Life's Lows

No matter how much you practice being positive, and looking for the bright side, there are certainly times it's appropriate to feel sad, or blue. The obvious times are a death, the loss of a job, or an upset with a friend or loved one. But what do you do if you find yourself in a funk and there's been no major event to blame? If the normal things you would usually do don't work, I say embrace feeling down. Maybe it's the moon, your monthly cycle (if you're a woman of course), or just simply stress.

I'm usually so happy and up, that when I'm blue I actually feel guilty. Even with a clear and legitimate reason to be sad or angry, my logical side fights with my emotional side. When my emotions win, I give in. I allow myself a day or so to feel sad and it typically falls away on it's own. If all else fails, remember that we can't fully appreciate the good days without an occasional bad day to gauge it by.

What About Intention?

Do you think your thoughts really have the kind of power that some would like you to believe they have? I do. Whatever you think, you're right! How many times have you heard me utter those words? One of the laws of our universe is the law of attraction that states like attracts like. Create an energy about your self that's negative and you will attract negative people. Oh, never mind, you all know this stuff!

I'm rambling a bit today because I'm struggling with how I feel versus how I want to feel. I certainly believe I have control over this, but sometimes, the actual where-you-are-right-now-feelings are stronger than the I-know-I-can-feel-something-different knowledge. Hopefully what I know and believe will soon win over what I'm feeling so intensely. I'll explain more of this on Friday, but for now, let me go clean my house and my emotional space!

You Got You Here!

Is this you? This certainly guarantees success but what are you really gaining? Exactly!

To really take responsibility you have to tell the truth. Tell the truth about how many pounds overweight you are, how many dollars in credit card debt you are (to name just a few of the truths I've been confronting lately), and that you are the only one who created and can uncreate the mess.

It seems that people are really catching on to the true meaning of the truth will set you free. I know when I get honest about where I am and why, I can clearly see the things I need to do to produce the better outcomes I want. Oprah has kicked off her new season with all the topics that we live with and try to balance; weight, health, money, spirituality, and sex. Every one of these shows had the same foundation, get honest with yourself about why you are where you are and when you do, conditions will start to improve. I believe this. I know you have to start the do-ing, but telling the truth, saying it out loud, writing it down, and mapping a plan makes it seem less daunting. It's as if when you finally say it or write it, you see that you're still living and breathing, but now the weight of the lies has been lifted. You can breathe easier with a plan to move forward to the honest life you really want to live.

What do you need to get honest about? I spent all day Saturday getting honest about our finances and how we (I say we because in our marriage, Dave and I both make decisions, but for my purpose of getting real, I take full responsibility for where we are.) over indulged in a time when I wasn't making my usual salary. I'm also feeling an overwhelming need to get real about my diet and fitness routine. I need to stop allowing myself to be in a funk, and just do it! Create the right mental attitude by taking the action, the funk will fall away when the benefits of the healthful eating and exercise kick in.

I contemplated giving you my facts and figures as part of my honesty program and chose not to in an effort to not create an uncomfortable situation by giving you more information than you care to have. If you want to know my honest numbers (weight and debt), e-mail me and I will share them with you without shame. It is what it is and it's about to get better! Share your thoughts with me, I'm happy to share my journey with you, heck it's always easier to do this together!

Woman Bites Dog!

As reported by Andrea Menniti of KOVR channel 13:

Video at http://www.cbs13.com/video/?id=45199@kovr.dayport.com

It may seem bizarre, but for Kathy Partak, nibbling her cocker spaniel Riley is a daily ritual."Every morning I give him a little love bite," she said. "It's our 'good morning.'"

It started the first day she brought Riley home as a puppy six years ago. Now, if she forgets to chomp, he gets upset."He'll kind of follow me around, he'll scratch, 'Hey, are we okay?'" Kathy laughs.

When Kathy is gone, her husband Dave is left to do the dirty work. The devoted owner insists Riley is perfectly clean, and not a bit bothered by the biting."It's just a little scruff on the neck," she said. "It's not even a hard bite.

Kathy is the first to admit that the habit is hard for other people to understand."Absolutely this is odd," she said. "None of my friends bite their dog, but I don't care! Why be normal?"

Kathy and Riley's unusual display of affection as gained national attention, and the two appeared on the Rachael Ray Show on 1/8/09.

Kathy, Riley, and Rachael Ray!

Yes, tomorrow is the day our segment will air on the Rachael Ray Show. Riley and I flew to New York back in September and taped a segment of "Is this normal?" It's pretty clear to me that what I do to Riley everyday isn't normal, but hey, why be normal anyway? Laughing!

I'm sure I've shared what the segment is about, but today I'm not telling. Tune in tomorrow to see for yourself. The show airs here in California at 3 PM on NBC (channel 3 for me in the Sacramento area). It certainly wasn't what you might think it would be to do the taping, but it's one of those experiences in the big picture scheme of things, not many people get to do.

I'm glad we went and if my ulterior motives go as planned, you'll see me on again only this time I'll be appearing as a "Mom Inventor" touting our very smart glove invention. Now you see my evil plan! Tune in tomorrow to see us make our national television debut!

It's All About Family

For me, winning in life is about happiness. For as long as I can remember I've wanted to be happily married with children. I waited for the right man and together we have a wonderful son. We've found a great balance between the time we spend as a family and Dave and I encouraging each other to spend time away from home with our friends and hobbies.

For the new year we got a Wii system along with the Wii Fit program. It's Dave's intention that we get fit and feel good. We (or should I say Wii) are working out together and even when we work out at different times during the day, we track each other's progress and compete with each other. It's been great fun and makes me feel good as a mom to see Mason practicing yoga completely self determined.

For all intents and purposes, I feel successful and like a winner. I still have things I want (and need) to accomplish personally and professionally, but if it were to all end right now, I'd feel like a winner!

A New Year - A New Approach

It's been said that 92% of people who make new year resolutions don't keep them. The thought is that they try to tackle too much all at once. I've had some success with resolutions but they usually don't come on January first. Oh, don't get me wrong, I resolve many things at the beginning of the year, too, it's just that the things I've been successful with haven't been for a new year.

This year I'm certainly starting new with the same commitment to get my weight in check and feel better. Heck, if Oprah, who has every advantage, can gain her weight back, well, that speaks for itself. Dave has been working out all through the holidays and he looks great. We got a new Wii system with the Wii Fit program and I have to say, I'm impressed. I'm going to use this tool and see where it takes me.

For today, I'm going to journal my food, be conscious of my choices, and exercise. Yesterday, I ate chips, dip, and See's candy. Sounds crazy, I know. My thought was that eating some of the leftovers took the "I can't have that" feeling out of the day, and frankly, it wasn't all that. Now that the diet has been blown, I have nothing to fail at and I feel really ready to eat better food, exercise more (again), and just get to the business of making this year better than the last one! Happy New Year!