I was going to do nine lessons from 2009 – but I guess I’m wordy.
2009 was a very transformative year for me. I struggled in several aspects of my life, but by the year’s end end I can honestly say that despite setbacks, I did finally see marked progress in many, many areas. Writing this blog helped in more ways than I could have imagined; so first, thank you so very much to everyone who reads, comments, and emails. I hope to meet even more of you this year, whether through the internet or in real life!
Before we begin the first full week of the year, I’ve been doing some reflecting on 2009. Having a blog is quite the interesting way to do that: I’ve chronicled so many of my thoughts here.
Some of these lessons are light; some are heavy. A balanced master list, if you will:
1) It is really easy and far less expensive to make your own nut butters. However, almond butter still reigns as the best of the best.
2) It is physically impossible to gain weight from one meal. In fact, you can have an entire week’s worth of three course dinners and not gain a pound.
3) Craving vegetables is something of which to be proud, not ashamed, even if it makes you different.
4) Walking is fantastic exercise.
5) Balance isn’t about a single day or a single meal; it’s about life in general. Perhaps you’ll stay with friends for a week who don’t eat the way you do; you’ll do your best while there, and when you return, you’ll resume your life as normal.
6) The internet is a great way to make new friends.
7) Labels don’t matter. Whether the title be vegan or pescetarian, triathlete or yogini, weight loss success story or recovering anorexic, the words are irrelevant. Our actions make us who we are. I eat with a vegan influence; I focus on environmentally-friendly and hormone-free food; I’ll also try anything natural once, whether it be venison or burdock root. I don’t believe in scales or calorie counting; I crave triangle pose; I try to eat intuitively. The category for all that? Its name is “Leslie.”
8 ) Fage 2% is the most delicious Greek yogurt in the world, and call me hypocritical, but I’ve returned to it, organic or not.
9) Wine makes me really happy.
10) There are a lot of women [and men] in the world who struggle with the image in the mirror. It is possible to let go of that, but it will not happen overnight, or even in one year.
11) Buttercup squash, champagne mangoes, rainbow chard, and brussels sprouts are insanely tasty. I will also never tire of oatmeal or avocados.
12) Baring your soul is always worth it.
13) Ditto on homemade ice cream.
14) Life is very often written through the food we eat, and that is a wonderful thing.
15) Raw food is neither dogmatic nor strange, but actually incredibly delicious and fun.
16) 18 Rabbits makes the best granola bars.
17) You might feel powerful running five miles, but you can experience that same power between the edges of a five-foot yoga mat. I’m sticking with the mat, and that’s fantastic.
18) If you want to exercise, you need to eat more.
19) At the end of the day, the only person you are eating, exercising, or living for is you. You are the only one who has to be comfortable with the plate of food in front of you. You are the only one who should motivate yourself to sweat. You are the only one who should decide how to dress, how to spend your free time, how to be the person you want to be. Live for yourself, and be proud of who you are.
What did you learn in 2009?
Related posts:
Leslie, I don’t think I’ve read something so…so… I’m not quite sure what, but I absolutely loved every moment of it. Thank you for this. Just what I needed :)
Beautiful recap, Leslie. I’m so glad I met you this year – your blog continues to be an inspiration for my writing, good health and soul. Happy New Year!
Fage 2% is the best yoghurt in the entire universe. Hands down.
I love all nineteen points on your list. SO TRUE.I learned a lot of the same things this past year- one of the most important- to trust my body and its cravings (now that my hunger cues etc have been adjusted)…that hey if I feel like a piece of cheesecake, I can have it…etc, or if I feel really exhausted, I probably need the rest. Enough with the ‘shoulds’ and ‘shouldn’ts’ body knows best :)
What a wonderful list!
I learned that it’s okay not to have a plan sometimes. For a control-perfectionist freak, this was an important lesson :)
thank you for this post.
i loved it. and learned from it <3
xoxox
This post made me really happy!! Thanks so much!
beautiful post. I’m bookmarking this and plan to look over it often for inspiration.
I loved this post and I think we’ve learned a lot of the same things :)
I’ve also learned to not be ashamed for being different!
thank you for this list. it’s amazing.
What an amazing list! You learned a lot and that speaks so much about who you are. Continuing to learn and grow in who we are is such a beautiful thing. Happy 2010!
Wow beautiful post and awesome life lessons. I learned a of those same lessons last year as well, and I grew a great deal. I also learned that I can switch up my routines and not only be okay with it, but learn to LOVE the changes I make :)
Amazing round up of life lessons, missy! It seems as though you learned a great deal this year! And you should be proud :)
Loving this post! I only discovered yoga recently, but I couldn’t agree more, along with making friends on the internet and the amazingness that is avocados. Look forward to following you in 2010!
Just came across your blog, and what wonderful lessons. You definitely learned/thought/grew over the span of one year, I’m very impressed and think it’s very admirable!
lovely post, once again. i wholeheartedly agree with numbers 6, 8, 9, 13 and 18!
I learned that yogini is a word. That overreacting is overrated and greek yogurt with random mix in’s.. well, rock.