2011 Plans and Aspirations: New Possibilities for my Life

2010 has been both a rewarding and challenging year for me. I made several changes to better my life and shared my journey with thousands of other people. Unknowingly, I started a snowball effect and influenced others to do the same. I encountered mental challenges from the discovery of adverse health with my children and discovered a whole new world of overcoming obstacles. The year has taught me more about humility, fear, and tapping into inner power.

2011 will expand on the successes and challenges I faced in 2010 and I am excited about it. My nature is to not back down but to confront whatever it is that I’m facing. One of the main rewards that I received this year was accomplishing my weight loss goals. I started my journey in late April of 2009 and surpassed my goal by February, dropping a total of 80 pounds from my 2^nd pregnancy and shrinking from a size 14/16 to a size 2/4. The journey, which I shared with others, allowed me the opportunity to work with other people in changing their eating habits and their lives. I was well-advised when I started and my desire once I was successful was to pay it forward.

 Next year I hope to expand upon my physical and mental gains and help more people start and be successful on their own journey. I have signed up for my first triathlon sprint in August and intend to really put myself to the test, overcoming not only the physical stress of competing but also the mental stress of my fear of swimming. I’m nervous but excited because I’m confident that if I can conceive it, I can achieve it. And I’ve conceived myself crossing that finish line.

 My major challenge in 2010 was learning that my two year old is on the autism spectrum. The range of emotions that I experienced this year has taken me on a mental and emotional journey that would have probably been worse if I hadn’t been eating right and exercising. When I started learning more about the disorder, I began feeling like I no longer had control over my child’s life and that I was facing a steep mountain saddled with equipment to heavy to carry. As the months have progressed, the mountain has looked more clime-able and I’ve learned to utilize each piece of equipment one by one. I understand that unlike a triathlon or weight loss, there is no definitive finish line per se but rather a method for being successful and staying in the race.

My goal next year is to use the experiences from my family’s journey, specifically traveling with a special needs child on a special diet, in my business of teaching other families how to travel with their young children. My intention is to always speak from a place of truth and sincerity and to be a resource for those who come behind me. The road will be hard and long but I’m completely optimistic that it’ll be rewarding to me as a mom and an individual because I know that it’s already well-traveled.

“I wrote this blog post while participating in the TwitterMoms and OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network blogging program, for a $50 gift card. For more information on how you can participate, click here.”