2-11pm
As I head towards the end of a decade and move from the frenetic 40s to the fabulous 50s, I am finding myself reflecting on the past and what I’ve got right and what I’ve got wrong. I can think of a number of things I did right and I will continue to work on them.
1. Move More ~Ten years ago, I was close to 8kg heavier than I am now. 2004 was a pretty bad year for me and as I headed towards the end of it, I realised there were no guarantees 2005 was going to be any better. There were circumstances I couldn’t control, but I could control my response to them. If difficult times came, I needed to put myself in the best possible position to cope and that included getting my act together when it came to my health and fitness. At close to 80kg, I felt like a bit of a blob. I felt unfit and uncomfortable. I regularly woke up with backache. I needed to improve my health and if it was to be, it was up to me. No one else could do this for me. So in 2005, I signed up at a gym and started exercising. Slowly the weight came off and I got down to the weight I am now. I would like to say, “I got down to my pre-pregnancy weight”, but that is an hysterical joke! I would like to lose 5kg from where I am now, but it would take a loss of about 10kg to get me to my pre-pregnancy weight. As an (almost) 50 year old post-menopausal woman, who has had two children, if I ever got down to 62kg, I think I would look haggard and emaciated!
2. Eat Less ~ I have often thought the biggest regret I had in raising my children was feeding them as much sugar as I did when they were young. But, when you know better, you do better and over the last 5 years, as more and more information has 
come to light as to how bad sugar is for you, I’ve cut it as much out of my diet as I am able (and as my self-control will allow)! I certainly have become wiser as to where it’s hidden and I am far, far, far, far more picky about what to eat when it comes to sweet stuff. I won’t waste precious allowance of sugar on stuff like cold drinks or donuts or chocolate bars. Generally, overall, I choose my calories more carefully. My favourite treat will include a croissant, but on a particularly wicked day, I’ll indulge in liquorice. It’s loaded with carbohydrates, so it’s a rare delicacy. When family members visit (cough ~ you know who you are!), I may be persuaded to share a dessert.
3. Know Myself ~ I think this is one of the most significant things I’ve learned during the last few years. I’ve got to know myself better and I think I’ve grown in confidence. As I walked the journey through menopause, I could feel when I was hormonally depressed. When my emotions see-sawed unreasonably, I knew that was not normal. That’s not me. It’s not my natural personality type or response. In knowing myself better, I understand more of how to cope with me, get on with me and actually like me…after all, I’ve got to live with me for the rest of my life! The self -acceptance that comes with getting older is a hugely freeing feeling. I care less what others think. Criticism slips off my back more easily. I listen to harsh comments to see if there is anything in them. If there is, I try and do something about it. If there are not, I let it go.
4. I’ve LEARNED To Be Content ~ In my younger years, I was always ‘wanting’. But as I have got older, I’ve learned that happiness doesn’t come from stuff that’s bigger or better. Happiness comes from acceptance of what you have. I remember something Stacey once said. She had been to an Alpha group and one of the women there was talking about her special needs child. Stacey told her something like God knew
what her child would need and knew that she would be the best Mom for her. In a similar vein, I remember Nic Vujicic saying if he had to have no arms and legs, he would be the very best legless, armless man he could be. The same goes for each one of us. If we are to be married, determine to be the best spouse. If we are to be single, determine to be the best single person. If we are to be a single parent, determine to be the best single parent. Whatever your situation, just be the best you can be. Part of contentment is finding appreciation in little things. Open wide your eyes to the beauty around you and when you spot it, stop and appreciate it. Look at what you have and appreciate every last little bit. Another facet of this, is learning to be happy. Sometimes, I don’t wake up happy….I behave myself to happiness. It’s a habit now. I will glory in the day I will jump up and down in joy. I will smile at myself in the mirror and not say, ‘oh my what a mess,’ but rather, ‘look at you, sweet thing!’ I have learned to treat myself with the encouragement that I so easily offer to others. In learning to be content, I have learned to be happy.
5. The Real Foundation ~ Over the last 5 years, I’ve discovered the real foundation to a happy life lies in something far deeper than we, as human beings, can muster up. My happiest, most fulfilling moments are in those times when I purposefully set aside time early in the morning to pray. The security & peace I have experienced through meeting
with God in those pre-dawn hours surpasses understanding and is of eternal value. I’ve been a Christian since 1979. Since then, He has always been my Foundation and my Point of Reference. But when I started sacrificially getting up earlier in the morning to meet with Him, something more intimate happened. A daily in-filling of the Holy Spirit that I can tangibly feel takes place during those encounters. That gives me ability to do anything…I can’t, but God can. He does. His Word guides and directs my path. It keeps me grounded. I’m far, far from perfect – I’m broken, but in His presence I find wholeness.
It leaves me grateful! Very grateful! I will keep looking for Him in earnest.
Keep the smile going.
God bless you!
Helga xx 🙂
Gratitude Pic…humour – thanks Trish for posting…
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