The little things...

Have you ever noticed the little things in life are what gives you the most pleasure? I have several "little things" that really give me pleasure in life...

Joking with patients as they come into the office. I really enjoy bringing a smile to someone's face.
Being supportive of the ones I love most, including my BF, unconditionally.
Enjoying a nice hot cup of hot chocolate on a cold winter's day.
Playing with a puppy or kitty.

The little things. They're also a huge motivator for me when it comes to weight loss:
Making my mini-goals (even if it takes a little longer than planned)
Seeing the number get bigger of what I've lost.
Knowing that regardless of the change in weight, I'm making overall better choices in food.
Wanting to wow the people in my family when I go home to visit
Being able to throw away clothes that don't fit anymore (and I mean they're too big on me).

It's the little things we take for granted every day in our lives that I really strive to try to enjoy. My dad's death at 51 taught me so much. It taught me that any day could be your last, and that you need to enjoy your time while you can. Once I got past the initial heart ache and anger of him leaving, I've really started to realize priorities in my life.

I have come a long way in the past 3 years, I used to get so mad at the stupidiest things, upset with myself over things I couldn't control. Get angry with my dad over things HE couldn't control about his medical conditions. Angry about past things that bothered me that obviously couldn't be changed and were making me miss out on the PRESENT things that could be changed. I've learned to really enjoy today because tomorrow may not come.

So I'm viewing this journey of mine as a little "big" thing. It's a little step in the right direction. A step that will allow me to more fully enjoy life. Not be winded walking up and down the stairs of my apartment, to be able to freely chase my children (whenever I have some) around, and who knows what else. Each pound I lose is a little thing. All those little things will eventually add up into a very big little thing I call the skinny me.

Are there going to be bumps in the road along the way? Undoubtedly. But for now, I am relishing the little acomplishment I've had of going a full month of thinking of only my health and not of what other people think of me. Of stocking my house with nothing but good for me food, and of the "not so good" food, resisting eating. Of enjoying the support I get from my BF and the support I give him every day with his own problems he's having.

I hope you too can relish in the "little things"

Amber