This Ending is just the Beginning!!

OMG!! Where do I even start? It’s now past the end of the month and I have completed my cooking challenge and I’m reporting back now. It was a success…but I didn’t cook everyday. I still ended up dining out a few days, I think 6-7 times this month. Mostly, it was due to poor planning and fatigue. I’m okay with my results though because I have again learned more about myself this month.

Sometimes the challenge you set out to do is not the only lesson you’re apt to learn. There were some down days…where restless sleep was abundant, but there was some encouragement along the way, to GET UP and GET MOVING!! I did not spend very many days in the gym and did not rake one leaf, but did get the chance walk a great deal. More than usual.

Career-wise…things began to flourish. I got away from writing during this restless time, but my thinking and creativity increased in other ways. I had the most awesome conference call that set some things in motion for not only me, but everyone else on the call. Great things to come!! That’s just one aspect. The ideas I received on other projects were both phenomenal and confusing.

It was not all cherries this month though…I had to have a serious talk with myself. I HAD to change my thinking about what I’m doing and myself. So, I pulled out some trusty tools to assist me. If you don’t already have this, I suggest picking up a copy of You Can Heal Your Life by Louise L. Hay. It is the Affirmation Bible, as far as I’m concerned. I also have a loan of the Movie, from the library. It is a MUST SEE. My constant reminder in October was “Change your thoughts, change your world.”

It is as simple as that. You want to see some changes in your life, then change the way you think. Start and keep up with your positive affirmations. Speak them in present tense and EXPECT life to BE better!!

I had some fun “me” time stuff going on this month too. I trimmed my own hair and made my own hair and body butters. All natural, all healthy. I gave away almost every single hair and body product in my toiletries closet. No longer need them, I am sold on my own products!!

So, that' pretty much it in a nutshell. I've started two more challenges!! These things keep every aspect of my life in front, so I can put my focus where it belongs!! One should never stop trying to improve herself.

So...to help me professional, I am a first time participant of NaNoWriMo. It's National Novel Writing Month and I've entered the challenge of writing 50,000 words in November!! I'm not sure if mine is a novel, but I have developing characters, so we'll just have to see.

Personally, I decided to do the 31 Days to Reset Your Life Challenge November 2011 Edition. It's already been a challenge, but in a good way. It's not too late to join if you're interested!! On my journey to being an eternally Happy Black Woman!!

My mantra this month “I LOVE and APPROVE of myself! I am loving and lovable just the way I am!! I chose it because I often do affirmation work and it’s the one I use the most, because it helps me the most. It gives me the courage to do something I hesitate on doing. 

My song is Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield. It has ALWAYS inspired me and it reminds me I have yet to write my full story and I have so much to accomplish and share in life. It keeps me motivated!!

I Know...and You Should Know Too!!

Today's been pretty laid back. I cooked and we ate leftovers. There were plenty of vegetables on my plate and plenty of green tea in my cup. I updated my budget sheet, mapped out my finances for the rest of the month and even put another load of laundry away. But...confession time: I never did complete my task of getting that dining room tabled cleaned off. I did a lot of it yesterday, but did not finish. I was too tired last night and today I just couldn't get motivated to do it. I am cooking again tonight, so hopefully I can get up enough energy to get it done.

Even though the last couple of days were driven by motivation, I have not been able to keep up the momentum today. I have a couple of projects to finish and I just can't bring myself to do them right now. I don't usually beat myself up because I always get the things done that I need to get done, but I sure would like to do it now!! At least I have my trusty "to do" list, because that keeps me on task. I just need to work on making it my "ta da" list instead!!

I was thinking earlier about what I wanted to say in today's blog, then I realized it's Thursday. Then I thought this is the perfect opportunity to focus on another side of healthy living: HIV testing. If you live in my hometown, then you (should) know that there are walk in hours for FREE HIV testing at the Aids Resource Center. I called in to verify because I was basing this information on some old information I obtained a while back. I'm glad I called because they moved the center!! If you have questions or you want to take advantage next Thursday, check them out: AIDS RESOURCE CENTER

Edited to preach...

If you are a mature adult, young or old, then taking care of your health and the health of your loved ones SHOULD be a priority!! This is ALL aspects of health, not just the ones we hear and agonize about (ie losing weight). I have heard so many excuses advocating the idea of NOT getting tested:

- People are scared. Well don't you want to know? Put your mind at ease. It would be scarier to have something, not know and pass it around. That is also very selfish to put others at risk.

- Negative stigma. This reason is plain stupid and quite frankly VERY immature. There is nothing wrong with you looking out for your own health. If you're adult enough to do adult things (drink, have sex, use drugs, pay to play), then you are adult enough to protect yourself and others. If someone has the nerve to make you feel uncomfortable about getting tested, then PLEASE DON'T MESS WITH THEM!! Oh, and encourage THEM to get to a center!!

I don't care WHAT reason people come up with to not know their status, because ALL of them are BS!!
Although I lacked motivation today, this is something that I decided to move on and and quickly. The staff was knowledgeable, friendly and makes you feel really comfortable!! Shout out to the SUPER cool Jared at ARC Ohio!! Listen, you don't have to wait until you think the worst or until December for World Aids Day. You can get tested anytime you like.

NO BLOOD!!

It's SAFE and CONFIDENTIAL!!

It only takes 20 minutes!!

It's FREE!!

There are no excuses...KNOW YOUR STATUS!!