Mid-life Crisis...Whatever!!

Mid-life is when the growth of hair on our legs slows down, which gives us plenty of time to care for our newly acquired mustache and chest hair. In mid-life, we no longer have upper arms, we have wing spans. We are no longer women in sleeveless shirts, we are flying squirrels in drag.

Mid-life is when you can stand in front of a mirror and see your rear end without turning around. Mid-life is when you go for a mammogram and you realize that this is the only time someone will ask you to go topless. Mid-life is when you want to grab every firm young lovely in a tube top and scream, "Listen honey, even the Roman empire fell and those will too!"

Mid-life brings wisdom to know that life throws us curves and we're sitting on our biggest ones. Mid-life is when you look at your-know-it-all, beeper-wearing teenager and think: "For this I have stretch marks?" And to make matters worse, your memory starts to go. As a matter of fact, the only thing we do retain is WATER.

Mid-life means that you become more reflective...You start pondering the "big" questions. What is life? Why am I here? How much Healthy Choice ice cream can I eat before it's no longer a healthy choice?

But mid-life also brings with it an appreciation for what is important.
We realize that breasts sag, hips expand and chins double, but our loved ones make the journey worthwhile. Would any of you trade the knowledge that you have now, for the body you had way back when? (I don't know about you but on a day like today, I SAY YES!!!)

Maybe our bodies simply have to expand to hold all the wisdom and love we've acquired. That's my philosophy and I'm sticking to it!

Peace & Blessings,
babyboomerbev

You can read more of my middle age journey in "Whatever! A Baby Boomer's Journey Into Middle Age

Pray the Fat Away???

OK…this is Day #4 of my mind, body and spirit makeover journey…

I was watching television the other day and saw a woman being interviewed about a book she wrote telling readers to use prayer to get rid of fat. I couldn’t believe my ears! Here was this woman actually saying you can pray away fat. Now don’t get me wrong. I know, firsthand, the power of prayer but I never put it in that particular context. But then I thought, “Oh, what the heck! I’ve tried everything else. Let me give this a shot.”

So before I closed my eyes to go to sleep, I prayed to the Lord:

"Dear God, You know I’m overweight. You also know I’m unemployed and can’t afford a new wardrobe. So Lord, would you do me a favor and melt the pounds away during the night. Twenty pounds will do. This I pray in Jesus name, Amen.”

Well, when I woke up yesterday morning, it actually looked as if I had GAINED a few more pounds. My stomach was bloated and my behind had spread even more.

OK…I do believe God heard my prayer but then it hit me. According to scripture, (James 2:26) “faith without works is dead”. So if I put work more work into my exercise routine, then God will bless my effort. I hit the cross country trail at Duke University for a third day. As I said before, I love and hate that course! It's an absolutely fantastic workout, complete with nearly three miles of tough terrain and hills. But, on the other hand, it is a very strenuous workout, and when you combine it with the heat, humidity and "heartbreak hill" you leave the trail thinking it might be OK to let your middle-aged body hang on to a few extra pounds!

But I’m still determined so after going to noon Bible study I got a little rest and then went to the gym for my very first kick-boxing class. All I have to say is I used muscles I didn’t even know I had! I guess that’s a good thing though.

Before I went to bed last night, I prayed again to the Lord.

“Dear God, Thank you for giving me the energy and strength to keep pressing toward my weight loss goals. I do ask that you continue to deliver me from the evils of too much food and sugar and, Lord, please help me to stay motivated so You will bless my efforts. In Jesus name I pray, Amen."

This morning I woke up with new hope!