My One Little Word this year in 2019 is WHOLE. But that isn't what this post is about. I'll get to my one little word later in another post. Today I am sharing my WHOLE intentions for this month, January 2019. I am jumping into my word wholeheartedly. One action item in making my word visible - and active each month I will set short term monthly goals, or intentions, and those will be my focus for the month.
This month I have identified 4 specific intentions in my journey to becoming whole. This is the doing-the-work part of becoming whole.
[1] Eat KETO. Over the past several weeks (even more, really) I have been devising a plan to change my eating habits. I researched KETO after hearing how a friend lost 60+ pounds in 9 months and the impact - health-wise - that it had. One key piece, however minute, was beginning KETO in 2018 taking the stigma of it being a new years resolution out of the equation. Because this is the first full month I am making KETO a hardened fast intention for January (and probably will for the next couple of months until it becomes a lifestyle and not simply a diet).
Thankfully, I have made it a habit to plan our meals (since 2011), so planning KETO meals for breakfast, lunch, and dinner wasn't difficult. With time I am sure I'll expand our menu repertoire but for this first month I'm keeping it simple, beginning with success in mind.
KETO is a long-term investment. I have a long way to go to being healthy and whole. But it is a necessary step.
[2] Swim 1x a week. Here's the thing: I love to swim. But, I have allowed the time commitment to derail my intentions. Jeff and I talked through my concerns, my habits, my discipline, the pros, the cons, the benefits. Basically, we weighed everything and I came to the conclusion that I cannot allow the time commitment to stand in my way any longer. It is not an easy thing laying out your weakness on the table but more than anything it freed me of those chains that were binding. Even though my weaknesses regarding the issue of time commitment is a sore subject, I garnered the support, and agreement by Jeff, and that he's on board with me I can let that go and - if it takes 45 minutes to drive to the pool it takes 45 minutes. If it takes more than 60 minutes to swim, so be it. If it means taking 30 minutes to get a shower, and battle afternoon traffic then that is what I will do for this healthy, necessary investment.
This first month I am shooting for 1x a week until I can get into the groove of going to the pool. Do I hope to go more than 1 time a week? Absolutely.
[3] Memorize the book of James, Chapter 1. Ashley and I are beginning the Beth Moore study, James. We'll be meeting on Face Time once a week and discussing what we've studied and learned. This is Moore's first bible study where she has incorporated levels of study from simply watching the videos, to completing the daily homework, reading additional material, writing out the book of James freehand (which is an amazing exercise, by the way), and the last level of study is to memorize the book of James. I've attempted this exercise in the past with limited success. I am hoping have Ashley as an accountability I can share my success with her by reciting the parts I have memorized.
[4] Probably the hardest to accomplish is walk one mile a day. Jeff bought me a Fitbit for Christmas and I'm wearing it everyday. To get a mile in I will have to be purposeful about walking - everyday. Sounds ominous! Especially with my pain levels where they are at. The catch is, though, in order to fight some of the pain I need to move more - even though moving hurts.