Last week I started the 3Ps diet…over the past few years keeping skinny with exercise and healthy eating have gotten easier(YES IT HAS and my butt looks amazing…lol…) WHO CARES!!!  I see now that my mind is the only part of my body that can really hold me back!(IT DOES and I have the power to stop it!)

This summer I have been gifted with some extra free time…and this oppertunity to work on my mind…KEEP IT SKINNY too if ya will…And so began the Attitude Diet(which I still love and feel is the best starting tool)…If ya have not started…well…no time like NOW!!!

My 50 wonderful things logging is changing me…in the best way!  It was also so helpful this past week as I tried to be/live PASSIONATE in every aspect of my life!

DAY 7 Week 1…PASSIONS Complete and Successful

Running:  register for one race every 6 months…a fun one…with free t shirts:)

I registered for 3 upcoming races, set up July running schedule, ran 20 miles this week and 9:46 my fastest mile, I set a date to run with my bestie tonight…I feel so PASSIONATE about this part of my life…Success 1

Family:  make the summer down time a way to engage in play time with Tommy and Sher at beach, park, and other fun get sunshine places

This week we took lots of family walks, cuddled more, listened to more reggae(Sher has a theory that reggae music and puppies can heal the world:), started some gardening projects and have plans to eat in garden this week:)  I love living PASSIONATELY with my hubby ( and Tommy)above all things…SUCCESS 2

Work/education: Started Summer reading group with Rachel, learning about brewing, owls and yoga certification rules…I have summer brain…Not overly passionate about work these days…But I have a feeling week 2…PATIENCE will help?!

Food:   Spending Summer testing new recipe every Sunday…cooking more for me than clients…This is the week I created the Peach Grillwich…OMG…SO YUMMY!!!!Success 3

Meditation: Time alone (all ONE) to rest the mind…in my garden…I did this daily for the first time since my yoga training 10 yrs ago! MAJOR SUCCESS 4!!!

Arts and Crafts:  Finish Summer wreath and 5K art…all done and I painted an elephant and a lil bird too…Success 5!

Gardening:  Add to the front bed…when the rain comes next…transplanted RM…see GREENFOODIE.WORDPRESS.COM for details:) Success 6!

Sports:  put the gloves back on and box in the back deck room (relieve stress the right way)…didn’t get to this…but also was too engaged with passion to want to punch stuff:) lol   Success?? I think so!

Tried free online Ballet…must get back to class tomorrow:)

Helping improve the world:  Volunteering for Happy Tails Dog Rescue…CUPCAKE CAMP

Join us at Miele Aug 8th, 10th and 12th to bake cupcakes, learn to decorate and save puppies!!!

$75 for all 3 days funds go to Happy tails!

I feel so productive having this list  on paper:) and I am eager to start the challenge  of week 2…

Learning to be PATIENT…the tricky part…starting with the self!

A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains.

-Dutch Proverb

Buddhists commonly refer to patience as armor that protects the compassionate person from the barbs and verbal attacks of others. Interestingly, Leonardo Da Vinci had a similar idea, for he wrote, “Patience serves as a protection against wrongs as clothes do against cold. For if you put on more clothes as the cold increases, it will have no power to hurt you. So in like manner you must grow in patience when you meet with great wrongs, and they will be powerless to vex your mind.” -Personal-growth.com

I was always taught to not take things personally, because we all come from our own unique perspective…this allows me to have greater patience with others, but how does one grow more patient with themselves or their own life???

I was on a quest to find out…What is Patience?  The ability to wait? The knowlegde that good/better things are around the bend? Tolerating everything??

Susan Bird-Harris has a list I love:)

And so I am thrilled to have found her list to try the steps this week and maybe…just maybe learn to patient with myself!  I added my own lil tips where possible…and we’re OFF>>>

1. Determine the difference between the things you control, the things  you can influence and the things over which you have no control or influence. (the serenity prayer comes in handy here!-UR) Spend the bulk of your time and attention on the things which you control. This  is where you can make the biggest difference. Spend your remaining time and  attention on the things you can influence, knowing things may or may not go your  way. Let go of the things over which you have no control or influence as any  time or attention spent on these is ineffective and wasted.

2. Take life one day at a time. Treat each day as a treasured gift,  because that is exactly what it is! Yesterday is done and tomorrow has not yet  arrived, so make the most of today because it is all you have to work with  anyway.( I love present living…Yoga is a huge help here-UR)

3. Accept that you are human. We are growing, learning and changing  all the time. As humans, we make mistakes. Get over it and get on with life.(Forgiving yourself and even laughing at yourself…as long as ya learn from it!-UR)

4. Forgive yourself for your mistakes, weaknesses and imperfections.  Review them, learn from them, forgive yourself and move on.(LEARN FROM THEM…Don’t give yourself a free pass more than once or twice!-UR)

5. Reframe your world view. Instead of beating yourself up over past  mistakes, accept them as part of who you are today. Life is about progress, not  perfection.(this is a great time to revisit DAY 2 of the attitude diet…accomplishments-UR)

6. Make plans, including Plan B. Plan your life and follow your plan,  but have a Plan B ready in case things do not go the way you expect. Life throws  us curve balls all the time, so be ready for them.(I have said it a million times…the only constant is change-UR)

7. Set big goals and plan baby steps. You can accomplish any goal by  breaking it down into doable steps which keep you motivated along the way.  Celebrate each time you complete a step toward your goal.(I love to set mine and share them…I usually get my friends and family to send theirs too-UR)

8. Confront your fears about not reaching your goals. Remember that  the world was not created in one day. The tallest trees start out as little  seeds and take years to grow into their strength and beauty. Every step you take  brings you closer to the results you desire.(do 1 thing that scares ya at least once a week-UR)

9. Let go of worry. Worrying about tomorrow saps your energy and  strength today. Instead, use that energy to work toward your goals.(this goes back to living presently! there is no worry in the present-UR)

10. Become your own best friend. You are the only person you will live  with your entire life, so get to know yourself well and treat yourself as the  valuable person you are.(hey…didn’t I just write a whole post on this last week!…Love yourself it is contagious!!!!-UR)

Suzanne Bird-Harris is an accomplished writer, trainer and coach with  more than 20 years experience assisting women in stealing back their  thunder by  shortening their learning curves in life. Steal YOUR thunder  back by  registering for her FREE newsletter at http://www.LearningCurveCoaching.com  You’ll also receive the  7 emails that created such a stir for women this past December, along with a  free e-book titled, “Go to the Balcony to Get a Grip!” Look for them in your  inbox beginning today when you register!

WOW…is that a lot to work on/With…let’s get going…let’s get/keep our minds patient and skinny:)

xoxo

Ursula