If you didn't read part 1 of the story, start here.
After digging deep and admitting how I used to live my life, I have to admit that it was a hard post to write. BUT, I wrote it, and now I am sharing the story of how I climbed out of an endless circle of self doubt and poor habits that affected my health and mindset and moved into a life I love.
Before I share the secrets of what it has taken to get me to where I am now, you should realize that, like anything else worth having, it doesn't come easily, but it also isn't as hard as you think it is. Why am I telling you this? Because it is never too late to change your life.
This is what I did. I call it my "stripping myself down to bare bones" because that is what it feels like, but don't let it scare you. It's worth it.
Ready? This is my journey:
• The first thing I did was give up the self-medicating wine (and secret cigarette habit - yep, may as well get it all out there).
• I started walking outside every day, and then it lead to jogging, which led to pilates classes.
• I started making time to get my hair done and not feeling guilty about it.
• I dipped my toe into the world of wellness and tried reflexology and reiki.
• Once I started to see there was another way of living, I kept going.
• I started the business I had only ever dreamed of owning.
• I changed my nutrition plan and started enjoying food instead of seeing it as another source of deprivation - and I lost weight.
• I started to see my body as strong, so I began to lift weights and attend piyo and barre classes.
• I found new friends because of my business and classes and they have been the greatest gift of all.
• I left the security of a full-time faculty position at a University and went part time to focus on my health and my business.
• I started the perimenopause years and anxiety hit HARD (I've always been overly sensitive and anxious, but this was a new level of hard).
• I dug in and used my research skills to help myself.
• I tried therapy to talk it out and jogged more. I tweaked my diet.
• And then I did the hardest thing ever: I gave up caffeine. And it worked.
• I started drinking tea instead of guzzling coffee - my last crutch.
• For the first time in my life, I knew what it actually meant to feel present. That's where I am today.
This is the short version of the last five years of my life. I have so much more to share, and you'll see it in bits and pieces as I break it down in more detail for you here in the blog (and in the monthly emails), so stay with me. And remember, if you relate to any of what I shared in the first blog, and this one, you can make changes in your life for the better. It really isn't as hard as it seems.
If you don't want to miss it, go here: