Une Pensee Ecrite'~A written thought...

The palest ink is better than the best memory.

- Chinese Proverb


The secret to reaching your goals may rest in the written word. Writing is a common theme through every stage of successful goal achievement. The act of writing creates a promise, and having that visual promise in front of you every day won't let you forget it. Got a problem remembering what goals you met last week? Start tracking them on a daily basis. No more guessing and fooling yourself. The only way to get a really accurate picture of your progress is to record what you've done when you do it. Got something to say or a breakthrough to announce? Write it in a journal. Journals can show you what works and what doesn't. And the stories of your success can be great motivators in the future, right when you need help the most. From pregnancy start to pregnancy finish, you can help your memory and your goals by putting ink to paper. It can make up for fading memory and keep motivation from fading at all

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©08

I find this to be true with almost all I do though I have to admit I've been somewhat lackadaisical about it the last 4 months. However yesterday as I was clearing up paperwork organizing for the upcoming year I found in several places where I had written random goals. Much to my surprise and delight, I came to discover I had actually accomplished quite a few of them.

But in my mind, I had dropped the ball big time. But I had not dropped the ball, I just neglected to write it down as a reminder. It goes to show we cannot always rely on memory alone.

It was a good feeling to X them out as mission accomplished and the ones that were partially done which also surprised me, I was able to revamp the part not done and have started to work on them.

It is good to get stuff out of your head. Seeing it in a different form or venue can make whats seem to be a problem less of one or might not be a problem after all or reduces down the intensity of it.

It did indeed make me feel as well as know that I did something. And even if I didn't, well I can put it on next day's agenda or the weeks agenda. Seeing it in writing lends itself toward making a commitment, a contractual agreement with oneself. Is it possible when we don't do this we are not serious in what we say we want to do? Now that documentation could take forms, audio or visual recordings, a dream or vision board. (I like the idea of vision versus dreaming), blogging, etc.

But doing it makes me feel accountable, responsible for my own actions or behaviors and less of holding someone else accountable or believing their behavior is the right one.

The beauty is no one has to see it unless you want it to be so. I would just say though be kind to yourself, the same respect & consideration to yourself as you would give to another. That's being accountable too. Cheer a mission accomplished no matter how small it may seem to you. Even the smallest steps will end up one giant leap.

And how cool is that?

Way to Go Cookie & Roland!

“Quilts for Obama: Celebrating the Inauguration of our 44th President” is being presented by The Group for Cultural Documentation, Inc., in collaboration with the Historical Society of Washington, DC.

It will open on January 11, 2009 and run through January 31, 2009. The opening reception will be Sunday afternoon, January 11, 2009, at 2:00 PM.

The exhibit is in the Small-Alper Gallery, at the top of the stairway on the second Floor. The address of the Historical Society is: The Historical Society of Washington, D.C.801 K Street, NW at Mount Vernon Square Washington DC 20001

The Historical Society is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10:00 am – 5:00 PM.

Roland Freeman, curator of "Quilts for Obama: Celebrating the Inauguration of our 44th President" is founder of The Group for Cultural Documentation and a long time advocate for African American quilters and their work. Many may remember his ground breaking book on African American quilters "Communion of the Spirits" and he is a 2007 National Endowment For the Arts' National Heritage Fellows.

Mr Freeman, also received the 2007 Bess Lomax Hawes Award. A quilter from the Charleston SC area has been chosen to create an art quilt for this exhibit. She is Ms Torreah "Cookie" Washington, a local fiber artist and fashion designer.

Ms Washington's work has been seen in exhibits around the country this year.

In Cookie's own words the description on the quilt: "The label is in the lower back of the quilt. It is 5' X 7" Beloved friend Elayna painted the picture and I scanned it in to the computer, created the text and printed it on fabric paper. What you can't see in these photos is the letter beads that go around the small black circle. I sewed the word "HOPE" in 30 different languages. I am really pleased with the end result".

And so are we..Brava sister...well done!

Shrink Yourself article

Please go to www.shrinkyourself.com


Oprah's Struggle with Overeating: What Does that Mean for You?

POSTED BY MICHELLE

In yesterday's online version of People magazine it announced the theme of Oprah's January issue of O: Oprah has "fallen off the wagon." Oprah has gained forty pounds hitting the 200-pound mark. I'm writing about this for a number of reasons none of which are to celebrate Oprah's struggle but rather help you find compassion for her and for yourselves. Like so many of us Americans, her height and weight now make her officially obese. Let's look at the things that she said in the article and what they mean for you:1. Yo-Yo Dieting Feels BadOprah was quoted saying things like, "I'm mad at myself," and "I felt like a fat cow."

Be sure to pay attention to your self-talk. Shaming or blaming yourself never helps to lose weight. We make good choices about food and exercise only from a place of self-love and self-acceptance. It's important to learn how to bounce back so that you can forgive yourself when you falter and get back in the saddle.2. Knowledge is Not Always Power"I'm embarrassed... I can't believe that after all these years, all the things I know how to do, I'm still talking about my weight. I look at my thinner self and think, 'How did I let this happen again?" Oprah has access to all the information in the world, she can afford private trainers, lap band, liposuction and private chefs and that's still not enough to lose and keep the weight off.

For the most part we all know that the magic recipe to lose weight is eat less/exercise more. Knowledge is not the answer. The missing link is being able to understand that food has a hold over you because you've installed it as a coping mechanism for anxiety, depression, boredom, loneliness and just about anything else. If you struggle with your weight it doesn't mean you're lazy or stupid (obviously not the case with Oprah).

Intelligence is not enough to keep weight off.

You need to heal your wounded places, find your unmet needs and offer yourself other, dare I say better, forms of comfort.3. Food Can't Be Your Reward for Losing WeightShe mentioned that in 2005 she came out on her show wearing size 10 jeans after being on a four-month liquid diet. She said, "Two hours after that show, I started eating to celebrate—of course, within two days those jeans no longer fit!" So many of us do this. We get a taste of success. Our pants stop pinching us when we're sitting down or we don't feel the fat on our muffin tops vibrating when we drive our cars and suddenly we think that means we can treat ourselves with a little of this or that.

To keep weight off for life, food has to stop being your reward. It can be a reward sometimes but it can't be your only reward.4. Weight Issues are About the Management of Emotions, Not What You Eat"My greatest failure was in believing that the weight issue was just about the weight," Winfrey told People Magazine in 1991. "It's about not handling stress properly." This is the information that Shrink Yourself has been teaching people for years. Overcoming weight issues has nothing to do with finding the right diet pill, plan or program. Overcoming weight issues has everything to do with how you handle stress.

Despite all the glamour that people envy one could easily understand that Oprah’s life must be stressful. She has a whole lot of responsibility to her followers and with that comes a lot of pressure and strain. It's no wonder that she would often return to her old source of comfort: food.I've heard it said that human beings learn in spirals. We return to the same issues again and again, hopefully with new information, new skills and new insights. Your fluctuations in weight can be opportunities to learn more and more about who you are and what you need to manage the stress in your life.

Overcoming emotional eating isn't easy. But we see people doing it here every day, with the support of an understanding community, and by finding the skills needed to stop using food as a friend, lover or form of medication and as Dr. Roger Gould says, to finally let food be just food. Our compassion is with Oprah and all of us who struggle to let food be just food. In the words of High School Musical (sorry I can't resist, I have an eight-year old) we're all in this together.If stress is the thing that keeps you yo-yoing...""

Is Stress the Culprit?

I've heard it said that human beings learn in spirals. We return to the same issues again and again, hopefully with new information, new skills and new insights. Your fluctuations in weight can be opportunities to learn more and more about who you are and what you need to manage the stress in your life. Overcoming emotional eating isn't easy. But we see people doing it here every day, with the support of an understanding community, and by finding the skills needed to stop using food as a friend, lover or form of medication and as Dr. Roger Gould says, to finally let food be just food. Our compassion is with Oprah and all of us who struggle to let food be just food. In the words of High School Musical (sorry I can't resist, I have an eight-year old) we're all in this together.

What is with the Chatter?

If the grass looks greener on the other side of the fence it's because the people on the other side are taking care of it ~Author Unknown



Think About This column~

By Sandra Garth©08

You know how teed off you get when someone cuts you off in traffic? I know I’ve yelled (with the window rolled up) thrown my hands up in frustration and have been tempted to flip them the bird. Arrrggg!!! It’s so aggravating when people don’t pay attention or don’t seem to give “a you know what” that they’re being inconsiderate. Oh, but sometimes it doesn’t stop there.

We continue the ranting in our minds, hitting the rewind button over and over until we’ve had our virtual say to the offender. Instant replay makes us feel better momentarily but does zilch to rectify the situation. Reruns only serve to keep us in a negative mindset.

Once you’re miffed about anything it’s easy to keep going until the whole day is shot and nothing is going your way.

I know we have to get it out of our systems, purge the incident so to speak. But when we keep going back; bingeing on the negative, we’ll only have more to purge. If we are ever going to move forward we’ve got to cut the self-defeating negative chatter. The same attitude applies, in regards to weight loss and fitness.

Let’s say you made one too many trips through the buffet line and you’re black and blue from beating yourself up about it. Does the mindless chatter about your lack of discipline negate the calories you downed? No it doesn’t! Again, I say a positive and hopeful frame of mind will not automatically equate to thin thighs in thirty days. However, as long as you’re reminiscing about what you did wrong you’re not doing anything to move towards your goals. Clear the nonproductive chatter and get on with it; no matter what “it” is.

Please signup for the newsletter "Fit Matters" The recipes alone are worth the time. Read the website and take the step for yourself by using Sandra's expertise. Go to: www.onebodyonelifetime.com

The Weigh to go...

If you can't be a good example -- then you'll just have to be a horrible warning.
-Catherine-

How much you want to guess how many people in the next 2 weeks will embark on the same old song of wanting and needing to and having to do this?

How sick they are of XYZ & they know now is the time and how determine they are__________(You fill in the blanks).

They will reach out and may have good intentions and then as soon as all the stuff that moved them to this point creeps in on the new found determination, how long will it take before the slippage begins?

Now of this is being said as a put down, just reality. As anyone who has been on this road before can attest to, it ain't always easy. And that just like the poundage is lifted, unwrapped and done away with all the internal stuff is bore up and if it is not also lifted, unwrapped, done away with , the insanity will continue.

All of us here have met with challenges, overcome some, managed others, tolerated even more and made peace with others. The definitive things has been that something was being done. And even if one fell down seven, they got up 8th and 9th and the 10th time until they got it right.

I was remarking to a friend that I did no know exactly when it happened that I went from killing a 2 liter of soda in a day to one every couple of weeks, but I did. Or when ice cream particularly Ben & Jerry, went from lets kill a pint in one setting to a serving at a time, once a month.
Where I actually prefer water more then ever before. Or actually participate (and liked) a raw food class and have actually incorporated it in my life. No not becoming a vegan, but put more things in place. When did I start eating unsalted sunflower seeds and liking it? I've have not used a lot of salt in my life, but unsalted seeds were not in my eating plan. Or stop doing takeout except once or twice a month?

Oh I have a weigh to go, but people who saw me this summer in July were surprised when they saw me in Oct. Nah I cannot tell you I am a skinny Minnie. There is still much to do as everything has dropped into the South 40, but there is noticeable difference in my face, but more have been lifted off my heart.

For me this time is métamorphose: transformation... not making something over, not starting over or even starting up as that begun the minute I had the thought. This is a new phase of transforming what I have accomplish thus far into something larger and greater for myself and as a by product or a ripple effect those in my life now and the one I have yet to meet.

Just recently I had a 1, 2 surprise. Students of mine some from as far as 20 years ago found me after all this time and here I am utterly amazed in reading how much I had inspired them when they were teenagers. What a feeling that was knowing that some how something I did in concert with their growth moved them in such a way that they remembered all these years later and it had a impact in their life.

It was timely for me to read this and still even today I am gratified and honored. I am no different then others in the respect that we tend to hold on or give more importance to what I call the "thy shalt nots" or you are not good enough or pretty enough or smart enough or just not enough.

We live in a cultural climate that tends to revel in being punitive. If that wa not true then why do we have such a marked increase in obesity? It did not happen overnight. And usually obesity or the super-obese are always it appears marred with some sort of emotional issues underneath it all.

So do we try or do we move toward transforming? I've taken an approach over the last several months and while it was not easy, it was necessary and the decisions I made were the best ones and already I can tell the difference. You may not have to do something as dramatic as what I did but sometimes the shift may be subtle, but powerful and all that is needed.

I wish you all well, be well on your way to the weigh you do the thin(gs) you do!

What do you do to motivate yourself?

Thank you Sparks People. www.sparkspeople.com

People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing--that's why we recommend it daily.

- Zig Ziglar, motivational speaker

Makes sense doesn't it? The secret to staying consistent with your goals is to stay motivated. That means finding ways to fire yourself up on a daily basis. Being inspired at a seminar, by reading a book, or while talking to a dynamic speaker is easy. But what happens when you're on your own? To follow through on that burst of motivation and reach the finish line, you need regular booster shots. Give yourself those little positive reminders that you have an important job to do and a good reason for doing it. What's pushing you? Surround yourself with visual, verbal, and physical "pep talks" that trigger that motive. It doesn't take long for dust to gather on your momentum, making your goals turn stale. A daily dose of motivation kicks off the dust before it can settle and gives you a fresh, clean start.

Giving your body and mind a break

A good laugh and a long sleep are the best cures in the doctor's book.
- Irish Proverb


For 16 hours a day, you drive your body hard. You put pressure on joints for hours on end, you expose it to who knows what kinds of germs and bacteria, you put it under major strain and stress, you demand everything it can do and some things that it can't. Let your body have the other 8 hours to itself. It's earned it. After a long day, your body needs to heal and recover. Let your muscles and joints take a break. Your immune system needs strengthened and cannot always be stretched to its limits. Your body has a way of letting you know when it's not getting the rest it needs--it wears down and feels fatigued. And eventually it breaks down. So do everything you can to pay your body back by getting a good dose of sleep. It will love you for it.