The Measure of TRUE SUCCESS...Happy NEW YEAR Baby!

On Friday, I celebrated the 20th anniversary of my 22nd birthday…or 42! I thank GOD for the glory of his splendor!

To me, ALL birthdays are milestones…a culmination of the riches of your life. To celebrate the gift of life, one must appreciate where you’ve been, what you’ve done, where you are going, and what impact this will have in the world around you. In some cases, they let us know, how little we’ve done…or how much farther we have yet to go. It helps us to set the pace towards the life we aspire to, but constantly a work in progress. Most of us think of New Years as that milestone…but I say, no better way to measure one’s progress that to mark that progress with the day of your personal birth…your very own marking of your time here on this Earth, your very own personal NEW YEAR! I say, the “heck” with January 1st! It has been my personal experience, goals that are set on days that hold more personal significance to me…have more strength and hold more truth. But that’s just me…

Over the past few weeks…I’ve made some amazing new discoveries and a few more confirmations along the way. I have always been a food lover…and always a fan of the freshest available. I don’t think that will ever change. But as one gets older and begins to appreciate the time one has left…I think there comes a time, a maturity, or a “want” to do better. One starts to place an importance on the footprint you have on the world around you, and develops a quench to “achieve.” Albeit in your own life, or the lives of those around you, tomorrow isn’t promised to any of us…so today has to count TODAY!

With that thought in mind, I’ve made a commitment to myself to protect and care for this bodily temple that GOD has so graciously loaned to me. I have vowed to only put in it, the “best” of that which is available to me. With very little effort at all except my new found commitment and a few more dollars than I had previously budgeted, I’ve lost a whopping 8lbs. Pretty amazing considering there weren’t any additional exercise or calorie burning efforts. I realize that it will surely take a bit more than just eating fresh, whole foods, but it rejuvenating to see my body reacting to a great start.

Interestingly enough, in my research, I came across two women who intimately refer to themselves as “Healthy Hedonist.” One of which who happens to be the author of a book by the same name, and the other, a chef, who affectionately adorns the term, and another… "Voluptuous Vegan." I love the suggestion of such a theory, but strongly protect my freedom of choice. I don't think a little beef, pork or lamb, ever hurt anyone...but the key phrase there is "a little!" Personally, I am a seafood and chicken lover, but I do pay homage to the spirit of their principles. Certainly, I can also personally relate to the sexy connotation of the word "voluptuous!" Of course, you just never know...but it is always a woman’s prerogative to change her mind.


I suppose it really doesn’t matter if the pull is weight loss, or even life direction.
For today, the focus is to strive for a ...“HAPPY NEW YEAR!”