Meditation will be a carryover from Lent this year.

This past Friday,  I began pondering another carryover from my my Lenten observances; continuing the abstinence from eating meat on Fridays.  Oh, I have observed this tradition since I converted to Catholicism over 18 years ago, but this year was the first in ages that the practice didn’t waver in the slightest.  What changed was, not the observance, but my approach.  Instead of looking upon it as a rule of the Church, I viewed it as a vow to myself about sacrifice and self-discipline.  Making it a vow made me conscious of not just honoring it, but of being more conscious of everything that made its way onto my plate and into my mouth.    After talking over some  the rewards of this vow with my best friend, I have decided, indefinitely, to continue my vow of abstinence of eating meat on Fridays beyond the end of Lent.

In all honesty, these two carryovers from Lent dovetail well into my guiding principals for 2009.  Choosing constructive ways of living are showing me the rewards of living in a dynamic manner.  I have more peace, more self-awareness, and have begun to live a life that is truly more fulfilling than I ever imagined.   One of the keys to that fulfillment is learning about vows and self discipline.   And in the journey of this thing we call “life” I am becoming this complete being that everyone deserves to be….. it makes living life a joy.

Happy Sunday.  I hope you’ve had a good week and are anxious to face the glorious week ahead.

To see where I am on my 2009 focus, you can find my column in the Everything Girl section. Happy Reading!

Several months ago I had decided that the relationship with The Pilot Guy was not working.  That decision came for me in October.  He did ask me to give him an opportunity again around Christmas, which I gave to him early last month.  All it did was confirm that I made the right decision.  He is my friend, of course, but it didn’t feel right for where I am in what I want in life right now.   I was honest with him about how I felt.  I believe that honesty is important as long as it’s done in a way that isn’t hurtful.  After the plane crash in Buffalo, I knew that I would be hearing from him.  Part of his job is to handle the investigation on some plane crashes.  Sure enough, the day after, I heard from him and told him to be safe and take care of himself.  Plane crash investigations are never easy.   But then he called one morning this week.  I guess he needed a voice of  comfort after dealing with so much death.  I was more than happy to talk with him, despite the early hour.  Yesterday, however, he crossed the boundaries of where things stood, and I had to be a little more brutal with my honesty.  I like straightforwardness but I dislike being brutal.   It doesn’t sit well in my belief of the laws of karma, as I wish to be dealt with honestly but gently.

A year ago, I probably would have caved and told him I’d do what I could.  Now?  I couldn’t in good conscious because I know, through giving it several chances, it isn’t right for me and allowing him to believe that the passage of time is a cure-all isn’t the right thing to do if I follow my heart.  So, instead, I chose to be constructive.    I think this is just one example of where I am seeing my own growth though, which tells me the work I have done to become more disciplined is effective. When I sit down to write my column, it isn’t something that is done by the seat of my pants, but something that I thought hard over – especially my January columns as I put into words that I have decided my focus for the year will be. I think that everyone has within them the ability for growth if they so desire, and I personally learn something new most days.   Just because we can grow, doesn’t mean that it’s easy.    However, I do find that when I am true to myself, the harder lessons are easier.

Hard or easy, lessons are not all painful.   Growth and my ability to be patient are giving me many blessings.   This week has had many blessings.  I’ve had the youngest with me all week, which has been a joy despite her being sick.  I am finding a little more confidence in parts of myself.   I am also finding a hunger to learn more.

I think living constructive was a fabulous choice for 2009.

Experts in different fields are needed at times.  A company may hire a consultant when their staff is either inexperienced with the process, when a company doesn’t have enough staffing for make a project succeed, or when they need a person from the outside to give an honest assessment and plan of action to meet a goal.  It’s often a combination of these – and a half-dozen other things that influence a decision to hire a consultant.  The hardest projects to execute are the ones that are going to require a restructuring.   While a consultant gets to know a company’s employees and culture, they are not tied to the emotions of either.   Stepping outside of the forest to see not only the trees, but the leaves is often the best way to affect change.   A consultant assists in putting together a plan of action, and helps the company follow the plan.   It’s a difficult decision to bring someone in that doesn’t live there, but it’s smart.

If you need a top notch project manager, hire me.  I am passionate about my work and I love challenging situations.  I’m also incredibly intelligent, as the rest of this blog will show you I know when to dig in and finalize a project myself, and when it’s time to call in someone with more expertise and experience.

I hired a consultant today.  The project I needed assistance on?  My body.

I took a good hard look at my body today in numbers (weight, body fat, cardio fitness, flexibility).  I also looked at the health numbers from the past year (increased cholesterol, high blood pressure) as well as my lifestyle (little exercise, too much dining out,  days of not eating enough, days of eating too much, not enough sleep).   I generally know how to work out and I know how I should be eating, but knowing these things does not make the change automatic nor does it make me an expert.

So, I hired a trainer today.  I need to get all the numbers relating to my body back in order.  (I also want to improve my golf game. ) My trainer is experienced in the fat loss and has sport-specific training experience (he has trained a  golfer that is on the PGA tour).  I want to enjoy playing golf and not be sore from all the flexing – and I was stiff after spending an hour at the driving range on Saturday.

“Constructive” in 2009 is about questioning myself and my choices.    Am I an expert at the restructuring that needs to be done to my routines in order to affect the changes I want in my body?   If I am true to my intent, then there is a requirement for getting a little expert help.

Besides my column, there are some other wonderful things in this issue of All Things Girl.  Please, do, check it out….  And on that note, it’s time for bed.  Sweet Dreams.