SWIM........

Learning to F.L.Y.  (First Love Myself)

Living by Proverbs 3:5-6

April 3, 2016

No Angela Shelton workbook page today. I thought I'd share a little of where I am today, less anyone think I haven't yet climbed out of that hole!  I have. As I write this, I also think of a little sign I have written on a cute little chalkboard in my house: "Comparison is the thief of Joy." I have found this to be true in my life, all of the time.  

In January of this year I started writing goals and making plans for what I want in my life. I am nearly 60 years old and I kept thinking as I was writing, I am too old to do this. I want to teach mixed media art, maybe a heart/art retreat. I want to use art as a means to open a hippy fashioned coffee house, called; "A room with a Voice." In this little shop we would have a book club, a topic of the week to come in and discuss.  A child's corner so you can bring your kids and stay a while.  A prayer room and a place women can go to discuss all of their "stuff." Like; comparison, self hatred, success and failure, our hearts and our kids......  Women have a lot to talk about, just not always a place where they feel safe, nurtured, and not-judged, to be able to voice what they have on their hearts. A room for art projects, journal projects and healing hearts. And a well stocked freezer of home made casseroles, in case you have stayed too long, you can still provide a home cooked dinner for your family.  And of course an array of lovely teas, coffee's, pastries, salads and sandwiches. I have dreamed of having a store like this since I was in my early 20's.  So, here I am 58 years old, rekindling that dream in my heart and deciding it can't hurt to plan, So, I start writing goals, planning exactly what I need to do and I prayed for inspiration. Some of my goals I wrote in my journal early this year are; Social Networking, Find sponsorship and put ads on my blog, create a blog button for my blog, then I heard: SWIM. I thought - Swim? I don't have time to do all of the things I want to do, how am I going to fit in swimming. So I continue with my goals; make a weekly plan to create one thing per week, keep up on my blog - SWIM. I actually wrote - start swimming, then I put down my pen and walked away. 

That week, I rounded up a large bag, a big towel, swim suit, goggles, travel size bath products and I put a bag together to start swimming. I still didn't believe I had to time to do this, but I was considering He had a better plan for me than I did. The next week I went to the Health Club in the community where I live and I JOINED. I pouted one more week and the next week on Monday after work, I drove to the Health Club to swim. I love the water and I love to swim and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I went 3 times that week, and I accomplished more that week than I had the entire month. I remember thinking, humph......... I should have known.  

The next week I went swimming and one of the days I was doing my laps I decided to ask God what was the purpose for me to swim. Was it so I could see I could accomplish more, was it to get more healthy, was it to be obedient. I heard; Eat Salad..... Ha Ha I laughed, it IS for me to get healthy, and I suppose You think I should lose weight too! So, I ate a salad for lunch the next day. Now, I am not eating salad all of the time, but I am much more conscience about including a salad in my diet nearly every day and I am being more considerate of food choices.  

This past week while swimming, I was enjoying it so much, pushing myself to do more, adding 1 more lap, 15 more minutes.... My last swim of the week I was in the water for 60 minutes. As I was showering and getting ready to head home I was so enamored with what my body could do I had my BIG a-ha moment about why God wanted me to swim. It has been one more step in learning to F.L.Y. I was over-joyed that evening the amazing things my body does for me - no matter my size. So, if swimming leads me to lose weight great, if it leads me to be more healthy even better......Right now, the HUGE payoff has been for me to recognize how blessed I am to have the body I have and all of the wonderful things it allows me to do - things I LOVE to do.  So I am going to keep swimming because I really love to swim!  And I thank Him for reminding me of that!  

Hugs and Blessings!

Kim Mayer