Are You Prepared?

"Preparation is not suddenly accomplished, it is a process steadily maintained."

-Oswald Chambers

Are you preparing for an upcoming event in your life? Are you training for an important task or taking steps toward improving an area of your life that needs work now?

Stop for a minute & think about where you are with your health, fitness, faith, family, relationships, and overall life balance. Where would you like to be? Are you happy with the way these things are going? If you are, that's great, but you're not done! You can't just check it off your list and consider it "completed." You have to constantly prepare for tomorrow by thinking of these things every single day. Even a task well done or a milestone met is not The End. It is the start of a new beginning.

Achieved your goal weight? AWESOME! Don't forget that it takes work to maintain!

Did you make it through your first 10K race? WAY TO GO! Stay active! Sign up for another!

Has your child has successfully left the nest? WONDERFUL! Continue being a great parent to them, even when they're living on their own.

Are you happily married? This too takes maintenance...how can you be the best spouse you can be?

Are you preparing for tomorrow? Next year? Your 65th birthday? Beyond this life?

Teamwork

This morning Danny did open heart surgery on a pig...I can't even imagine. He explained that the students anesthetize the animal, then open up the chest to study the heart and it's pathways. I think it's a miracle that a living, breathing animal, or human, can actually remain alive during a procedure like this. I am anxious to hear about what a pumping heart looks like in your hand.

Danny always brings home some pretty interesting stories about school. Medical terminology is like another language. I'm sure he dumbs it way down when he explains the things he's learning about. I am ok with that. It used to bother me a little, that I couldn't carry on an intelligent conversation with him about chemical & physiological effects of the blah blah blah while he was taking Gross Anatomy. I come home talking about how happy I am with the big turnout in my spin class, the compliments I get on my music or the workout, or how I felt seeing the spark and enthusiasm from the college girl with a lifelong battle with obesity giving it her all to keep her New Year's Resolution to get healthy, and how I got to help her understand the equipment and the program I put her on. I wouldn't trade that for anything!

We live completely different lives outside of our home during the day. You can't compare my job to his, because they are so completely different. My feeling on the subject is that if you like what you are doing, and you are getting paid for it, more power to you!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations, you are successful in your work. Even better, I have a husband who feels the same way! We may have different purposes in life, but regardless we are both on Team Harris and what a gift: we act like it!

Do you find yourself comparing your status to others? So often women (and I'm sure men do this too) compare themselves to others. When stripped down to the core...is anyone really better than you? Are you any better than the person next door? NO! We are all on the same team. All of us are making our way through life heading towards the same ending. How you get there is between you and God.

One of my very favorite authors, Kristin Armstrong, makes a wonderful point. This excerpt from one of her books is something that happens everyday in our society and helped me realize that we should do a little less comparing and a little more sharing about the joys and trials of life.

"There is something about women that permits us to vie for a better impression of and for ourselves by belittling someone else. It rages through the gossip and social strata of adolescence and should by all means end when we "grow up," but somehow it does not end, it only mutates. Think about it.

Some women might excel in the workplace and someone else is quick to call her a witch or worse. Someone is pretty and someone is not; they are both equally cursed. Someone who's skinny is obsessive; someone who's curvy has let herself go. Someone has a baby and we make judgements about her choice between natural childbirth and using an epidural. Someone breastfeeds and someone gives formula, and somehow it is everybody's place to comment. Someone stays at home to take care of her kids and she is second-rate intellectually, or she get the 'it must be nice' routine. Someone else works outside the home and she is second-rate maternally or a slave to materialism. Even if we have no idea what motivates either choice or what makes it possible.

We judge if someone has a nanny. We judge the poor person who never gets out much. We judge other people's relationships, even if our own are crumbling. We judge other people's parenting, even when we are all hanging on by a thread and we are all far from expert. Someone who speaks her mind is grating; someone who doesn't is a wimp. Someone with a successful husband is a kept woman; someone who struggles is a poor thing. Someone who never exercises is lazy; someone who does take time for herself is decadent. Someone who hides her feelings is cold; someone who is authentic gets picked apart. We judge who has what job, who is busier, who has more stress, who has it "rougher." The funny thing is no one ever wins-because we are all on the same team."

How things could change if only we acted like it! I challenge you to lead by example...and leave the judging up to God.

What are your Resolutions for 2012?

Dorothy had it right, "There's no place like home!" We are back in Jackson after a much needed holiday trip to see family and friends. Going back to Georgia at Christmas gave me a feeling of comfort, but also a bit of sadness, since most of my family has moved farther out now. It's never exactly the same as in my memories. I don't even know the whereabouts of several friends I used to call, home phone numbers memorized by heart, to meet for a last-minute game of tennis in the neighborhood, or a cup of coffee that would turn into an afternoon of shopping, seeing a movie, and even a sleepover. One resolution I have made is to be a better friend this year. I want to see how my old buds are doing these days. If you are lucky enough to have a precious friendship, cherish it.

Instead of hanging around Mom and Dad's in our PJ's for another week & eating them out of house and home, we decided to get a jump start on the new year by hitting some of our resolutions head on. Getting back to God, getting in shape, getting ahead in school, and getting training underway are a few of our goals. Setting specific goals to reach is the best way for me to stay on track with my resolutions. For example, I want to read x number of chapters in my Bible each day, I want to spend 30 minutes jogging every other morning, I want to study 2 chapters of biochemistry every night, etc. If you need a little help finding a starting point for what you want to accomplish in 2012, here are some questions you may want to ask yourself:

-What are the 5 things you value most in life?

-What are the 3 most important goals to you right now (what pops into your head first?)

-If you won the lottery today, what would you do?

-If you knew you had 6 months left to live, what would you do?

-What is one thing you always wanted to try or do, but were too afraid to do it?

Your answers may be similar. Are you doing things TODAY to bring you closer to these answers? Do something everyday that MOVES you towards a better YOU. Do what you enjoy and be active OFTEN! I am here to help you reach your health and fitness goals! Let me know how I can help you get moving in 2012! Personal training (one-on-one or small group bootcamps) are a great way to stay accountable to your goals!

Wrapping up 2011

My living room is filled with wrapping paper, bows, and gifts for our family members (who we get to see in just a few more hours YAY!!!!) We are spending the evening wrapping up framed wedding pictures as gifts this year since everyone has been asking us for wedding pictures lately! With the semester finally over, Danny is finally kicking back to enjoy the holidays.

I CAN'T WAIT to see my family! It's been almost six months since I've seen my mom & dad! I know it's going to be a wonderful Christmas. We are lucky to have so much family surrounding us. Tomorrow we are heading up to Tupelo to Danny's older brother's house, where we are hosting a "Santa and friends" party out on the front lawn. YES, we will be dressed up as Santa, The Grinch, elves, the whole crew! It's going to be interesting to say the least. :)

Looking back on 2011, I can honestly say it has been the best year of my life. Marriage, even with all the ups and downs, has been such a blessing to me. I've also been blessed with my work...now doing what I LOVE, and my friends in our newlyweds small group, who show me how to live closer to God. Can 2012 possibly get better than this?! As we wrap up this year, I encourage you to reflect back on 2011. Count your blessings...we all have so much to be thankful for. Face your challenges in the new year with a positive outlook and there's no telling what you may conquer!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!!!

Taken at our Newlyweds Small Group's Dirty Santa Christmas Party. We got to took home some lovely shelves (actually loved these!) and a card shoe....anyone know what to do with that?!

Ready for 2012?

"When I was a young man, I wanted to change the world.
I found it was difficult to change the world, so I tried to change my nation.
When I found I couldn't change the nation, I began to focus on my town. I couldn't change the town and as an older man, I tried to change my family.

Now, as an old man, I realize the only thing I can change is myself, and suddenly I realize that if long ago I had changed myself, I could have made an impact on my family. My family and I could have made an impact on our town. Their impact could have changed the nation and I could indeed have changed the world." -Author Unknown

Have you started thinking about your New Year's Resolutions yet? Start by making small changes within yourself. Set short, realistic goals, but always work towards a higher goal. It's awesome to strive for something big (set high goals and standards for yourself!) and stay focused by taking it one step at a time. Be a role model to those around you! Eyes on the prize in 2012!!!!!!!!

Selfless for Christ

I am a medical student's widow tonight...my husband has been taken from me for a gross anatomy review as he crams for a major exam tomorrow, as well as a national board exam on Wednesday. It's our first night apart since we've been married. :( Although I feel a little lonely here with my Red Box rental, I completely understand he is pulling this all-nighter at school for a few VERY good reasons!

For starters, he is determined to learn everything he can for the sake of his future soldiers and patients. I admire his drive for aspiring to help those who are serving our country. As a future army doctor, his job will be to serve at a military base for active duty military. When he eventually deploys, he will likely be faced with several life or death situations...where every detail counts. He is applying that mentality to his study habits and learning everything he can in case he needs that crucial piece of information sometime in the future.

I also know that he is putting all this time and effort in for the sake of our family's future. How blessed we are to have job security awaiting us after medical school! We want to give our future family as many opportunities as possible and we know that the hard work we put in now will be worth it later.

How selfless! I thought to myself as he asked me "permission" before leaving for school at 8:00 pm for the next 24 hours. Not only is he sacrificing sleep and the comforts of home, but he is thinking about my desires & approval NOW?! Of course I encouraged him to go and I know he will be glad he did around 10 am tomorrow morning at test time. Selflessness is such a God given characteristic I see in my husband. I truly admire it when I see it in others. We could all be a little more selfless this Christmas and remember to celebrate CHRIST, the real reason for the season. The fact that our almighty God from heaven humbled himself in the form of baby born in a barn with a bunch of dirty animals and then went on to die an excruciating death given to criminals on the cross, all for YOU and ME is the ultimate act of selflessness. He was not ashamed for a second to put it all out there for the world see...all for His people. Give thanks by celebrating Jesus and by being selfless for Christ this season (and every season!).

Training Complete

I am finally feeling a little more pulled together this week as my training at Fitness Lady is almost complete! I have had the opportunity to train with a different employee each day and I have thoroughly enjoyed getting to meet all of these different women! There are lots of women on staff at Fitness Lady that I have had the pleasure of getting to know and one is just as unique as the next. One day I'm working with a girl in college, the next day with a mother of teenage girls, and the next with a sweet grandmother. One thing I'm learning about working at a "women's only" gym is that everyone LOVES to talk and share all the details of their personal lives. Well, maybe not everyone, but the fact of the matter is that as a personal trainer, people inherently trust you to fix their problems (physical and beyond) and in some cases you become their counselor. I love hearing stories about where people are in life and I really am starting to feel a connection with these new people here in Jackson. The women at Fitness Lady have welcomed me into their home...the gym is a second home for a lot of these people...and I am so grateful for that. While some come for the services at the Methodist Rehab or prayer support with our chaplain, some come for a social hour, and others come for a good old fashioned sweat session. Working with members on the gym floor and teaching my Wednesday spin classes are the best parts of this job! I can hardly believe I get PAID to do this! The next thing on my agenda is to complete my pilates reformer training and I am ready to start taking individual clients! Life is good!

A year ago, I would have never seen this coming. I thank God for these continual blessings that I so do not deserve. Despite some sadness and personal struggles I've had in recent history, I am extremely happy with how my life is unfolding. I think the darker times have helped me appreciate these days even more. When I look into my husband's eyes I have nothing but gratitude for where I am today and excitement for what our future holds. I've quit trying to live up to someone else's definition of a successful woman and am trying to let God define who I am.

This weekend I had a moment...a self-centered moment, questioning my self-worth and wallowing....well of course it didn't help the way I was feeling dragging my husband into my pity party. Thoughts like this come in tides, they roll in sometimes and then later go back out to sea where they belong. I am trying to choose the better response to that kind of tide within me and just wait until it goes out. After my moment was over and I sat quietly, actually LISTENING to what my husband had to say, I had the perspective to address the issues I was feeling. When I cooled off enough to listen and think clearly, I realized I had been defining myself based on pre-conceived, silly expectations of which I was failing to meet. Make sense? Didn't think so!

Here's why I bring it up. Maybe you have someone who tries to define you, minimize you, hurt you, rattle you, and steal your peace. The funny thing is – no one can steal our peace. We can only give it away or keep ourselves from experiencing it.

Who defines you? I had to ask myself that question this weekend. And I had to let the answer to that question settle my moment. And then I moved on.

So if you are struggling with someone else's definition of YOU (or maybe even your own silly definition), remember that just as no one can steal your peace, no one has the power to define you. And you don't have to refute or respond or react- At. All. Their definition is just that, theirs. It has no impact whatsoever on who you are, or what you can do. Leave them to their bitterness and move on to something sweet.

Danny and I at Ballet Mississippi's performance of The Nutcracker this weekend: