Morning exercise/meditation

My stair master this morning.  Breathe, breathe, breathe!

Yay! I made it!

Today I finally did it!  I walked the steps to the beach entrance at the end of my street.  I bought my dream beach cottage in 2011 after years of dreaming and searching up and down the southeast coast.  I had been vacationing here on Hatteras Island since 2002.  Everything came together for me to buy my beach getaway, but there were a few setbacks.  My father passed away and I was nearly on death's door myself.  When the opportunity came I plunged at it even though I really couldn't enjoy it.  I had planned and designed my beach life for over 15 years and I had the house and the beach , but no life.  

What I did have was wonderful friends who helped me walk out my dream by renovating and decorating my Crafty Diva Cottage.  It took until 2014 for me to move into it full-time.  God and myAngels  brought me here despite my kicking and screaming.  I had lots of fears and doubts but as I always say it takes a village and my village has helped me so much.  I am forever grateful for their love and support.  

When I moved here I was using a walker.  I had no plans except to get healthy and start living life.  I wanted to be on the beach, but I couldn't.  I didn't realize when I bought the house that it was such a little trek to actually get on the beach.  I knew there were stairs but I didn't realize that you had to go up then down then cross the dunes to get to the beach.  The stairs were my block until today.  I've had a challenging week a real growth period.  I realized that I had been making a lot if my decisions from fear instead of joy.  Today I was going to face my fear.  I had lost a lot of weight this year and was getting around pretty well.  I drive to the stairs and decided to take the plunge.  I'm so glad I did.  

Here is the walkway to the stairs.

Here I am finally on the beach.

This is the roaring surf of the Atlantic.  I can hear it from my house and I always wanted to see the waves hitting the beach.  Today I did.

I planted firmly in this sand on this sandbar in the middle if this island.  Why?  I don't know yet, but I'm enjoying the journey one day at a time.

This passage through the dune.  It's size changes depending on the storms we have

Going back down.  My house is at the end of this street.  You can't see it through the trees.  My ultimate goal is to walk down the street from my house up the stairs over the dune and then walk the beach.

My Spring Dreams

I've been following Pamela Arias @Embrace the Journey for almost a year now.  Her success and approach has truly been life changing for me.  This has changed my mindset about health and wellness and weight loss.  I am 53 yrs old and had my first stomach stapling at age 23.  I had lap band surgery at age 45.  I have fasted and dieted since I was 12 yrs old.  I have spent tens of thousands of dollars on every single weight loss plan and exercise equipment they've offered since 1986.  Two years ago I was almost bedridden and needed mobility assistance.  I sold my home, moved, changed my life and moved again.  I'm now living in my dream cottage and my dream life that I worked so many years to obtain, but I can't enjoy this lifestyle in this physical condition.  I had to change my mindset and release all that wasn't working for me.  I released medication against the doctors orders.  I released all complex carbs, sugar, diet coke and fake sugars.  I can walk again unassisted for more than 15 minutes.  I've released over 50 pds of excess weight.  Thanks to Pamela I feel empowered to get healthy 'MY WAY!' Not their way.  I'm ready to pursue my 'Spring Dream' of walking on the beach with my dog and collecting sea shells.

Fabric Painting and Duck

Yesterday I finally got out my paints and stamps and made a real mess in my cottage.  I've been chafing at the bit to get going on my fabric experimentation.  My intent is to find my voice in fabric, I just haven't found it yet.  I'm continuing to explore all avenues and can't wait until I sing.  But, until then I'm enjoying the process.

When I began painting I felt great, I was in a rhythm.  Then it became work, but I wouldn't stop.  I keep pushing myself.  This is a long process.  It takes a couple of days to see the end result.  I was hand painting on cotton and faux batiking using a resist paste.

Then I decided to take a break.  I had been in the house all week through all of the weather changes.  The sun was shining it was almost 60 degrees so I went to the beach.  The wind surfers were out.  It was extremely winding, but felt good.  Nala and I got out to touch the sand.  There were a lot of washed up seashells.  So I started picking them up and before I knew it I was strolling down the beach.  This had been a visualization of mine a few years ago when I was almost immobile and very sick.  Wow, dreams do come true!  I couldn't believe it I wasn't huffing and puffing. Yay!  When I got back home I was ready to paint, but had a duck to prepare and cook.  My sister had sent me it for New Years and I was ready to cook it.  So, as the duck was cooking I was painting more fabric.

I went to bed tired, yet fulfilled.  I had accomplished a lot and my visions were manifesting before my eyes.  Bright colors on fabric, collecting shells on the beach and beautifully roasted duck ala orange served with baby peas.  Healthy goodness.