Making the Change

Most the time when you want to make a change in your life it is difficult and I believe one of those reasons is because change starts within oneself. It's not easy, if it were people would do it all the time and succeed.

Let me give you an example: My husband has been a smoker since I met him and I've wanted him to quit just as long. Truthfully speaking, the number 1 reason is because I fear his addiction is going to be what eventually takes him from me. He has tried to quit here and there. He might go a month without but then he'll walk in one day and its the first thing I smell. My heart sinks a little more each time. I want it so badly for him and if that's all it took to get it accomplished it would be done, sadly it takes more than that. First, he has to want it that badly for himself, to where nothing stands in his way of succeeding and beating the addiction. Then...for his family. I know its easy to feel as if perhaps you play second fiddle in a case like that, but you have to realize it is an addiction and it doesn't mean they love you any less. To beat it; they have to realize the change starts with them and then they have to want it as if their life depends on it.

Now, that's a pretty big example. I give you that one because I want you to realize how difficult it is to change.

Here is another example: My son hates homework and is very forgetful. He has been working really hard lately on changing that so that he can have better grades. It takes a lot out of him and he gets very frustrated. He feels as if homework takes away all his free time. He words, "I go to school to do work. I don't want to do it at home." So when we had to gently remind him of the change he is trying to make he informed us, "It takes 21 days to change a bad habit!" :)

Not quiet as big of an example, but as you see change even for a 10-year-old is difficult. So not matter what it is in our lives that needs changing, that we want to change or try to change we have to remember one very important thing: It starts on the inside first.

I'm not a huge Michael Jackson fan - major country girl here, remember? However, he has one song that really brings this message home; Man in the Mirror. The beginning says: "I'm gonna make a change for once in my life. It's gonna feel real good, gonna make a difference, gonna make it right." To me that sounds like a man who wants to desperately make an important change, doesn't it? Then he goes on to say, "I'm starting with the man in the mirror. I'm asking him to change his ways. And now message could have been any clearer, if you wanna make the world a better place then take a look at yourself and make a change."

Ya see, even the King of Pop knew that it started on the inside first.

November 4th, I will celebrate a year of going to the gym, regularly. November 15th, I will celebrate a year of working with a personal trainer. My weight, my physical inactivity, my depression, my laziness and my all around well being needed to change. My life needed to be overhauled and it I was the ONLY one able to make it happen. David could have wanted all of it for me as badly as I want him to quit smoking, but until I wanted it for me...it wouldn't happen.

I did a lot of talking about it and finally one day something just clicked with me on the inside and I knew, I had to make that change and I had to do it for me. I also knew that my family would benefit from it later. So I dug in and got busy. There have been times I've had to remind myself of my goals, of what I'm doing, why I'm doing it and drag my lazy ass outta bed (I love my bed). There have been times when I've had to push myself further than I thought I could, there have been injuries and sickness...but still I have pressed on.

The more I have stuck with it the more I desire it, crave it...its like a healthy addiction. I know though, that the moment I stop and the moment I quit aiming higher that it would be my downfall. In an attempt to prevent that very thing from ever occurring I came up with an idea. An idea that was not new to me as I'd thought about it once before in 2007 when my best friend and I were taking a Strength training class. I was watching the instructor and I thought to myself..."I could do this."  That thought never moved from that moment.

Fast-forward 5 years and guess what? I am as of today, a certified Personal Trainer! Took my test through Fitour today and passed 97/100. I really hate those little trick questions :) However, I'm pleased with my score and excited beyond belief. After I completed the test and sat here smiling like a fool and I thought to myself..."what now?" I don't know the exact answer to that yet, but I know I'll be finding out as I continue to make these healthy, positive changes in my life.

So if you are out there trying to make some sort of change in your life and it feels like you are continuously hitting your head against a brick wall...take a piece of advice from the King of Pop, "take a look at yourself and make a change." You CAN do it. If I can do it, I know you can.

I want you to do me a favor, this is big, okay? Do not give up on yourself because the person you are going to let down the most, the person who is going to experience the feeling of regret...is you. You have to believe that you are worth it and capable of making the change, if you don't you are going to just keep banging your head against that wall. Aren't you tired of the same old song and dance? I know I was!

I can encourage you all day long, but my encouraging will only go so far. You have to really want it for yourself before it will all start to truly change for you. You have to decide you are worth it. I can tell you that you are, but until you decide it; you probably won't believe it. I can want weight-loss for you, just as I want my husband to stop smoking, but i can not get it for you. You have to do the work to succeed. If it is something you want desperately - then I believe, YOU will make it happen!