Afternoon 🙂 I’ve LOVED reading about all of y’alls accents (or non-accents)! I think it’s so fun to hear what people sound like. And for those of you who put examples of how to say words? Well, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t sitting here trying to say it with your accent to myself 🙂
Lunch today was the last of the long string of similar lunches this week! I had the very last of the pasta from Sunday night, with a piece of bread and 1 Tbsp of peanut butter, and a slice of bread with a slice of pepperjack:
The funny this that part of the peanut butter sandwich is missing because as I was prepping my camera, Bunker decided that it was close enough to lick. I love my big boy and all, but I’m not about to eat something he’s licked.
As his fur-mommy, I’ve seen where his mouth has been, and I want none of that in my system! Lunch was pretty good, albeit slightly mundane now, and it held me over well. Around 3 or so I got hungry again, so I went for a 100-calorie popcorn bag with some seasoning salt:
I can honestly say I’ve never had something with seasoned salt that I didn’t like. The stuff is like crack magical! I left work early today, got home, and did my workout, and am now prepping for a FANTASTIC meal tonight! I’m making something special that I’ve never made before, so my fingers are crossed it’ll work out. Hopefully I have some awesome photos and a face-rocking recipe to show off tomorrow morning!
Today I had a great conversation via g-chat with Jessica about book ideas and life in general. She threw out some really great ideas for a book…ideas that moved me to start truly planning in a way I haven’t before. I also read a book about writing last night that mentioned that you should always write about something that is centered around what you believe; otherwise it’s a lie.
Why am I telling y’all this? I started letting myself get attacked while in the midst of the planning process. I started to let myself believe that no one would buy a book from someone who hasn’t lost the weight that they want to lose or isn’t in the career they want. I started to think about my “numbers” – the number on the scale, the number on my clothes, the number on my paycheck. The thing is, our lives – MY LIFE – revolve around those numbers, but what about the numbers that really matter? Like the number of smiles you’ve given to people? The number of times you’ve helped someone without being asked? The number of times you’ve brought joy to others? Seems to me that THOSE numbers are the numbers that should define us!
What numbers do you let yourself be defined by? Why? What numbers do you WANT to be defined by? How will you help yourself get there? For too long I’ve let myself be defined by the scale and the size on the tags of my clothes. I’ve done it as a cop-out as to why I can’t achieve the things I really want, and as a way to stay stagnant in my journey through life. The thing is, I want to be defined by the number of lives that I’ve touched, the number of women I’ve encouraged, and the number of people who live a joyful life because I stopped worrying about myself and started doing something to make a difference!
Great post, Heather! You’re right that certain numbers – like the number of smiles you flash – are WAY more important than the number on the inside of your jeans or on the scale.
You should check out the book “Bird by Bird” by Anne Lamott. Some of the parts are more directed toward fiction writers, but it has some really great writing tips!
it’s funny you mention that book…that was the one i was reading that said to be true to what you believe 🙂
great post heather. 🙂 thanks for being real with us.
i would say i’ve concentrated on the numbers on the scale, the numbers on the tags in my clothes, and the numbers on my bank statement. i really don’t like that about myself and am trying to release those things over to God and trust and find my value in Him alone.
I used to think my life doesn’t revolve around numbers; I’ve never counted calories, never worried over my dress size or cared much about my weight BUT these days I seem to worry about the amount of time I have for yoga every week, working hours and so on.
I love your mug! So cute!
I want to be defined by the number of people whose lives I am important in 🙂
By being honest and putting yourself out there like you do there’s no doubt that you’re defined by the number of people you’ve touched, encouraged, and related to!
Hmmm right now the numbers that define me are in the weight room! lol I’m working so hard and when I don’t see improvement in my strength I can’t help but let it get to me and make me feel weak–instead I need to be happy about what I am already capable of doing and let it drive me to move forward!
Great post – there is so much honesty in it. Numbers do run our lives, because, as humans, well…maybe as Western Civilization, we are constantly measuring ourselves, comparing ourselves to others, and always always always looking for something better…a bigger accomplishment. I think it’s very difficult not to compare or measure our achievements/losses. It takes a lot of will power and energy to re-focus on the good. But, it can be done! Thanks for pointing that out. We must all make a conscious effort to focus on the good and what truly is meaningful and makes us happy. 🙂
I get caught up in the negative numbers more than I should. I love this post and the idea of looking at the other numbres in my life. I also love love love your dog!!!
I don’t weigh myself….because numbers are the one thing I try to avoid, unless I’m using stats to prove a point. I don’t do the whole numbers thing b/c I don’t want it to run my life, and so far it has worked.
You really can’t go wrong with a Toucan Sam mug! Thanks for the daily inspiration 🙂
Great post Heather–so much wisdom! Thanks for sharing 🙂
I would never have thought about relating to numbers in a positive way and thinking of the number of lives we touch, smiles we give, etc. What a great way to think of things and try to define ourselves by those standards. I love it.
AMEN!! When you think about it, who is ever truly satisfied with all of the numbers in their life? If it’s not the number on the scale it’s the number on the paycheck, number of relationships, number of years spent in school, etc. etc. The only “number” we should focus on is the short amount of time we have to create a *meaningful* and happy life.
Argh…it is so easy to get obsessed with numbers, isn’t it? Pounds, calories, miles…the list goes on and on. 🙁 I need to focus more on smiles, laughs, friends…you get it 🙂
Grades, weight, running times, hours at work, hours spent not working, bank account balance, blog views… just some of the numbers that have caused me stress throughout my life. Wow, great topic. Some of those things would definitely be better measured by the emotional or physical impact, or the quality. Though the balance in my bank account… that might be good to keep track of with a solid number or I’d be in big trouble :-D.
Id get your book in a heart beat!
Scale, cals, size, all of that crap!
My boyfriend repeatedly tells me to stop looking at the number on the scale or the size of my pants. It SHOULD be about the number of K’s I run, the miles I bike, the laps I swim, the number of hikes I can do in a weekend. But after 3 years of being obsessed with the scale and seeing that number shrink…I cannot walk away from the scale and disregard that number. It’s important to me. It keeps me motivated to not EAT everything I see…
Sorry…that became long winded. 😉
Beautiful, absolutely beautiful post Heather!!
I agree. I don’t want my life to revolve around the number on the scale.
Interesting! When I first read this I thought my life doesn’t revolve around numbers. But then I started thinking and it does! I know how many miles I run each day, week, month and year (numbers); I know about how many calories I eat each day (numbers); I know my clothing size (numbers); I know my weight (numbers); I know my age (and it freaks me out…more numbers). Numbers totally rule my life…THAT BLOWS! I gotta change that!