I have had a hard time trying to figure out how I wanted to write this post. I have gone back and forth for so many days as I continued to watch the news about what I should say in this post and last evening the words "getting back on track" came to mind. We as a country have undergone way too many tragedies in the past couple years and this past week many more innocent people were killed or injured including kids. I have to wonder when the violence of such great magnitudes will stop! When will we find peace and stop hurting our children? Or I guess the bigger question is when will people start to find God again? Life really is too short anymore and more and more people are starting to live in fear. As soon as the terror occurred at the Boston Marathon, my husband said no more marathons for you (and I haven't even got to participate in one yet). But why do we all have to go around wondering if our child's school will have a shooting in it, or if a plane will fly into a building, or a bomb will go off, or a gunman will just come into a store or a movie theatre or a bank. I for one don't want to live my life in fear! I want to feel safe in this country and right now how can we? Not only do I need to get back on track with my running and exercising, but this country needs to get back on track! We need to unite and make effective changes where they need to be changed to keep our future generations safe. Whether that means more effective mental health services, stricter laws, or just people starting to go to church, things need to change we need to "get back on track" and make this country safe so that we are all happy! Ok now that I have all that out...let's look at the word happiness.
Do we actually know what Happiness is? Every day I look around and see selfless killings, robberies, people just yelling at others and children living in horrific situations and I wonder are these people actually happy. L. Ron Hubbard stated that "Happiness could be defined as the emotion of progress toward desirable goals. There is an instant of contemplation of the last goal in which one is content. But contentment becomes boredom immediately that new goals do not come to view. There is no more unhappy thing than a man who has accomplished all his ends in life."
As I thought about those words I reflected on my life. When I was a high school student all I wanted for my life was a wonderful husband and children in which I adored. I thought those were the ultimate goals in life. I also wanted to have a job in which I loved to go to everyday. Well I have been with my amazing husband 6 six years this year and we have two wonderful children and I love getting up and going to work everyday. I had reached all my goals....I have achieved a master's degree and had no more left to strive for in school and I had the most fulfilling home life. No wonder why boredom set in. I had nothing left to strive for. I was stuck in a rut and yes I am still sort of stuck there but I am proud to say that I am doing something new and I have new goals to work on. What are those goals you ask? Well lets go through all of them individually.
1. Run a 26 mile Marathon - I am determined to run this and even if it takes me 10-15 years I will get there.
2. Return back to school to obtain ABA certificate- I have not discussed this with the hubby yet but I desperately wanted this certification two years ago and had been accepted to Penn State Online to get it however the funds were not there. Now that my hubby is getting his I am extremely jealous about all he knows regarding behavior and I want that knowledge so again if it takes me 10 years I too will have that knowledge.
3. I want to read the entire bible- I have always loved my faith in God and how he helps through trials and tribulations but sometimes I shy away and I don't want to be that person anymore. I want to be just like my Great-Grandma. She was a wonderful lady who read that bible cover to cover several times. I want to start to exhibit that faith as well and depend more on the Lord to help me in this life. The lord carries us through all of our trials and I want to know how to serve him better.
And Finally.....
4. I want to lose 15 -20 pounds and maintain a healthy lifestyle every day! This goal is probably a short-term goal as I am currently at the weight I was at before I became pregnant for the second time so here's to hoping I can keep going on this track and get off some extra!
Well there they are! Written in stone! I will do each of those no matter how long it takes. I want to show my children that we can strive to achieve goals at all ages and that when we are reaching for something we are the happiest. Now imagine if every person in the US would start reflecting on their life and think about achieving goals? This could be the happiest country and we might even see the mental health of individuals subside because depression and other mood disorders may begin to diminish with a little self motivation. We need to work together to get to our final goal. I am not doing those above four goals on my own. I have the full support of my husband. After we finally were able to go on an amazing date night this weekend, he is finally on board to help me and he has even decided to join in. We have decided to turn this running into a competition :) We will each train separately (only because our schedules are crazy) but two times a month we will run together (I will kick his butt ;)!) and at the end of the month we must see who runs the mile faster. The winner gets a determined prize on the monthly contract! I am going for a new pair of running shoes (mine are a year old and have had some miles put on them)! What a wonderful way to not only work towards my goal, but to add some fun into our marriage! A friendly competition is always motivating. Today was the start and we each ran a mile to see our baseline.....guess who won?? I beat him by almost a whole minute! I ran a mile in 10:52. I know that is not the best but I will only get better and stronger. I am looking forward to all the new things in this life because I am challenging myself. These goals are not going to be easy to achieve....I have two young children, a teenage foster son, a fulltime job, a part time job, and commitments to the church. But at the end of the day I am going to do this. As my wonderful daily inspirational quote app told me this week - "The only difference between try and triumph, is a little 'umph'!" That is my new motivating saying! I am now going to give this life a little "umph" because that is what it needs to be happy and self-fulfilling.
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31
God Bless,
Amanda
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