It's a New Year

It’s hard to believe that we’re already 10 days into 2013. Time, it goes so fast and furious! For the past few weeks I’ve looked back over my life to see where I’ve been and then looked at where I’m going or where I’d like to be. Looking back, there are so many things I would change, but reality is, it simply is what it is and all I can do is learn from it all… the good and the bad.

There are ways that I’d like to grow this year. Over the past few years I’ve learned to set goals for myself. I am a thinker and a doer so some of this comes naturally for me. For years I’ve consistently taken time to evaluate myself in 4 different areas of my life. These are spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically.

Being spiritually healthy is super important! Am I where I should be in this area? I’m not sure that I’m ever where I should be. I should always be striving to become better in this part of my life. Over the past year I’ve intentionally taken time to learn how to grow in my relationship with Jesus Christ. One big thing that He has reminded me of during 2012 is that I LOVE to meet Him in the outdoors, specifically in the woods, by the water, in the wilderness, even on a bike ride.

A view from where I spent time with God.

I went to Canada with a group of ladies from the Chicago area last September. It was one of the best weeks ever! I saw God all over the place!! I took time to spend intentional time with the Creator of the wilderness/lakes/woods. Those were precious times with Him!

I also went to Potato Creek during a time when I desperately needed to spend time with God. That was so refreshing. I felt like I could breathe again. There’s something healing and refreshing about being in nature.

Good mental health helps me to get through life. Clint tells me that I’m the strongest person he knows. I haven’t always agreed with that but I’m starting to see it. Over the past 8-10 years I’ve grown immensely in this area of my life! Adversity in life will do that to you. I’ve learned to think for myself and to stand on my own two feet. I refuse to be a doormat to other people. I’ve learned to keep my mouth shut when I need to and I’ve learned to speak up when it’s appropriate or necessary. This has been a hard one to learn, especially with those close to me. I’m a person of few words but have strong opinion/beliefs and so it’s not always easy to know when it’s okay to say something or not.

A mental challenge!

Being in Canada and Africa has helped me grow mentally. The Algonquin lakes and trails will kick your butt if your mental game isn’t ON! It all becomes mental right from the start! I will be going back to The Algonquin this summer. I’m so looking forward to this! It will be a different mental challenge as it will be a couple’s trip with Clint.

They love to see their picture!

Being in the African culture is a mental challenge as well. You will be reminded of what is important and what is not important in life. Reality is, so many things that we have here in America are not important at all. I will also be going back to Africa this fall. This will be a different kind of trip because it will be without Clint, which will mean it will be a different kind of leadership. This will definitely be a mental challenge for me, in a good way.

Oh the emotional instability of the world we live in! This is something that I constantly have a focus on. I’ve walked through so much emotional healing in my life. How can one survive in this life without emotional healing? There is so much crap that happens that damages our emotions and our hearts that I can’t imagine not walking through healing in order to be able to navigate through this life.

I’ve had the privilege of helping others walk through healing as well. Being a part of the Healing Prayer Team at the church has been a gift. For years I’ve had a desire to help others become healthier emotionally so that they can navigate through their lives easier. It’s been fun to see other people’s lives become smoother because of Jesus’ healing truth.

This year seems to already be a big year in emotional healing for me. I will be going through a class called Breaking Free. This will be led by Bill Jones of Bethel College. It’s a 10 week class that will help me/us in breaking off some of the crap of life. Even though I’ve walked through a lot of healing already, I’m curious about Mr. Jones’ approach to inner healing and I’m hoping to learn some good things from him. I’m also hoping to receive more healing in the process. One can never have too much emotional healing, right?

Physical health is so important! This became a big focus last year. I’ve been working out regularly for years but never focused like I did last year. I did several workout programs over the past 12 months and it changed me in the area of physically taking care of myself. Even though I had been working out/exercising for years I didn’t focus on my eating habits much, if at all. Working out was an “excuse” to eat whatever I wanted. It was my way of being able to eat my favorite foods without gaining weight. But yet at the same time I was wishing that I could lose weight. I didn’t know how to balance it all.

Last year I think I finally “got it”! Long story cut short … I learned how to eat better, control my eating and to work out with a different focus. Over the past 4 years I’ve kept record of my measurements/weight and my workouts. Last week I looked back through my records and this is what happened last year with my physical health … I lost 16.5 pounds and 17.5 inches!! I’m so thrilled that I lost more inches than weight! I’m still not where I’d like to be but I’m so much closer than I’ve been in years. I have written down my goals, short-term and long-term, with a plan on how to reach those goals.

Knowing that I will be going back to The Algonquin again this year is a big motivation for me in reaching my goals!! Being in good shape is a must for this trip!

There is so much more that I could say about taking care of your physical body but this post is already long enough so I will end it here. .. maybe next post. :) 

2013 will be a good year, I can feel it!