Toothpaste Tales 2

Well, flash forward from August 17, 2010 to February 14, 2011....I opened a new tube of toothpaste, which means a lot of reflection and time for a blog.

I actually am in a really positive spot right now. My reflections of the past are simply that-the past. Not a reflection of where I am now or where I am destined to be. My destiny is defined by my thoughts and my present actions; the past is merely a place to look on to learn from. There are many happy memories back there, and those I cherish and let fold me in their comfort instead of wallowing in sadness. I'm really happy with where I am, so to reflect is actually to figure out what I can embelish and manifest even more great things in an already pretty great life.

Simply put-life is never easy. And it never will be. This last tube of toothpaste took me through one of the lowest points I've been in for a very long time. What did that teach me though, that's the key to all of this. Making mistakes, or having unfortunate happenings "happen", and then picking yourself up and moving forward. Which is precisely what I've always done, am doing, and will continue to do.

After starting this last tube of toothpaste I got a promotion. I'm now settling into the position, learning it, applying things I already knew, and retaining things so I can excel. There are some nuances I would rather not have with this new position, but those people, I mean, those things (oops-a slip!) can only get better! And these next six months I only foresee advances and even better things career-wise.

Lately I've been doing a lot of reflection as to how much energy and time I've put towards my career and how that has paid off, and wondering if I simply neglected to put that same time and energy into my personal life and relationships (of the romantic nature). And I think the answer is that I have-I knew in order to succeed in my career I would have to work, and work hard, be diligent, stay focused, put in the time, etc. I always thought that love would just find me without having to ever work hard at it; when you know, you know, right? But, I realize, with that attitude, what am I attracting to myself? Well, I can answer that-the dopes I've dated in the past is what I've attracted to myself. So, with all of that being said, where do I start? How do I let myself be vulnerable enough to start focusing on myself and attracting the perfect person for me? Because that is also a truth-I've always been scared of getting rejected that I simply don't play the game. I've had moments where I've gotten past that, but nothing consistent enough to actually work through the hardships or pain to get to the pot of gold on the other side, that's for sure. So, I guess this section is a to be continued, as it is a reflection of future, and where I am going during this next tube.

Something else I'm really looking forward to is seeing where my health, weight, and self-esteem are at by the time this tube is finished. I started Weight Watchers four weeks ago and am amazed at the program and how motivated I am to create this lifestyle change. I've lost over eight pounds since starting, and I was actually yelled at by my online tracking tool for losing weight too rapidly! I thought that was kind of funny...apparently I need to consult my doctor and pay a $20 copay to tell me that I'm finally getting healthy and am in a good spot spirtually and mentally, and that because of it I'm losing weight and getting healthy physically as well. The difference this time? I'm applying the WW principles (and channeling Jennifer Hudson all the while) to my life, making the necessary changes, and seeing the results. These results are because of a lifestyle change I made, not a diet.

By the time this tube is over I'll be 31; I'll have gone to Cancun, San Francisco, Istanbul, and possibly Cape Cod (depending on how often I brush the old chompers, that is). How exciting! By the time the tube is over I could have fallen madly in love, lost 50 pounds, paid off my car, and gotten another promotion! That's truly the beauty of it-the possibilities of life are endless! Dream bigger! Aim higher! Life is hard, yes, but it is also full of abundance, and that's what I focus my energies on!

Stay cool, and remember-dental hygiene is no joke. Brush and floss daily.