January Wrap-Up

I'm trying to keep my promise of taking a moment to wrap up the month with a brief reflection on some of the things I've learned this month. So let's chat. Let me know what you've learned this month as well -- I'd love to know and grow more too!

Physical Lessons

My sister-in-law so graciously asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding this summer, and while she was getting her dress fitted, my mother-in-law and I had a moment. We both talked about how we weren't where we wanted to be physically and vowed that we'd keep each other accountable. We've been at it for a week and some change, focusing on diet and trying to get in thirty minutes of movement when we can, and I've learned a few things within these past few days.

1. Getting up is not easy. I've never been a person who's gotten up early to exercise, but I'm learning more and more the importance of going to bed early and waking up early. I am so much more energized and centered when I exercise and make time to wake up in the morning.

2. Eating is the majority of the struggle, and I've been excited to challenge myself to eat portions, to snack healthy throughout the day, and reshape my relationship with food. A book, well, a lady that has really helped me with that has been Andie Mitchell. I've read her memoir, It Was Me All Along, and spent some time on her blog. I watched her TED Talk as well. And it's been a mental workout to consciously tell myself to slow down when I eat. To realize I don't have to give up foods I love, I just have to eat them in portions, and in balance with healthier food options.

3. This has been an emotional journey as well. I'm learning to love myself, and realizing that loving myself means I put good things into my body to treat it as well as I can so I can live a LONG, HEALTHY, HAPPY life! :) It means forcing myself onto a scale and coming to terms with how much weight I've gained. It means having a talk with myself in the mirror to say, "You are loved. You are beautiful. And you are not defined by the scale. But also, you need to be healthy because your body is your temple, and God created you to reach your full potential in all areas of your life." Balance.

Relationship Growth

A devotional I read today pretty much summed everything up for the month of January: Make room. I've felt God working on my heart to make me into a more patient, understanding person. My temper has toned down and my tolerance has grown, and that's solely because of Him. He has expanded my heart for more love and more peace than I ever could have imagined. When it comes to politics and having rationalized, even-tempered conversations with people whose opinions are different than mine, I still have a long way to go, but I'm realizing more and more, especially with my parents, that approaching every interaction with a foundation of love makes every situation and every minute of quality time that much more special.

I have a feeling 2017 will be my growing year emotionally. And I'm really excited about the possibilities that holds.

Twitter Highlight Reel

Professional Skills Learned

1. Slow down. Quality is so much more valuable than quantity. When I was in high school, I worked at a publishing house where the quantity of work accomplished was most important. I spent time on quality too, but details weren't necessarily something I needed to worry about. Now, I'm realizing how important the details are, and am fortunate enough to have a supervisor that tells me nicely to take my time and not rush the process.

2. Attitude is everything. There have been so many times that I've overheard co-workers talking about their anxiety over work interactions, how they thought someone was giving them attitude or how they were offended from feedback. I've realized that the energy you radiate drastically affects the outcome in most situations. Therefore, every time I walk into someone's office, no matter who they are in relationship to my position, I aim to be as genuine, understanding, and positive as possible and I have yet to have a negative interaction (knock on wood).

Books I've Read

It Was Me All Along: A Memoir by Andie Mitchell (★★★/4)

The Magnolia Story by Chip and Joanna Gaines (★★★★/4)

Monthly Mantra

January Reflections

This month has been good and bad. Good because of the above things, but also challenging because of the current political situation. Challenging because my husband got into a car accident and we had to buy a car (yay car payments). Challenging because we're both growing and with growing comes times of being uncomfortable. Overall, though, the positive always outweighs the negative, and I'm thankful for the many, many blessings I wake up to every day.

A few things on my gratitude list this month included:

1. Home-cooked meals

2. The excitement of the season's first snow

3. Sunday drives & finding new favorite local spots

4. Finding out we did, indeed, have off MLK Day

5. Jogging without knee pain

Excited for what February will hold. Here's to wishing you have a great one!