And so it goes :)

Indeed!!! The saga of this year's #Healthy65 Challenge continues. 

I had tweaked my previous "That's the Spirit" post to meet a #Healthy65 newsroom blog deadline Friday.  But I finished a little later in the day than they expected, so mine won't run until at least Monday. And, amazingly, I am OK with that. Here was the update, subject to more revisions!!

Who knew?

Who knew it would be so easy? All I had to do was set a goal. 

And suddenly I had two days with a positive attitude, without complaining, whining or negativity (aside from some morning sounds that may have seemed like moans or groans as I was stretching before and as I got out of bed). 

My #Healthy65 Challenge/goal is to abstain from complaining and whining at least two days a week for 65 days.

After accomplishing that in the first two days of the first week, I realized I could break into negativity again for a while if I wanted to. But I didn’t want to. I really would like this more positive attitude to become a habit. 

Now, it’s Friday, and I’m on my fifth day of what to me seems a noticeably better attitude. 

What is different? Clearly, one thing is the awareness. Another is the motivation: I want to achieve my goal. A third thing likely is simply that it's new. 

Oh, and there’s this: I have a plan. Instead of whining and pointing out the negative when things go wrong, my plan is to say something positive or say nothing at all. On Monday and Tuesday, and many times since, when typically I would have whined or complained, I was able to remain silent, praying as needed, until I could think of something neutral or positive to say about the situation. And there were plenty of times that pause was needed – at home, at work and along the way.

I am amazed. This feels much more peaceful and satisfying. I hope I can keep it up. 

So, here's the continued approach: 

-- Try not to say anything until I work through to the gratitude or at least can be neutral. 

-- Instead of complain, I will strive to say (or at least think): What can I do?  How can I help? What can I be grateful for here?

-- Pray. Be still and listen for God. Trust and obey. 

The Healthy 65 Challenge is a life-improvement initiative launched by co-worker Juliana Keeping last year to cover 65 days from about Thanksgiving to after the first of the year. This year, we started Monday and will end Feb. 2. It’s an informal challenge, but I found last year that it helped me have a healthier mindset that went  beyond  the stated goal of significantly reducing my exorbitant chewing of gum.  I exceeded that goal and continue to follow the plan that helped me there.

That gives me hope that this year’s challenge also might bring about lasting change. These first few days notwithstanding, I don't think it will be easy. It will take some one-day/moment-at-time trust in God that I've never been able to sustain. I'm just glad that, for today, it seems possible.

Who knew?

Who knew it would be so easy? All I had to do was set a goal. 

And suddenly I had two days with a positive attitude, without complaining, whining or negativity (aside from some morning sounds that may have seemed like moans or groans as I was stretching before and as I got out of bed). 

My #Healthy65 Challenge/goal is to abstain from complaining and whining at least two days a week for 65 days.

After accomplishing that in the first two days of the first week, I realized I could break into negativity again for a while if I wanted to. But I didn’t want to. I really would like this more positive attitude to become a habit. 

What is different? Clearly, one thing is the awareness. Another is the motivation: I want to achieve my goal. A third thing likely is simply that it's new. 

Oh, and there’s this: I have a plan. Instead of whining and pointing out the negative when things go wrong, my plan is to say something positive or say nothing at all. On Monday and Tuesday, when typically I would have whined or complained, I was able to remain silent, praying as needed, until I could think of something neutral or positive to say about the situation. And there were plenty of times that pause was needed – at home, at work and along the way.

I am amazed. This feels much more peaceful and satisfying. I hope I can keep it up. 

So, here's the continued approach: 

-- Try not to say anything until I work through to the gratitude or at least can be neutral. 

-- Instead of complain, I will strive to say (or at least think): What can I do?  How can I help? What can I be grateful for here?

-- Pray. Be still and listen for God. Trust and obey. 

The Healthy 65 Challenge is a life-improvement initiative launched by co-worker Juliana Keeping last year to cover 65 days from about Thanksgiving to after the first of the year. This year, we started Monday and will end Feb. 2. It’s an informal challenge, but I found last year that it helped me have a healthier mindset that went  beyond  the stated goal of significantly reducing my exorbitant chewing of gum.  I exceeded that goal and continue to follow the plan that helped me there.

That gives me hope that this year’s challenge also might bring about lasting change. These first few days notwithstanding, I don't think it will be easy. It will take some one-day/moment-at-time trust in God that I've never been able to sustain. I'm just glad that, for today, it seems possible.

A positively #Healthy65 start

Today, I started my latest Healthy 65 Challenge. This is a life-improvement initiative launched by co-worker Juliana Keeping last year to cover 65 days from about Thanksgiving to after the first of the next year. This time, it actually will end Ground Hog Day, Feb 2. It's an informal challenge, but I found last year that it helped me have a healthier mindset that went beyond the stated goal of significantly reducing my exorbitant gum consumption. I exceeded that goal and continue to follow the plan that helped me there. (It just occurred to me that Julianna says one thing she likes about 65 days is that it should be long enough to establish a new habit. But for me and my gum chewing, I'm very aware that reduced gum-chewing did not become a habit for me, and if I didn't keep daily track, I'm pretty sure I'd quickly be back to the super excessive amount. Seems crazy but I know it's true.)

Anyway, I wasn't sure I would participate this year. I couldn't think of a worthy physical challenge I wanted to take on.  But then a healthy behavior came to mind. So my #Healthy65 Challenge is to abstain from complaining. I want to quit whining and pointing out the negative. I want to say something positive or say nothing at all. And I want to somehow do this without denying or stuffing my feelings. 

Between Wednesday, when I came up with my goal, and Sunday, I was having second thoughts and even took comfort in knowing I didn't have to be perfect. If my goal is just one or two days a week, it wouldn't even have to be the first day. But of course, I did want a strong start. So I figured I might as well try.  

And now it's 9:45 pm, and I have succeeded so far. It seems every time I normally would have complained or whined, I was able to remain silent, praying as needed, until I could think of something neutral or positive to say about the situation. And there were plenty of times that pause was needed. After all, it is Monday, and I work a full-time job. Anyone who knows me knows what I am talking about. 

I am amazed. It felt very peaceful and satisfying. I hope I can keep this up. I really liked the result today. 

So, here's the continued approach: 

-- Try not to say anything until I work through to the gratitude or at least can be neutral. 

-- Instead of complain, I will strive to say (or at least think): What can I do?  How can I help? What can I be grateful for here?

-- Pray. Be still and listen for God. Trust and obey. 

Here's to a Healthy365, one day at a time!

The #healthy65 Holiday Challenge has been a very good experience for me. I don't typically sign on to such projects, especially when it includes a potential public component. But something about colleague Juliana Keeping's original post and invitation captured my spirit, and I could not resist joining. Tuesday marked day 56 of 65 for me.

It helped tremendously that she made it so simple. There really was no way to fail. Certainly even the most unhealthy person can categorize at least one action each day as healthy. The low threshold helped me accept the challenge.

I'm still surprised I not only met my goal (to reduce my gum consumption by half, which would be about 50 -- there, I wrote it -- of the small Dentyne Fire pieces a day, at least twice each week) but also expanded it to include seven days a week. And now I want to use it going forward in 2015, one day at a time. Benefits have included saving at least $2 each day (some of which I have donated to charity); and a more relaxed and possibly smaller stomach.

A couple of observations in the past month make me know it's not automatic that I will succeed at keeping this up. My husband wondered along the way why, if I can set this goal and achieve it, I can't achieve some of my other self-improvement ideals. I do not know the answer to that. All I know to do is keep trying. These results reinforce that. Who knew it would work this time?

Then, on Jan. 1, as I was looking at past personal blog postings during  transitions from one year to the next, I was surprised to see these words posted Dec. 31, 2011:

I'm not going to take time to rehash the year's precious memories. ... But I felt the need to write a few words before I do some last-minute work to wrap up a few 2011 details that will help give the new year a fresher start. One of the things I had jotted down but not yet shared is a year-end accomplishment that gives me hope for the future. After wanting to do so for several months if not years, on Dec. 21, I committed to cut my gum consumption by half -- which is probably still more than anyone else in the world chews. And surprisingly, I've chewed less than my allotted maximum several days. And there have been some very positive health aspects. For anyone who has never had a habit get out of hand, this probably seems like no big deal. But I was hooked. It was on a prayer list of things I wanted to change, most of which still seem impossible. The thing that pushed me to action on this was noticing again just how much I was spending on gum. Why all of a sudden I was able to make the change, I do not know. But I credit God. I began by trying to get through just one day, then one work day, and then one shopping day. Each new situation seemed impossible. But I just kept praying and recommitting and focusing on the positive results. I don't know that it's getting easier, but my awareness of the benefits stays strong.

Also strong is my sense of hope that if I can finally, with God's help, do this seemingly minor thing but impossible thing, maybe the next goal for self-improvement will be possible.

Oh. My. Gosh. Seriously???? Does that mean I at one time chewed four times as much -- or is it the more likely possibility that I successfully cut back and gradually returned to the old way? All I know is that, five years later, I was at that exact same place again, and it seemed completely new.

Normally, that would be enough to make me give up. What, truly, is the use? But this time, I choose to take a positive view.

So, I plan to shift my #healthy65 Holiday Challenge to a #healthy365 challenge, one day at a time. I want to keep the gum in its place, not as the prize, but as a foundation on which to build other healthier habits.

#healthy65: Day 14 of 65

These are some  thoughts at the end of the second  week of my #healthy65 challenge:

I am thankful that I could choose not to participate in the wonderful Thanksgiving potluck at work and not feel deprived or pressured. I am grateful I can make choices that are healthy for me. Some days I don't. But for today, I did. 

I posted a version of that on Facebook, as an affirmation and somewhat of a commitment. I almost didn't post it, because I worried someone might think I was judging those who indulge in such feasts. That was not my intent. 

I think potlucks are  wonderful and sometimes I do participate. But I know how I am with food. The combination of a 10-hour holiday-week workday, stress and all that wonderful food would have been disastrous for me. I would not have been able to stop eating until I felt miserable.  I'm pretty much all or nothing, and when I acknowledge my tendencies and make choices based on the realities, the results are good. 

So, why don't I always do this? Who knows? Human nature, I guess. 

That brings me to another observation on Day 14 of my #healthy65 challenge. I've continued to achieve my gum goal daily instead of just twice a week. It hasn't gotten any easier. Today was another day I did not think it would be possible. But I'm on a roll, so to speak, and I really do not want to lose the positive momentum. So, I prayed, tried  and trusted -- and at the end of a long and hectic day I had only chewed about 54 little pieces of gum instead of the former norm of 112 or more. And I feel better for it, one day at a time. 

My final thought for tonight is that whose-ever idea it was to do the Dayxx of 65 tally was crazy. Fourteen seems like progress -- but 14 out of 65 looks like almost nothing. But on I trudge. More gratefully than it probably sounds in this post!!

#healthy65 Day 1

Even my lame gum goal is not easy. I still will not say how many pieces of Dentyne Fire gum I typically chew in a day. Cutting that amount by half as part of the Healthy 65 Holiday Challenge took an amazing amount of focus. But I did it.  And along the way, some other things somehow fell into place as well. The top of that list is that I left work on time so I wasn't late to choir practice, breaking an annoying habit. 

When I bought my midweek groceries, I replenished my Dentyne supply as if I don't expect to be able to cut back every day. But I am going to try. I think any number of charities will appreciate the more than a dollar I will save each day. 

My goal is just twice a week. I might as well try it again tomorrow and see if I am on a roll. It can't hurt.