And while serving exercise was mandatory–physical training or better known as PT.

When I was discharged from active duty my weight climbed while in the reserves. Exercise then became a personal choice because in the reserves you meet one weekend a month and it’s up to you to stay in shape.

Needless to say my weight climbed and was placed in the weight control program which meant I was flagged for promotion, schooling, and re-enlistment.

That motivated me to lose.

Then a few years ago I shed 50 pounds. My weight had climbed to 190 on this 5’7″ small frame.  It was noticeable and I felt horrible.

There’s no excuse to not stay in shape, to not care about your self-image. To stay healthy.  That alone should be motivation enough to go to the gym on a regular basis. I try to figure out WHY it’s hard to do this. After I work out I feel great. It’s getting there some times that’s the issue.

According to Ask.com:

What Is Motivation?

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionarydefines motivation as “that which gives purpose and direction to behavior.” By that definition, we’re looking for something to drive us to exercise, something to get us moving. So where does that ‘something’ come from? For some people, like athletes, it may come from the desire to compete and to win. For others, it may come from a desire to be healthy or live longer for their kids. For most, losing weight is often the goal. But is that enough to motivate us? Judging from our obesity problems, that would be a no.

The problem with motivation is that many of us believe it’s something that will come to us if we wait long enough…that someday we’ll wake up and finally want to exercise. Rather than believe in that fantasy, maybe we’d all be better off by realizing that motivation is something we create, not something we wait for.

And that’s the key…WE have to create the motivation. It won’t “magically appear.” Like the article states, we can get excited about the “idea” to exercise but actually doing it?

We make up excuses…our days are busy, tired from work…don’t want to get up early to get a good workout in.  We make more excuses about going to the gym or taking a walk than anything else I believe. If not why are so many Americans overweight?

So, if I want to look good, feel good, and have a long productive life I need to continuously keep this in mind so I find myself making exercise a routine, an integral part of my life…..

I’ve never seen it, I found this love, I’m gonna feed it
You better believe, I’m gonna treat it better than anything I’ve ever had
Cause you’re so damn beautiful
Read it, it’s signed and delivered let’s seal it
Boy we go together like peanuts and paydays and Marley and reggae
And everybody needs to get a chance to say

Oh, this is how it starts, lightning strikes the heart
It goes off like a gun, brighter than the sun
Oh, we could be the stars, falling from the sky
Shining how we want, brighter than the sun

I have examined people who have lived long productive lives and the common denominator (to me) is your life outlook.

Sure we are ALL going to be faced with difficult decisions and situations however it’s how we face these obstacles which determines our quality of life.

My abuela’s life was certainly not easy. She was illiterate, didn’t drive, and for most of her life lived in poverty.

However,  she raised 12 kids and my abuelo passed in 1974. Single-handedly she gave rise to very productive children who have contributed back in so many ways. She doled out sound advice and was always ready to laugh.  One of the strongest women I will ever know. She scrimped and saved on her war widow’s pension and social security to buy her own home.  I will always admire her.

I look at Americans who complain about their lot in life and wonder if perhaps it is their attitude which brought them down.  You cannot simply give up on yourself. You fight, you fight for what you believe in, believe in yourself and if one door closes (as the saying goes) you go through the window.

At times we want everything to happen now. America seems to be fixated on their problems being solved within a sitcom minute and that’s not how life works.

Patience is a virtue…

So is a good attitude….

Nothing is impossible unless it’s completely out of your hands. You need to find a way of making life circumstance work for you.

There’s something about cleaning that makes me feel good inside.  There are also items I have not used in a long time so why let it gather dust? We can’t take it with us so why let it clutter up your home?

 According to the article, Cleaning your home is the new therapy

Research maintains that a clean house makes people feel happy, satisfied, comfortable and healthy. The According to Carol Nemeroff, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Psychology at Arizona State University, spring cleaning may have been in existence for ages. This psychological boost may be derived from a satisfied urge to clean out our nests.

And it’s true…after I’m finished, especially with some heavy cleaning, man I feel really great. 

Perhaps I’ve worked out the stress, directed my feelings into making my home look better and ultimately I do feel better.

Could be their job, deployment, distance…whatever…but listen…..have you ever taken your significant other for granted…gotten so used to them always being around when you want them to be that when they aren’t it feels alien?

It’s selfish to feel this way but at least it also shows you how much you deeply care about having this other person in your life. 

It’s a hard process…at times you have to do things on your own, shopping, paying bills, going out with friends or simply watching the tele with just yourself and some Don Q, very difficult but you learn to adjust and though at times adjustment can be a very agonizing slow process know that your partner loves you, they also think about you and will eventually return to your arms. Hopefully both are understanding about the process…that with patience the separation will work itself out because in the end…after all is said and done…they chose to love you and that simply says it all.

Just never take them for granted.

per·spec·tive  (pr-spktv)

All of us can be overwhelmed by life circumstance.  We all fight daily battles with ourselves, coworkers, family and friends.  These battles can wear you down both emotionally and physically.

Take small bites out of the situation if digesting the entirety is too much….then you can gain a little bit of perspective on how to handle the situation. Sometimes when we look at the bigger picture it can be overwhelming.

We all are always going to have them. Life is chock full of such moments.

But if you let these daily problems take over you can end up more stressed than need be, or even sick.  Ensure that you eat healthy meals and though I am bad at this…sometimes our bodies will shut down under too much stress to the point where eating is the last thing on our minds.

But you have to think about the alternative, not eating means you lose strength, are susceptible to illness.  Take the time to mentally unplug.  If you like to read do it, go to a quiet place. I know of someone who enjoys his time alone out in the woods and he can gather his thoughts and simply get away which for me is a healthy thing to do.

Talk to close friends whose advice you trust and have a positive attitude, they can help keep you grounded.  The key is not to isolate yourself so much that you are overwhelmed.

Also remember communication is vital whether it be at your job or any relationship dynamic you are into you have to keep the lines open.

At 20 we worry about what others think of us, at 40, we don’t care what they think of us, and at 60, we find out others haven’t been thinking about us at all. – Bob Hope

 

Baby…it’s all about perspective

The only thing we have when we leave this world are the memories and our reputation.  Both are invaluable and no matter how many material possessions you accumulate they don’t add up to the importance of what you decide to leave behind.

A reputation once broken may possibly be repaired, but the world will always keep their eyes on the spot where the crack was.
Joseph Hall

In some caste socities such as India, your name means everything and it means where you will be “placed” as far as jobs and status.

If you are prone to lying then your reputation, your “good” name becomes tarnished. So it’s important (if it’s important to you) to never say anything you don’t mean and to always follow up your actions with honor and diginity and to do what you say you’ll do.

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.”
― Albert Einstein

Life is a struggle..anyone who says otherwise is only fooling themselves.

However, it’s how you deal with life’s obstacles which is a testament to your true character.

I have faced various challenges throughout my life, some that would cause a few of you to quit.  But I am no quitter.

I blogged on here how I contacted my local Congressman because the recruiter I was initially dealing with had lied to me about going back in.  And when you want something badly enough you find a way to get it.

Being a single parent is not easy because you are both the mother and father of your child and you want to ensure they turn out right…are hard workers, have good morals and become productive citizens. And to ensure this you have to take a lot of time and effort because raising kids is difficult.

And when it comes to love, well…..that is what life is made for. We all strive to find someone who will complete us, cherish us and  be our rock.  You have to be honest with them as they are with you….make the necessary sacrifices to ensure the relationship will succeed, always have open communication because that is vital for any relationship to last.

Life is what you may of it…the ups and downs will test and determine your character because in the end that’s how we will be remembered……

“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal of false friends. To appreciate beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better whether by a healthy child, a garden patch, or a redeemed social condition; to know that even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”
― Ralph Waldo Emerson

How many of you are guilty of this? For me the most difficult is to quit eating unhealthy foods. Trust me I so do love my bread and sweets however I also know it doesn’t love my waistline and I need to “man up” and monitor my food intake much more closely.

I am a doer…I think words are meaningless unless backed up by action. Anyone can fill your head your heart with dreams but if they are not backed up with action then that’s all they are….dreams.

If you have a bad habit, whatever that may be you need to find out why you keep falling back into it.  What is it about your life that makes you slip?

Are you bored? Lonely?  Is it easier to slip?

Life isn’t easy. God how I know this….but without the struggle how can we realize the joy?