / drinking choices that lead to really feeling great  5.  Thinking about my life's purpose statement

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Ready for my EXTREME week!

It's been 5 days since I posted anything - that's no good!  I can say that the past few days have not been the best work days for me and I usually got home close to midnight so there was not much time for blogging.  However, that was then and this is now and I am really excited about this upcoming week!  I have this week off from work, so I have decided to make the most of it and do my EXTREME week.  The goal is to have one of the most disciplined, productive, and fun weeks I have had in a long time.  I plan on making very conscious decisions each day in living out my best life.  Of course, we should all do this every day - but I have an opportunity this week to be more focused and determined in this. 

I made out my list today of all the things I want to get done this week and here are some of those:  Having a quality focus time each morning that includes Scripture reading, prayer, and mediation;  daily exercise that includes running and P90X; eating very healthy and drinking mainly water; a very thorough house cleaning; going to Jackson to see friends and family; working on plans for a new book; and lots of other things.  I will definitely blog every night so I will be sharing what all gets done as well as talking about some deeper topics that I have wanted to discuss. 

As part of this week, I am giving up sweet tea, cokes, and junk food.  So tonight on my way home, I thought I would stop by McDonald's and get one last coke (they have the best coke for some reason).  I only planned on getting a drink, but when I pulled up to the drive-thru and they asked for my order I said, "Yes, I'll take a Big Mac meal with a large coke!"  I immediately was like - Why did I order all that?  I was just going to get a coke!  So I tormented my body with bad food one last time tonight before going extremely healthy this week. 

I know that my situation right now lends to it being easier to do all of this.  I am off work this week, I am single, and I do not have children to run around and take care of.  But my motive is simply to become closer to living out my best life.  I hope that all of us can find ways that we can improve and refine our lives - even in the craziness of our day to day schedules.  It definitely happens one decision at a time.   

I better get some sleep so that I can get up early and go for my long run to help get my day started off right - here's to an EXTREME week!!

Today I am grateful for:  1.  Finishing the Purpose Driven Life book  2.  Enjoying a relaxing afternoon and watching a movie (127 Hours - very good)  3.  Great conversation with a friend last night about pursuing dreams  4.  Preparing and motivating for extreme week  5.  Seeing other people living their best lives

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

Creating a Vision Board...

I have always wanted to create a vision board since I first heard of the idea.  I have always written out my goals because I believe that seeing it in writing helps me to commit to it.  It also serves as a reminder to what I should be focusing my energy on.  A vision board is a more creative way of doing this.  Making a vision board could come in a variety of ways, but mine is simple.  I bought a foam board from WalMart and printed out pictures that coincided with goals I set for this year.  I taped the pictures onto the board and put it on my kitchen desk so that I see it every day.  Right now there is a picture of the blogging logo, YouTube logo, "13.1" for the 1/2 marathon, dollar signs for financial freedom, a picture of a road trip, Pay It Forward sign, a picture of my book, and a picture of Oprah (no comments needed friends).  I plan on adding more to it as time goes on.  I love having it and seeing it everyday!  It is such a visual reminder to me of what I want to accomplish.  It keeps those thoughts in the forefront of my mind and I also believe that it helps to attract the end result into my life.  (The laws of attraction are something I will talk about later - but definitely believe in).  I encourage everyone to at least write out their goals in life but you might think about creating a vision board.  You can do it for just a few dollars and I would be willing to bet that it will help your goals become a reality!  I will try to post a pic of mine in the next few days....

So I have a few days off next week from work and I have decided that it is the perfect time for me to do my EXTREME week!  I am getting very excited about it and my hope is that it will be the most productive, disciplined, and focused week I have had in a long time.  I am making out my list of things I want to get done and I will be sharing those soon.  I know I have some crazy ideas at times - one of my friends already told me how I am always coming up with something crazy and weird to do - but I love this kind of stuff and I am very curious to see how the week turns out. 

Oh, one other thing.  My week off from sweets ended yesterday and last night I decided to reward myself.  There is a great cupcake place in my neighborhood so I went and got two chocolate cupcakes for myself.  I went home, got a glass of milk, and when I bit into the cupcake.... oh my goodness, it was like I was tasting chocolate for the first time!  I know it had only been a week, but let's just say I was one happy guy with my cupcake (I only ate one last night) and milk!  Absence really does make the heart grow fonder :)

Today I am grateful for:  1.  My focus time this morning about living out our life's mission  2.  Talking to a friend I haven't heard from in awhile  3.  A good work day  4.  Finding a great new blog to read  5.  Enjoying that 2nd cupcake!

Monday, March 7, 2011

The life of our dreams...

What does it really mean to live the life of your dreams?  Today I was reminded of a truth that I have said many times before but can easily forget.  That truth is about living in the now and realizing what is truly good in your present life.  I am the type of person who dreams big, sets high goals, and truly wants to experience the best life I possibly can.  For one who constantly wants more out of life, it is very easy to lose perspective and forget that my best life can be happening now.  Today was one of those days that is a part of my best life - family.

Since I did not get to see Martha Ann for her birthday, I went and saw her today.  Christy needed to run some errands so she and Wylie did that while Martha Ann and myself had our own "fun day."  We went to Chick fil A to celebrate her birthday and then went to Target to walk around for awhile.  These are definitely two of our favorite places and we had the best time!  She was so cute walking around Target with her backpack on and her Chick fil A balloon tied to it.  Some people told me how cute "my daughter" was and I simply said... yes, she is!  I know I have said it before, but I really love how we are getting to be good buddies now.  She makes me laugh so hard and can be so loving.  We played with a lot of toys in Target and walked around so much that by the time we drove out of the parking lot, she was passed out in her car seat. 

As I drove home, I thought about how blessed I am with such a great family.  I actually talked with each of them today and had great conversations as well.  There is really nothing more I would have rather done today and those moments are definitely part of living the life of my dreams.  I am a firm believer in setting goals and constantly pushing myself to dream big - but as I work towards that I also need to take a moment and remember all the good things that are in my life right now.  Realizing that a lot of the best things in life are small moments that happen during our day, making a difference in the life of one person, and going to sleep at night knowing that it has been a great day! 

I am thankful for the life I have and although there is still so much I want to accomplish in life, I know that even now I am living the life of my dreams :)

Today I am grateful for:  1.  Spending the day with Martha Ann  2.  Good conversation with Christy about things we believe.  3.  Laughing really hard with Cara on the phone  4.  Getting caught up with Mom today  5.  Knowing that today was a really great day

Friday, March 4, 2011

Boredom is never a good thing for me....

Tomorrow I am leaving to head back home to Nashville.  I have to say that I really like Chattanooga.  It has been a long time since I have been here and I am really in love with the downtown area.  I have eaten lunch everyday downtown and been able to do one of my favorite things - people watch!  I love seeing people live out their lives each day and the hilarious things that people do - not knowing people are watching.  Of course the absolutely beautiful weather has made for a great week as well! 

It's not often that I get bored, but tonight, work was really slow and I did enter that great state of boredom and of course my mind starts coming up with new ideas.  I was thinking about how I really want to stay focused in life and continue to improve in a few areas of life.  So I have decided that I am going to have what I call - an EXTREME week!  It will not start next week but possibly the following week.  During this week, I am going to go to the extreme and make sure that every decision I make centers around goals that I have and making progress in those areas.  This includes healthy eating, exercise, focus times, gratefulness, 2011 goals, hanging out with family and friends, and other things that really allow me to make the most of each day.  An example would be - everything I eat for that week would be the healthiest choices and daily exercise would be taken to the next level.  It would also be a test of true discipline and avoiding distractions in life.  That week would probably include a lot of blogging and facebook posts as well.  More to come on this, but just want you to know what I mean if I mention my EXTREME week! 

Well, it's midnight here and I need to get some sleep before getting up early for work tomorrow.  Good night everyone and hope you have a fantastic weekend!!

Today I am grateful for:  1.  Experiencing downtown Chattanooga  2.  Another beautiful day  3.  Delicious lunch at Panera Bread  4.  An interesting and fun conversation with two grandmas about the "good ole days"  5.  Great friends in my life

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Someone turned "2" today :)

That's right - today is Martha Ann's birthday!  I can't believe she is already 2 - time goes by fast for sure.  Today is one of those days where I wasn't a fan of working out of town because I had to miss her birthday party, but I promised her that we would have our own party when I get back - complete with Chick-fil-A and presents!  I love being an uncle and I am definitely grateful for Martha Ann (and Wylie) and how much joy, excitement and laughter she brings to our lives.  Of course, I think she is the cutest 2 year old ever and she has some of the funniest facial expressions that keeps me laughing!  Her favorite thing to do is dance and no matter what is happening, if music starts playing, she stops whatever she is doing and bust a move!  I admit that she has some really good moves, too - not sure where she gets that from haha!  One thing I love is thinking about how her world is full of possibilities and there are no limits to what she could accomplish in life.  My prayer for her would be that her innate love for life would continue to grow and that she would truly experience the life of her dreams that God has had planned for her even before she was born.  I plan on putting pictures on my blog soon - but for now, feel free to check out my facebook page for great pics!

I also want to talk for a minute about refining my goals.  I had two different people share an article with me about a woman who has always wanted to be a writer and after having no luck with publishers she began selling her writings as ebooks.  She had great success and has now been able to quit her job and become a full-time writer.  I honestly had no idea that this was a way for unknown authors to get their work out there.  I am researching this over the next few days and would really like to try it out.  I am also convinced that I should start work on a second book.  I have not decided on a definite topic but I love the process of writing so much that I want to take on a new project.  It is exciting to find new ways to pursue this goal and to dream about the possibilities.

Oh, and on Monday I decided to give up sweets for a week.  It is now Wednesday and I am craving chocolate so bad that I am wondering if I am a "chocoholic" who is already going through withdrawals!  To make it worse, the church I worked at tonight had homemade cupcakes with chocolate icing!  I saw them in the kitchen but knew they were for other people so I wasn't too worried.  Well, this really nice lady brought some over and offered them to me.  I politely said "No, thank you" but inside I wanted to take the entire tray and run -they looked so good!  I will definitely keep this commitment I made and then reward myself on Monday :)

Today I am grateful for:  1.  Martha Ann and how she makes all of our lives better  2.  New ideas with writing  3.  Beautiful warm weather  4.  Hanging out in downtown Chattanooga  5.  Saying "no" to the cupcakes

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Birthdays and great music....

Today's blog might be brief because I'm pretty sleepy.  I drove to Chattanooga today for work - will be here the rest of the week.  I worked all day and just checked into my hotel (Comfort Suites) but it's not as nice as what I expected.  I admit that I am a little picky when it comes to hotels so I am thinking about moving to a different hotel tomorrow since I will be here all week.  It's not bad here but I've stayed in better so we will see what I feel like doing tomorrow. 

Today is my sister, Christy's birthday... well, sort of!  She was born on February 29th so she only has a real birthday every four years and this year is not one of them.  However, she does make the most of it and celebrates for 2 days!  Being a mother of two, I believe that most of her day was spent taking care of the babies and possibly doing some grocery shopping (woohoo!) but I know she received a lot of great messages on facebook and a great gift from her husband.  With all that she does on a daily basis, she deserves a great birthday for sure!  I won't say much more because my other sister, Cara, is still waiting on a blog dedicated to her haha!  So Happy Birthday to Christy - I do hope you had a great day and thanks for making the world a better place to so many people! 

The other thing I have to mention is the new CD I bought.  Adele 21 is by far the best CD I have bought in a long time!  I have been anticipating this album ever since I first heard the song, Rolling in the Deep.  It's amazing that she is only 21 (hence the title of the CD) and is such a talented writer.  The theme of the CD comes from a break-up and these songs definitely put that guy (whoever he is) in his place.  There is also a lot of vulnerability in her lyrics - it's so so so good!  She is coming to Nashville in June and I really hate that I did not get tickets -  I know it's going to be a great show!  If you do not have this album - GET IT!!

One more thing and then I am off to bed.  I heard back from the publisher who looked over my book.  He really liked it but expressed some concern about it being relatable for mass distribution.  I do agree with the things that he said and would like to seek out other opinions before deciding how to pursue this goal. 

Today was a really good day and not it's time to go to sleep  - Good night!

Today, I am grateful for:  1.  Christy's birthday - so thankful she is my sister!  2.  Safe travels  3.  Great weather today  4.  How music puts me in such a great mood  5.  Continuing my dreams