So thankful for the throught provoking posts!

Wow! How awesome and infectious is this thread! I am not the same person I was over 3 yrs ago. Not that who I was was bad... but I was not letting the authentic me live. I was so afraid to be me.  I was too tired to be me. I was not hopeful enough to be me. Now... with help from my friends and continued weight loss (in itty bitty amounts)... I can be who I have always been meant to be.... and discover who I still can become. My passions... Well? still learning what they are on a daily basis. • Top of the list... my grandchildren. I have 3 wonderful grandsons, ranging in age from 16 yrs to 7 months. Each offering me moments of discovering about how wonderful life can be. Being a grandmother is one of the single most valuable roles I have been given the privilege to experience as an adult. I cherished each moment spent with my grandsons Salvatore,  Antonio and Seamus. I  look forward to my oasis moments with them. I am blessed. And now... I can move with them! • Moving my body... challenging my body is becoming a passion... and in public! ... meaning at a gym. Who knew? I take classes that fit me. Paula... the out in the world.. public thing... this is still very hard for me. I totally understand your sentiments about being in public and being shy. I too battle with this.. I am looking at as a challenge... something that I can change slowly and in my time... honoring who I am. So when I am afraid next time.. I will think of you by my side... I encourage you to do the same and see if that helps. Or take our beloved Dorota with you out there in the world. Right Dorota? • Yoga is MY form of exercise. It brings me strength, stretching (need that being a shortie!) and peace. • And  now I am beginning to learn Pilates! Who is this woman emerging? !!! • I speak out more for myself... I find others to help me along the way. They are kind of like my cheerleaders... my "I am brave" mentors. • I love to sing. Harmony being my passion in this area. One day I will get enough courage to do something with that. • I am learning day by day to not abandon myself... to champion myself. • I can stand up tall and be proud of my accomplishments without shame creeping in to squash me down. Thanks Paula. I just want to add that you have had lots on your plate this year with the move and all. So while you are getting your "butt off the couch" as you say, remember this... Sometimes we need to reflect within and have down time before we can re-energize to gear up and move ahead again. Be gentle with yourself as you move and groove to find your "niche". You are an awesome gal. T. 

Thanks, T. I really appreciate your kind words.  I always have to remember to "give my self permission" to have down time.  It was ingrained into my psyche as a child that down time meant you were lazy ("there has to be something around here for you to do, get my handkerchiefs and iron them!..whap...)   SO, I have to remember that I did have an entirely stressful and hectic 3/4 of a year and now, that the kids are in school, I am napping and enjoying my time alone.  I'm not being lazy (well, some may say I am, but I don't care!)  I've been able to pick up a book again and read!  Something I love to do.  I read three books last week. My house may have some clutter this week, but I had a sick kid here for six days and I was a bit sick myself with a sinus thing...I have to stop guilting myself with all of this stuff. Well, I went to my first PTO meeting last night and I met a lot of nice people.  I introduced myself as being new to the state, town and the school...one woman wrote her name and info on a paper for me (without me knowing it) during the meeting and came up to me afterwards and told me to call her anytime, for she knows what it's like to be new to a town and state.  She was SO nice.  We're going to design the yearbook this year!  Something I did in high school and loved it! I stayed after the meeting with another committee I joined to help copy and distribute flyers to the teachers.  It was just nice to meet new people and chat and be with adults!   Adults...ah....that's what I need...I"m with little urchins all the time! Thanks again all for your words of wise wisdom! Paula

Ok... so this is new to me... Doing nothing IS doing something. We are then giving ourselves the time to rejuvenate to move ahead. and by doing nothing at times, you are teaching your children how to do the same! Ok... so i googled "doing nothing is doing something" results...   http://content.scholastic.com/browse/article.jsp?id=1450 http://zenhabits.net/2007/03/the-art-of-doing-nothing/ http://www.collegiatecontent.com/gargarney/WhenDoingNothingWasReallySomething.htm and that brings me to think of distractions. Sometimes we do STUFF to distract ourselves from the real work within. something to ponder while you are doing nothing! P.S. My 16 yr old grandson Salvatore is on the yearbook committee this year! Has already called me to see if my company will buy some ad space! And told  us this week that he wants to go to med school! aak! goodbye retirement!  T.

Thanks for starting this post Paula. And thanks to everyone who posts--I can't thank you all enough for the inspiration, strength, smiles, and insight you have shared. That today I enjoy being alive and not merely existing is a miracle for me.   For the first time in my life, I feel comfortable in my body. More importantly, each day I am becoming more and more comfortable with myself as my true self is revealed. I am so grateful for all the dear and loving friends that were there for me when I was not able to be there for myself. That they care enough about me to be able to tell me today how worried they were about me is one of the countless blessings of their friendship. Today, I take joy in challenging myself at all levels.  Physcially at the gym and in my walks for the half and full marathons--and pushing myself to work towards "failure" with my trainer Mark.  LOL feels nice to know that sometimes "failure" is an acceptable goal :) Emotionally I am allowing more love into my life. Fearing forward in a new relatonship: facing my fears of being in love and being in a possible long-term committed relationship with someone. I am taking charge of my own life and am willing to try new things: risking looking less than perfect and/or not knowing everything. Today, I am letting go and letting my HP guide me towards an ever increasing freedom from the bondage of myself.   Each day is filled with promise, hope, and an ever increasing feelings of peace, serenity, and joy. May you all have the best of everything--you are worth it! Carol D.

WOW!! THIS POSITIVE ENERGY IS ABSOLUTELY INFECTIOUS! LET'S KEEP THIS GOING EVERYONE!  What spins YOUR wheels??? Maureen

Shopping and fashion of course, buying boots is my passion, new clothes I love.  Bought size 4 tonight at Kohl's.  Gotta love wls. Hugs Heidi