December 2014 - Pondering Paths

This Sweet Addiction

Posted on December 30, 2014

Last Friday, I stood at the vending machine watching the smokers go out for their mid morning fix of nicotine. I scoffed at them and thought to myself, there they go to kill themselves. I made my selection, E7 – gotta get that Kit Kat Bar! As I took the bar out of the drop slot, I looked at the Snicker bar and thought that I might want that too and then it hit me……….This revelation hit me soooo hard I wanted to run away immediately. How can you run away from a truth that is wrapped all around you?

The revelation is that I am an addict. My addiction is not nicotine, sex, heroine, or alcohol….it is food.

I use food the same way that a junkie would use a drug… to escape, to escape whatever I can’t or won’t deal with. I eat my emotions, happy, sad, disappointed, anger, frustration, worry…..

I weighed myself on Saturday night and in disbelief I just stood there thinking about how I could have gotten to this point.

It ends here.

Being overweight is the most visible sign of not being in control of an area of your life. I have taken that control back! Food is not a comfort, it is not my friend, it does not end heartache….food is not a band-aid for life. Food is nutrition for your body and you have to be selective about what you eat.

Since Saturday I have lost almost seven pounds and I am so excited to keep this going. I am ready to shed this heavy garment and start to look and feel sexy again….yes I said sexy!

Before I sign off here, let me ask you this…. Do you struggle with your weight? If so, what are you eating? Guilt, anger, hurt, frustration, loss…..

Step 1: The next time you snack on something ask yourself if you are hungry or self-soothing with food.

This is a journey, a process – so this blog is not going to end here….there is more to come on the way back to a healthier you.

-7lbs and counting

Helen

I Love Being A Girl!!!!

Posted on December 28, 2014

I started taking belly dance classes many years ago, but I stopped because a trusted friend told me that belly dancing is a sin. Well, I think it depends on what you do with the art. I just loved the movement and how it connected with my femininity. I was not going to dance at clubs, parties, or in public, just for me and well maybe a spouse one day (blushing….) So, I started taking lessons again. Last evening the instructor showed the group this video and said that this should be our goal in our own unique way.
What – this lady is an incredible dancer! I can take that challenge though and will enjoy the wait loss that is coming with it. Belly dance may not be for everyone, but it is an outlet for me and one that really makes me glad that I am a lady (in my Shenaynay voice lol).

Bottomline: Continue to find things that you enjoy and do them. Belly dancing is controversial in some circles but again, it is what you do with it that makes the difference between a hobby and going to confession!

Peace

The Spirit of Giving

Posted on December 28, 2014

The holiday season or what is often called the season of giving is coming to an end. During the month of December thousands of people had warm fuzzies across the world as they gave to those who have less than most other people. Hunger does not end at Christmas, abuse shelters and homeless shelters still have needs beyond Christmas, and a child that is living at a local children’s home would still appreciate a toy or coloring book beyond the season. What am I rambling on about?

It is this….please consider allowing the spirit of giving to continue in your life through the remainder of the year and into the next. Yes, there are people who take advantage, but there are a lot more people who don’t and so many times those are the people who never ask for help.

Find a cause that you are passionate about, one that gives you butterflies and help that cause. You don’t have to help everyday or not even every week. Perhaps once a month or once every few months…. as long a you give.

Come on, let;s keep those warm fuzzies flowing. Any act of kindness or thoughtfulness counts!

Peace,

Helen

A Great Christmas Memory

Posted on December 25, 2014

Christmas Memories…..
Just a wee tot sitting in my wooden rocking chair square in front of the TV, orange/green plaid bell bottoms, orange turtle neck, and my very fashionable brown leather boots. My dad was bringing in goodies from my Aunt Helen’s house…oh the smells of cookies and huge oranges and apples. I looked around at the tree, felt the warmth from the fireplace, heard my parents in the next room…and then this commercial came on that I will never forget. It always bring back such wonderful memories of feeling safe, warm, and completely loved…..
Helen

Play Your Part

Posted on December 5, 2014

Some folks want the role, but they refuse to play their part……

Pondering,

Helen

Just Keep It Real

Posted on December 4, 2014

The moment you went from thinking you were having a genuine conversation with someone to knowing that it was baited the whole time. smh

Your Labor of Love

Posted on December 2, 2014

I so completely love this song that is sung by Point of Grace. This song paints such a vivid picture about Mary giving birth to Jesus.

I am so glad that Mary did not act a fool when the Angel came upon her and told her what was to come in the weeks and months ahead. I am sure that she wasn’t completely thrilled, but with a yielded heart she walked out this magnificent purpose that God ordained especially for her.

The song speaks of Mary and Joseph, and then describes the baby in her womb as the …..

Maker of the Moon, the Author of the Faith, one that can make the mountains move…..wow

Makes me wonder…. what I am holding in my spiritual womb that has yet to be birthed? What are you holding dear friends that will affect your community, the nations, perhaps the world? While it is an honor to be used of God, sometimes we are not completely thrilled, it is uncomfortable and inconvenient. Talk about inconvenient, Mary was to be married to Joseph and then boom! She is pregnant. Joseph probably looked at her crazy at first and you know how people talk….creating a past that you were never even an active participant in and you have to live with the lies. Ohhhh, but the grace that is bestowed by God!

Sometimes we don’t even think that we can do what we are being called to do. The absolute truth is that you will not experience the grace until you start walking it out. God’s grace is not active in our hesitancy, His grace becomes active when we begin to fulfill the purpose that He has laid before us. He gives us the grace to do what he has purposed…..

Think…..what is your labor of love?

Walk It Out

Posted on December 1, 2014

It is easy to tell someone else how they should “walk in a pair of shoes” that they have never tried on themselves-therefore it can never be known what it takes for some to put one foot in front of the other each day and walk…some things are just easier said than done.