START

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Lao-tzu

START: Something

Stop: worrying

START: Living

Stop: waiting

START: Talking

Stop: texting

START: Exercising

Stop: dieting

START: Trails

Stop: treadmills

START: NOW

Stop: procrastinating

START: Breathing

Stop: smoking

START: Doing

Stop: planning

START: Simple

Stop: complicated

START, Just START

-Missy Park

I love the sentiment expressed in this simple poem by Missy Park that I came across recently.  It is sometimes hard for me to remember that getting started really can be the hardest part. 

As an example: when I am out of the habit of exercising, starting again sounds like the worst thing in the world.  Getting up early, getting to bed on time, and the prospect of sore muscles all seem like impossible obstacles to overcome.  However, once I just start, I realize that I enjoy exercising, I like getting to bed early, my days are more productive when I get up early and sore muscles represent progress.  Taking one step in the right direction makes what at first seemed unattainable, feel achievable.

I tend to spend more time and energy planning that first step than the whole journey would require.  So, I have decided that I will:

START: Achieving

Stop: worrying about failure

START: Finding ways to serve others

Stop: stewing about things I cannot change

START: Magnifying my strengths

Stop: focusing on my weaknesses

START: Recognizing housework as a way to express love to my family

Stop: Seeing housework as drudgery

START: Appreciating the little things

Stop: wanting more

START: Cultivating my talents

Stop: comparing myself to others

START: Taking better care of my healthy body

Stop: making excuses

START: Reconnecting

Stop: being too busy

START: Making "BEST" my priority 

Stop: settling for "good" or "better"

I will START, Just START

What will you be STARTing?

AMAZING...

Anyone that knows me, knows that MY FAMILY is very important. I have an amAzing husband who is also my best friend (almost 37years). We have two AMAZING son's. They brought to us,  AMAZING daughter-in-laws and to top off all that AMAZEMENT - we now have 4 AMAZING grand kiddos ( Jaycee, Cody, Jaxson and Annabelle !)

My life is AMAZING. This past weekend we got to spend AMAZING family time (even had an AMAZING neice along with us) together in Austin.......We celebrated birthdays,shopped, ate (Schultz Beer Garden and Stubbs Bar-b-q and of course, HEY CUPCAKES, went to the UT basketball game ( they won), visited the capitol, swam, ate, played games, had pedicures, enjoyed the AMAZING weather, and most AMAZING of all, spent good family time together.

Thank you guys............I love my family and am so blessed.
(Thanks for pics Corey.....)

I think I can, I think I can......

I have been inside this house for 3 DAYS! I have cleaned, cooked, done laundry, watched TV, played with the dogs, rescued a cat, rode my stationery bicycle, talked on the phone, played WWF, and then..started over and did it again.

So today, I thought I will venture to the local WALLY WORLD in my little red bullet (Miata)

It is about 20 miles from my COUNTRY home, but I thought, its' been 3 days, my husband said it "isn't too bad", surely I can drive 20 miles, on the country road.....slowly.

So I hit the road. My first clue should have been that it took me 10 minutes to get out of my subdivision...it's a 2 mile drive!!

OK...not too bad...18 to go - I can do this...slowly I attack the corners, watch the traffic, slide thru the stop sign. I let all the cars go around me, I was so proud of myself. THEN...a hill, so I get some speed, hit the hill, halfway, I stop...I slide..I panic! Looking in my rearview mirror....a long line of cars coming...everyone stops, slides, one goes in the dtich! Three incredible men immediately jump out of their vehicles and come to my rescue. They rock me back and forth, go forward, slid back...stop...do it again! 20 minutes later...these 3 BRAVE men, literally pick up my little red bullet, (with me in it) turn me around, heading back down the hill......tell me to go back where I came from! So....I did. It took me an hour to go 7miles...in one big circle. This is the one BIG drawback to living in the country...no sand trucks.

I thought I could, I thought I could !

Sports, I love SPORTS..

Most females don't like sports, don't know anything about sports, don't watch, don't listen and wouldn't know ESPN if it hit them in the face. ME, on the other hand, LOVE IT, LOVE IT I say. I had two amazing boys that grew up a small town, where sports is a way of life. I never missed an event they participated in.....if at all possible. I enjoyed watching them and enjoyed being there. Today, I haven't changed.
I made it a must do and went downtown Fort Worth this past weekend to take in all the ESPN set-ups. Amazing.

Monday, my husband and I drove to Arlington just to say "we were there." I won't be attending the superbowl, but I will be watching it on TV and loving it. Most of the females in my family think I am weird - I am sure of it - but be it as it may..I love sports!! Ok.Ok...I love to shop too....but DUH - I am female!!

Have I lost my mind, have I gone MAD.......

I wonder sometimes what possess me to do things I do. I am sitting here, reading everyone else's blogs...my son, my daughter-in-law, a neice, a friend, a distant relative and people that I have no idea who they are. I decide I must join "that world". Now, time will tell how well I do.  I think it helps one's self to put words to paper. Sometimes, you should do this before you open your mouth and insert your foot. I am guilty of that!!
So here goes nuttin' honey. Bear with me, I am always open to guidance from those that are way smarter than me.
In the famous words of my dear mom, "You can get happy in the same pair of pants you got mad in!"