Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 75 | Keeping My Eyes On The Prize

Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 75 | Keeping My Eyes On The Prize

Distractions are all around us. No matter where you look, they are out there. Waiting for you. When I was talking to a friend earlier today about an unrelated topic, she pointed out the obvious. I need to focus, and to help me to do this, I need to be keeping my eyes on the prize.

In the business world, I am seen as a bit confusing, as I have been told I am too diversified. When we talked about this, I explained that I thought it was what I was supposed to be doing, because the moment I declared that my jewellery business, Tish MacWebber Always Blinging would now be officially a hobby for me, someone wanted to buy Book Bling. I took it as a sign, telling me that I was right all along. I thought it meant to keep pushing forward, full speed ahead in all areas.

My friend wisely pointed out I misinterpreted the sign. It wasn’t telling me to keep doing all of the things, but rather, testing my declaration.

WHOA!

Hang on there.

Maybe I was wrong.

In that moment, I realized she was right. The sign wasn’t a sign at all. It was a distraction.

How many times have you misinterpreted a sign?

I can assure you, it is very easy to do. One minute you are feeling great about the choices you have made for the food you have eaten so far that day and the next minute you are looking at the tub of ice cream in your freezer. You didn’t open the freezer to get ice cream, but now that it is staring you in the face, it is the only reason you should have opened the freezer.

Or is it?

What you really opened the freezer for was to get the bag of frozen broccoli out to thaw because you want to make a casserole, and one of the ingredients is broccoli.

But the ice cream is just there. Screaming at you. Insisting that it needs you to eat it right now, so that you can get the instant gratification it always gives you. You imagine yourself eating all of the ice cream, and how happy you will be.

Until you realize that you ate it all and feel awful because you were doing so well and the ice cream DISTRACTED you from your goal. Oh, it is sneaky and mean and it wants you to eat it all every time you open the freezer.

So do you lock the freezer and never open it again?

You could. It is not the practical choice, and truthfully it is not very realistic.

Should you declare to never ever buy ice cream again?

Maybe. But we all know the second you do, your favourite flavour is going to be on an incredible sale the very next time you walk into the grocery store.

What is the right answer?

Focus.

When I open the freezer, I need to focus on the broccoli. The ice cream is only going to be a temporary distraction. Ice cream has its time and place, as a treat, not as an everyday splash into guilty pleasures. As much as I love a bowl of ice cream, I need to remember that I am on a new path where I am being kind to myself.

I need to love myself more than I love ice cream

That right there is a bold statement. The love I have for ice cream is right up there with lobster and pizza. It includes chocolate. To be perfectly honest, there aren’t many foods which I don’t love. The struggle is most certainly real, and when you put broccoli up against ice cream, the broccoli doesn’t stand a chance if I am not committed to my goals.

Broccoli has one thing going for it in this equation. Me. If I choose to get the broccoli and continue making the casserole, I will be preparing a meal which can be the reason I open the freezer for. Healthy food is how I show myself kindness. I need to focus on the short term goals to be able to claim the prize I am aiming for.

I know I will falter from time to time. Being human means I am not perfect, and I will make mistakes. I will be tested and distracted. The point is to not stay there. If you picked up the tub of ice cream because it was on sale, it is going to be there until you eat it. Unless you need to eat your feelings, which is never the positive choice to make but might happen if you get dumped or fired, it is not going to go bad before you eat it. It can stay right where it is because it will be there when you do decide that you want a bowl of ice cream as a treat.

Indulgences are a privilege of being an adult

You are your own boss of your life. So get the broccoli out of the freezer, close the door and act like it. Set your goals, keep your eyes on the prize and focus.

As I am writing, I am also recognizing that I have steadily lost a pound or two in the last few weeks. I weighed in at 313.6 pounds yesterday. I am getting closer to taking the new picture for this blog, the one where I show myself and the world I can and will reach my goals, one pound at a time.

You can do this with me. I believe in us.

#TrustYourGut

Weekend Warrior #28

Weekend Warrior #28

Long weekend!  Yes!  I had planned to take Friday off as a vacation day.  I am working on the Holiday.  I earn holiday pay, it is a Stat.  So I am OK with that, as I enjoyed having yesterday off.

We started the day off at a local restaurant for Brunch.  It was my second time at Claudine’s Eatery on Main Street, in Fredericton.  It was my husband’s first time there.  When I spoke to the owner about writing about our experience, she was concerned that we took pictures of our meals.  There was a new cook, and apparently, they are not trained on presentation, yet.  I told her not to worry, as long as I had permission to use some pictures from her online pages.  She said that would be fine.

Claudine's Eatery

I didn’t know if I should go for something fancy or not, but when I saw a number of choices on the breakfast menu that included lobster…I decided to take the plunge in for some seafood.  I ordered the lobster omelet with a side salad instead of homefries, and also no toast.

My husband got “The Maritimer” a traditional bacon eggs sausage toast and added ham.  The new cook forgot to put the pancakes on his plate.  They brought them out on a separate plate.  He liked his breakfast.  I enjoyed mine, immensely.  There were large pieces of lobster in the omelet,  and the side salad was fresh.  I would recommend it to anyone, it was wonderful.  The pic below has toast, mine did not.

Lobster omelet at Claudine's Eatery

Other than specializing in many types of Eggs Benny, they also have french onion soup listed as one of their favourites.  While I was searching through their pictures, I spied what I will try the next time I go for lunch.

Lobster grilled cheese with gouda and a small crock pot lobster poutine at Claudine's Eatery 2

Lobster grilled cheese with gouda and a small crock pot lobster poutine at Claudine’s Eatery.

My husband is not a fan of seafood.  Lobster ranks higher than chocolate or pizza on my list.  I will be going to try this, and maybe to talk about my favourite way to eat lobster. Always Thinking…

I then made my way out to King Woolens and Yarns after I brought my husband home.  I was planning to visit my friend, the owner, and check out what she set up for the new display for my Tish’s Treasures in her store.  I forgot to bring my new blue flower earrings. 🙁

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Blue Flower Earrings

She had found a picture of a display online that she asked my opinion on.  I liked it and told her so.  She didn’t need help assembling it, but I went out to look for ideas for the base with her.  She had the new display assembled and ready.  It makes you want to walk around it to see what else is there.  She did a great job on it.  I happened to bring out a few new jewellery displays I had found yard sale shopping earlier in the summer, and we made a few changes.  We worked on it together, and it looks great now!

 

Saturday was a day for Blogging, errands and social media work.  It was busy in its own way.  I have been fighting a sinus headache.  I think I am winning, and I finished my day with making a pot of chili.  Not a lot of prep cooking today, but we have leftover chili to eat when we are hungry.

Sunday is here.  I am Bouncing the House, still with plans to go to Church this evening.  I then have a skype date with my cousin.  Until then I busied myself with the Master Bedroom cleaning, and shopping at the local Northside Market.  When things slow down and I have access to a better camera, I will be writing about the different markets in the city, and maybe guest blogging about them.  If that plan works out, I will be sure to share the links.

I bought a large fresh cabbage, and some ground pork while I was at the Market.  I plan on making egg roll in a bowl late tonight so I can have it for lunch at work tomorrow.
I bought meat, eggs, and vegetables for groceries, and splurged on some His & Hers Samosas (we each like different kinds) and a bag of apple muffins for a treat.

It was a busy long weekend.  What are your plans?  What did you do this weekend?