Make a Decision

As I was out hiking this morning, I had an epiphany. Well, not really, but sometimes a productive thought passes through this noggin of mine, so I thought I'd share it.

When I started hiking my mountain regularly, I made the conscious decision to not take the road more traveled. Granted, it's the same trail everyone else uses, but I don't take the smoother path - the path that has been ground down to dirt and pebbles from all the foot traffic. I choose to walk a couple feet over, where the larger rocks have been kicked 'out of the way', where the ascent/descent is a little steeper and takes a little more coordination to navigate through.

Now, my entire life I have been a frontrunner for the imaginary title of 'Miss Uncoordinated', so choosing this option was a surprise even to me. But I wanted results. I can hike a little slower and get my muscles more toned by the extra motion and lunges that I need to perform. It has now become second nature to take the rocky road less traveled during my hike.

This morning, I realized * light bulb moment * that this is an analogy for how I want to live my life.

That easier path...what happened when I took that route? What did it ever do for me? Well, for starters, it got me up to 265 pounds. It made me comfortable. I had my immediate family and I had my best friend. I never did anything without at least one of them. I was unhappy, but I was set in my ways and not willing/too afraid to try something new. It was smooth; it was (for the most part) drama-free.

Now, drama-free is fine and dandy and is something I definitely want to strive for in the future. But I'm not ready for the dust to settle on my rocky road just yet. I need to work towards something. During this difficult journey, I will trip and I will stumble. I will skin my knee and come across roadblocks. I need to prove that I can adapt to the elements. That I can overcome anything and everything life can throw my way.

I still have my immediate family and I still have my best friend. But now I want so much more. I WILL move back to California this year. I WON'T be afraid to go to the several parties I get invited to. I WILL get on the dance floor. I WILL ride that mechanical bull. I want to get out. I want to enjoy life. I want to meet new people. I want to go back to school.

Until then, I will continue to ask myself one thing. And I pose this same question to you:

It's decision time - which path are you going to take today?

Foolish Wishes

When I was younger, I had these huge wishes that I wanted to fulfill one day. Looking back on those days, I can only laugh and shake my head.


Wish # 1 : I wanted to be the girl with glasses, braces and freckles. I had the freckles. I got the glasses in 8th grade. I got the braces after high school.


What I think now : Why on earth would I want all three things at once? Not a clue. I have learned to embrace my freckles. They are angel kisses, after all. I switched to contact lenses in 2003. Best. Move. Ever. I still like wearing glasses before bedtime and occasionally as a fashion statement, but contacts are awesome. The braces were crucial. I used to be so embarrassed smiling for pictures. I would hide, if possible. Now, it’s nearly impossible to wipe the smile off my face.


Wish # 2 : I wanted to be the proud owner of a turquoise Geo Storm with a vanity license plate that read “SHELBYS” and a license plate frame around it, so the entire statement would read “This is SHELBYS baby. Hands off!”


What I think now : HAHAHAHAHA pretty much sums it up.


Wish # 3 : My future childrens’ names were going to be Denim and Lace.


What I think now : Good thing I wasn’t a tween mom. My kids would have every reason to sue for emancipation. Or they would be destined to become strippers.


It’s funny how some so-called brilliant ideas change over time. Goes to show that kids know nothing. I will have no problem letting my future children know that truth. Then I will tell them to be grateful that I didn’t name them while walking through a fabric store.