Starting Anew

I mentioned in the dedication that this year is proving to be a year of renewal for me. I want to list the ways in which I feel like my life has and is improving significantly this year.

- I quit smoking! I don't even know what my quit date was, but it was over 2 months ago now. I feel like this is the first time that I have ever quit for me and I'm thrilled. I no longer cough myself awake at night. I love that my mouth still feels clean when I wake up in the morning. I love that I don't smell like smoke any longer.

- I'm leaving an unhealthy relationship - and I don't have another man waiting in the wings.

- I've started a new exercise program! I've lifted weights on and off for years. At the beginning of the semester, I started back in the gym again, but it just didn't feel right any longer. It's hard to explain. Maybe it's getting older or something, but when I went back this time, I didn't feel like a was doing my body good - I felt like I was damaging it. About the same time, a colleague of mine introduced me to a new way of doing things. It took me awhile to get my head around it, but now I'm hooked. I'll put up a post soon on my new way of looking at exercise - it deserves it's own post!

- I've started to look differently at how I eat. Anyone who knows me also knows that I've struggled with an bulimia for a long time. As a result, I can't diet - at least not in the traditional sense. As soon as I try to tell myself that this or that food is forbidden, I want it. It took me years to realize that feeling hungry isn't a problem for me, but feeling deprived is. At any rate, along with my new exercise regimen, I have a new outlook on food as well and I can't wait to tell you about it.

- I'm buying my first house! I'm so excited to finally have a place to call my own. I close sometime toward the end of the month and I can't wait to post pictures and tell you about all the projects I have planned.

- I've been doing more research at work and it feels great. I was so burnt out on it when I first took my position that I couldn't bring myself to do it. Most of the research involves undergraduates - which is a huge paradigm shift for me, but I'm loving it more and more.

So often I have caught myself thinking that I'm too old to start anew - that all those opportunities have passed by in my youth. I'm just discovering that it is never to late to start fresh and remake your mind, body and soul.