I spent the holidays near the beach in North Carolina. It was a week of relaxation with a WHOLE lot of downtime. With all of that opportunity for reflection, I realized that I spent a lot of 2015 wasting my time. Whether it was working more than I should have and not utilizing days off, doing things that amounted to nothing (browsing social media, for instance), or saying yes to people and activities that didn’t actually make me happy, it added up to a year of feeling like I was just going through the motions. As it turns out, “long walks on the beach” are not just romantic, but thought-provoking as well.
In an effort to change that for 2016, I’m devoting more time to the things that make me, “me” and to the people and experiences that grow me and make me feel authentically happy. It means making the time to read books, to blog and journal weekly, to try new exercise classes and meet new people, to continue waking up early for journaling and devotionals, to make plans with friends each week, and to push myself out of my comfort zone regularly, physically and mentally. It also means not sweating the small stuff and letting go of some burdens and frustrations I’ve been carrying too close and too long. Those are things I’m happy to do away with.
So far it’s been a resolution that I’m thoroughly enjoying. The first week saw a 7AM coffee date with a good friend, a work-day date night, Saturday morning breakfast and shopping with another good friend, a new book started (thank you Kindle Unlimited) and FINALLY showing up for a group fitness class at the gym we joined back in September. It was a week that made me feel full, and I’m grateful for it.
PSA: PiYo is NOT Pilates with yoga. Apparently this is a common misconception. It felt closer to Crossfit/Yoga; lots of squats, lunges, jumping and push ups with some sun salutations and warrior poses thrown in for good measure. Shout out to the sore muscles I didn’t know were there.
Amelia's Musings 