My eyes burn, informing me of the early hour. I hear in my brain the conflicted conversation between health and motivational gurus, the first saying, sleep is vital to ones longevity and health, the latter stating that if you want to succeed you must sacrifice sleep to make it happen. Day two of the 2:45am alarm. I can honestly say that I absolutely love waking up to put word to page, for over twenty-five years I have consistently, almost religiously, set the alarm so I can greet the day with a blank journal page. My earliest journals go back to when I was ten years old, its where I dream, process, unload and come home to who I truly am.

Today, despite the wee hour, I wake excited, embodying the same energy as I did when I put my body to rest last night. The world is dynamically aligning with my dreams and desires. Yesterday graced me with more women signing up for the two upcoming four month workshops that start in November. Then just prior to bed, I received a positive email from an integrative doctor I had contacted last week. His response fueled my fire, for there are many ways he and I can benefit from each other’s business.  Prior to this, I was blessed to set up an interview that may serve as the part-time income necessary to get me back on my feet, while I build the business. Just as I was climbing into bed, “ding” another email from an interested person for the classes I am offering. I do believe the dry financial coffers may soon feel some reprieve.

This journey is a consistent battle within the heart, soul and mind. While yesterday was chock full of good news, it also found me literally counting the pennies left in my bank account, so I could pay for my son’s required TB test for college and give him twenty dollars to go to the movies with friends. I hate that!! Twenty dollars is literally a drop in the bucket for many people, while for others like me at present, it is the difference between eating and not. All the mentors and successful people I look to for guidance, say you must shift the scarcity mindset, that abundance is readily there! They state that once you step into your purpose with clarity, focus, intention, and take action everyday, all will become. The need to succeed definitely shifts when it comes down to survival or not, it gets rid of the casual “I can do it tomorrow” attitude. The one I hear many people state, “oh I will do it tomorrow…”, yet tomorrow never seems to come. I’m guilty of exactly that, for years, get a job, have the money start rolling in and the dreams just slip into, “I’ll start that tomorrow, next week, next month…” and then the years slip by. Here I sit at fifty-two a by product of exactly that!

Now, mind you, I have stayed true to prioritizing my physical, mental, and spiritual care for a good thirty five plus years. Started consistently doing some kind of physical exercise when I was fifteen, along with paying attention to what food I was putting in my body – thus the health coaching certification which I just completed. I have journaled since I was ten and consistently made time for the aspects of my soul, for as long as I can remember. All of these things have morphed, and shifted, depending on what I am learning and experiencing, where I am living and exploring. Unlike the bestseller written by someone who conquered a disease or lost hundreds of pounds, I am the story of staying healthy my whole life with conscious consistent effort. Yesterday as I lifted weights, I thought back to when I first started lifting weights, it was crazy to realize that I started weightlifting nearly thirty years ago!!

Today is a good day, actually every day is a grand day! I feel alive as I look to the future – I am happy to be quietly putting word to page, looking forward to sweating and pushing my body at the gym and excited to come home and prepare for the class I teach tonight. An added bonus this week is sharing time with both my children, for my son is home from college to enjoy his Fall break. I celebrate the immense gift they are to me, both such amazing young people who cheer me on every day. They high five me when I sign up another person for the classes, honestly critique my brochures, and have a faith in me that makes me look in the mirror with determination – “I will role model that dreams can come true!!”

I close for today, keeping my promise to stay short. Until tomorrow I wish all of you a day of grace and gratitude. May you A. C. T. (always choose truth) with love, compassion, and joy.