Healthy.

"Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is is pure, whatever is lovely,whatever is admirable, - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy- think about such things." Philippians 4:8
Being HeALtHy has forever been important to me. Really as far back as I can remember. I've been an athletic-exercise  girl. And now in my fifties it's ImPErATIvE to my mental&emotional&spiritual&physical health to exercise every day. So I do. It's just habit. I really don't give it much thought. The pay-off is HuGE. I don't compare my habit to anyone else's. I just do what works best for me. I'm SUPeR INSpiReD, though, by my PeEpS who stay healthy. I have other habits that I build into my daily life to keep healthy. They ALL SEeM TO BE CONNeCTED.
   Example #1.  I gave up SuGAR for the month of MAY. (Inspired by a friend who doesn't EAT SUGAR EVER.  EVER sounded toooo long for me.....:) it wasn't super fun but really not super hard either. It was just HABIT.  No SUGAR MAY was really HEALTHY. Again. For many different reasons. The pay-off was HUGe. I'll do it again.
  Example #2.  I read "Daring Greatly" by BreNe Brown. Let me just say...I have a CRUSH on this book. Thank you, BreNe. You're my new BFF. You've helped me recognize UNHeALTHy thoughts that have governed little bits of me. I'm replacing some old thinking habits with newer-healthier-braver ones. It feels risky & vulnerable & courageous all at the same time. (more on this later.) Reading "Daring Greatly" was super HeALtHy. The pay-off has been huge.
  Example #3.  I LOVE scripture. Memorize it. Think on it. Apply it. Humbled by it. Rejoice in it. Soak in it. Marvel at it. Surprised by it. Changed by it. Captured by it. THANKFUL for it. Scripture is a HEALTHY HABIT.  Keeps me honest. Keeps my perspective. The pay-off is HUGE. God is MAGNIFiCENT.

What I'm learning about getting healthy.. living healthy... staying healthy... is... it's a PROCESS. It's
not ALL or NOtHiNG. There will for-ever be ROOm in me for change. For growth. For a fresh start.
 A NEW BegInniNg. A realized bad habit that needs to GO. A chance to ADD something GOOd. (People. Are you listening? this is such FABULoUS NEWS!)  Never too late to get HEALthY.

Bliss.

"Where you go I'll go. Where you stay I'll stay."  Ruth 1:16

June was a  LOVE-FEST.  Jeff&i were invited to 6 weddings last month. SIX.  Each one important. All couples SuPER SPECiaL. Perfectly matched. I couldn't HELP but be caught up in the PiNtEreSt-InSPiReD SPaRkLy-TwiNKLy MAGiC of it all. The SHoWERs&FLoWeRs. Veils&Venues&Vows. Rings&GOwNs. Cakes&Save-the-Dates. Food.Drinks.Music.Dances.Toasts.Invites.Bridesmaids.Groomsmen.Flowergirl.Ringbearer.Registry............it takes a A LOT to throw a WEDDiNg. It takes a VILLaGE. It takes TiMe. It takes organization&planning&creativity. It takes a WHOLe BUnCH oF MOnEY. BoAtLoAd.
(This is the part that makes my husband HaPPy we only have one GiRL:)

The WeDdINGs were a ToTAL BLasT. Our DaNCiNg shoes were BuSy...Jeff can BUsT-a-move:)  We felt so honored to be included. Here's what JuNE reminded me of: All that ENERGY that goes into the WEdDiNG can just be tRaNsFeRrEd into the MARRiAGE. LIKe For-EveR. NeveR let up. The wedding is great. A GIFT.  BUT NOTHiNG compared to the MARRiAGE. A hEALtHy MARriaGe is God's BEST GIFT. But it doesn't just HAPPeN. Like the wedding. It takes InTenTion. cReaTIvity. EnErgy. planning. lovE. a team to help&encourage&support. communication. work. FUn. dancing. laughter. focus. grace. bending&vulnerability&prayer. Lots of PRaYer. &DaTinG. Never stop DaTiNg each OThEr. Romancing....it's MAGICAL. Even after almost 30 years. Bliss.❤

Simple.

The Lord doesn't see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but The Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7b

Life has become super simple for me. Simple. Simple. Simple. It's been a journey gettin here. I'm still clumsy & clueless & can complicate things....but over all....I'm delighted (&thankful) with this simple little life of mine. Mostly because I have TiME & SPACE & AVAILaBiLiTY for people. To LISTEN. LoVE. ENJoY.  To be PRESENT. My DrEAM is to Get to KnOW lots of NEW people. To just be SUPER comfortable hanging out with people who are DIFFeRENT than me. Look different. Live different. Think different. I WaNT TO HEAR YOU. Really LIsTEN to YOU. Christian. Jewish. Mormon. Catholic. Black. White. Gay. Straight. Young. Old. Republican. Democrat. Tattooed. Pierced. Rich. Poor. Educated. Uneducated. Fancy. Plain. Happy. Sad....(well...unless you're MeAN&CrANKy. then...maybe not)......I want to hear your STORY. Hear your HEART. Have HOnEST conversations without JuDGeMENT. Without agenda. See you the way GOD does. Be your friend.

Here's what I'm practicing:  NOT making QUICK SwEEPING JUDGe-Y comments in my HeAD or OuTLoUd about ANYONE. Ever. It's hURTFUL. It's NOT HELPFUL. At ALL.  I want to be HELPfUL. a SAfE PLaCE. a place you can find healing. You know. Like AUgUSt BOaTWRIGhT in The SEcReT LifE of Bees.  Yep. I'd love to be MORE like HER. She was a keeper of bees & a keeper of hearts. Listen. "Bee Yard Etiquette:  She reminded me that the world was really one Bee yard & the same rules apply to both. Don't be afraid as no life-giving BEe wants to sting you. Don't even think about swatting. If you feel angry, WHISTLE. Anger agitates while whistling melts a bees temper. Above all, send the BEEs LOVE. Every little thing wants to be LOvED."  See. Brilliant. Simple. Huh? Just send the bees love.  & I'm practicing my whistling, too.