If nothing else the point of blogging is to be expressive and honest.  At least that's what my whole reasoning behind blogging is.  As a person who has made it a mandate to help others in their quest for health and finding the path to limitless success, honesty is a must.  So...pardon my language...but most of my blogs are no bullshit.  Today is no exception.

Life can sometimes be overwhelming and it really feels like that for me these days.  In spite of everything going on in life for me over this last year (and there has been PLENTY) I have truly focused hard on my health.  For me, if I let my eating habits go off track and don't exercise regularly...not only will I gain all the weight I've lost back, but I'll explode from all the bottled up stress.  I need the outlet for so many reasons. 

I have a friend that has not only given me limitless amounts of guidance and assistance but has also done much to assist in career help, personal thoughts, outside the box thinking and simply being a great friend.  I'm really lucky to have people in my life like that. 

It sort of hit me the other night on a bike ride.  I was driving along the roadway when I came around a corner and the Pacific Ocean and the coastal mountains were sitting in front of me.  It was so absolutely stunning and magnificent and I couldn't help but stop and view in awe.  It brought tears to my eyes as I realized how life has changed.  Not so many years ago I was sitting in front of my t.v. eating two boxes of chips, a tub of dip, a 1/2 gallon of milk and chocolate bars every single night.  Life was passing me by and my only picture of the world was through the living room window.  And now here I was viewing one of the most beautiful sites on the planet earth as I pedaled away on my bike. 

As difficult as life can be sometimes, for all of these things in my life at this moment...true friends, health, magnificent wonders of the world at my doorstep....I am truly blessed.  And I wonder how many other blessings I've missed over the years because I got caught up in the negative spin cycle of life.  Who ever said life sucks is missing the boat!

I usually do fit camps on Monday, Wednesday and Fridays.  On the 'inbetween' days is usually when I go running, biking or any other physical activity I can to stay active.  Today was no different.  It is a beautiful pristine blue sky that cascades over the mountains on Vancouver Island.  The wind is calm and the temperature continues to be abnormally hot for the island climate.  As the mercury approached 25 celcius I drove to one of my favorite running spots.  An area of forest that is rich with mile high trees, trails that go on forever and a fragrance that only mother nature could perfect.

Now keep in mind that this area is deep thick forest with trails that go every which way.  I've been there many many times and still feel like I don't really know the area as well as I should.  Today, as happens often in this area I got turned around and lost my way.  It seems that despite my best intentions to follow a certain familiar route that I once again took a wrong turn and ended up doubling back on myself.  And I could not be happier that it keeps happening time and time again. 

I think the reason I love going to this certain area so much is because I keep getting lost.  My outlook on getting lost isn't what you might think.  For many people doing the routine is comfortabled and safe and it's all they are looking for.  The safe and consistent route.  As with everything else in my life I feel like the nomad that always wants to explore.  The other thing that makes me happy when I get lost is that it forces me to get even more exercise.  Sometimes you struggle to get up and go exercise and when you arrive you do the safe familiar route.  Like today, when I get lost it forces me to do way more miles than I planned on it.  And I love it.  I likely did an extra 2k today simply because I got turned around.  I guess what makes me happy about that is that I'm burning more calories, more stress and pounding the crap out of the demons in my head.  Take that you little buggers! 

It seems to me that getting lost in the forest isn't just an accident but an art form.  The more I get lost it seems the closer I actually get to the real destination.  And isn't that ironic.

The whole point of my blog is to let my internal voice speak loudly.  Sometimes they're long and sometimes they're short.  Today will be short.

For all of those people who are struggling today know that tomorrow will bring new opportunity.

For those that are hurting today....know that tomorrow will hurt a little less.

For those that can't see the light at the end of the tunnel then simply know that sometimes you must run down and light the thing yourself.

For those that are focused on mistakes and regret rather than learning from them simply stop and recondition your thinking.

And finally .... live for today.  You don't know what tomorrow brings.

As I say these and share my thoughts with others it is me that is also needing to appreciate these truths.

Make today your first day!!!!

Joël

I just love the title of this blog.  It writes like a headline out of the Weekly World News.

I'm having a rough day today.  My spirits seem somewhat dampened and yet I should be joyful and optimistic.  I guess I'm wondering why change is so difficult.  I think of all the change I've committed to in losing weight.  And not easy change.  I'm talking life altering....tear yourself up inside and out....dedication....stressful....kind of change.  And I did it.  I did it by living one day at a time and not looking too far ahead into the future.  It all boils down to small achievable goals.  I have to keep reminding myself that it's not the destination that you look for but the journey that takes you there.

Ok...admittedly I am somewhat of a control freak and safe to say I'm competetive.  Right now I feel like the control has been taken away from me.  I'm sitting waiting for the other shoe to drop in many areas of my life.  In January of this year I left my job in a career I spent 22 years building.  My hope was to go out and help people and attempt to inspire my others with my story.  I have done that but it is not easy to make a living at it.  So tomorrow I'm going back to work in a line of work that I have no experience in yet a lifetime of experience in.  I am going to challenge myself and I'm going into assisting people in finding and owing the right automobile.  Tomorrow I begin selling cars and I'm very excited about it.  I will still be helping people, I get to be outside a good chunk of the day and I get to meet new people and share stories.  How cool is that?  At the same time I've never done car sales before so it will be a new experience.  But I've spent a lifetime learning and enjoying meeting and making people feel special so it will be fun. 

Am I nervous?  For sure!  But excited and anxious to get going.  Today though with that and other things going on I just find that all this change is tough.  So, I guess I'm having a moment.  Oh yeah...and I'm impatient too. lol  So I remind myself that to get to the destination isn't the important thing....it's the ride that you need to enjoy.  And hopefully a ride that you purchased from me!  :))