Welcome to MOTIVATING HEART

Welcome to Motivating Heart, and my very first blog post. I have been using FB to share my ideas about life, and motivation and creating the life you want, for the past few years.  And while I will continue to use R!E!A!C!H! for Life as a platform, I think blogging will give me more freedom to really express the thoughts I have running through my brain in more depth.
And there are a lot of things going on in there right now.  I have been on my annual 10 day vacation in Florida with my friend Maria.  I look forward to this time every year because we do nothing - well we shop a bit at the outlet mall - but really we just read.  All day long!  And this year, not only did I read trashy novels that were entertaining, I read some great magazine articles about mindfulness, wellness and the power of being positive.
As I was reading, I made notes in the margins.   After, I used those scribbles as I wrote in my journal to write about my reaction to what I had read.  I sent one of my essays to my son Michael, whose opinion on writing I value and trust more than my own.  He actually liked it and asked what I was going to do with it. He suggested a blog.
Now the thought of creating something more than a post on FB was daunting to me. I kept thinking back to what I learned while I was doing Mindset Reset with Mel Robbins; stop planning and do it.  I kept thinking about my own words on R!E!A!C!H!, encouraging all of you to set a goal for yourself and make a plan to achieve it.  And, of course, all the negative tapes that run through my head when I want to start something new - "who cares what I think".  " Nobody is going to read this".  I have no idea where to begin". A few more text and email exchanges with Michael, reading up on the pros and cons of various "how to start your own blog" articles and here I am.  I know it doesn't have ot be perfect.  I can't worry about who is going to read it (if anyone).  I have found my voice and I am going to use this platform to express my ideas.
But I want this to be a community blog.  Like R!E!A!C!H!, I want to share my thoughts and ideas about health, setting goals, being positive, being creative.  I want to share stories and recipes.  I want this blog to be a source of inspiration.  A place to ask questions and seek answers.  And unlike the FB page, this blog is open to anyone.  I encourage you to share in the dialogue. Challenge me to explain myself.  Share your thoughts and concerns.  Ask questions.  Seek answers.  We are in this together.  I am just providing the sounding board.
So that's a bit about why I am choosing to blog.  I have discovered that I like to write.  It's a good creative outlet for me.  Michael has shared some things for me to keep in mind as I use my words to convey my thoughts and ideas.  And I PROMISED him I would limit my use of the cap lock key (sorry I couldn't resist).

And so I begin my "career" as a health and wellness blogger. I chose the quote (illustrated beautifully in Meera Lee Patel's Start Where You Are, as my inspiration.  I look at my life and the world in such a different way than I did five years ago.  I have pushed myself physically - running 4 marathons, completing the Camino with my friend Laura (walk across Spain), rucking across Cape Cod for Ruck4HIT. I have experienced the loss of both my parents. I have developed friendships with an amazing group of women who cheer me on and kick me in my butt when I need it (IMT ladies you are a huge part of me finding my voice)!
The next few months will be filled with milestones. Stephen and I will celebrate 37 years of marriage in April.  It hasn't always been hearts and roses, but over the years we have developed a life for ourselves that is rooted in love, respect and friendship.  He encourages me - even if he doesn't always understand what it is I'm doing!
I am awaiting the arrival of my first grandchild in May. I cannot wait to become Nonni.  I look forward to my trip to New Zealand to meet her. But even more, I look forward to seeing Michael and Jamie in their new role as parents. Our family is growing...that means more love to share.  More adventures to write about.
I will be 60 years old in July. I certainly don't feel like I'm going to be 60.  Well, maybe my knees remind me of that fact every once in a while.  It has been a life full of ups and downs, just like everyone else's. But I am heading into this birthday with a new outlook on life. I started my #MindsetReset  in December with Mel Robbins, and I see things differently. I do things differently. I do look for the wonder - everyday!
I marvel that my children are all happy, healthy adults. Where did the time go! They are living their own lives. Making their own mark in the world.  I wasn't a perfect mother - far from it. But in talking to them as adults and sharing with them my past struggles and my hopes for the future, I hope they have come to realize that I did the best I could at the time.  I know so much more now and there are so many things I would have done differently.  But you can't live in the world of "should've, would've, could've".  Learn from the past and do better in the future!  That's the best any of us can do.
So, thanks for sticking with me through this first  post.  Now, if you know someone who might like to go along on this journey with us, please share.  Invite them to come along.  The more the merrier...your kids, your spouse, the members of your book club, co-workers.  Share with anyone you know who is looking to make changes in their life and doesn't know where to start.  It can start right here.  Right now, with a few inspiring words about lessons learned and the possibilities that lie ahead.
Let's Go!