What habits or attitudes have you had to give up in order to live a better/healthier/happier life?

• sodas – holy cow!  I used to drink waaaay too much soda.  Diet or otherwise, I’ve tried the whole shebang.  Now I’m down to lemonade which, I know, isn’t much better from a sugar stand point but at least it isn’t full of a million chemicals.
• junk food – Now don’t get me wrong, I still do eat some junk but not near the quantity that I used to consume.  The food that I do get that is processed is much less so than previous versions.  

This year is one of new things.  Growth and change.  Growing up if you will.

 I’m getting more comfortable in my own skin these days and that’s a good thing.  I’ve spent most of my life hating my body.  And not just for your typical teenage female reasons.  I hated the fact that my body didn’t work normally.  I didn’t walk normally or grow normally.  Heck, I don’t even digest food normally.  I spent YEARS unhappy and miserable about something that will not change this side of heaven.  

WHY?  That is nuts.  And, well, we all know I’m nuts but seriously….that is just crazy.

This year, I’m learning to love the body that God gave me.  It may not always cooperate with what I want it to do.  I may not be able to run with my kids or ice skate.  I may not be able to do certain things but you know what?  This body has done some amazing things.

Did you know that I’ve walked a 5k in under an hour?  That’s still incredibly slow by most athlete’s standards but I was never supposed to walk.  AT ALL.

I’ve given birth to three beautiful girls.  I was never supposed to be able to have children.

I’ve given birth to a NINE POUND baby VBAC!  With no epidural!  My OB argued with me the entire nine months but I did it!

This body of mine can climb mountains, plant gardens, and imagine the composition for some amazing photographs.  

This year I’m giving up the idea that my body has somehow betrayed me and my ambitions.  I’m rejoicing in the fact that this warped body with mixed up guts carries me out of bed every morning to a life filled with love and joy and laughter and tears.  

These arms can hold onto The Boy and feel the 20 years of love there.  They can wrap around my sweet little girls when they first wake up in the morning still smelling like sleep and warm covers.

These legs carry me all day long through the myriad tasks that are required to make our home a welcome refuge.  They carry me around parks and ponds showing my girls the wonderful things out there to find and see and collect.

This mind has the ability to educate my daughters and give them the joy of learning and the desire to find out more.

This year let go of all the stuff that  you’ve been holding onto.  All the gripes and complaints about what you aren’t or your body isn’t.  

Focus on what you are and what your body is and can still become.

I see my Katy Bug growing into a beautiful young woman way too quickly.

I hear the sounds of the same daughter playing her daddy’s computer game.

I smell the soft, spring smell of rain.

I taste homemade lemonade.

I feel like crawling under the covers and reading my book.