New Year Challenge: Be Kind To Yourself

I catch myself on a regular basis saying something like, "Maggie, you dolt" or "Ugh, Maggie, what were you thinking." (Yes, I talk to myself.) I think we all sometimes subtly, sometimes more obviously put ourselves down. Sometimes with the way we look at ourselves or the way we think about ourselves.

This year, catch yourself when you're thinking negative thoughts about you. Try to stop and exchange the bad thought with a good one.

Food Inc

By the end of the movie Food Inc, I felt guilty about all the grocery shopping I did the day before (and I try to shop local and make healthy choices). Still, it was a powerful movie that will be a conversation starter if nothing else. You've probably heard many of the facts before, but maybe not all in one place.

With New Year's Resolutions still cycling through your mind, this might be a good movie to rent or Netflix. It will definitely get you thinking. What I liked most about the movie is that it doesn't make you feel powerless. It provides ideas for things you can do to make a difference.

Pilates Woman

This summer my best friend, Julie, moved to Chicago. Before the big day, she and her husband decided (somewhat last minute) that they didn't want to sell the tree they had planted in honor of their wedding with their house. They wanted to dig it up and replant it at Julie's parents house. I agreed to help. Uprooting a tree in Connecticut is no easy task and after a full day of hard labor, we still hadn't finished and had to call in actual experts.

Julie kept apologizing for the workload, but oddly enough, I kind of liked it. A few days later she sent me this card that she had drawn. It made me laugh. I loved it and I've been meaning to share it ever since. I love the creativity, and, personally, I think Pilates Woman would make a great comic strip. To see the picture in a larger size, click on it.

New Year

Happy New Year! 2010

Time passes quickly. Remember to make the best of it.

What Are You Doing New Year's Eve

Today is a good day for a year in review. What are you proud of? What did you do this year? What was the best thing that happened to you all year? Did you have a favorite movie or book?

Take time to think about what provided you joy in life and figure out how to find even more joy next year.

Challenge 22: Breathe

Stop and take long breaths to help maintain your sanity in the last week of 2009. Stopping to breathe might help you enjoy life since it seems to race by faster every year.

Ramekin

Do you want to watch your portion sizes in 2010? Let Ramekins help you. They are good guides for small amounts of food. Use a ramekin for snacks like ice cream, pop corn, chips, pretzels. Don't use it for small items like nuts, skittles or M&M's.