Wednesday, January 1, 2014

The Start of a New Year...



2014 has arrived. Happy New Year.  After all the excitement of the last few years, I for one wouldn’t mind a little less during 2014. I could certainly do without changing jobs, moving across the country or a visit to a surgical suite. I am extremely grateful that our journey has brought us to Jacksonville where we have a comfortable home, I have found employment that seems to be working out and we seem to be receiving a little higher quality medical care.

I’ve written before about how much I like the start of a new year. 2014 brings a new beginning, a clean slate and a fresh start. These things hold the same promise and offer the same opportunities as always. I’ve spent a little time the last couple of weeks thinking about where I am and in what direction I would like the transition to 2014 lead me.

As you can see from my weight history in the right side bar, I was above my stated goal weight of 160 to 165 pounds most of 2013. Not by a lot, just enough to be slightly uncomfortable. My weight was above where I would like it to be for no other reason than I ate too much and didn’t exercise enough. I am responsible for eating an appropriate amount and getting an appropriate amount of exercise. I hope to do better in 2014.

That being said, I am not pummeling myself for my weight being a few pounds above where I would prefer for most of the year. After all, I had to go through what I went through to get to where I am today.

As I was sitting at home after surgery this fall I was pouting because I couldn’t exercise and reading the group exercise schedule for the YMCA. To my surprise, I found a yoga class on the schedule on Tuesday and Thursday mornings at 6AM. I have tried yoga in the past and liked it so I started going to this early morning class at least once a week several weeks ago. I always feel very peaceful at the end of the class so I was not surprised when I read recently that yoga is actually a form of meditation.

Now, for the big news, since I seem to be getting so much out of the yoga classes, and since Jacksonville is one of the least bike friendly cities in a state that is not bike friendly, I’ve decided that now would be a good time to transition away from bike commuting and invest the energy that I might have spent bike commuting on developing a regular yoga and meditation practice.

As we move through the decisions and days that will comprise the year of 2014 I am wishing all a year filled with healthy decisions and happy days.