A new year....a new you!

Gaaaah, 34. You snuck up on me so fast. In my brain, I'm still 26. That was a good year...!

I think Birthdays are a time people reflect on their lives and their goals, I know I do. I look at the year past, and think about what I'd like to accomplish over the next year. Sadly, the last few years I have had the same resolve: to get healthy. And sadly, I didn't. I just got worse.

Something different happened this year though - I spent more time thinking about WHY I am unhealthy, rather then thinking about how to fix it. I know how to fix it. I am quite sure that I could challenge a degree in nutrition and get it. I could create multiple fitness regimes as well - but I won't do them. Because many things have been holding me back.

Namely stress. And allowing people to have control over my life.

And that needs to stop.

I remember when I was getting all pumped up to train for a half-marathon. I told my goal to a family member close to me, and he said "yeah right", and "I'll believe it when I see it". And I let those words stick to me in a negative way. I've always respected his opinion, and so I let myself believe I couldn't do it. So I stopped trying.

And then there are the negative people that everyone has in their lives. I am constantly letting people pull the strings, and put me in difficult situations. Key word: letting. I let peoples words get to me - but hey people - there will always be bullies in life. No matter how nicely you walk in your life, someone is always judging you. But like I tell my kids, it's up to YOU how you let people affect you.

What holds me back isn't the will power to get up and go. It's the depression from all the ugliness I have been around. And the negative things I let myself believe about myself.

So for this next year - in addition to treating myself well physically - I have decided to focus on combating all those stresses. To remove the negativity from my life and from my mind. To find peace with in myself, and to learn to love myself again. Something I didn't realize was holding me back. You hear it all the time - it's so cliche - Learn to love yourself. But it truly is the key to all your success. At least I hope it is! I'll let you know next year when I turn 35!!

~Sarah~

{What's holding you back?}