My Body is a Temple

I have been on a self-care journey.  I joined a gym and I have been exercising and consciously watching what I eat.  I actually think about what I eat and how it may be effecting my body. I make a concerted effort to make my own breakfast and lunch(no more fast food every day). Not only are my meals healthier but my pocketbook is healthier, too.  Not wasting money eating out as much.  So, I guess I can say that my waist isn't the only thing that I have a total body workout that one of the personal trainers created for me and I have been doing since March 15, 2011.  On this Friday, I have been working out for a month and I have worked out about 16 times!!  My body is sore all of the time(at least it seems that way some days)  but I do see some progress.  My clothes are fitting looser, my thighs look smaller and my belly looks like it went down, too.  I have lost about 9lbs and I am still counting.  I have a long way to go but I am committed to being strong, confident and most of all healthy.  I just want to feel good.  I want to be able walk up steps and not not be winded.  I want to be able to walk 3, 5, 7, 10 miles and want to be able to hike, jump rope and be flexible.  My first goal is to lose 20 lbs, then another 20 lbs, then another 20lbs and so on.  I am also trying to carve out some pamper time, too.  I had a facial in February and I am planning to have another one on April 30th, too.  Hopefully, if finances get better, I will be able to carve out a massage or two in there.  I have got to be committed to taking care of this temple that God gave me.  I have been taking it for granted for far too long.  Your health is your wealth.  I have to remember that when I am working out today and I feel like I can't go any further. 

Along the way, I have discovered some wonderful weight loss tools via websites that are assisting me on this journey.  Check out Black Women Do Workout on Facebook, SistahStrong, the Black Girl's Guide To Weight Loss, PrayFit and SELF Drop 10 Challenge.  Each of these sites are giving me the strength, motivation and stamina to keep going.  There are so many days when I just want to give up and eat a big plate of macaroni and cheese with some good ole fashioned fried chicken.  But for now, I cannot do that.  I have to eat those foods in moderation or make a low fat version of the original and be thankful for the wisdom.  So, I am on a weight loss journey as well as a spiritual journey.  I am taking God with me on this journey and I believe that he is guiding me to what is right for me.  I am praying before I work out and I am praying when I finish a workout.  It is only His doing that enables me to finish each time.  So, I will keep you posted on my progress as times goes on.  I hope to get down 2 or three dress sizes by the summer.  I'm even thinking about buying me a new bathing suit.

Maya Angelou on Love

"I am grateful to have been loved,
to be loved now
and to be able to love. 
Because love liberates. 
It doesn't just hold- that's ego. 
Love liberates. 
It doesn't bind. 
I love you, if you are in China,
I love you, if you are across town,
I love you, if you are in Harlem.
I love you. 
I would love to be near you,
I'd love to have your arms around me,
I'd love to have your voice in my ear but that's not possible now.
But I love you.  Go".

Another Peyton J. Harrison Production 
 "Does Your House Have Lions"? October 2011
Sweet Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church
2-4 Clinton Avenue(Reverend Willis F. Bruton Square)
Albany, New York 12210
Reverend Elgin Joseph Taylor, Sr. Pastor

I met with my Pastor last week and I have been given a time to perform my play.  He said early October.  So I am looking at the dates September 30, and October 1, 2011 and October 7, and 8, 2011.  I was contemplating finding a theater to perform the new play and decided against it for now.  I believe that I will try to do a 2 day event for the play instead of one night and to see how that goes over.  If it goes well, then I will try a theater for my next play.  The best part is that my Pastor is behind me 100% and I believe I need his support and covering at this time.

Sister-to-Sister Women's Ministry@Sweet Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church

Save the Date!!

The Sister-to-Sister Women’s Ministry presents:

Girls Night In/PMS:

Pizza, Movie and Sharing

Friday, April 15, 2011@ 6:00pm

Reverend Elgin Joseph Taylor, Sr., Pastor

Sweet Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church

  

Second part of my article in the Sista to Sistahs Newsletter

divasforchrist.org/site/newsletter

Here will you will find Part 2 of my article on Friendship.  I hope you enjoy it. 

Gratitude

Well, I'm back.  Last week was my birthday week.  I turned another year older and felt blessed because of it.  Thank You, Lord!!  I had so many give me love verbally and in action with gifts.  I was treated to a spa day with facials and massage, I had a man give me flowers and a monetary gift; I was given a beautiful suede jacket and tickets to see the Lion King, I got the perfume that I have been feening for since I first took a whiff of it, I went on a day trip to shop at my favorite store and spent time with a dear friend and her family, I went out to dinner twice and lunch.  My staff at work even gave me a gift.  I felt so blessed that people even thought enough of me to bless me in any type of way.  People don't have to do anything for you and when they do gratitude is in order.

So, it with gratitude that I go into the remainder of the year and will find ways to bless others as well.  I will try to appreciate the very simple things of each day and the simple things of each person I love.