My Life & Adventures: A picture story

How Do You See Yourself?

People are told that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” and “Inner beauty is what really counts”, however I am more inclined to believe what I tell myself over the opinion of someone else – especially someone I might not even know!

For a long time I was perfectly happy being a “heavier” girl. Then, recently I hit a point in my life where I wasn’t – I hit the 200 lbs. mark. Then I hit the 215 lbs., then most recently the 235 lbs. mark. Seeing numbers like that scared (and still do!) the heck out of me! I didn’t always used to be this way….

There was a time were I was mostly muscle, where I walked EVERYWHERE and going up a flight of stairs was exhilarating not exhausting! However, now I see a lack of muscles and an abundance of rolls and cellulite. I feel like I am completely run down at the end of every day. I believe this is partly due to the lack of movement in my day and life.

I find myself looking for creative ways to keep myself happy with the way my body looks and feels.. What are your secrets? How do you keep yourself feeling good about the way your body looks and feels?

Staying in the POSITIVE change, I’m going to make it my GOAL to get my heart and/or muscles going once a day! Do you have a goal or goals that you would like to share??

The Girl in search of her Sangha

I have been sitting here trying to focus on work, however that’s not really going so well. I have had this tugging feeling on my mind and soul since last night and started researching more into Buddhism, Sangha (community), and peace of mind.
Now I don’t know about you, but I get so caught up in the rush of life and the speed at which society says I need to run, that I tend to shut out the opinion of my body until I am in a lot of pain. These days the pain includes tension headaches and clenching my jaw so much that it hurts almost constantly.
Now, with all this pain in my jaw, I know I have been ignoring my inner voice – yet again – and what she has been telling me! She’s been saying “Ally, s-l-o-w d-o-w-n!!!” and I will tell you that I tried to listen at first.. But that didn’t work out so well (because obviously we are here!).
And since I am a fixer, a doer, a can’t-just-let-things-be-stagnant-kinda-girl; I need to say that I am going to sit with my monkey mind (you know the one who in the midst of perfect mindfulness and peace mind will throw that one thing you have been trying not to think about?) and just be. I will focus on my breathe and should (I mean when) my monkey mind gets out of control I shall oh-so-carefully guide her wildness back to the peace of my breath.

The following are some links that were recommended to me and I am passing them on:

Dharmaseed.org – They have free downloadable meditations and talks
LearningMeditation.com – Lists of many different meditations and many different lengths
How to meditate – If you are just starting out, they explain things out to you and even have a beginner’s meditation.

Hope this helps you as much as it did me!
Love, Peace & Light
Ally

Getting Inspired!

I have been doing a ton of reading on my favorite blog and after watching Julie & Julia for the third time, I have decided it’s time to create a place for my creativity and craziness on the web!

As it is really late here, I just want to post up quickly my promises to you, the reader, and to myself.

1. I promise to post daily. With the exception of the weekends.

2. I promise to post only what I know or am learning!

3. I will attempt to keep my thoughts on track and in some manner of order.

4. I promise to ALWAYS be open to getting suggestions from my readers!

And off we go!

Love & Light!