You want it? Then go get it 😊

2016, 2016, I had high hopes and then they took leave. No worries now, for it's a new year. Am I ready to make it happen? Absolutely my dear!

New Year's resolutions, we all have them. We want and wish and declare...then the year gets rolling, and well, you know the rest. Let's be realistic,  50% stick to their intentions, and the other 50% go back to bad habits. It's just the nature of the beast. For 2017, I have my own goals and intentions, but now it's a matter of sticking to them and trying not to slip.

I have a friend of mine who lives in California, Julie Turner http://www.julieturnermovement.com/,  she has come up with this type of rehab fitness. She uses physical rehabilitation through fitness and uses a combination of dance, Pilates, rehab fitness, myo-fascia release, and Reiki. In other words, she knows her stuff. We've been Skypeing back and forth for the last year and half. We've been figuring out what works for my body and how these exercises can help rebuild muscles and nerves I have not used or felt since my accident. So far, the results have been incredible. There's just one issue, I haven't kept up with it the way I should, therefore, I've only seen real results in spurts when I'm concentrated and being consistent. I'll see results for a few days, I'll then stop for another few days, pick it back up again, and realize I have to start from square one all over again. The moral of the story, Bruce Lee said it best:

My point is, I've never really set a goal while working with Julie. So, yesterday when we Skyped, we both talked about goals and what we are trying to accomplish here. We decided that starting small then building off of that is a great way to keep the consistency going. Which is actually a smart way to tackle what it is you want for the new year.

If you have big goals you're trying to make this year, more power to you. If you have goals you want to achieve but know that you get side tracked easily, then set small goals for yourself leading up to what it is you truely want. Julie and I have set a two week goal as of now. Starting now, for the next two weeks I plan on doing specific exercises every day to improve the way I walk.

Once these two weeks are up, we're working on something else, then something else and so on and so on. What will be the outcome? That's what we're looking forward to seeing 😊

Set goals for yourself, do what you need to do, but be realistic. Be smart, be wise, and be the best you you could possibly be!

Nicole

So...it's finally here. Hello 2017

To the theme song of "Ding Dong the witch is gone" from The Wizard of Oz:

"DING DONG, it's Gone, gone, gone. What is gone? Last year is gone! 2016 has finished and gone away!"

Good morning, good morning (I began writing this this morning, then my Internet crashed)! Yes my friends, 2016 has come to an end, and 2017 has now taken its place. Last year was a mixture of a little good, a little not so good, some of us had a great  year, some not so great, some felt a roller coaster of a year, others faced a bumpy year, but one thing is for sure, 2016 has finally come to an end.

There was a quote I found the other day that simply read, " One year = 365 Opportunities". It's a very simple quote that is actually pretty big. I mean, 365 opportunities? That's exciting is it not? 365 opportunities are now at your feet. Now, you can be cynical about it, looking at it as 365 opportunities to screw up, but what's the fun in that?

Last week I was hanging out with a friend of mine and she told me about an idea she saw someone posted on Face book. She told me that you take a jar and label it "Awesome". Anytime something awesome happens to you in the year 2017, you can write it down and put it into the awesome jar. At the end of 2017, you can then pull it out and read all the awesome things that's happened this year.

This is my advice for 2017. Don't talk, do. Try to make your year count, so when 2018 rolls around, you can look back at this year with a smile knowing you took full advantage of every opportunity available to you. At times the year may hit a lull, but try not to let it get you down.

So here's to another year, and making yours AWESOME!

Nicole

Play ball

To challenge oneself is the name of the game this week. Personally, Monday started a little slow. We are now into Wednesday, even though it's almost over, and so far so good. Hopefully I'm not alone...

With Thursday fast approaching, I hope you've made the best of this week so far. Only two more days to go. Lets kick this weeks a&%!

Nicole

I challenge me

Monday, Monday...

The last few weeks I've been dealing with a small internal battle. Ever get one of those? You may know the feeling. The feeling like your head is going through this tug of war. To be or not to be productive...this is my delima.

Working out has always been a big part of my life, lately I just haven't been that enthusiastic about it  and  I've just been taking it easy. Not that big of a deal right? Well, I'm sure at different times, and whatever the situation, at some point you've felt that internal struggle of what you should or should not do. You also make up your mind if you want to act on it or not.

That was exactly what I was going through, but how could I break the cycle? The answer came pretty clearly. What if I just challenged myself? If I'm wanting to get results and know what I need to do in order to get them, then I challenge myself to do it. Time to be my own cheerleader.

The battles we face internally are real, but in order to move forward, we have to push ourselves and do it because we know we can. It's so easy to think and say what you want, you can talk and talk and question your lack of results, but you know the truth. There isnt really much effort on your part trying to get what you want, nor is there any enthusiasm and devotion to attaining it either. But, I don't have to explain to much, you know, when you go for it, commit and go for it, that's when you really see yourself in a different light.

It's already Monday, so the week is rolling. For the remainder of the week, I challenge you to challenge yourself. What is it that you keep saying you need to do but haven't done it yet? Challage yourself to complete whatever it is. Just go for it, like Nike.

Nicole

These things happen

In our everyday lives,  whether you admit it or not, at some point you will pass judgment on someone...

Pretty good opening huh?

Nobody really wants to admit it, but we all judge in different ways. We judge fashion, food, music, sports, and the big one, each other.

We see it played out in the media all the time. There are television shows, news programs, and websites, where this is spot lighted. It's in magazines, newspapers and as we all know, the list keeps going. Ever notice how  quick we are to judge one another? Its pretty incredible. The average amount of time it takes to judge someone from one introduction, is seven seconds. That's insane!

I have been on both sides of the coin.  There are a number of times I immediately pasted judgement on someone. Some of my thoughts were insensitive, judgmental, and crude. And at the same time, there are people out there who are making assumptions about me and my story. They are likely passing judgement the exact same way I was. 

Sadly, passing judgement is something we all posses. However, if you choose to break part of the cycle, you 100% can. 

I believe when you allow yourself to have an open mind and just take in this new exchange with someone, judging doesn't seem to exist. In that moment, you are interested in an authentic introduction and pleasant interaction. 

I'm sure everyone has heard the saying "you never know what someone's going through". But, it's absolutely true. We each have a story. All of us are going through our own personal battle. 

Try to keep that in mind next time you feel the urge to immediately start talking smack about the "weird" looking lady heading into the grocery store and wearing mismatched shoes and clothing. Maybe she's homeless and grabbed the only clothes she could from the shelter. Maybe she has some brain damage, or, she could be slowly slipping into dementia and has no next of kin to watch after her. 

The point is, don't be so quick to judge if you can. You just never know...

Nicole 

The moments that make us human

As human beings, we feel on many levels. Our emotions go from one extreme to the other. They range in depth, time, spans, and much more. Whenever we get a dose of reality, whether it's good or bad, it does something to us. It reminds us of the creatures we are and just how different we are from any other species.

There have been plenty of situations I've find myself in, and I'm sure I'm not alone, where reality has slapped me in the face. Anytime I've lost a loved one or have been around someone else who has lost someone time stops for a moment, and in that moment it comes to light that someday this will happen to us. We will leave this world. It is one of the purest and most shocking moments we can have. It reminds us that this is part of our human destiny, one day, we will be no more.

The same goes with helping those in need. Let's say, you come from a good home, a good family, you have a roof over your head, food on your plate, and a place to sleep. Then you go on Facebook or youtube and see videos of folks who have none of those things. People that are homeless and search for scarps of food in the trash. Again, in that moment time stops and we see the reality of being human. We see that things like this exist and happen on a daily basis. Then we see people reach out to those in need. We see the love we as humans posses to help our fellow man.

Whenever I catch an article or video of someone who has persevered through adversity, or is determined to write a new narrative for themselves  after some life altering event, I see what we as humans are all about. I see how strong we are and just how special we are and how deep, I mean really deep we can go. 

We are unlike anything else in this world, and to quote the fabulous Gene Wilder, a.k.a, Willy Wonka:

And if you really think about it, we are. We are surrounded by life. Each of us has felt what being human truly is and how we stand apart. So its OK to feel emotions, its OK to indulge in life, and its OK to be who we are. Through out our lives, we continually have moments that remind us we are who we are. Try to learn and appreciate whatever you can from each one. They were put there for a reason... 

Nicole

Reality, tv shows, madness, and self esteem

Reality TV, how silly you are to me.

Though I find myself getting sucked in from time to time

by your crazy debauchery.

From House wives, to tour buses, bar rescues and more,

 guilty pleasures to me, but nothing more.

Why, one might might ask,

I'll tell you my friend.

Seeing craziness ensue...

sometimes isn't so bad.

I think about my life,

and the people around,

craziness like what I see on TV,

is no where to be found.

So watching these shows is truly

a guilty pleasure at best, also

a self esteem booster,

I mean, have you seen some of those hot mess?

We all have guilty pleasures. Whether it's indulging in ice cream,  taking long baths, late night snacks, fuzzy socks,  you name it and it's probably a guilty pleasure of somebody. Mine just happens to be really horrible reality shows. You know the kind I'm talking about, people getting in verbal fights for the most ridiculous reasons,  pointing fingers at one another, uncovering scandalous revelations that aren't really that scandalous at all. I think I painted the picture for you. Yes, that is my guilty pleasure.  The main reason why it is such a guilty pleasure is because seeing these people getting aggravated over the pettiest things, makes me feel really good about myself and those around me. I'm no angel, but I feel like a saint after I watch some of these reality shows.

My point is, everyone has their own guilty pleasure, the one little thing that lets them release a little bit of steam and just indulge for a little while. I think a guilty pleasure, in a way, is a sort of escape.  Your brain turns off for a little while and you just enjoy.

The other guilty pleasure I have, and I'll admit it, I like stupid pop music. That's right I said it, with certain pop songs, I go into another world and just let go for a bit, and the best part is it's perfectly OK.  Whatever pop song I'm listening to, I can shut down, unwind,  and as I sing-along, I one, think I'm the best singer of all time (I'm really not) and two, enjoy the moment for all it's worth.


Before we are really knee deep into the holidays, go indulge in your guilty pleasure for a sec. So...what's your guilty pleasure?

Nicole