Merry Christmas SNOOPY

LIFE IS REALLY NUTTY RIGHT NOW!

Life sure can be a challenge. I just can't seem to fit into my life all the things I need to do. Little time for fun! Work has been a big stressor. Lots and lots of hours and no time for myself. But on the happy note, I come home from work and dinner is cooked for me. And all the Grandchildren are blissful and the house is filled with lots of joy. I am losing weight. Nice to finally find a program that is working for me. Hoping things calm down really soon at work so I don't end up totally nuts! And in the mean time, I will reach for every happy moment I can find.

I MUST BE NUTS

Ok...I've decided to start a new job and start a weight loss program at the same time. I must be Nuts!!! They are both very challenging! At work this week, things were just crazy. I'm use to crazy but not crazy and learning new paper work at the same time. I had to ask myself why did I do this to myself!? But like anything, it takes effort to get where you want to be. I think I will love working close to home once I get through the learning curve. The new weight loss program has also been a challenge. Getting use to new habits and most of all taking the time for myself. I could have easily put if off however, I decided that I couldn't put it off as my health is a risk if I don't get my cholesterol lower and weight down. All in all, I think the exercise is helping with the extra stress. I know the challenges will be worth it in the long run. So I may be Nuts but I believe in the end, I will be happy I made these changes.

Ok I MIGHT BE NUTS!

So how did I go from not even understanding why I blogged to having 3 blog pages! Yea, I might be a little nuts. But then that is what makes me unique and fun. I thought a lot about what I wanted to blog about and decided to approach blogging like I approach life. As a hospice nurse, I teach daily that the dying process is three fold, physical, emotional and spiritual. These are not only a part of dying but of every day life. And it is important to be aware of them as we live not just when we die.
So I have started 3 blogs to make me more aware of all aspects of my life. This blog, my first is a personal blog with focus on family and friends and the emotions I experience . My second blog, scaling down is to address my physical health. And then my last, retraining the brain is to focus on my spirit.

AND WHY AM I BLOGGING?

I starting blogging before I even understood what blogging was. I have a very technical savvy son. He and a few of his friends have blogs that I began to read. I enjoyed their blogs, so I decided to start my own. I have to say I loved reading their blogs but was very disappointed in my own. I have 4 followers and not sure they even read any of my posts (by the fact they never left a comment) Then I found facebook and loved finding old friends and making new ones. I knew people read what I wrote because they would leave comments. I loved the interaction, The ability to write a thought in just a matter of minutes was a plus. After finding facebook, I pretty much put blogging on the back burner. Until the other night, my son was over talking about his web business, he sparked my interest in blogging once again. However this time, I would approach it more intelligently. I explored what a blog really is since I was not sure. Aaaah..google you got to love it! I goggled blog and found that a blog is simply a web log. Blogging is a web page or a part of a web page. Some blog as a form of a online journal and others blog to share information and their interests. Blogging is just a great way to express yourself. A great way to share information. I love to write, so I decided to keep my Nuts About Life blog as a personal web journal. Who cares if anyone reads it or not. It gives me an oppurtunity to use my creative skill and satisfies my desire to express myself. After researching other blogs, I decided to start a blog to help with my journey to loose weight. It is my hope that my blog, My Weight Loss Journey, will help me stay motivated and on track. If my journey helps anyone else with the same struggle that I have lossing weight then that is just a plus.

MONDAY TIPS FOR STAYING HEALTHY

I know it is easier said then done! But like anything else we pursue, it takes planning and dedication as well as motivation. So first, define what your motivation may be. Some common motivators may be to become more healthy, to be more attractive, to be more energectic. Once you have established your motivation, discipline yourself to make healthier choices. If you need help with that there are some good organizations out there that can help. One that comes to quick mind is Weight Watchers. There are also some quick tips for eating more healthy. Limit the amount of take out food you eat. Plan your meals. Cook recipes with individual ingredients (put together meals are high in fats and perseratives). Eat foods high in fiber such as fresh fruits and vegetables! Eat frequent small meals. Journal what you eat so you can know if you are eating the wrong things or eating too much. Eating right is not the only key to staying healthy. Exercising is just as important. Exercise takes discipline. However, once you start exercising and feeling better it becomes easier. Find an exercise program that you will enjoy. It will make it easier to continue. I love the wii and line dancing for some examples. There is no better exercise then walking. If it is hot or rainy out the local malls usually support mall walkers. It is recommended that you work out 30mins a day. The 30 minutes can be in two 15 minute sessions. So no excuses for I don't have time to exercise! Staying healthy is a day to day process, Revisit your goals and plan of action daily until it becomes a natural way of living for you.

I went to visit my sister in Omaha this June. She works for Congor Foods and she took me to her office. We also went to the Omaha zoo and toured down town. I a met my nephew Henry's family for the first time. He has 4 beautiful girls and an adorable son. It was a great trip! I am not only very fortunate to have the oppurtunity to visit, but also I am very fortunate to have a sister that is also my best friend.

New Design

Ok I have redesigned my blog page....and my life. I will be changing jobs at the end of this month. I will be working for Regency hospice. The decision to change was not easy but I feel a good one. My new office will be less then a quarter of a mile from home. I already know some of the staff and feel excited to work with them. I feel very blessed to have worked with some of the most wonderful co-workers at Trinity Hospice. (Formally St. Joseph's Hospice ) I want to thank everyone there for contributing to my growth as a hospice nurse. You will be missed but I hope we can stay in touch. In closing, life is for growing, and for changes.

LIfe is What Happens When you Make Plans!

A lot has happened in the past few weeks. First of the year I moved back to the Augusta office. I had been deverted to the Aiken office against my wishes. So when I finally made it back to Augusta I was soooooo happy!!! The joy of working with the Augusta people is undescribeable.

The enitre office is like no other place I ever worked. Everyone is loving and supportive.

The end of February I was in a car accident. Just when I was settleling in to my new work place-life happened. I was hit from behind and then hit a tree. Ouch! I am still recovering from a concussion that brings many physical and mental challenges my way. It defintely changed my life.

Also there are other changes too. My partner Connie Johnson and my boss Connie Emmett are both retiring. Everyone at work was worried about who would replace our Supervisior. We were all very thankful when one of the long time St Joseph/Trinity staff accepted the positon. It was a relief to know that there would be someone to carry on the St. Jospeh/Trinity mission. For that is what really makes our work place special. It is driven by the Holy Spirit.

Then last of the big changes came when my son Garren and his family left for New Mexico last week. They say for a couple of months. I have always been blessed to have my Grandchildren in Aiken and whenever I needed a shot of joy I only had a short drive to see them. When I feel sad I just have to remember that this is a wonderful oppurtunity for the Grandchildren to explore the west.

I know that life will always have challenges. But I do like it when life is like I plan and not what happens. But of course I am smart enough to realize that all is in the hands of God. And for life I am very blessed and thankful. For all my loving family and friends that love me and support me. And that is truly what life is about. Love. And God is Love

Life is Nuts But It Can Also Be Happy

I was intrigued when my daughter's friend Angela mentioned The Happiness Project at my daughter's scrap booking party. Happiness Project....hmmmm,....Happiness a project? Happiness takes work? What an interesting concept.

Yes, life can drive you nuts but it can also be happy! So I looked up the book on the internet. Like anything in life, sometimes it is the approach that makes the difference. Happiness project is defintely a different approach....way of finding happiness in your life. It is also an understanding of what happiness is and where it comes from.

Happiness is different for everyone. Like you, happiness is unique. In Gretchen Rubin's book The Happiness Project, she states that Happiness is 50% Genes. Some people are more naturally happier then others. The other 10-20% comes from life circumstances. The final 30-40% comes from how we think and react to life. So some of us defintely have to work harder at happiness then others. But what is most important, is that we learn how to capture the happiness we all so deserve. God is a loving God and to see us happy, makes him happy.

So check out the Happiness Project and begin your project to Happiness!

Happy New Year!

Yes it is a happy New Year. I transfered back to the Augusta office and have been elated! Happy!

I worked in Aiken office thinking closer to home would be better but soon found that was not the case. In all of my career I have never worked such a wonderful group of people then those in Augusta. So my plan is to stay here until I retire where I am happy and love the people that I work with. And retirement is not far off. And that make me Happy too!