Soon, many of us will be gathering with family and friends to give thanks for the blessings of the year and to raise the curtain on Holiday Season 2018. I am so blessed and I’m looking forward to a beautiful holiday season. But, I want to share something with you that may surprise you. My year took a surprise turn.
Here’s how my year started. Last January, I set the following resolution or goal for the year:
2018: Resolved: I will live with a sense of enthusiasm, optimism and expectancy.
You may have thought that I meant to write “expect”, as in “I expect good things to come to me”. Instead I wanted my heart to be filled with “expectancy”. What’s the difference? We often consider our expectations to be like a list to Santa. Here’s what I want, please leave it all under my tree. “Expectancy” is open-ended. “Expectancy” is possibilities. I decided to live this year filled with expectancy- a sense of hope, carried loosely with open hands and an open heart.
I wrote several posts throughout the year on how my sense of expectancy had guided me. Positive and energizing things had come my way through the year.
I believe it began with my latest weight lost program. I have lost and regained 40-50 pounds many times in my life. In September, 2017, I began another battle with my weight. My basic method for losing weight through the years has been to restrict what I eat. So, that’s what I started again, a year ago. I kept a close account of calories in and calories out. Tracking apps made it even easier for me to calculate and keep track of “good” and “bad” foods, and record my exercise.. The elation of a “good” weigh-in and the despair of a few pounds gained added to my harsh handling of myself. But it worked! By the summer of 2018, I had lost forty pounds. Yay??
I prayed. I shared my concern that I had an eating disorder with an online friend. (Who replied with beautiful friendship and support.)
And then I signed up with a life and fitness coach.
Here are some of the things that helped me the most.
The most IMPORTANT concept I’m learning to embrace is to not focus on the “outside”. I must stop stressing about the number on the scale, the size of my clothes, how I look in photos on Facebook and instead, SHIFT my view to the INSIDE !
You may have seen lots of books and articles about “mindset” and living “mindfully.” I really didn’t know what that meant. I guess I thought I was being “mindful” when I followed my eating rules perfectly. I am still learning, but now I see it’s not about rules or battles. My years of weight loss were not about getting healthier. I was punishing myself. And I’m still exploring all that, because self-punishment is not sustainable, safe or healthy.
I may share more in the months ahead. Even as I write this post, I found a new thought to explore- how has writing and creating affected how I think? I found something else to be curious about!
I am a writer, blogger, book reviewer, and bon vivant and encourager. I have lived my entire life in Tropical Ohio. My goal is to make friends with everyone in the world. I wrote a fiction series, The Golden Age of Charli, that presents the problems and praises, and the love and laughter of family life and retirement. My passions are blogging, reading and reviewing, and writing. My life is a WIP.
Beth Ann Chiles
November 15, 2018 at 7:03 amAnd I am so grateful for you! I love your positive and cheerful outlook and it is one of your best attributes in my humble opinion. Congrats on your new lifestyle and outlook on life. You are so inspiring to all of us!
Jena Henry
November 15, 2018 at 9:57 amThank you so much Beth for your sweet words! Love the support from you! I’m enjoying “unpacking” my life- who know what I’ll discover next!
Veronica Cline Barton
November 15, 2018 at 9:09 amWell done, Jena! So inspiring, and I love the concept of ‘expectancy’. You’ve got me thinking… 🙂
Jena Henry
November 15, 2018 at 9:58 amOh, thank you Veronica! Interesting how life continues to unfold, isn’t it! Have a great day!
Annika Perry
November 15, 2018 at 10:27 amJena, your post is an inspiration! Your zest for life and creativity shines out and I’m smiling at vowing to live with expectancy. You’ve nailed this … despite upsets you’ve found a new way forward – congratulations! It’s so easy to concentrate on the negative with oneself, it can be hard to see the positive. As for curiosity … life would be so dull without it! Here’s to new discoveries everyday!
Jena Henry
November 15, 2018 at 10:32 amThank you for understanding and for the encouraging words. Yes, bring on the discoveries. (Funny how I read your post on Jameson a few days ago…)
Jessie Cahalin
November 15, 2018 at 1:57 pmYou are a wonderful person and your kindness shines. I think using one’s creativity is great for healing us on the inside. I have also found that connecting with other creative people like yourself really helps. You are on an incredible journey with lots of great ideas in orbit – watch out for the handbag. Who knows where our adventures will take us?
Jena Henry
November 15, 2018 at 2:09 pmThank you thank you dear Jessie Handbags. You summed it all up so well- life is good!
Laura Bettinger
November 15, 2018 at 3:38 pmHi Jena,
Thank you for this wonderful, thoughtful blog today! We are thankful for you and your honesty in sharing your personal food and weight struggles. We all share these struggles and so thankful prayers and living with expectancy has helped you, concepts we can learn from so thank you for letting us know a bout your journey! You are truly a gift writer and keep sending us these blogs to ponder and grow from as so helpful for each of us in our own special journey of life! Happy Thanksgiving Jena!!
Jena Henry
November 15, 2018 at 4:18 pmHappy Thanksgiving to you! Wonderful to hear from you and thank you for understanding! It’s been a struggle- but an interesting learning experience, too. Stay Golden!
Minnesota Prairie Roots
November 16, 2018 at 11:43 amYou are an example of choosing an outlook on life and yourself that focuses on the positive, on the beauty of you. Thank you for sharing your insights. We can all learn from what you have learned.
And Happy Thanksgiving!
Jena Henry
November 16, 2018 at 2:21 pmAudrey, I appreciate your thoughtful,and helpful words. Life is an adventure but it’s also good!