The Journey Continues...of course

I had a fabulous 21 Day Journey earlier this month. Now that doesn't mean I had a perfect record with keeping my daily goals, even though most days I did, I'm calling it fabulous because of the growth I experienced in the daily journey.  Next up...Self-Love.  May is just a couple days away, I think I'm focussing my efforts in May on flowering self-love as defined by Lynnell!  Stay tuned, the journey continues as long as I have breath I have an opportunity to bless!

Love you!
Lynnell

"I believe that every single event in life happens in an opportunity to choose love over fear." - Oprah Winfrey

"Remember the two benefits of failure.  First, if you do fail, you learn what doesn't work; and second, the failure gives you the opportunity to try a new approach." - Roger Von Oech

"Not knowing when the dawn will come, I open every door." - Emily Dickinson

Day 16 of 21

This was a tough day, but I'm choosing to end this day sharing a bit of me.  I'm on the homestretch of my 21 Day Journey, life happens and we keep moving because without movement there is no progress.

My Life is Better than a Fairytale

by: Lynnell

Fairytales are stories with happy endings

Where everything works out in the end

There is a good that evil seeks to destroy

Evil may capture good but it's only temporary

For we all know that at the end of the fairytale

A hero emerges to save the day

They outwit and conquer evil 

Good wins and lives happily ever after

Each moment of my life I realize

My Life is Better than a Fairytale

I haven't been put to sleep by an evil witch

Or captured under the spell of one either

I haven't been tricked to spin gold from thread

My hair hasn't been needed as a rope 

Nor have I had to kiss a toad

Why?  It's simple...

My Life is Better than a Fairytale

Now don't get me wrong, 

I've had plenty of moments that I thought evil was attacking me

Only to find that I could combat it

Not lay in wait, not look for a toad

When I needed the armor of love or friendship

To help fight those battles they were always there for me

Giving courage, giving me strength, giving evidence that

My Life is Better than a Fairytale

One of those moments when I felt under attack,

I wrote to myself in a journal: 

"When I realized that I was my own night in shining armor, 

I had to power to save myself."

It was my inner strength connecting with my outer strength

Reminding me that I dream in color for a reason

I believe in rainbows in all seasons and 

MY love is infinite not an infinitesimal

My Life is Better than a Fairytale

Thanks for letting me share!
- Lynnell

"When I realized that I was my own night in shining armor, I had to power to save myself."

- Lynnell Matthews

Day 11 of 21 - My 21 Day Journey Revealed

Today is the midway point or maybe I could even call it the tipping point of my 21 Day Journey.  I decided today to reveal the specifics of my 21 Day Journey now that I've completed half of it and have half to go.

My 21 Day Journey has three major parts:

1. 21 Day Journey Back to Vegan - I had originally planned to do the Daniel Fast and started with the basic food rules but after reading the starter kit after a week into it, I realized I wasn't focussing on the overall purpose of the Daniel fast but only the food rules.  So though I am maintaining most of the eating principles, which is a vegan diet with some additional restrictions, I decided to read more about the Daniel Fast and start it another time on the right foot verses how I had begun.
2. 21 Day Financial Fast - Based upon Michelle Singletary's book, The Power to Prosper, that I just happened to start reading (listening to via audio book) just a few days before April 1.  I knew I needed to add this component to my journey after the first chapter.  I have been needing to put my foot down and make changes to get my financial well being in better order.  During the fast I focus on spending only on things I need.  It's been a blessing since this month I've been struggling to make ends meet and it's not even the middle of the month yet.  
3. 21 Days of Fitness (except Sundays unless I swap it out for another day of the week of course) - The last few months I've missed more days away from the gym than in the gym.  So I recommitted to working out at the gym 6 days a week for the next 21 days.  I miss the workouts and the people.  Improving my health both physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually are a priority for me and being away from the gym was weakening me on several levels.  So no journey of mine would be complete without including my re-emergence on the fitness scene.  I've already picked out a 5k race I will run in May and have my eye on others as the year progresses.  Running a marathon and completing a triathlon are on my bucket list, no time like the present to start planning and training for it.  2013 is still young and so am I!

So there you have it, what I've been up to the last 11 days and on into the next 10.  

Ten days to go and so much more ahead that I can hardly wait,

- Lynnell

"Success is a journey, not a destination.  The doing is often more important than the outcome."

- Arthur Ashe

"Friends are as companions on a journey, who ought to aid each other to persevere in the road to a happier life."

-Pythagoras

Day 8 of 21

It's been a few days since my last post but by no means does that mean the journey has stopped or even been derailed.  There have been challenges and joys.  I have a personal journal that I've written in daily keeping track of both.  As I start the second week, I reflect on the goals initially set and my plan of action.  Making adjustments as needed and pushing forward nonetheless.  I hadn't disclosed the details of the journey at his point, I had thought I would by now but as I write I know it's not the time.

Moving along as planned,
Lynnell

"Even if you fall on your face, you'll still moving forward." - Victor Kiam

Day 4 of 21

When you start out on a journey that includes fasting, seems the things you set out to resist make themselves even more available.  Four days in and so far so good.

Staying the course,
Lynnell

"Slow and Steady wins the race." - Aesop

Day 3 of 21

Just three days in and challenges of more things to do than time to do them  has already set in.  None the less I press forward.  Until the day has ended I will keep focussed and look for opportunities to get it in.

My 21 Day Journey has THREE major parts and it is a true test of my tenacity to keep focussed on remaining true to all three.

Tenaciously pressing forward,
Lynnell

"Let me tell you the secret that has led me to my goal.  My strength lies solely in my tenacity."
- Louis Pasteur

Day 2 of 21

Day 2 started at 6am and I've been running ever since, just got home and it's after 9pm.  So my lesson for the day is to pace myself.  I had a productive day and though I had a long day, I stayed the course.  Now for some rest to see what Day 3 brings!

Pacing myself,
Lynnell

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Day 1 of 21

A journey has a beginning and an end.  Even with a laid out action plan of how to get from point A to point B, the moment by moment implementation can be filled with unanticipated challenges and joys.  Today I begin a 21 Day Journey, I choose not to reveal the specifics in my blog just yet but take a moment to declare myself at the starting line and as the morning sun rose, so have I risen for my 21 Day Journey.

Who I've been doesn't have to define who I am anymore,
Lynnell

“It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end.” 
― Ernest Hemingway