We Froze Our Bells Off

The Jingle Bell Run was a blast. Well is was a freezing blast anyway!! I think at race time it was 10 degrees. Needless to say, I did not run it, because we were half frozen by the time the race started and I could not feel most of my feet. I was afraid, if I ran, that I would trip and fall. My feet just did not want to warm up! Anyway, it was fun walking with my thousands of crazy friends! It's such a fun event!!

How are you doing? Are you making your Christmas wish of reaching your optimal health and fitness this season?

I'm doing it! I am still working my plan and I've lost another pound! (Weight loss ticker has not been updated yet)

90 pounds gone so far!!! I only have 44 more pounds to go, to reach my goal. That is amazing!!

If you would like to know how I'm doing this please email me, your phone number and the best times to call, to transparent.joy@gmail.com. I would love to tell you more!

Keep up the great work. REMEMBER....to eat healthy foods, drink your water, exercise and get plenty of rest during this busy and stressful season.

You've got this!!

Have a fit day!!!!!

I did it!!

Last 5k I did in 45.2 minutes (July 4, 2012)

Today 46.52 minutes ~ Not bad for not a lot of  practice!!


I tried to smile in my picture, but my lip was quivering too much!

Notice my Dream wall hanging....I guess I'm a little closer to achieving my dream of running a 1/2 Marathon. Notice the "E"....it's broken, look at the bottom of the letter. (that little white spot is where part of the letter broke off). I have wanted to replace that letter, but today, I realize how important that broken "E" is.

You see my body is broken. It's not perfect. I'm still babying my sore back and I have a lot of other little ailments and old injuries to deal with. So even though there is brokenness, I still have hope to achieve my dreams! Just have to push through all the obstacles and keep focused on the goal. I can do this!!!!

I FEEL GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!

How about you....are you reaching for your dreams?

Keep focused!!!!!!!!!

Day 85 to 90 - 7 Month Focus

Has four days gone by already? Well now 5 days....Nope it's 6 days now....I started this post a couple of times and got distracted....again and again!!!!

Good news...I FINALLY RAN AN ENTIRE 5k!!!!!

To set the tone....Race day was gorgeous!!! Bright blue skies, sunshine, great temperature, tons of 4th of July festivities going on, family and friends. I was with my daughter, along with Margene, her family and friends. This was a race for Cancer Awareness Treatment for Breast Cancer. We had around 1200 to 1400 participants this year. It's a great race!

(My daughter, Friend, Friend, Friend, Margene's daughter, Margene, then me)

SO anyway, we get set to go and the minute the race starts, I get teary eyed. I do this for many reasons. #1~ I was running in honor of my Sister in Law who is now fighting for her life because of cancer and for my friend who died of cancer and for my grandma who had breast cancer. So I was thinking of them. Then #2 ~ My 5k  career started with this race 3 years ago. When I walked that one, I could barely do it. I remember, minutes into that first race, I was crying because I was having pain in my legs. I walked that whole thing pretty much stump legged because there was so much pain. (But I did it in 1 hr ~ 7 minutes) Anyway, #3 ~ I was missing my hubby! He had to work that day, so he could not be there. So the race starts and we are off....I'm choking back the tears and just trying to focus and after a short time, I feel a slap on my hiney.

I have never been so focused...I almost missed that someone hit me in that area. And after a little time, it finally registered with me that my buns were smarting and I looked over to see my hubby with his race shirt on. The stinker, he surprised me and took the day off ~ he was running the race with me!!!

After I worked through the next set of tears, I got refocused and set my mind on the finish line!

Some things I learned about doing this...#1 It's very helpful to have enough rest and the right kind of food before the race. I was fully prepared in both areas so I felt great! Of course good shoes and comfortable clothes is important too! Next, good music that lifts you up is fantastic. My last 5k I tried listening to music for the first time. I picked a random rock station and every song they played talked about hell, death or dying.....Then on that course, some people thought it a great idea to put chalk outlines of dead bodies along the route. Let me just tell you that I was not amused!!!! Then having your support people there is bonus!! Hubby really helped me stay focused, kept me hydrated and encouraged me to the finish line. And finally knowing the course was the most important thing for me. They have mile markers along every course, but in last 5 races I've done, I've only seen one marker along the route. It can be really frustrating not knowing how long you have to go. I really need to purchase a watch. But this time, because I've run this course 2 other times, I knew how many turns I had until the main stretch to the finish line. So helpful to me!!

The hardest part was that last stretch to the finish line. You come around the bend and you can see the finish banner, it does not seem that far away, however, I bet it's at least a mile. I have to say, I was getting tired by then, but that banner beckoned me. I was not stopping. Oh and of course, I was thinking of my sister in law and others who have fought the fight of cancer. I thought, "If they can do that, do all it takes to live....then I can do this!!!" It really helped me make it to the end!!

It was kind of cool, because every once in a while I'd get this burst of energy and I would run faster and then I would go back to my normal stride. Never done that before. Well I've never run a whole race before either. Who knows what I'm capable of.

Last race there were kids along the route wanting to give high fives! I don't know why people want to do this,  but anyway, last race I was so disappointed in myself that I would not even look at the people. They would cheer and encourage and I would grumble inside. I would literally run away from anyone who wanted to encourage me. This race, I'm high five'n as much as I can. I felt great and worthy of the encouragement. Because I was really pushing to make this happen!!

So we get closer to the finish, I pick up my speed and nearly knock myself out of my shoes, because I can't believe my time. Then I really push it!!! The tears are coming again! I did my personal best!!!!

The last 5k I did - walking and running I came in at 52 minutes. This time I blew past the finish line at 45.2 minutes. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? ME....I DID THAT!!!

I know still a slow time, but for me, that is fantastic!! My daughter was so surprised and excited for me. She got in at some ridiculous time.....30 something minutes and she said she was waiting at the finish line. She knew that my time was 52 minutes and about the time I came in, she almost walked away to look at something and would be back in time to see me come in. She was so happy she waited.

So I came in to hugs from Hubby, my daughter and Margene. I can't believe I did it!!

Since then and the reason for me not writing, is that every day since, has been jammed packed. After the 5k, we went to Cottage Grove about 2 1/2 hours from here. Spend the day with my Hubby's family. First time in years that all five of the boys were together, we had one come from Alaska and one from Colorado. We had a fantastic time. Ended up getting home at 1am.

Then the next day it was work all day and water aerobics and bed...I was exhausted. Then on Wednesday it was work and stability ball class and bed. Exhausted again and then Thursday we were out on our boat all day skiing. And then yesterday it was work all day and I was on the couch at 6pm and asleep. Can I say I'm exhausted?

Since my computer has been on the fritz on and off, I've noticed there has been a shift in my 7 Month Focus Plan. The first 3 months of the plan, I got a lot of the things done, but they were the easy things. Drinking water, recording calories and blogging got done most every day. The hard stuff, the stuff that really makes a difference in my weight loss plan......Exercise and calorie intake did not get done every day. Since I have refocused and put those things first I am getting results. Down to 208 pounds.....but more is happening with my body....inches are moving....more people are noticing weight loss again. Soooo exciting!

So I may be sporadic on my blog, but be assured I'm not sporadic in my plan. I'm working this thing and things are happening!!

How about you...Are you working your plan?

Keep focused!

Day 79 - 84 ~ 7 Month Focus

June was an interesting month! Even though there were many problems and frustrations during the month, including my computer & Bodybugg not working, I did fairly well! I stayed on track and hit all of my goals 8 days this month. Still striving to do better! I started the month off at 214.4 and ended at 210.06.

A couple of weeks ago, the light bulb went on and I finally decided that I need to really start working on my calorie intake. My new daily calorie goal is in the 1500's.  Seems my average prior to July was around 1800 calories per day. I'm still able to lose with the calories that high, but have noticed since I'm aiming for the 1500's it's going a lot faster. Well duh!

I know, I know...sometimes it takes a while (from me over a year and a half) to get stuff right. Oh and be willing to make the necessary changes in order to get this weight off. I wish I would not have wasted so much time.....But I did and there's nothing I can do about it now. Now I just need to keep FOCUSED and move on.

July is already starting out well!

Some fabulous news!!!!!!

My doctor has been hounding me since 2008 to get on meds for high cholesterol. In 2009 I tried a couple and ended up with the Hemi Facial Spasms. At that time she pulled me off of all the meds to see what was going on. In 2008 my Cholesterol was 258 (HDL 55 & LDL 179). Way too high. When I was on the meds I got down to 133 total Cholesterol (HDL 39 & LDL 70) Great numbers huh? Yeah, but the meds make me feel awful!!!!

So I started my health and fitness plan 01/01/10 and my next test was done in March of 2010. The Cholesterol was 230...getting better on my own ~ thank you very much! Then January of 2011 came and she tested me again. I came in at 220....Still not great. My doc said that she really felt I needed to go back on the meds. She felt I was in the danger zone and she wanted to get me to a healthier place. I agreed with her that that would be just grand. However, the meds make me feel sooo bad, I knew if I got on them again, I would abandon my health and fitness plan. I pleaded with her to give me 6 more months. I told her that I would focus on my exercise and calories and get more weight off. I begged her to give me just one more chance. Thankfully she agreed and warned me this was the last chance!!!
So last week I had another test. My Cholesterol came in at 198 (HDL 45 & LDL 136) The LDL is still higher than she would like, but she sees good progress and thinks I will be OK. I DON'T HAVE TO TAKE DRUGS!!!

Boy is that motivation to keep going? YOU BET IT IS!!!

So I'm still working to get all of my numbers in the normal range. And the next thing I want to tackle is the blood pressure meds. When I first started my program, I was on 3. Now I'm still on 2 meds. Really want to get off of all of them!! I CAN DO IT!!!

Doing a 5k tomorrow before the big 4th of July parade in our town. Can't wait to see how I do. I really want to run the whole thing. PRAY FOR ME!!
How are you doing? Are you working your plan?

Stay focused!!!

Day 58 & 59 - 7 Month Focus

Hello!! Back to the living! Yesterday I spent the entire day in bed with a chest cold and a slight fever. I read and slept (on and off) all day. Truth be known, I think not only did I have a small cold, but I was also recovering from the 5k run the day before. I have to say that today I feel pretty amazing. Body feels good, except my left foot is still smarting a little from the run and  the coughing and chest pain is not as bad as yesterday. Stress level is really low!!! Ah relief.

Well our Margene is an amazing firecracker!! My daughter and I met up with Margene and her family & friends on Saturday for the 5k. 

That's me, 3rd from the left and Margene and her son are on the right. It was a gorgeous Saturday, temperature in the 80's. There were tons of people there, most of them in costume. So fun to watch!!

Unfortunately I did have to walk a couple of times during the race. One thing I did not count on were the hills. In fact, right at the starting gate, it was uphill quite a distance. I made it though for quite a while and then I had to walk. I was a little disappointed that I could not run the whole thing.

Lessons learned....know your course, train for the course, train in all types of weather and for heavens sakes, make sure you have the right kind of music on. I selected an 80's mix on my iPhone. All the songs of that day were about death & dying and hell. Even as I was running along the route, I saw several chalk outlines of bodies with x'd out eyes along the course. (Who does this stuff?) Anyway, not funny when you are trying to kill yourself by running!!

Anyway I made it. I still came in at 52 minutes. One minute longer than my last 5k, probably because we could not move very fast in the beginning because there were so many people. Anyway, I am pleased.

See my happy face!!

Oh also have to report, that my daughter did amazing. She came in at 36 minutes. I would love to get in shape enough to keep up with her. That would be amazing.

How about you...are you stretching yourself?

Keep focused!

Day 57 - 7 Month Focus

Race day is finally here!! Can I just say that I'm excited!!!! Could not ask for better weather. I really did not care what the temperature, as long as it did not rain. Looks like we will be in the 80's...bright blue skies and SUN!!! Woo hoo!!! (Race time 6:45pm - Starlight Run)

The reality of it all hit me yesterday when we were making preparations....Had to get my iPhone armband, new running pants and picked up my t-shirt. You would think with all the hubbub, I would be running a marathon. For me, it will probably feel like one. Think about running 3.1 miles, without stopping, at 213 pounds. YIKES!!!!

In preparations of my mind (for me, that's where I need to do a lot of work), I have been thinking about my race attitude and the amazing race face I get....where nothing matters. Nothing!! Just me and the road. I got that face last Saturday, when I made my first attempt at running a 5k. I got the face of determination....I went to that place, a place outside myself, a place that assured me...I CAN DO IT... (I can't even begin to explain what it feels like)...anyway, I want that race face again. It's amazing!! I can't wait to go there again!

I am adopting a new "So WHAT" attitude! Yesterday while driving to work, I was thinking about all of the reasons why I can't do the things I want to do. I'm just driving along, talking to God and convincing Him of why I can't. And all I heard from Him was...."So WHAT!"

Huh??!!??

I felt He was telling me...So WHAT if you feet/body hurts, so what if you are scared, so what if you have fear, so what if you don't feel worthy, so what if you.....whatever it is.... SO WHAT!!!!!

No matter the reasons I have for stopping me from achieving my goals, whatever they are, So WHAT,
just push through those reasons and get the job done.

I have had many times in my life where I had to do something for others and I was up against obstacles and I just pushed through. Mostly I did this because I felt I did not have any options. I just had to do what I had to do. So for myself; I need to adopt this same attitude. That no matter the obstacles, no matter the troubles I have, I need to say "So What" to them and push toward my goals.

Nothing has to stop me....I'm the only one who's stopping me because I'm hanging on to this stuff that does not matter. These things are not holding me back. I'm holding me back!!

So WHAT to that stuff. This girl is pushing through!!!!

How about you...Are you ready to say "So What" to your obstacles?

Stats from yesterday...

Exercise: 30 minutes on Treadmill
Steps: 6931
Calories: 2076
Track Food: Done
Water: 100+ oz
Blog: Done

Missed some of my goals again!!! SO WHAT...Today is a new day!!! I'm reaching for them!!!

Keep focused!!

Day 57 - 7 Month Focus

If my math is right, in 36 hours,  I will be running a 5k for the first time ever! I will be running with my daughter, Margene and her friends. I cannot wait!!!!

Again I've allowed stress to set me back this week. I just wish I would not go there, but I do! Anyone else do that? For me, stress really kills my weight loss and fitness journey. I turn so inward, that I can't see what I'm supposed to do. And when I get like this EVERYTHING affects me. I get so offended and hurt and fuss over such silly things in life. Frustration comes in and it stalls everything.

Yet I do nothing to eliminate the stress in my life. Well one thing I do is read and sleep. But I'm sure there are other great ways to combat stress....

Do you have any ideas?

Stats from yesterday.

Exercise: 30 minutes treadmill
Steps: 7486 (Geez, if I would have plugged in my Bugg and checked, I would have realized how close I was to my 10,000 step goal and I would have got this goal done.
Calories: 1905 - Same thing....I need to be more focused on what's happening!
Food Tracking: Done
Water: 100+ oz
Blog: Done

I know the uncertainty of the 5k has been on my mind. So thankful that I actually took the time last weekend and ran one, so I know I can do it. I just need to get an official race under my belt.

Keep up the great work my Friends and stay focused!!!!

Day 56 - 7 Month Focus

Oh my goodness. I'm approaching month 3 of my 7th Month Focus Challenge. Time goes by so fast!

Couple things....

• Is anybody else having trouble leaving comments on other people's blogs? If you have not heard from me, it's because I can't leave a comment. Any advise?
• It's June already....And it's cold in Oregon....still cloudy and rainy.....wearing sweaters!! Not helping me with my attitude!! Can I just say....GRUMPY!!!
• Still fighting the blues....Seems the more things that happen to me or bad stuff I hear, the more down I get. I am so trying to get my joy!

7 Month Focus Update - Month 2 - DONE!

Last month was so good in many way and really tough in others. I worked through my Aspartame problem, some other health issues, a challenging month at work, and really pushed through some tough things. Also had a lot of success and challenged myself!

May Stats
8 Perfect days ~ Met all goals (Only had 5 perfect days in April)
Exercised: 22 Days (Plus I ran 1 5k, walked a couple 5k's and walked a 10k)
Steps: Hit 10,000+ steps - 14 days
Calories: 1600 - Only hit this 10 days
Tracked Food: 26 Days
Water: 100+ oz - 24 Day
Blog: 28 Days

Lost 2 pounds for the month ~ I actually hit 211 at one point (which would have been a 4 pound loss), but gained 2 pounds last week.

The first of the month I was really gun ho and the rest of the month I struggled. Obviously calories are killing me. I just can't seem to hit the mark.

Biggest struggle is my attitude and stress level. I put so much pressure on myself to hit my goals and when I come up short, I really beat myself up. Last year, I enjoyed the journey...This year, feels like I have a yoke around my neck and it's too tight, kind of chocking me, slowly....

Some my advise I stop my challenge, maybe I can't handle it. But don't we always hear that we need to set goals? I really want to be successful. I don't think I've set the bar too high. My problem is I still have my heels dug in and I'm fighting this journey right now. I just once want to do something big for MYSELF and make this happen!! I want to set my goals and make them! Why am I stopping myself?

Enough!

My new focus this week will be the 5k run this Saturday. I need to psych myself up and really focus! I need to get excited and pumped! I CAN DO IT!! (Margene is doing great!! We are gonna do it girlfriend!!)

How about you...Are you reaching your goals?

Stay focused!!

Day 54 & 55 - 7 Month Focus

Day 54.....Lets just say is was an epic FAILURE!!! No exercise, calories were over the top, did not get my water in, did not journal my food and did not blog. Guess what???? I'm up 2 pounds....Hum!!

Day 55....Success so far!!!                                                       

So I woke up kind of early....feeling really sluggish....Well it's no wonder why!!!! Anyway, I got on the scale and found that I was up 2 pounds. I promptly went right back to bed ~ defeated!!!!

I'm laying there and my Hubby comes in to give me a kiss goodbye - he works on Sundays. He can tell right off, that I'm in a "mood" and asked what it was about. Once I was done with my boo hooing he simply gives me a hug and says a prayer for me, right then and there!! He leaves for the day and I'm still laying there.

I had a big choice to make...I could lay there for the rest of the day and waste it or I could get up and make some stuff happen.

First thing I did was check out my email from my Blog Friends. I decided to read one that caught my eye and it was from Dawn at Bare it all. (Sorry I don't know how to link to her site) Anyway she was talking about an event she went to and referenced another blog from Kelly Olexa. On Kelly's blog for the day, I saw a statement that I think has changed my life!! Here it is:

"Success must be felt within before it can be seen on the outside."

Deep down I have know this to be true. For me I also know that if you don't feel it....you don't feel it. This is not something you can make up or pretend to have. You've really got to get it in there. Fortunately I've had the feeling before....then lost it. So I know what I'm looking for.

With a smidgen of hope and desire to be successful I decided to get on my treadmill. Do you know that there are only 7 days until my first time at running in a 5(k) and I do not even know if I can do it. I don't think I've ever ran that far ~ ever!!! Do you know how much stress and pressure that puts on a person? Especially when you are fearful that you will get kicked off the course because you can't do it. I just don't want that to happen. And yet.....I have neglected even trying to see if it's a possibility for me. I decided that I needed to really bust this fear out of the water.. So I set out to see how far I can really run.

I'm on my treadmill.....remember with just a thread of hope.....the speed settings were at 3.2......I'm nervous.....holding on to the handle (for crying out loud!!!)....and I'm waiting for something to happen. And all of a sudden, this success mantra started in my head. (I wanted to stop and write it down, but I did not want to break the spell so I pushed on) I kept repeating the mantra...something like...."You're a success...you can do it!" (Sorry can't really remember what the full thing was) I guess it does not matter because all of a sudden my hands left the handle I was holding, my fists curled in to balls and I took a runners pose and got busy! For a while, I kept my eye on the gauge and watched the numbers move toward my 3.1 mile goal. Each minute that went by the closer I got. At some point during all of this the mantra in my head got louder and I got more determined as I got past 30 minutes of running without stopping. Then I set my focus on something and I swear I just went somewhere else. I did not see the treadmill gauge, TV or anything else in the room. No it was just me and my mantra....speaking success into my run and a new determination struck me.....I knew then, that I was not going to stop until I reached my goal. I was going to make it. I was going to have success!! And I DID IT!!

Probably the slowest 5k ever...I clocked in at 52 minutes. But it does not matter. I did it. I ran it for 52 minutes without stopping!!!!

Once I was done, it felt like I was walking on a cloud. You know that's an amazing feeling!!

I was so happy to receive the blog award for Jessica. She's been an awesome support to me. If you don't know her now, go visit her, you will not be sorry. I have decided that I would give the award to Dawn at Bare it all. Because of what she wrote today helped change the way I think and I was able to achieve success!! Thank you Dawn!!!!

How about you? Are you looking for your success!

Keep focused!!

Day 46 - 7 Month Focus

Today has already started off in a rush!! Got up - went for a walk with my Hubby for an hour, now I need to get ready to go see my Sister in Law Tracy. She has terminal cancer. Please pray for her!!!

Anyway...I have 4 minutes to get this done.....

• Signed up for a 5k RUN - it will be on June 4th @ 6:45pm!! I have a lot of work to do.
• I have a row clinic,  in the morning, the same day as the run. Will be on the boat for a while, but I'm sure it won't be too strenuous. Runners...what do you think?
• Planted all of my annuals in my back yard. It is beautiful!! Hubby and I spent time on our swing last night enjoying the moment.

Stats from yesterday:

Exercise: 35 minutes treadmill (25 minutes running)
Steps: 12763
Calories: 1649
Food Tracking: Done
Water: 100+ oz
Blog: Done

Well I'm off. Have an awesome and purposeful day!!

Are you working your plan?

Keep focused!!!

Day 40 & 41 - 7 Month Focus

Did not get to write anything yesterday, due to Blogger having the system down. I usually have about a half hour each day to write and read blogs. Not a lot of time. Once again, yesterday was a jammed packed day. Very stressful!! For a week now, I have been dealing with computer problems. All I did was switch our phone & Internet system, at work, from one provider to another. That's it!! But it effected our entire system. Email, fax, copy machine (scanning) and phone system. One thing would happen and then it would just snowball to the next thing. It never ended all week. Then yesterday, when I went to do my blog and found out that the system was down, I about lost it!!!

Computers...Internet...smart phones...remote controls...LOVE THEM.....HATE THEM!!!

I have to say, by the end of the day yesterday, I was not my usual joyful self. I really just wanted to hurt someone.....or eat a bunch of chocolate!!

But instead, I went back to my new way of living and thought up some things I could do to avoid hurting others or myself. So I called Margene to see how she is doing and to let her know that I'm going to do the Starlight 5k with her. I am really excited about that!! Hopefully my daughter will join us. Should be really fun!

Then I went to the nursery to pick up some plants. Just walking into the place, I could feel my blood pressure return to normal and I began to relax. My creative mind was going crazy with all of the possibilities. I think my eyes are bigger than my yard, which is as big as a postage stamp. Can I just say...Tiny! I got some Daisies - don't they just make you smile? And I got some Petunia's, Alyssum, Geraniums, Coleus, Asparagus Fern, Wandering Jew and some reeds (don't know what they are called). Everything is Red, White or Blue, and well green :-) So tomorrow is planting day. Can't wait!

Before Blogger went down, I was going to write about what happened on Thursday. I have to say, that I'm really disappointed in myself. As I am going through this journey, I am trying really hard to keep everything together. Before I started my health and fitness plan, I was fairly busy. Then adding the extra time for exercise, journaling food, blogging etc, plus all the other new things I've added to my life, lets just say, I am REALLY busy!!!

With that said, sometimes, I get behind on my house stuff. I mean everything gets done, but it's usually done in a frantic, crazed fashion and always last minute. So for over a month, I've had on my calendar a note to remind myself to sign up for a row class and every day I've been rescheduling the task, always thinking...that I have time. Well my time ran out. When I finally decided to sign up for the class, I realized that it started on 5/10/11 and I missed it. The boathouse website advised that if you missed the first classes, you should wait until the next one. Bummer!

Oh...the other thing about taking this class at this time is.....the class time starts at 5:30pm ~ totally doable!! Unfortunately the next class time, that starts 6/22 is 5:30AM!!! Yikes. Not only is the start time early, but it takes a half  hour to get to the water and that does not include getting ready and or parking. Can I just say  YIKES!!! Means I have to be up by 4:00am to make this happen. Wow! Good thing the class is only 2 days a week!

Anyway, in order to take the class I have to do a 20 minute swim test - which I will get done this next week or so. Then they have a free class on 6/4 in the morning (same day as the 5k - I'm going to be tired!!) Does not matter. I really want to do this and I'm going to make it happen!!!!

I guess that's it for now. Nuggets of truth in all this....be ready for your schedule and health and fitness plan to be shook up ~ have a back up plan. Be ready for stress and frustration ~ it's going to happen ~ be ready!! Look for beauty when you are in a mess! Don't procrastinate!! It could mean less sleep or worse! Be open to meet new friends ~ your life will be Blessed! Stretch yourself ~ You will be amazed how far you will go!

How about you...Got any nuggets to share?

Keep focused!