Outside and Inside

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder......... and we all see things, people, ourselves differently.  And over the past couple of days I've begun to carefully look at myself.  Do I like what I see?  Am I happy with myself physically, spiritually, emotionally?  Are there things I want to change?

So let's begin with the obvious...the outside!  For around the last 20 years I have been overweight.
And I, like millions of others, have attempted to lose weight by various means.  Diets, slimming clubs, cutting out food groups, shakes, food combining, pills.......all to no avail!  At one point I lost 3 stones then just steadily put it back on again.  I am currently around 4 and a half stones heavier than is healthy for me. I recognise that I am an addict!  I'm addicted to sugar.  And like any addict, recognising my addiction for what it is, taking responsibility for it and determining to do something about it, a day at a time, is what will get me to where I want to be - healthy, fit, and looking and feeling better,

So I need support.  I need someone to hold me to account.  I need a juicer - because I'm going to begin by getting vegetable and fruit nutrients into my body for a couple of weeks to detox and get rid of all the rubbish,  I plan to cut out caffeine, alcohol, refined sugars and sweeteners.

I have to see this as treating my body as it deserves.  It is a temple that houses God's Spirit and I need to keep it in way better condition than I have been doing.

So I will order a juicer and begin!

FORWARD THINKING

I've been reading many blogs over the past couple of days.  Most have been looking at past blog posts, summing up the year that has been, choosing the 'best', or 'most popular' posts.

I have had a website and blogs in the past but because they focused on a particular interest, like gardening or quilting, depending on the season or what was happening in my life, I didn't post often enough to retain interest, either from readers or myself.

So today....the first day of 2015....I begin this new blog.   This to encompass my whole life - faith, interests, family - the things that bring me joy as well as those that cause me pain. My aim is to live in the 'more than'.

I'm a wife, mother, grandmother ....but before all else I am a child of God.  I am loved, forgiven and recognise that my heavenly Father has so much more for me than I could ever hope or imagine.  Every day is a new day...the past is gone...we can't change it; the future is not within our grasp.  We have now, today, this moment to make a difference both in our own lives and the lives of others.

So although I'm not one for making New Year resolutions, my intention for today and every day is to find ways to encourage and bless others; to live gratefully for I am so blessed; to do the best I can with what I have been given.

Should you choose to share my journey, then I hope you'll be encouraged by this ordinary woman who seeks to trust more, live better and love till it hurts.