Borrowed this from my Spark blog...

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

The is my Pomeranian, Chichan. She is my wonderful companion and because of her I started watching Dog Whisperer with Cesar Milan. Not because she has a behavioral issue, but I love Cesar's attitude towards dogs. And as I watch another episode today, some thoughts struck me.

One aspect of Cesar's perspective is that dogs live in the moment. They don't carry grudges and when treated appropriately they can learn calm submissive behavior. And the other aspect that I love is that many times it's about the human owners who need to be trained more than the dogs.

Okay, you're wondering what this has to do with weight issues. But think about it...if we could treat the missteps we take like dogs and not remember them, wouldn't we spend less time lamenting those missteps and more time moving forward in a positive way?

And if we recognized the wrong way we approach weight loss, couldn't we all do better. If we could disassociate the "feelings" that food promotes, wouldn't it be easier to just say no? Okay I am mixing my metaphors but you get the picture I'm sure.

I made the decision a week ago that food was no longer going to give me the joy in my life. My faith, family and friends were going to give me joy and as a result I've lost about 6 lbs this last week. Granted, I don't expect to lose 6 lbs every week, but each day, I'm focusing on loosening my emotional attachment to food.

You might want to watch Dog Whisperer and listen as he advises folks who have dog problems and realize how much the problems are brought on by the emotional tethers the owner put on the dogs. I'm severing my emotional tethers to food and moving on to a better, healthier life!

Take care and have a great week!

Joyce

I'm Lovable!

In continuing with my reading of Sherrill's book, a section where she discovered she was lovable was like a door opening and light shining in! God finds me lovable, He finds me worthy...how can this be when I can't even see myself that way?

As I was reading and pondering this I received an email from a friend recently and she said, "Remembering all the fun times at your house as you hosted the July Fourth party. Thanks for doing all that and for making the effort to get people together. I’ve been noticing not many people do that around here. I appreciate you and Ron for doing it for us. We’ll miss you this 4^th."

I realize that often times I read these times of messages from family and friends and I emotionally poopoo them with the thought, "Oh, they don't mean it." And yet now I realize that maybe they do mean it, that they've enjoyed what I've done and value it...enjoyed me and valued me. That perhaps they've found me worthy...just as Jesus finds me worthy. Maybe if I were enjoying heaven in the moment, I would feel that love and care from those around me and from Jesus...maybe that's what's been missing from my walk.

Thoughts to ponder this 5th of July...hope all have had a great 4th of July weekend, celebrating our country!