communication

I have been communicating in one form or another all day today. Whew.

Started off with a skype coaching call. (Well, no, I actually started the day off playing with the kitty, having devotions, and exercising. Good way to start the day!) But at 8 I skyped with a friend who is coaching me. I really needed some help thinking things through.

Then I got right to work on answering some e-mails. I read posts for my on-line class. I needed to post some replies of my own, so I started researching to compose my responses.

At about 11:30 I met with a friend for coaching and general visiting and encouragement. It poured down rain so we waited it out at the coffee shop. Which STILL doesn't have decaf. Chai tea latte again. Sigh.

Home again, later than I had intended because of the downpour. Resumed my research. Typed and posted my responses by 6. Mr. heated up leftovers for supper. A little TV. Then I wrote our weekly newsletter. Now I'm typing this blog.

And the kitty wonders why I am not playing with her.

Funny thing. I had my camera out on the way to the coffee shop. It kind of felt futile, as I photographed things at random, many of which I've previously posted, feeling like I had already seen everything on that street a thousand times before. But I reminded myself that I just needed to look harder. I started looking up, around, down—at anything NOT at eye level. Looking up, up, up. Balconies, second stories, roof-tops. And then I saw it. This little ornate decoration I had never noticed before. It was lit up in the sun, and just popped. I wondered how I had missed it all the other times I had walked down that street. Amazing. Beautiful.

So, I had this goal to have my blog written by 9 pm. It's already 9:30, so I've missed the goal on the very day I set it. But anyway… The reason for the goal is so that I can get to bed at a decent time. The reason I want to get to bed at a decent time is so I can get up early. And why, pray tell, do I want to get up earlier? I have set another goal: to exercise 6 days a week, with just Sunday off.

I know. Unrealistic. Over the top. But it struck me: I have a target weight that I would like to achieve by my 40th birthday. I set the goal when I turned 38, and it sounded totally achievable. Now I'm just 8 months away from 40, with little progress. It's time to kick things into high gear!

Actually, my coach this morning reminded me that, even more noble than setting a weight goal, is just the goal of developing healthy habits. So many factors go into gaining or losing weight. But I can never go wrong establishing good habits that take care of my body—regardless of the "measurable" results. She's right, I know. (But I'd still like to see tangible results…)

So here we go. I did it this morning. That's one down for the week. Just 5 to go.

And so, I'm off to bed!