Its a New Year!

It is almost a full week into the new year, and I am feeling refreshed and blessed. I had been working and going to school like a crazy person for a few months, and having a few weeks off to relax, rest, get my house organized and catch up on some reading was very nice. The ending of one year and starting a new always makes me think back to where I was a year ago, and things that happened in the past year. 2013 was a bit of a strange year for myself, and my husband. We started the year off by paying off a car, and feeling very prepared for what was to come to having to buy a new car, and feeling like money draining events are never going to quit :(. Our entire family had a whole slew of health concerns, from cancer scares, to MS flares, a the craziest cold I have ever experienced. But 2013 wasn't all bad. My husband and I both got back on the healthy track. He has lost 40 lbs I believe, and I have lost 20. We completed 3 mud runs, and I completed 2 half marathons. All in all it was a life changing year. When I say life changing I mean, all of the runs, and information I have learned about eating healthy and taking care of my body there is no way I will look at things the same. It has also made me want to continue to improve, and set goals, and also look at how far I have come. Just 8 or 9 years ago (wow that feels like a long time), I was 212 lbs, overweight, unhappy, and in a not so pleasant place. I was on the road to recovering from a traumatic event, and coping in some not so healthy ways. I threw myself at some terrible relationships, drinking, and other not so fun things. I started losing weight but had a long way to go. Since then, I have really come a long way, and I honestly can't thank God enough for getting me far  away from those thoughts, feelings, people and places. I  heard a sermon over the weekend based around Joshua 1 and Deuteronomy 34:5-8. It touched on Trauma, holding patterns in life, and finally getting out of those holding patterns (or getting unstuck). The Four main points for getting unstuck were Heal, Listen, Prepare, and Take a Step. I can look back and see how in many ways 2013 was that leap of faith year. I can also see how I got myself into holding patterns that needed to get unstuck. Falling into lazy, less than perfect habits that need to be cleaned up and tweaked a bit. Moving into 2014 my husband and I have done a couple of things, started a weekly savings plan to save 1 dollar per week, that will increase in value by corresponding with the week of the year. So the first week of the year $1, the second week $2. We are currently working the Dave Ramsey Financial Peace Program the best that we can, by saving, paying cash, using the envelope system, and paying off debt, but this is a little booster. My husband and I also created bucket lists. But not just any bucket list, we created buckets lined with clothes pins that have our goals written on them. We each have one for ourselves, and collaberated on one for our family. As we complete the tasks we can put the pins in the bucket. Two of mine that I will be completing this year (unless something unforeseen happens) are completing a sprint triathlon, and running a marathon. I am pretty excited for both. At the beginning of my journey when I had the thought that I would like to run a marathon someday, I never thought I would be 27 doing it (as in I feel too young). This past year has brought great things into my life though. People that have inspired me, and people that have told me I inspire them (which is pretty awesome). With that being said I feel like this year will be bigger than last, and I will have an opportunity to continue to connect with others. It is a great feeling to grow, and learn and become the best version of myself. For anyone that is reading, I challenge you to do something that would inspire someone else. Think about one person that had a positive impact on you (maybe they didn't even know it), and what that impact caused you to do. In an effort to pay it forward, what can you do to positively impact someone else? A smile, putting money in an over due parking meter, paying for someones meal behind you at a drive thru, running for charity, or fitness. Everything you do, everything I do has an effect, positively or negatively. Just like Galatians 6:7 says, we reap what we sow. Also people are watching us, whether we acknowledge that or not, they are. What we say, how we act, and what we do. How do you want to be seen this year? I know I hope that it is in a positive and inspiration light! Happy New Year!