Bonus Challenge: My Tip for Success

My Assignment for Bonus Points for this week read as follows:

For the bonus challenge, share a tip for success that has helped you progress so far with your team. It can be anything, from how you make sure you get enough sleep, or batch cooking, sneaking in workouts, anything that has helped you improve yourself on this journey.

After reading that, I felt really bummed. For anyone who has known me for a while, I have no tips to share because I have not really experienced lasting success- I have only had some temporary, short lived "wins"!! What could I possibly share?

I really had to think. Just because the number on the scale is not what it should be, haven't I done anything to be in a better place than I was on January 1st? There is something that I have done that has helped me improve myself on this journey- I have become a student. I have learned that I don't have the answers, and it's OK not to. I have learned that I can look to others for inspiration and support. I also have things to share, and I have learned to be comfortable blogging or chatting about anything that comes to mind! This journey is a process....for me, a long one! But I have opened myself up and learned to look for information, to ask questions, to ask for advice and support- to not feel alone in my struggle. ANd I have learned to be honest with myself. I am not succeeding because I am not trying hard enough. I can't try for two weeks and not try for 2 months and expect progress. All of this has put me in a better place- I feel more empowered, more understood, and more capable than I do when I leave my SParkworld and am alone in my struggle in the "real" world! I come here when things are hard- I didn't used to do that. I used to hide when there was not good news to report. I have learned that I need to be accountable and present if I want to move forward. It's my journey- I need to show up to drive the bus! I will be calling on my friends along the way and stopping to gather what I need along the road!

So, I did have something to blog about. I didn't have one specific "tip" to share, but more my process where I have learned about myself. I looked inward and am stronger than I was, and this will only get better. If I had not learned those things, the reality is that my weight could have been much higher by now! I have learned to get back on track enough to not do any more damage!! Sadly, I have gained and lost the same pounds over this past year- but I haven't gained any extra!! That is a success- for now! I know there may be others out there who think they will never reach their goal, this is just so hard. I know- I feel that way too a lot of the time. MY tip- is to stay in school! Keep showing up, keep learning, keep searching until you find what is right for you. You will have your time to shine if you learn why you want it and what you need to do to get there.

I am looking forward to reading all the blogs that share tips of success from other teammates- because I know I will learn something from each one!

I'm off to sleep- I have "class" again tomorrow!