Party tonight

 Let's see how this goes I've got my first holiday party tonight hopefully I can keep it all under wraps And eat intuitively instead of eat because everything looks delicious I did bring healthy food.

Eating your feelings

Today was a stressful day, a long day, a hard day, but I didn't eat my feelings and sometimes that's the victory it can be as simple as that. 💗

10 Principles of Intuitive Eating

1. Reject the diet mentality
2. Honor your hunger
3. Make peace with food
4. Challenge the food police
5. Respect your fullness
6. Discover the satisfaction factor
7. Honor your feelings without using food
8. Respect your body
9. Exercise- feel the difference
10. Honor your health

Thank you to the The Original Intuitive Eating Pros (more information here).

I read this while I relaxed at acupuncture for the second night in a row.  It is probably the most peaceful thing I've done for myself in a long time <3 It's such a sacred space to relax and to be surrounded by others who are also relaxing and reconnecting with themselves.  As the acupuncturist said it's so nice to rev back your engines and let your body heal itself.  That's so much what intuitive eating is about.  We are bringing our methods of eating back to the years when were were a toddler or child.  Children don't let themselves go hungry and they intuitively eat what they need to.  "Let them eat cake"-  if that's what they'll eat let them, they will stop when they are full.  Our bodies did in our youth intuitively know when we were hungry, when to eat, when to stop and when to eat again when we are hungry.  

I like how they call them principles instead of rules.  I also know someone out there is saying, how is that different from any other diet, but it's not a diet, they are guidelines for not just eating but for living a fuller life.  Once we re-learn they continue as second nature to us.  

Peace, love and IE <3

We found love in a hopeless place

Read the lyrics below this song instantly came to me.  All I could think of when I read today's message about self-love, was about how to find self love and how sometimes it seems hopeless.  It's so difficult to love ourselves sometimes and why?  We are the only people who can take care of ourselves, who can love ourselves to the fullest and the only ones who will stick up for ourselves.  We should without a doubt be our biggest fans.  Loving myself is something I'm not very good at, it's so difficult to stand in the mirror, have a real talk with myself (sometimes internal, sometimes I'm talking out loud to myself), but it's important that I can look at myself with love.  Is every day perfect?  No way, but it's something we need to change and something our friends, children, nieces, nephews, siblings, cousins, etc. see; how we treat ourselves and love ourselves is so important to impress upon the next generation.  We don't want to contribute to a generation who doesn't love themselves, what will that mean for each generaion to follow?  What instead can we teach our loved ones?

Find your self love in a 'hopeless place' or a place you'd least expect.  Let your old ways go, shine through that open door and take every opportunity that comes to you.  I know today's message about self love has given me such an amazing perspective.  I did something for myself today, by working out in the morning, making sure I ate right during the day, scheduling my first acupuncture to relax and headed home to a relaxing evening and dinner.

I found time to take care of myself, please find time to take care of yours.

With love from IE day 14,
Alyssa

We Found Love

by Rihanna

[Narration]
It's like you're screaming, and no one can hear
You almost feel ashamed
That someone could be that important
That without them, you feel like nothing
No one will ever understand how much it hurts
You feel hopeless; like nothing can save you
And when it's over, and it's gone
You almost wish that you could have all that bad stuff back
So that you could have the good

[Rihanna]
Yellow diamonds in the light
And we're standing side by side
As your shadow crosses mine
What it takes to come alive

It's the way I'm feeling I just can't deny
But I've gotta let it go

We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place

Shine a light through an open door
Love and life I will divide
Turn away cause I need you more
Feel the heartbeat in my mind

It's the way I'm feeling I just can't deny
But I've gotta let it go

We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place

Yellow diamonds in the light
And we're standing side by side
As your shadow crosses mine (mine, mine, mine)

We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place

We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place
We found love in a hopeless place

Honesty is the best policy....

I'm not great at intuitive eating.  It's not something that comes natural to me and it is seemingly more difficult the more information I learn.  It has de-railed everything I thought about food and everything I will ever think.  I can't wait to have the totally freeing day when I can eat 90% intuitively (they say that no one is perfect and it's especially important to not make it be 100% because when we fail we beat ourselves up).

My digestive track is still not back to normal, I ate intuitively 90% of the day and even went to work out after an 11 hour work day.  I made a delicious dinner, planning ahead and really listening to my body and not being tempted on the drive home.

It's been a long day and it's so hard to believe how far I am into the challenge.  I can't wait to keep learning more and do the challenge again after I've had a chance to read more of the book.  While WW and other things have worked in for me, I'm looking for something more, something bigger, something that will change my life and let me live free from all of the restraints of dieting. I believe IE is that answer and it will continue to develop in my journey

I'm not good at this........ YET.  I will be, I am going to learn and I am going to give this life-changing philosophy a chance to take hold in my life.

With love from IE day 13,
Alyssa

4 hunger questions

1. Am I actually biologically HUNGRY? 2. What am I FEELING right now? 3. What do I NEED right now in this moment? 4. What ACTION can I take to fulfill that need?

These are some very powerful questions when it comes to meals and how we feel when we are about to eat.  This is especially true when we are not eating intuitive and instead eating by a clock, schedule, tempting food in sight, etc

Think about these questions this week when it's meal time...

What are you most afraid of?

What in the world are you most afraid of?  Aside from losing loved ones my next biggest fear is food.  It torments me, taunts me, tortures me to and I let it.  It has dictated so much of my life for so long long.

Exhausted tonight- will write more tomorrow.

With love,
Alyssa

Hunger scale

Ugh.  So just eat until your full and when your hunger is around a 2/3 on a scale of 5.  Sounds easy right?  Not as easy as you'd think but VERY enlightening.

I abandoned meals today and food that I finished eating when thinking about and feeling my hunger and not using my eyes.  We need so much less food than we think we do.

It's interstesting how much more in tune this has made me with my body...

128

Ounces of water.  That was today's challenge in the Success Seeking Sisters group I'm part of on top of my IE challenge.  12 more ounces to go and I've accomplished it.  

Intuitive Eating truly challenges everything you've known about eating.  We subconsciously diet and live on the premise 'cookies are cheat food'- that's not true, everything in moderation.  Listen to what your body is truly craving- carbs, sweets, fruits, etc...  Very much like the focus of the last two days I need a challenge.  

The journey to weight loss and breaking free of your lifelong dieting hinges 95% on your food intake.  If you are considering making changes, start small like with a water challenge and dream big like becoming an IE.  

Short post today, but it's been a long one!

With love,

A

A good day

Sometimes it's simply just a good day.  That was today for me.  I was happy, feeling well, work went well, I had a good evening with a great friend who found time in her busy day to cook a whole meal including homemade dessert.  It was a great day to be alive as the saying goes and as every day should be, because we should be more grateful, less envious, more love, less judgmental, more nurturing, less hostile, happier, less angry and more full of joy.  Life is joyful even in the difficult times.

Just like today's IE lesson on cravings, not only what we crave in our 'food life' is important, but it's important what we crave and fill our minutes and hours and life with.  Happiness breeds happiness.  Be a catalyst for joy and happy change in your life or even in someone elses.'  Crave positive in all areas of your life and remember you can always indulge in what we would previously consider the 'bad cravings'  you can always cry, be mad at the world, not understand a challenge you are facing, because at the end of the day we are human and we are not perfect.  Just remember how to pick yourself back up out of the 'funk' and that sometimes getting back on track and the familiarity of a routine can be all we are craving.

With love from a day where cravings were met!  
Alyssa
IE Day 8

The Road Not Taken

This poem helped me arrive in NH, it helped me through one of the darkest times in my life, it helped me meet my soulmate and life-long friends.  It challenged me in ways I could have never expected and it brought me back to life.  It pushed me outside my comfort zone and I will be forever grateful for what Mr. Frost gave me.  

I have to keep remembering IE is the 'road not taken' for me.  I'm looking at food, eating, preparation, etc. in a different and very foreign way as I embark on this journey to ultimately break free from all that holds me.  

The Road Not Taken

By Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.


Keep choosing those roads not taken, it's worth it <3
From IE day 7,
Alyssa

I devoured 3 cookies

I ate fruit for snack and still had 3 cookies later.  Was it stress?  No.  Was it lack of self-control?  No.  Lack of self awareness?  Most definitely.  I saw and I wanted, part of this challenge, yes, but a taste is enough.  It brings me back to my WW roots, where I had to track every point, so every BLT- bite, lick, taste was recorded and I kept myself in check- 1 cookie, 1 spoonful, a perfect measurement of anything I ate that was decadent.

I ate stellar today- oatmeal with PB2 and almond milk for breakfast, smoked turkey and sweet potato with homemade applesauce for lunch, snack of freshly cut pineapple and then just because they were there 3 cookies.   Why?  They were all delicious, but the satisfaction of one would have been enough.  I would have felt the same, better actually, I didn't need to 'reward' myself, no food is off limits with IE, but I used food as a reward and didn't listen to my fullness or what my body wanted.  I was hungry, but trying to think of a healthy snack until someone said 'I have cookies' and I thought 'I NEED cookies.'  I could have had none, 1 or chose a better snack, but I had 3, lesson learned.  Two in gas station shame of buying and eating the cookies in a short distance.

I have the same healthy lunch packed for tomorrow and will most likely start my day with a smoothie of sorts since I am working away from my desk all day and won't have access to make my morning meal.  My body is craving the sweet deliciousness of fruit smoothies so I'm going to cave in :)

Peace, love and eat intuitively,
Alyssa
Day 6

Recharging my batteries

It's so important we recharge ourselves.  I forgot that and it's probably my biggest flaw and the thing that causes the most issues for me.  I have been overscheduling myself for my whole life and the last few months we had our wedding, honeymoon and came back to a whirlwind.  Having plans every night after work and just forgetting to take the time for myself.  I gave myself a week off from the gym and worked out at home or slept in, really trying to listen to my body, but today was the icing on the cake.  Jim and I slept in together, moved slowly, went for a bike ride on a 55 degree day and brought home our favorite smoked meats for dinner.  After a nice bath together we have relaxed all evening.  I crafted a little, packed my gym bag and finished the dishes but it's been a very low key perfect day with my husband 💗 #beyondblessed
Today was more about myself than my food intake and the more I read the more I understand my journey with IE hinges on this.

With love from IE day 5,
Alyssa

Failure................ is not an option

I feel like I'm already failing at this challenge.  I haven't felt well, I am constipated, nauseous, have constant headaches, etc... This has been my week.  I think it's stress related, so I'm not associating it with this challenge, but I will say this challenge has allowed me to think about how to address these concerns with my body without food.  It has really allowed me to realize my 'me time' is so limited, rushed and pretty much non-existent.  So....

I crafted today.  All day, I'm still crafting.  I took a break to write this before midnight so I posted on the right day.  I am on a roll, I am enjoying what I love and the several hours of dishes can wait until tomorrow or even Monday.  It felt amazing to be crafting with family all day, shop at 3 craft stores and then head home to do more crafts.  I love crafts.  It's a soothing activity for me to use my hands and be creative without limits.

I am finding more and more time for myself and understanding that all the house chores will be there and my body is begging for a break from responsibility.  I don't even have all the people in mind I want to give these crafts to- some are even for next years craft shows already (200 hair ties I made today).

Back to my creativity.  I'm looking forward to eating my meals relaxed tomorrow.  Today aside from breakfast they were rushed.

With love from IE day 5,
Alyssa

Who needs the rest of these 21 days?

I do that's who!

Today I got up early; late in comparison (a comparison not a judgement) to my three weeks previous to Thanksgiving where I was going to the gym 5 days a week.  It honestly became exhausting.  I was tired packing my gym bag, showering and getting everything ready at the gym.  It made for a long day so I gave myself the week at home this week.  I was gifted a free elliptical machine- awesome!  And I have a lot of things you need for a home gym, we just have a small space and my workout room also happens to be the spare bedroom, but this time of year it takes over as the holiday wrapping/craft room too.  I've maintained that my elliptical is easy to get to as are my weights and other equipment, because I know how important this is to me.  I haven't run as much in the last two weeks, something I'm feeling my body ask for.  I just want a good run, a strong run, a happy run- my problem?  I don't give myself time.  I over-schedule myself so IF I have time for a run, it's limited to a short run.  When I trained for marathons I would devote my whole Saturday to the run, now I'm lucky if I get 30 minutes.  It's amazing how we let things that don't matter change our priorities, when the only thing that is truly important is taking care of myself.   Although tomorrow is booked, the next 2 Saturday's remain free and I can't wait to see what's in store and what can happen if I just intuitively let myself go.

I will say over the long weekend for Thanksgiving I spent two days at home with little interaction with anyone.  It was blissful, it was what I needed to recharge my batteries and really, truly a welcome time to slow down and do whatever I wanted which included decorating for the holidays and doing crafts.

Let's try that again.... today I got up early and got right on the elliptical machine for 45 minutes which a brief pause 5 minutes in for a bottle of water.  I could tell my body needed something, but I was sure it wasn't food just yet and sure enough it needed some hydration.  It felt great to listen to my body.  While on the elliptical I had the chance to read a few of Jamie's other articles, if you aren't following her yet, you should, if you aren't doing the challenge, JOIN!  It's truly an incredible thing to be reading so much that really feels like you are looking in the mirror.

Today I'm going to try to be an intuitive eater.  I'm going to 'fake it 'till I make it' but just to see what it feels like and how freeing it can be.  I've just sat here with a bowl of cereal and black coffee and enjoyed eating something delicious, I even poured a little too much, but stopped eating when I was full.  Yay! Baby steps!

I have some delicious foods in the refrigerator at work for lunch and snacks and know my true challenge will be when I go to an open house/holiday event tonight.  I am not prohibiting myself, but I am going to try my hardest to be intuitive and maybe even eat a snack (if I'm hungry) before I leave work.

I think the hardest thing for me in this journey is I'm a planner and I need to plan my meals so #1 I have something to eat and #2 I don't overspend and order lunch out everyday.  However I'm realizing I can still plan but maybe have more than one choice for lunch/snack (it's easy to make the same thing for the whole week) so depending on what my body is craving I can provide it.

With love from IE day 3,
Alyssa

IE Day 2

It's like Planet Fitness touts, a 'judgement free zone.'  We need to make our journey in life (especially with food) a judgement free zone, judge less love more.  Today I felt better, I'm continuing to read more about IE and really try to understand the journey I've embarked on.  I want so much for this to be a freeing journey.  I want to be free and continue to look at food in a different way, the way it was intended.  Food is nourishment and sustenance and I don't want to judge myself or put certain foods on a pedestal. I learned a lot of things when I embarked on my weight loss journey in 2013 and I give a lot of credit to the Weight Watchers program, but there came a time when it just didn't work for me anymore.  My eyes were opened wide to A LOT of things, but when I got close to my 'goal weight' there wasn't support for me and while equipped to manage some aspects on my own, counting food points was all I knew.  I wish I knew about IE in 2014 after just short of 2 years using WW.

Today's recap:  I allowed myself to have some chocolates today at work and tried to not let the stress of a difficult day get to me.  I enjoyed a beer tonight and some sweets while I was preparing dinner, once prepared I stepped away from the food instead of continuing my mindless snacking.  I sat when dinner was ready- sometimes a hard task for me because I want to clean the kitchen or do other things- and I enjoyed a meal with my husband.  It was a lovely day and I don't feel guilty or like I'm judging myself for the most part which is certainly a huge step.

It's been a long day and I received a second e-mail from Jamie that I look forward to reading this weekend.

With love from IE day 2,
Alyssa

Ammendment:  I had half a beer until I was full.  I had heard an interesting thing about wine previously that talked about how with wine you are inclined to enjoy it and sip slower.  I've always been a fan of either and have considered doing what I've done before and not drink at all, but it calms me.  WOW.  I'm using it as a crutch.  That was just a scary thought I had that I continued to put into words.  'It relaxes me' 'It calms me' 'I NEED a drink/cookie/ice cream' all things I certainly say when I'm trying to cope with a difficult time in my life.

Day 1 of Intuitive Eating

If nothing more I'll at least be able to spell intuitive at the end of this challenge.  :)

In all seriousness I read Jamie's message this morning and felt a little more free.  Since it's a daily e-mail message it's great because you have the time to reflect in your own time once, twice or even more if you need to re-read or analyze what you are reading; you also have lifetime access to re-start the challenge at anytime, which I LOVE!

Today's message really got me thinking, that although this journey will ultimately change the way I look at food, so much of what the book by Tribole and Resch says is about changing thought process and the different levels of thinking we have been ingrained with over the evolution of man and society.

The question I was thinking about on a broader scope is what do you let yourself do unconditionally?  Love may be the most simple answer, but even sometimes it's not 100%.  Nothing is perfect so is there anything you even do 90% unconditionally?

Confession time, I realized in thinking about this question I don't let myself do anything unconditionally except negative things.  I am my own worst critic, worst cheerleader and meanest to myself beyond what anyone could ever do to me.  Why do I do that to myself?  Why does anyone?

Some days you have a bad day (like today for me) whether it's being tired, overwhelmed, overworked, under-appreciated or just plain not wanting to be an adult for a day.  That's some days though, not every day.  Until I value myself and become a positive influence on myself the work I do won't work.  I may be a lighter weight than years ago, but what I've put on my shoulders is so much heavier.  I need to give myself unconditional permissions to just be human and be flawed and to want what I want, feel what I feel and to not apologize for being me, but also be mindful of how my actions may affect those around me. <3

With love for IE Day 1,
Alyssa

Intuitive Eating Challenge

I joined a 21 intuitive eating challenge today, hosted by Jamie Mendell.  I have a love/hate relationship with food and I truly want to dissipate the cycle that holds me, makes me not eat, binge, go crazy, punish, indulge, reward, etc....  Food is a tool to sustain and nourish our bodies and instead I am in an abusive relationship with it.

More to come as I reflect on each day's message, but for now here are my tools:

• Challenge:  http://jamiemendell.com/intuitive-eating-challenge/
• Book:  Intuitive Eating:  A Revolutionary Program that Works by Eveyln Tribole and Elyse Resch  (https://www.intuitiveeating.com)  

I also found some solace in Whitney Way Thore's My Big Fat Fabulous Life.  Yes it's another reality show, but I found her to be very real, open and honest.  I truly love her No Body Shame Campaign and think if we can change our ways of thinking about ourselves so much more would change in our lives and how we treat each other.  NOBS is not just about the size of your body, it's about so much more.

#nobodyshame #nobs #intuitiveeating #jamiemendell #ie21daychallenge

With love from IE Day 0,
Alyssa

I'm 32 today.

I started this yesterday and finished today on my actual birthday.  

The thought of turning 32 tomorrow has made me very emotional all of a sudden.  It’s with overwhelming tears brimming in my eyes I write this.  I don’t know why or can’t explain my sudden surge of emotion, but I do know I don’t care all about material things.  As with every year, my gratitude increases beyond measures I thought possible and I’m grateful to be here, healthy and able to help even in the slightest to make the world a better place.  It is my goal, mission and life’s work to leave a little more love and joy in the world.  Okay now the tears have subsided a bit, please find the 32 things I am extra grateful for this year in no particular order.   

1. To be married to my best friend.  My first birthday as a wife <3 Moments are not perfect, things get messy and sometimes we raise our voices, but there is no one else on this earth I’d want to spend the rest of the adventures in my life with. 
2. My parents who have supported every dream and passion, while teaching me to be a better person.   There is not enough gratitude in the world to thank you.
3. My sister, it’s so incredibly hard to be so far away, but I love our chats, facetime and everything else we do to stay close- including drinking wine together via phone calls <3
4. Gabriella Grace you are the light of my life in so many ways; being an Aunt is the best job in the world and I’m so thankful for the joy you bring to each day and moment. 
5. Laurie & Derek for always supporting me and loving me like their own for the last 6 years.  I am so blessed to have the best in-laws on the planet.  That includes you too Shirley <3 
6. Family- My aunts, uncles, cousins & grandpa <3 Thank you for your love and support in all I do!
7. I’m grateful for the matriarchs Jim and I have lost over the last 6+ years, our grandmothers and my great grandmother, who were such big contributors in making me the woman I am.  There is truly no one like a grandmother <3
8. Friends- I could list everyone separately, but I would hate to forget someone in a moment of old age memory loss, so please know from my childhood friends to my SV, Numero Uno, Golden Gal, Chubby Chunkers club gals, NYC friends, NH friends, Spain friends, Caz friends; I love you, I appreciate our friendship and my life is better because you are in it! 
9. Rebekah Faith my running buddy, thank you for being my buddy and inspiring me to be a better me! 
10. I’m grateful for my hometown and the rural setting I grew up.  I wouldn’t change a single minute or moment of my childhood, with the exception of losing a dear friend <3
11. Despite living in a small village, I’m blessed the love to travel was instilled in me and I’ve had opportunities some can only dream of.  Don’t forget your roots <3
12. I’m grateful for my education, I could have never dreamed I would finally attend my dream school in NYC or that I would ever complete my MBA, wow am I blessed! 
13. On a similar note, I’m grateful to love what I do for a living.  Every day isn’t perfect and I continue to explore exactly where I want my career to go, but I’m grateful for excellent mentors who helped me discover my passion and career in human resources.  Find what you love to do!
14. A simple thank you to hot black coffee. 
15. My religion and the foundation I was brought up in, in the Baptist church.  It brings me comfort in tough times and helps me know my life has a greater plan. 
16. My body, yep, I’m thankful for it.  All its fat stretch marks, rolls, jiggling, I love it all.  I love me and my ‘obese’ BMI no matter how much weight I lose.  I found me over the last few years and no scale or test will tell me I’m not amazing.  This body has run 2 marathons and continues to run and bike its way to happiness.   Look in the mirror and tell yourself you love it, and mean it!
17. Joy.  I’m grateful to find joy in the small moments and the big ones.  Finding joy in life is so important and helps us push through tough times.  Bring joy to someone today <3
18. I’m grateful for simple things which we often take for granted….  (#19 - #25)
19. The ability to defend my beliefs without persecution.  Love thy neighbor despite our differences.
20. A roof over my head and all the comforts that fill our home. 
21. Warm clothes and shoes- more than I could ever need- time to donate some with the approaching winter months!
22. A car and the ability to be able to transport myself to and from work.  This is a luxury to so many. 
23. Food in my cupboards and refrigerator.  So many bigger families have so much less. Donate food this winter and holiday season! 
24. Access to health insurance and excellent medical and dental care. 
25.  My health.  Something we should never take for granted!
26. Running.  This has changed my life and I am grateful for those who have started me on that running journey and for those who have joined me.  It truly 110% changes your life.
27. On the same note I’m grateful for biking.  For the fact that it helped Jim quit smoking a few years ago after smoothing for half of his life.  I’m grateful for our ability to ride together and that we enjoy being in nature, tackling the terrain and are always up for an adventure together. 
28. Technology.  A little materialistic yes, but it allows me to stay in touch with loved ones around the globe and for this I am so very grateful.  It’s so nice to sometimes just be a facetime call away <3 it has also helped with advances in safety measures, medical care and so much more.  We need technology and we need the next generation to have a passion for science and math!
29. Laughter.  Laugh always and often.  It changes your mood, your life and if you can find something to smile about and laugh about, something difficult may seem easier.
30. Nature.  Get outside, explore- hike, bike, run, walk.  Enjoy this beautiful world we live in, respect it, love it and nurture it.  Smell the world after rain (like this morning), jump in a puddle, smile in the sunshine, take in the sunset, appreciate and love our world
31. The ability to think, read, write.  So many don’t have these opportunities for education. 
32. YOU.  I’m grateful for you taking the time to read this.  Stranger, friend, family member, etc. thank you.  May your journey I the next year be blessed, fruitful, joyful and full of love!

With love,

Alyssa

Welcome

Although I have a lot of things on my plate I decided to start blogging again.  This combined with exercise is therapy in my journey and pursuit of a healthier, happier and stronger life.  I strive to be emotionally, physically and financially sound.  These areas are all works in progress and there is no perfect formula.  

Welcome to my journey, my real struggles and my victories from small to large.  Share yours too!  I hope if nothing more this blog brings inspiration, motivation and even hope to people who need it most.  

My old blog gives you insight into who I am and what my journey has been like.... 
http://onestep-30.blogspot.com/

With love,
ALJ