TATIANA POSADA

An elderly Chinese woman had two large pots, each hung on the ends of a pole which she carried across her neck.

One of the pots had a crack in it while the other pot was perfect and always delivered a full portion of water. At the end of the long walk from the stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived only half full.

For a full two years this went on daily, with the woman bringing home only one and a half pots of water.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of its accomplishments. But the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its own imperfection, and miserable that it could only do half of what it had been made to do. After 2 years of what it perceived to be bitter failure, it spoke to the woman one day by the stream. “I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side causes water to leak out all the way back to your house.”

The old woman smiled, “Did you notice that there are flowers on your side of the path, but not on the other pot’s side?” “That’s because I have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds on your side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them.” “For two years I have been able to pick these beautiful flowers to decorate the table. Without you being just the way you are, there would not be this beauty to grace the house.”

Each of us has our own unique flaw. But it’s the cracks and flaws we each have that make our lives together so very interesting and rewarding. You’ve just got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in them.

So, to all of my crackpot friends, have a great day and remember to smell the flowers on your side of the path!

(Great story I read)

It is week 4 of this Shakeology challenge and I have so say that my cravings for foods with high calories and carbs come less and less frequent. I’ve been teaching myself how to cook with a healthy appetite and I am pretty proud of my creations! 

I’ve also been constantly going to the gym. Six days a week. It’s not easy. My body is in constant pain but it keeps me busy and happy. I’ve avoided the scale like the plague. I know I’ve lost some weight but I feel that if i weigh myself I’ll get obsessed with losing and weigh myself everyday like I’ve done on past diets. 

What I am trying to do this time around is not a diet. It is anything BUT a diet. I want to change my lifestyle and in the process lose weight. I want to never get back to the way I was and I know where my problem lies.  My problem is I love food and lots of it.

I need to control two main things:

1. Portion control

2. Nutritional value

If I can conquer these two things I will be able to change my life. 

My life changed so much recently. I went from being very focused in my career and extremely close to buying a home, to now spending each day going through moments of frustration, anxiety, sadness and pockets of motivation.

If I continue to dwell on the past, I can’t move forward.

I must move on. I have the determination. 

Stay positive and just breathe. 

Onward.