Chicken Debb, Chicken Debb. . .

. . . A woo hoo if you can tell me the song reference!

After Day-5, down 5.3. Can I get a woop woop?!?!

OK--I've embraced the fact that I love chicken. This fact hit me on Thursday when I had the baked chicken at school and really really wanted more. And I started thinking chicken. . . hmmmm. . . .chicken. So I cooked it last night and tonight, flipped through my pictures and found a yummy recipe I made about two weeks ago. So I figured I do and CHICKEN EDITION!! Yay!! Let's move on, shall we?

First of all. I'm a flinger. I come from a long line of flingers. (Ok, maybe just my mom.) What is a flinger, you ask? A flinger is someone who does not have a problem to fling some chicken in a pan to cook it for the night's dinner. The rest of my family groans when Mom says she's going to fling chicken. It's not their favorite. Afterall, it isn't all that excited. You put chicken in a pan with some seasoning, spices, herbs, etc. I think she does it sometimes so they'll offer to go pick something up, so she doesn't have to cook. And in their defense, sometimes Mom's flung chicken is a bit dry. Sorry Mom, but you try! (Mom can make some mean tacos, though. See an earlier post from January 2013.) Before you fuss at me, Mom will enjoy this blog in the spirit in which it was written.

So, I offer to you--Debb's Flung Chicken

Before I start, I will admit that I rarely measure anything. Because it's just me, I dump, pour and sprinkle.

This was so simple. I diced about a pound and a quarter of chicken breast tenderloin. While I was dicing, I was heating up about a tablespoon of EVOO in a wok-pan. I sprinkled Mrs. Dash Chicken Blend on the chicken while it was still on the cutting board. I thinly covered it with the spice mix. Then I turned it over and sprinkled more. I tossed the pieces around for distribution. Next, I placed them in the pan to brown on one side. While that side was browning, I covered the topside with chili powder. I gave the chicken a few minutes to cook, and then I flung it around. I used more chili powder--a good cover on the top--and continued flinging. After about 7-10 minutes of cooking and flinging, the chicken was finished. For you Xyngers out there, I sprinkled Cheat on the chicken and tossed it around. It was delicious and easy. You should try it!

Next--Healthier Chicken Satay

This one, I started with a recipe, but altered it. I got the original recipe from food.com, and will share it here. Then I will explain how I altered.

• 1 cup onion, finely chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, crushed
• 1/4 cup soy sauce, low sodium
• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil
• 1/3 cup PB2 powdered peanut butter
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne
• 1 teaspoon coriander
• 1 lb boneless skinless chicken
• 2 cups cooked brown rice

Directions:

1. Blend all ingredients except chicken in a food processor until smooth
2. Heat 2 tsp olive oil over medium high heat in a large skillet or stir fry pan. Add chicken and stir fry until browned on all sides and cooked most of the through
3. Add blended sauce to pan and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until sauce is reduced and thickened and the chicken is cooked through
4. Serve chicken and sauce over rice

My alterations:
I didn't process the onions with the sauce because I forgot to. I left them big and cooked them with the chicken a bit because I wasn't eating rice. It kind of gave more substance. I used garlic powder, instead of crushed cloves because I was out. It was fine, but I like fresh and will use it next time. I used 1 oz. of soy sauce and 1 oz. of water to cut the salt down further. Next time I will use Tamari because it's yummier. I used all of the EVOO in the sauce, but will cut back on it next time. If you see on the pic, there was some oil floating on the top, and I don't like that. I used 1/2 packet of Truvia instead of brown sugar and about 1/4 cup of lemon juice. I didn't have cayenne, so I used chili powder. Cayenne would've given it a little more heat, so if you don't like heat, use the chili powder. I accidentally used too much coriander, but it didn't ruin it.

Other than the changes I mentioned above, next time I will use scallions in the chicken and scallion tops sprinkled on top. I might also use some chopped peanuts on the top. As I cannot even cook Minute Rice correctly, I will buy the frozen Minute Brown Rice. So easy! And the PB2? I love it!

Mexican Chicken Roll-Ups

This is based on a recipe I saw somewhere, but can't remember right now. When I do, I'll credit it!

• Boil 1 1/2 pounds of chicken, seasoned with Mrs. Dash chicken spice and lime juice until cooked and tender to shred with a fork.
• While chicken is cooking blend an 8 oz block of cream cheese with a can of Rotel tomatoes and chilis and a splash of lime.
• In a food processor mince green peppers, onion, and a can of pitted black olives.
• When chicken is shredded, mix a packet of taco seasoning according to directions. Simmer until the water is cooked off.

Next is the assembly

• Lay out on a flat surface a Flat-Out whole wheat wrap.
• Spread a thin layer of the cream cheese mixture on the wrap, leaving about an inch on one end. (When you roll it, it will squish to the end.)
• Spread 1/6 of the chicken mixture next, again leaving 1 inch at the end.
• Sprinkle cheese of choice next. (optional)
• Sprinkle some of the green pepper-onion-olive mixture. (optional) Save 2 tbsp aside.
• Then roll the wrap, making sure that the end without the cheese/chicken/etc. is the last part to roll.

Guacamole Dip

When I make regular guacamole, I leave the avocados and other veggies in larger pieces. For this I wanted it smooth.

• Combine in a food processor
• 1 avocado
• 2 tbs light sour cream
• 1 tsp of lime juice
• 2 tbsp of green pepper-onion-olive mixture from roll-up.
• Mix in the processor until smooth.
• Serve along side of the roll-up for dipping.

I sure am glad I wrote this post after I ate supper because I'd be hungry for sure! Please let me know if you have questions. Happy flinging!

Patience, Passion. . .

. . . and perseverance

Down 5 pounds woohoo! Glad to be back on the plan. I'll keep you posted.

I'm going to be brief tonight. I've been reading a lot of self-development (different from self-help) books, listening to podcasts, and dialing in to listen in to business calls. See, I've still been struggling on the business end. I love what the products do for my body! The business is not moving like I'd like. I've realized, though, that I truly am an immediate gratification person. I think about my use of technology. I love finding new apps for the phone and iPad, but as soon as I find a new one that I like, I think of a couple of things that I'd like it to do that would make things faster, easier, and flow better. I'm afraid I am one of those people. (shaking my head at myself)

As I've been reading and studying and listening, I notice common themes arising. (True, I'm good at this; I used to teach English, it is what English teachers live for--themes.)

Patience--Yep. The P-Word. Lord, grant me patience and grant it now! I am fortunate to have mentors in the Xyngular company who have had wonderful success, some who have had phenomenal, meteoric-rising success. And that makes me think I need to do the same thing. I am patient with my people. I am not patient with myself. AT ALL! I have an inner critic and a pusher that expects me to do the best and be at the top. And I give myself hell when it does not occur. I've got to be more patient with me. I had what my friend, Liz, and I call a "mental untidy" about this earlier this week. A true meltdown, complete with self-blame and flogging.I try as hard as I can to act with compassion, grace, and patience with everyone else. I need to start with me, now.

Passion--I've got that. From head to toe. I am as passionate about these products, well, not really the products, but the benefits the products have, as I am about the theatre, young adult literature, Netflix original series, and eating almonds. It's the showing the passion that I guess I'm not as good at. I have the ultimate belief in these products, and I want to share it with everyone, especially people who are struggling with low energy, their weight, aches and pains, etc. I just don't want to bother them, annoy them, or "put them out." I am the same way with friends that have recently gotten married or had a child. I never want to bother them at a time when they could be having family time, quiet time, or are actually sleeping, so I don't call, don't visit, etc. The friendship sometimes dies off. It's kind of sad.

Perseverance--I'm working on this. Friends, colleagues, family say that I have remarkable perseverance. I, on the other hand, think I give up on everything too easily. (I probably keep a lot of things in my head before I give up on them. That's why no one knows how much I give up.) I listened to a wonderful call tonight and the speaker was steady at a level without moving for a year. And he didn't give up. Now, I've set goals to move up four levels by December of this year. I hate not accomplishing goals that I set. When I get knocked down, it sometimes takes me a long time to get back up. I tend to wallow in self-pity, etc. I don't bounce back. I need to work on this. I need to persevere more, to "weather the storms," and all of the other cliches and sayings. It is hard. This will be something I work on for a long time. It may even take longer than it does to reach my fitness goal.

But in the end, I know it will be worth it.

Getting back. . .

. . . into the swing of things.

It's  been awhile since I did this, but in 24 hours I lost 2 pounds! Let me say it again, or shout it, you use your imagination, "This stuff is wonderful!!"

The past two weeks, after I declared my little experiment over, I continued to eat--as I said on one of the Facebook boards--like a teenage boy with no supervision. And it was weird. I didn't like. I felt guilty. I felt bloated. I felt greasy. And when it was time for a meal and the thought of food repulsed me, I went for Menchie's frozen yogurt. Yes, that is food. And the types I would get were not that bad and the almonds I sprinkled on top are good. Then there was the cheesecake bits, brownie bits, maraschino cherries, whipped cream, hot caramel. They were not the best choices. (And I didn't eat them all at once, but it doesn't sound that bad, hahaha!)

So I hopped on an 8 day, as we call it. I have begun faithfully taking my supplements (except the one I forgot at home this morning, but I took it when as soon as I got home at 6 tonight). So, if I could generalize all of the data and information I gathered from my experimentation this summer, it'd be this: eat healthy! That's it. Good, whole foods. Non-processed. The outside perimeter of the grocery store, except for the nuts and frozen veggies. (I don't cook fresh broccoli well.)When I ate healthily, clean, watched my carbs, etc. I maintained. When I ate healthily and took supplements I continued to lose. That is what I recommend.

I know that I will never stop the vitamins. Never stop the Xyng. And never ever stop the Global Juice and Xypstix. What is interesting is these are the health and wellness products, not the weight loss ones. When I do not take them, I do not feel good. My ankle starts to hurt, my knee, my hip--my God, I sound like an old decrepit woman--and then I take my Global Juice or Xypstix. And it clears it up. If I let it go on too long, I do have to take some pain killers, as well as the juice. But once I've stopped hurting, as long as I continue to drink this juice, my pain stays away. Hallelujah!

And other things
I've been trying to find a devotional or Bible study that seems to fit where I am right now. I'm having no luck. Remember the Path to Wellness is more than just physical. I haven't had any luck, so I've started reading the Bible chronologically. (I'm already behind.) I don't know, I keep searching for a verse that hits me. That is like a supernatural message. No such luck. I do consider myself very open to these things.

And exercise. I've started slow. I walk the dogs for 15-20 minutes twice a day. I was going to add a small routine that I've found on Pinterest. However, when I started to do the 50 jumping jacks, I notice too much wiggling, jiggling, and bouncing, and then I started thinking, "What if doing these jumping jacks makes my skin stretch?" (I was in an odd state yesterday.) So, I think I'm going to begin tomorrow doing some planks, stretches and yoga poses after walking the doggies. I do need to do more to start toning. But I'll get to that later, I guess.

And so my journey continues. . . .

A Day of Firsts. . .

. . . and hopefully not the last.

I'm not sure that made sense; it did when I typed it, LOL.

First day of the 2013-2014 school year. It was a great day. It was great to see all of the students I knew and to meet some new ones. I would say that at least 95% of my students were excited about being in my class. With middle school students, that is definitely a celebration!

First day behaving like a "real adult." I was up at 5:45, walked the dogs for 15 minutes, did self-development reading, updated my to-do, made my shake, went grocery shopping, oh and showered somewhere in there, too. All before 7:30. I'm trying to start the day off positively, rather than hitting snooze several times and rushing to get to school on time.

First day on an 8-Day Ignite cycle. It is time to detox and undo all the things that I've done to my body the past several weeks. Like I said in an earlier post, I did a lot of it for data collection to help people out. Of course hindsight, maybe I should've let someone else experiment that doesn't have quite so much to lose in the the first place. But, can't change it now, so I'm starting fresh and am loving it! I love my Lean shakes. I make 'em frothy with crushed ice at home. At school, I just shake it up and drink it down. I haven't been taking most of the supplements for 2 months, and cannot wait to see the wonderful results I have at the end of these 8 days! And, if you've been following me for awhile, you know I will share 'em with you, for better or worse. But I know it will be for better!

Finally, it's also my first day working from a list. The problem with this is I do not handle not completing the list well. Well, it's ten after nine, and I've got 20 more things on my list. I'm trying to rectify that I won't always accomplish everything on the list, but I have it to work toward. This will be the hardest thing for me to keep up with on the list of "firsts." I'll let you know how it goes. (Motivation and support would be helpful, LOL! Just Kidding!)

I must go for now. If I'm going to get in 8 hours of sleep, I should've been in bed fifteen minutes ago. Oh well, I'm a work in progress!

Turning Over a New Leaf. . .

. . . Again

A recurring theme in my posts seems to be changing. Changing my life, thoughts, attitude, etc. It probably will be fore a time. I've decided that there needs to be changes, and "poof" I'm doing it.

This change, is changing how people respond to me. I do realize that that change, in part, must be made by the other parties. And I know you can't change other people. However, I can precipitate that change by changes in my habits.

I have had a wonderful week back at school with my colleagues. But there are couple of things that are just sticking in my "craw." I am typically a highly collaborative teacher. I love exchanging ideas with other teachers and bouncing ideas around. In one of my meetings, which should have been collaborative, not only was there no collaboration, but my comments and ideas were met with blank stares. And when actually discussed a combines event, the conversation shut down when a teacher said she'd "chew on it" and let us know. I kept calm, an with only a slight tremor in my voice, let her know that we were not putting anything off on her. Anyway, you don't care about all of that, and it may seem a bit petty.

Then in other areas, I've noticed a trend lately of non committal, my ideas or comments being me with blank stares, and to put it as delicately as I can, it pisses me off. Previously, I've smiled and joked about getting a date mixed up, forgetting my keys, not understanding something. However, I think I have perpetuated the seeming thought that I am flighty, don't have it "going on," am not professional. That is going to change. I am going to change.

This is hard because conflicts may arise, and I HATE conflicts. I must be prepared for that. As I am changing my appearance, my weight, my inner thoughts, I am also going to change my professional "stature." When I taught English, I was a force to be reckoned with. I will be the same as I teach drama, and as I continue working so my Xyngular business can grow, too.

My new leaf--
I will speak up.
I will confront things head on
I will always be on time
I will strive to ensure things are organized
I will ask for help when I need it, and for clarification when it is needed, as well
I will not allow others to waste my time

I will reflect on these goals, just as my others.

Idiom Focus
* To turn over a new leaf--In the 16th century, people referred to book pages as leaves. It has become an idiom that means to start over. Turning over a new page to begin afresh.

*Craw--basically the throat of the bird. If something "sticks in your craw," it is something you cannot swallow, it sticks in your throat.

Results--After a short video

An Aside--Had dinner tonight with a former student. Was so fun and relaxing. I treasure those times with my adopted children! It was nice after working registration at school all day! Little things like are moments to treasure.

I promised last night that I would post results from the different "experiments" I did this summer. (I started the last week of May.) I was going to do charts and graphs and make it all colorful, and maybe I will later. For now, I'll just report.

• 2 weeks supplements only--No weight gain
• 2 weeks taking supplements "when I remembered," eating like I used to--10 pound gain
• 8 Day Ignite Cycle--14 pound loss! :)
• 2 weeks eating healthily (eating right!), no supplement--No weight gain
• 2 weeks, no supplements, eating crazy, but not 5 times a day--6 pound weight gain.

So, synopsis--The supplements work! Eating healthy works! Eating bad, doesn't work! (And it makes me feel yucky!) And I'm pretty much where I was the last time I reported. I'm glad I played around with things, so when people ask, I can report based on my findings.

There will come a time when I am maintaining at the weight/size where I want to be. Then, I will not need all of the supplements all of the time. Many of my friends doing the program pick and choose the supplements they want to take regularly and the ones they only use when the do an 8-Day Cycle, etc. (I won't go into all of it.)

However--I know that I will now and forever use Xyng for energy; Global Blend for antioxidants and super fruit goodness; Xypstix for inflammation and also antioxidant and super fruit goodness; and Axion, our multi-vitamin/multi-nutrient that just makes me feel wonderful. These are the wellness products, and I would recommend them to everyone (after they check for allergies, etc.).

I'm ready to get back on the program because I feel so much better when I eat healthily. All the experts aren't lying! :) 

I made this. . .

. . . for you!
This is a play on a Julian Smith video from YouTube, called  "Hot Koolaid." (You must remember that I teach middle school, therefore I often like things that "normal" adults would think are silly, childish, or stupid.) You may watch if you wish!

Anyway, I've been thinking about the past 2 months and the weight-loss experimenting I've been doing. And what came to mind was, "I did this for you!" in the voice of Julian Smith above. (The pop culture tangents my mind goes on are varied and wide!)

When I began my Xyngular journey, I had, and still have, overwhelming support. There were, however, some detractors and nay-sayers. And I didn't let that bother me, not really because I know what I am doing really works. Just ask me, I'll tell ya! But for those of you who don't know me well, or who have forgotten this about me, you know that not only do I think I'm right, but I know I'm right, and I like to prove I'm right. I set about this summer while I was vacationing and living life without structure to do a little experimenting to prove that I'm right about these Xyngular products.

So, here is what I did. I took the products and ate poorly. I didn't take the products and ate healthily, like we're all supposed to and like my body craves. And I didn't take the products and ate poorly, the way I was eating before I began the Xyngular Ignite System in December. And I'm pleased with the results!

And I will share them tomorrow night! Night all! :)

Feeling a bit under the weather. . .

. . . but going to do a quick post any way.

I need to go to bed. I have a full day of registration at school tomorrow. 6th graders. They are soooo little when they come in. I kind of want to squish them. But I don't tell them that. Hahaha. I'm more of an older kid teacher. I love 7th graders because they all have lost their minds due to hormones. And they pretty much get their minds back once they are 8th graders (only to lose it again in 9th grade). I do love 8th graders the most. However, my 6th graders last year grew on me. They were so eager to please and would do whatever silly dramatic game I came up with. Their creativity was not stifled yet by peer pressure or the message to "grow up." So the urge to squish grew slight by the end of the year. I cannot wait to see them, now that they are 7th graders. As a non-parent child nurtured, seeing the students develop throughout their 3 years of middle school will be one of the best things about teaching an exploratory class, rather than a core subject.

Don't tell my colleagues, but I get excited for school to start. Don't get me wrong, I was counting down the days in May and early June. But after vacations and down time, a business trip and some professional development, I'm ready for a new start. Each new class each new year gives me the chance to do things better than I did the previous year. I can teach a little better, grow a little more, practice a little more patience, and reach a whole new set of students. And though hours are spent in "nuts and bolts" meetings, and assessment planning, etc., it doesn't diminish the excitement that comes with the first day of school. And even though I had 2 in early June, I am expecting to have at least 2 more "back to school, I'm not ready, I missed the first day, I'm in the wrong room, the kids hate me" dreams. Those little bonuses my subconscious gifts me with to let me know that I have more anxiety than what I'm feeling already.

And let's face it. I'm no good at putting myself in schedule. Case in point, it is 1:00 a.m. August 5, and I'm writing August 4's post. Going back to school forces me into a schedule. And it will take a little bit to get used to. But I find I don't forget to eat during the school day. I use my time off more wisely. And I rarely stay up past 12, and in fact try to get to bed at 10, so I can get 8 hours of sleep in.

So, you won't find me mourning the passing of summer on FB, unless I'm playing around or grouchy because I have to get out of bed before noon.  It's a new start. A new year. With some new and some old students. I await it with smiles, a little anxiety, and extreme hope to make a difference in lives this year.

(I hope I was not too incoherent because this medicine is kicking my behind!) Goodnight, friends!

A Continuation of Yesterday's Post. . .

. . . Sort of. . . .

It was an interesting afternoon today. Friends and I, fellow Xyngular independent distributors, set out to break the confines of our comfort zone. It was actually an interesting thing. Across the US and Puerto Rico today, during the same three hours, distributors went into malls, stores, strip malls, etc. to tell people about what we have found in Xyngular, to introduce them, to educate them a little bit.

This is a frightening thing. Going up to perfect strangers and asking to tell them about something wonderful. Now just reading that, it does not sound daunting. I mean, who wouldn't want to hear about something wonderful, even if it were from perfect strangers. It was frightening, though. As my friends and I discussed it over lunch, each of us, at one time or another, expressed that we were fearful or anxious about our day's plan. This started me thinking. (Oh no, right? All of this is absolutely wrapped up in the dreams post from last night.) I started wondering about fear. How is it that we acquire our fears? Where in the evolution of the human experience, mind, spirit did fear grab such a hold of us? I'm not talking fight or flight kind of fear. I'm talking fear of failure. Fear of looking silly. Fear of what Sally-Bobby-Billy-Sue will think of us.

"Fear is static that keeps me from hearing myself."
 --Samuel Butler

Do you know how much static that is fear fills my head every day? A LOT! Better yet, do you know how much of your head is filled with that static? We've all heard static from radios before. Every now and then it seems as if a station is coming in clearly. I can even make out a couple of words, and I think it will make sense. And then I lose it again. And it is unintelligible again. And that's how it is with fear. It kind of bubbles around in my head. And when I think I can understand and name it, it goes out of focus again and eludes me.

A certain amount of fear if helpful, and keeps us safe. But if we aren't careful, if I'm not careful, fear can cause paralysis, resulting in inaction. So how do we conquer these fears? I don't have the answer. I'm really asking here.

Part of our exercise today to was about stepping out of our comfort zone and facing those fears. It can be quite a rush to do this. It was. As I talked to people in the food court of the mall, telling them briefly about my success, what Xyngular has done for me, what it can do for them, I grew bolder and bolder with each smile from a stranger, each nod, each expression of gratitude. Now, I did not run into anyone that said no, or did not want to hear. I did have to hear from an irate woman in the parking lot about an $1800 paint and how important that was to her. And I faced her and smiled and thanked her. (Then I kind of threw up in my mouth a little, hahaha.) I hate it when people, even strangers, are angry at me.

I am proud of our little group four today. We did fight our fears. Do some still exist surrounding this venue? Heck yeah. But if we keep fighting the static, or better yet focus on and tune in to that static to truly understand it, the fears that are irrational, or the ones that are not serving a purpose to help us survive will eventually silenced.

So I don't have any answers. Only experiences and thoughts, and the hope that maybe we can understand that we're not alone in all of this.

To Dream. . . .

. . . the Impossible Dream

I think my mom has always liked that song. Every now and then as I was growing up I can remember her bursting into snippets of it. She had to be in a silly mood because, as she will tell you, she does not have the best singing voice. In college I often sang several measures for auditions for the theatre. In hindsight, it's no wonder I got no summer stock work at those auditions.

I wonder at what point in our growing up that dreams become impossible? Is it when all of a sudden we must place reality over them? I do not keep it a secret that I like awards. Trophies, plaques, certificates, pins, titles--any bling of external validation, I love! It wasn't even high school. It was college and a few years beyond that I had the dream of receiving an Oscar, or Golden Globe, or Emmy. I even had my designer picked out--Vera Wang. (Back in the 90s, there was a lot of Vera Wang, but I don't hear much now. And there was another designer, one with a little more edge that I used to like. A one-word designer. And now I can't remember, but it will come to me in the middle of sleep sometime.) Anyway, dreams dreams. That's what I was talking about. Those dreams were so vivid. I knew my dress would be deep purple--not the group--and that I'd take my mom or my friend, David. I could imagine walking down the red carpet, where we'd sit, how I would look surprised when the nominees were announced, and that I would try not to seem too happy when I won. I even had my acceptance speech almost memorized. I still remember parts of it. Dreams, and I could make them real.

So, I've been doing a lot of self-work lately. (You know, I've shared some with you.) I've been making a list of things that I want to include on my Dream Board. And for someone who used to fight over imaginary candy with her sister, and who really imagines that her classroom is a kingdom and she is the queen, this dream board is awfully hard. I've never been a planner. Sometimes that bothers me, other times I'm perfectly ok with it.

As I'm working on this dream board, I'm finding that it is had to actually dream. I don't know if I have let reality take such a firm hold in my mind, that it is hard to imagine. Or it could be that I've grabbed on to the indoctrination that it is selfish and greedy to wish/want/hope for more than I have because I should be thankful for what I have. Even as I am thinking about a house, dreaming about a house that would be mine, I keep it conservative, coming in between $150 and $180,000. There's no use for those dreams to get too big.

Then I stop. I get aggravated with myself. I am extremely thankful for what I have, what I've been able to do, my job, etc. Why is it so very hard to dream for more? To be teacher of the year? To pay off student loan debts? To go to Puerto Rico every year? To have a condo at the beach? To see all of the permanent Cirque du Soleil wherever they may be? (Those last three were a huge breakthrough, I'll tell you.) And I can say them, but visualizing them coming true is very hard. Where is the girl that pictured walking up on stage accepting the award?

I need to keep working on it. Kind of a paradox--to work toward dreaming. Hmmmm. I'll keep you posted. I really want my dream board to be completed before the school year begins, so that means the next two weeks. And I urge all of you to stop and think about your dreams. Some of you have dreams that are coming true right now. But that doesn't mean stop. And there's help out there. There may even be a star right outside your window that will capture you imagination, make the dreams seem not so impossible.

Wait. What's that? Oh. . . .

The sky is not falling.

Yes, friends of Chicken Little or Henny Penny, the sky is definitely not falling. It was only an acorn.

(Raising my right hand) I, Debb Adams, do have Chicken Little tendencies. It seems to tick off the best of my friends and provides plenty of material for therapy sessions. I can no longer deny it.

Here's a list of my top thoughts:

1. A lesson or class period does not go well. Thought: This semester will suck. I'll start off better next year.
2. I break down and have a milkshake. Thought: Crap, I'm going to gain all 50 pounds that I lost.
3. I did not make the 200 points that I needed today to keep on track for the rank I am shooting for. Thought: I can't do this. I suck.
4. I make a mistake subtracting while working on my bank account. Thought: I will forever be broke. How could I do something so stupid?
5. I forget to blog. Thought: I cannot keep up with anything. Why do I try?

I realize that I am so much harder on myself than I am on anyone else. I also realize that a lot of people are like that. I have not cornered the market on self negativism. Therefore I will not wallow in the knowledge that this is one of my less desirable traits. The best thing to do is to realize it and try to fix it. I know most of it comes that part of me that is the critic and the perfectionist. There are probably other selves tied up in there, too.

I don't know what it is in the make up of some of us that assumes when one thing is not going the right way the rest of the world will come falling down around our head, especially when time has proven that it won't fall. 

So, as the sun sets (Well, it set about 5 hours ago, but go with me.) on the first day of the month, let's keep striving for those goals, do what we need to do to reach them, and not worry if we're off the first day. And, when in doubt, cover ourselves in affirmations and support from friends. Then when we feel pieces of the sky falling around us, we'll have a little bit of protection.

(And yes, I was talking to myself, as well!)