So Proud

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and has been able to enjoy spring thus far! Chad and I had a conference in Atlanta all weekend... it was a lot of great information and I am glad we went, but still made for a long weekend! On Friday we went to Athens where we were able to see my family (mom, dad, sister, aunt, uncle, cousins) and then Saturday morning--bright and early-- we headed for Atlanta. The conference was all day Saturday and half the day Sunday... and then we headed back home!

While at the conference, Chad and I each won an award. His was, "The Hawk Award," for standing out among his peers for demonstrating the qualities and dedication that success and helping others requires (obviously I am very proud of him). Mine was, "The Sunshine Award," for demonstrating the qualities of being a consistently positive influence (pretty sure he's proud of me, too).

The greatest part of the conference-- even more than the information-- was being around a group of people who are so one fire about what they do and so thankful to God for allowing them to be in the positions they are in. Yep, that's right-- at a Chiropractic Conference, everyone who spoke referenced the Bible and there own experiences with God's grace-- it was amazing!!

Also, I said that I would keep everyone in the loop on the books I read. So, EVERYONE needs to read, "The Shack," by WM. Paul Young. I read most of it on Thursday-- and then put it down until last night (it was SO GOOD that I didn't want to finish it-- so I put off reading the last 2 chapters). It was incredibly written with a wonderful plot and storyline. I have read a lot of books and this is BY FAR the best one I have ever experienced (yes, experienced-- it goes far beyond simply reading). Read it... you won't regret it! It is about tragedy hitting a family and the unique healing process one man goes through (of course by reading the book and understanding the concepts, you figure out that the healing process he experiences is available to each and every one of us...). Again, read it. That's all I am going to say-- I don't want to ruin one single page of this amazing book for you! It is so good that Chad and I have two copies of it-- one to keep and one to loan out to others! I just gave Sarah a copy of it today and I can't wait to hear her thoughts on it!

The posts from last Monday and Tuesday have so many fitness and nutrition tips that I am going to let you keep experimenting with them before I throw more out to you--- there is a lot of information in those two entries, so if you haven't read them yet and are looking for tips, please check them out!

But-- going along with fitness and nutrition-- let me just tell you that after this past weekend, I have been a slug. During breaks at the conference, they provided chips, candy, cookies, soda and anything else you can think of that I don't typically eat. And let me just say that today and getting back to my normal routine has been a challenge... I have had zero energy all day! If you don't think what you put into your body matters, stray from your healthy routine for a day or two. You will really see the difference it makes!!

A quote from the conference that I want you to think about... "What is loved grows." (funny side note--as soon as the speaker said that Chad looked at me and said, "I guess that means I'm making you taller.")

But really--think about that quote! What you love gets most of your time and energy-- and therefore has the ability to grow! Make sure that in your life, what you love is worthy of it and a healthy way to spend your energy! Be sure to never let anything come above your relationship with God--because that is the most important of all and will influence everything else you do! As a wise man, Pastor Derwin Gray, said, "The most important thought we can ever have is what we think about God." Meaning, what we think about God will influence what we think about everything else!!

--Oh and PS, no matter how proud I am of Chad for all he is doing and accomplishing in his life, it can never compare to the love and appreciation God has for you! Wow!!

And for more information on, "The Shack," simply click the image below!!

Make the Difference that Only YOU Can!

"Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function; so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully." Romans 12 4-8 (NIV)

It's amazing to be how well things fit together and make you really think about what you should be doing. On Sunday at Transformation, Pastor Derwin used the analogy of us being, "appetizers," to those around us. Meaning, we are to live our lives and be a witness to make those around us, "hungry for what we have." (What we have being a personal relationship with God). Today, the entry I read in, "The Purpose Driven Life," was about being a witness to the world and sharing our personal stories with nonbelievers to lead them to Christ. Then, to take it a step further, the devotion I read this morning was about a young girl who was told about heaven and hell by an older lady who was worried about the children in her neighborhood. Again, the older lady was a witness to those around her-- and the little girl grew up to be a missionary. Another cool concept we talked about at Transformation-- we are ALL missionaries. It doesn't matter if you are overseas or in your office, there is always someone you can share your story with.

I hadn't really planned on writing about that-- but when so many things come together to make the same point, I felt like I had to!

Nutrition Challenge:
Today, I challenge you to change your cooking oils (or at least pay attention to what you are cooking with). I suggest cooking with coconut oil! If you don't like the taste of coconut, use extra virgin-- it does not have a coconut taste! Coconut oil is a solid until heated-- and can then be used like any other cooking oil you are previously using.
Why is using coconut oil the challenge today?? Check out all these benefits (both with cooking with it and using it in different ways)::
-Great for hair!
-Stress Relief!
-Skin Care
-Fights Premature Aging!
-Protects Against Heart Disease!
-Great for Weight Loss!
-Helps with Digestion, Immunity and Healing!!
(The list goes on and on-- but I am sure some of the reasons above are good enough for you to give it a try!)

Fitness Challenge:
Today's fitness challenge is going to be a little bit different. Yes, I still want you to get some activity in (whatever you have learned from previous challenges and want to do today). But today, we are going deeper than that. I want you to think about your reasons for following a nutrition and fitness plan. Is it to look better in a bikini (or trunks, for the guys)? Is it to be more confident? Is to to catch the attention of someone you have had your eye on? Is it to prove that you can do it? Is it to be healthier? There are endless amounts of reasons-- as unique as the person you are. There is no right or wrong reason, but what is yours?
Now, going deeper than that. What is the, "reason behind the reason?" Is it to be able to play with your kids and grandkids longer? Is it to stay healthy and active longer? Is it to look younger and be more physically fit longer? Again, the reasons are endless. But, what is the BIGGER picture behind your initial reason? Knowing the big reason you are committed to something will help you stick to it because it will help you stay focused on the long term.
Also, please please please commit to this for YOU and not because you want to conform to what someone else expects of you. There are no right or wrong reasons to do something, but you will be more satisfied if the changes you are making in your life are for you.

Out of Your Comfort Zone:
Not long after I started this blog, I challenged everyone to contact a person who used to be a big part of their life and to apologize or put whatever came between you out in the open. The day after that challenge, I wrote a personal reflection to let everyone know that it took me a solid 24 hours to get the nerve to do it. Yesterday morning, I woke up to a reply from the person I needed to fix things with. It was great and honestly brought tears to my eyes. Yes, it has taken us a while to get back in contact with each other-- but, as it turns out, our big falling out is something we both put behind us a long time ago and just didn't have the nerve to tell each other. I won't go into detail about her response-- or about what I sent. But, just know that the challenge was good for me and it took people holding me accountable to do something that needed to be done.
With that being said, I am sure there are plenty of you who haven't followed through with the challenge yet-- and there are others who haven't been reading long enough to know what I am talking about.
So, yes, today's challenge is a repeat. If you haven't done it yet, make contact with someone who used to be a big part of your life. Email or a message on Facebook would be my suggestion-- it's the easiest way to get your thoughts out without being interrupted or having past issues brought back up and made into a fight again. I promise, it will make you feel so much better.

Change Your Thinking:
How many of us have ever felt inadequate of felt like we could never accomplish what we want to do with our lives? Guess what-- today, we are pushing those thoughts out of our heads! We all have a purpose... a unique purpose and story that only we can tell. No, it's not the same as anyone's..... and that's what is so great about it! No matter what limitations you might have, there is something that ONLY YOU can bring to this world. Some experience or lesson that nobody else can share. Don't let yourself think that your life doesn't have a purpose-- because it does! If you don't know what that is yet, you will figure it out! To help you do that... first of all, pray. Then make a list of the things you feel strongly about... the things you are passionate about and want to stand up for. Then, think about all the skills you have. You don't have to be an expert at your skill-- but if it is something that goes hand in hand with your passion, refine the skill and use it to make a difference and to leave your mark!

Meet Papa! Growing up, he was the best toy anyone could have asked for... a life-size, walking, talking playmate! I used to put bows in his hair and then cling to his leg every time he was leaving our house to go back to his (one time he made it in public with a bow still in his hair...oops)! He was the band director at Calhoun High School and now is Santa Clause during Christmas season. It is a job that takes a patient person to do-- and he is great at it! He was in a Country Music Video and also was the Santa for Montel Williams. 

What's Your Recipe?

First of all, I just want to say that my coffee was excellent this morning! Having all the right ingredients and using them how they are intended makes all the difference in the world! But, (another coffee-inspired thought that just came to me) the, "right," ingredients are different for everyone. Some might like cream, no sweetener. Others sweetener, no cream. Some a combination of both; and some prefer neither. If the, "right," mix for coffee can be so different from individual to individual-- imagine how different our purpose and our ministry can vary from person to person! How we use our life is influenced by the gifts God gave us and the personality He made us with-- and that goes far deeper than the preference of a drink! Point-- we all have a unique recipe for our life and just because it might vary from the person next to us doesn't mean we can't do great things and fulfill our purpose! Refer back to, "Appreciate Your Gifts," and, "Do Not Be Fooled, Do Not Compare," for a more detailed description of what I am talking about!

Speaking of different gifts through different people, Chad and I attended our first group Bible study through Transformation Church. It was awesome!! We were the youngest couple by a good bit--- there were married couples, divorced individuals and singles--- a variety of ages and ethnic groups. The thing that is so great about it we were all studying together and helping the group as a whole see concepts through the eyes of someone else. If the group wasn't so diverse, we would be missing out on a lot of the picture! That's just another example of everyone's unique recipe for life-- and the one-of-a-kind way God can use our lives to help others!

Nutrition Challenge:
Today I want you to treat yourself! You will notice that periodically, treating yourself will be the challenge of the day. Nobody can stick to eliminating things that they really like 100% of the time, so having a day to treat yourself will help to eliminate cravings you might have. Don't overdo it, but take the day to enjoy something for you... you deserve it!

Fitness Challenge:
Depending on where you live, weather conditions might be different... but in the Charlotte/Fort Mill area, temperatures are in the low to mid 80s today. With that being said, if the weather where you are is amazing today, take the time to enjoy a walk or a job outside! There is nothing stopping you from taking your cardio or even your interval cardio sessions outside! If the weather is less than desirable where you are today, stick to doing cardio inside-- whether at the gym or elsewhere (mall, house, anywhere you can move around). Movement is the key today!

Out of Your Comfort Zone:
This challenge will completely depend on where you personally are in your relationship with God... but, share something about your church or your personal experience with someone today.  Maybe it's something that is hard for you to talk about-- but the more you open up, the more your support system will grow. I am not, by any means, saying to be the person we have all seen on the street corner shouting at cars as they go by. No, that is not the desired way to share the Word. Instead, be an example in your day-to-day routine. If you don't have a relationship with God or if you haven't found a church to call home (of if church is something you have never experienced), give it a try! I am not trying to be pushy-- but I have seen the difference in my life from the time I was just going through the motions to now where it is something very intentional for me. It is something that I want everyone else to experience, too!

Change Your Thinking:
How many of us openly and honestly admit our weaknesses? Probably not a lot. It's hard to admit that we can't do something by ourself or to say that we need the help of someone else. But, it's important to realize, that by sharing our weaknesses with others we can help them find strength to face something they might be going through-- as well as find strength in ourselves for having the courage to share. Who better to help someone go through a challenging event that someone else who has experienced the exact same thing in their life? To experience the healing that we can help someone else experience, we have to stop seeing our weaknesses as a burden and start seeing them as a way to help!

Meet: Olivia, Elise, Carla, Hannah and Cameron! These are some of my sorority sisters. I have always loved this picture because it shows a group of young women being silly and simply enjoying each others company. When you get a large group, like a sorority, it takes many different personalities and talents to make the group work. Of course, this is just a picture of a few of the many girls-- but I love it! Each and every girl is wonderful and makes a huge impact in their unique way! 

What's Missing?

This morning when I went downstairs to make my coffee, I noticed that we were out of stevia (a natural sweetener derived from a plant...). But, we still have that wonderful creamer I wrote about previously, so I made the coffee anyway. The cup is sitting beside me right now and I am drinking it-- but it is a lot more bitter than I would like. It will do, but it's not as good as I know it could be. Point-- Sometimes the things that are missing in your life (or in this case, your cup of coffee) make a bigger difference than the things that you have. Also, who would agree that I have some of my best thoughts while drinking coffee (joking)?

Reflecting on the Point Above-- In the past six weeks; my significant other, our house, our jobs, our cars or anything else that we possess haven't changed at all. But, six weeks ago we found a church and starting going together. I started waking up early enough to read, "The Purpose Driven Life," or do a devotional before the day started. A couple weeks after that, I started writing this blog.
Now, we are looking for more ways to get involved in the church and everything about our outlook on life has improved. Not saying we were always down or that something was always wrong before-- life was okay-- but something was missing.
We have both been Christians for a long time-- going through the motions, praying and all that. But, now we are actually doing what we are meant to do and building a relationship with God. Now, that relationship and that faith is something we turn to first. I grew up in a church-- so did Chad-- but that doesn't, by default, mean that we had the personal relationship with God that we were supposed to.
Now, even though we still go to work, go to the gym, and go through all the motions of a typical week-- we are much more positive and focus on building each other up at work-- we go to the gym together. The amount of time in the day hasn't changed, but we are definitely making the most of it! Tonight, we are going to our first small-group Bible study-- and I can't wait! I've been excited about it all week. So, the day is still 24hrs-- but we are getting so much more out of our time (and more importantly, because of the shift in our attitudes, we are giving a lot more back!!)!

Nutrition Challenge:
Since I mentioned Stevia at the beginning of the post, I challenge everyone to purchase some (I prefer the individual packets, but it is completely a personal preference). It is a natural, zero calorie sweetener (without all the chemicals found in things such as Sweet n Low). There are pages upon pages of the benefits of Stevia. You don't have to take my word for it-- look it up and start using it anywhere you would use sugar or another sweetener!

Fitness Challenge:
How is everyone feeling after the wall squats from yesterday? I hope you remembered to stretch afterwards! Yesterday was my back, biceps and triceps day-- intense workout, for sure!
Today, we are going to learn how to do a Dumbbell Row (works your back, biceps and rear delts). There are many variations-- so feel free to find the one that works the best for you. If you don't have dumbbells, thats okay-- we can improvise with canned food or anything else that will provide a slight resistance. Start with a light weight and focus on proper form before you increase the weight!
1. Stand straight with a dumbbell in each hand. The closer your feet are to each other, the more challenging the exercise will be (because you are having to stabilize yourself).
2. Bend forward at the waist until your torso is almost parallel to the floor. Your knees should be bent slightly.
3. Keep your arms close to your sides and pull the dumbbells up until they touch the sides of your chest.
4. Lower slowly and repeat.
5. Keep your shoulder blades pulled in towards your spine and really focus on lifting with your back and not your arms.
**If you have any questions about this exercise or need a visual, please don't hesitate to watch a video or search for images. Proper form is necessary.
Start by doing 3 sets of 10 repetitions.

Out of Your Comfort Zone:
Sticking with the theme above, what is missing from your life? If it's a group of supportive people around you, find one. If it is a close friend to hold you accountable for the changes you are making, let them know that you need their support. If it's a place to serve and help your community, stop putting it off and get involved. The fact is, we can always come up with excuses to put off doing what we know we should-- so today, stop with the excuses and do what your heart has been telling you to do! It takes a leap of faith to get involved-- but trust that God will never call you to do something that you can't do with His help! It's a different concept to think about what we can add to our schedule instead of always thinking about how busy we are-- but, focusing on the right activities will make a huge difference in the way you think and feel!

Change Your Thinking:
We have been focusing a lot on serving and what you can do with your time. In the world's standard, people typically serve to get recognition from others or to prove that they are good. So, I want you to focus on being different and serving the right way.
Serve for what you can do for others... not for the recognition you can gain for yourself. Serve because you want to... not because you feel like you have to. Serve in whatever way you can--big or small-- instead of thinking that you have to wait around for a huge opportunity. Make opportunities out of the circumstances you encounter everyday.

"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus." Philippians 2:5 (NIV)

"Love cannot remain by itself-- it has no meaning. Love has to be put into action, and that action is service." (Mother Teresa)

Meet Granny-- One of the best ladies I have ever know. She lived with my family from the time I was 2years old and had such a huge impact on all of our lives. I could write pages upon pages about Granny and still not say enough. Losing her was one of the hardest things I have ever experienced-- even though I know she is in a better place with God, her husband and both of their daughters. She was strong and helpful and was always doing something for others-- and she never expected anything back. She didn't help others because she wanted recognition-- she did it because she wanted to and because she knew it was right. If you have someone in your life like my Granny, please let them know that you love them and that you appreciate all that they do for you and for everyone they come in contact with. I can't explain how much you will miss them when you can't tell them those things anymore....

The Importance of Positivity

This morning, I absolutely couldn't make myself get out of bed (I guess yesterday's early start caught up with me today...). I still made it to the office by 8:30-- but I was pushing it. Even worse, I didn't have time to wake up slowly and do my morning reading and routine to insure a good start to my day. I did fit it in before patients started-- but my routine was off to a sloppy start.

Luckily, even though I started off in a rush, my morning got back on track-- thanks to my readings, devotions and largely because of Chad. When I walked into the kitchen at the office to grab a water this morning, sitting on the counter was a card and a chocolate covered donut (yes, I treated myself to it). Even though the donut was absolutely delicious, it was the card that really made me smile. The front of the card was orange and yellow with a dandelion. The caption said, "Dream Dare Do Discover," and the inside wording said, "...how amazing you are!" Already, a very positive and encouraging message... but, Chad added his own personal touch that made it 1000 times better! He wrote, "You are important! You are special! You are appreciated! You are helpful! You have a loving heart! You are kind! You are needed! You are beautiful! Most importantly... You are You!" Now honestly, who wouldn't smile when they read that--directed to them?

So (Insert YOUR name)... You are special! You are important! Your life matters! You are perfectly made in God's image! And I am proud of you for constantly improving yourself and living up to your God-given potential!

Nutrition Challenge:
No, I am not going to tell you to go eat a chocolate covered donut (but, if you want to... I can't stop you because I already have today)!
Did you know that eating small meals, multiple times a day is vital for your metabolism? So many people go on, "starvation diets," and guess what--- not only are they horrible for you-- they don't work! If your starve your body, it starts to, "run slower." Think about a computer-- if it is plugged into a power source, the back light is typically brighter and it takes longer for it to go into sleep mode. If that power source is taken away, it alters the amount of power it uses in order to stay charged for a longer amount of time. In a way, your body is a lot like that... If fed, and especially if fed properly, it will run more effectively and your metabolism will stay faster. Now, I won't go into all the variable that raise and lower you metabolism or anything to make the point of today's challenge more difficult than it has to be... but, your challenge is to eat small meals throughout the day... 6 is a good number. A handful of nuts or some fruit can count as a meal, but be sure to eat something small every few hours. It takes a while to adapt to feeding yourself that way-- but it is absolutely what your body needs and one of the most common misconceptions related to dieting (which is why we don't diet).

Fitness Challenge:
You have one more suggested muscle group to work on tonight! I know you might be sore today-- or maybe you still aren't completely comfortable with the gym-- but, you are doing great! Everyone--no matter their fitness level--is at the gym for the same reason. They all want to be healthy and more physically fit. Don't pay attention to others or compare yourself to others... just do your thing and become a healthier version of you!

Out of Your Comfort Zone:
The radio station I have been listening to (91.9 New Life) had a day last week where they asked people, in a drive thru line, to pay for the order of the car behind them and leave a note explaining why they did that. The station's website even has a sample note that listeners could use. The purpose, from my point of view, was to start a trend of doing something for others and I think that's wonderful! Now, I know that paying for someone else's order and your own might not always be a possibility-- but, there are ways where you can start a sequence of good-deeds without spending any money! You could write a personal note, a Bible verse or an inspirational quote and give it to someone-- a co-worker, a friend or a complete stranger. Some might not be openly receptive to it, but once they read it, I am sure you will bring a smile to their face. You have no idea what might be going on in someone's life--- family issues, health issues, financial stress, etc--- but, good deeds and positive influences are contagious (so is negativity, by the way). Today, be the smile on someones face or the hope in their hearts.
A lady from a local television station asked me today, if I had 30 seconds, what would I want to tell someone (this was pertaining to the office). My answer was simply, "There is always hope."

Change Your Thinking:
Have you ever scrolled through your Facebook or Twitter account and noticed all the negative status updates? What about turned on the television to see all the horrific things going on in the world? While I don't want anyone to turn themselves off to current events-- it is important to have an understanding of the world around you-- I want you to make an effort to spread positivity in anyway that you can. Whether it is refusing to gossip with your girlfriends or making sure to keep the negativity out of your personal social media page-- do something positive! I know we spend a lot of time talking about portraying positivity-- but it is something different than we are used to and will take reinforcement! Don't put on a front or hide your feelings-- but when it comes to others, be sure that you aren't the force that is putting them down.

At church two weeks ago, the pastor put up 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 and asked the congregation to insert their name anywhere the verses said/referenced the word, "love." Today, I want you to do the same.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices in the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7(NIV)

Meet Steffi. Although not the most flattering picture of either one of us-- I love it! Steffi and I grew up in the same town and went to the same college. We were roommates our second year. This picture is from a surprise birthday dinner we had for her 22'nd. We were taking pictures and goofing off-- and ended up falling in the floor. We are in the floor, in the middle of a steak house, with everyone else probably thinking we have serious issues-- but look at our facial expressions! That, my friends, is positivity! We could have been embarrassed about falling in the floor-- but instead are are laughing hysterically and got one of my favorite pictures of all time out of it!