We want change in our lives, we want it on a regular basis and we make plans to make the desired changes but we never quite follow through–but why not? Why does change excite us and tease us but scare us at the same time? Why do we plan to dive in fully but put the brakes on when we get to the edge of the diving board?

Some change is simple and it involves oneself only but some change would affect others and it would disrupt life as it is causing us to back up or at least slow the process of making change happen.

If the change you’re trying to make involves yourself only, what is holding you back? What does your desired change look like to you? Is it realistic? Is it convenient? Inconvenient? Is it too hard? Is it too big? Are you at a loss of where or how to begin?

If the change you wish for involves others, ask yourself the same questions adding, are the others aware of your desired change? How did they or will they respond? What’s the scariest part of making that particular change? What is the worst case scenario; best case scenario? What do you need to push you forward?

Breaking old habits can catapult you toward your desired outcome and force you toward making progress. Taking small realistic steps toward whatever your goal may be is how to get there. Every single journey begins with that first step more often than a giant leap. Outline your desired change and decide what first step you can take today to begin your journey toward change.

While I decided a few weeks back to check in regularly, I found myself absorbed in a technical issue unrelated to posting but overwhelming to say the least. Now that I have resolved the issue that took over my time and brain power, I’m back! Yay, you say, I heard you ;)

Ah, so here I am! Time might have gotten away from me, or was taken like a thief in the night, but my intentions of eating less bread and cheese didn’t fully get away from me. I didn’t fall off the horse, I just slid sideways a little.

Back to eating well and finding happiness with less bread. I still love and crave the soft on the inside, crusty-crisp on the outside loaves of happiness but what I truly miss the most right now is locally grown produce! I long for the deep, fresh colors and fragrance of garden veggies. Though I have been eating plenty of vegetables all winter, nothing compares to local, ripe, freshly picked produce.

That said, there is still snow on the ground around my area; we value every bit of sunshine and warmth and we welcome it with wide open arms; we’re cheering for you spring and summer, you can do it! And as I write, I think about my 125 garlic bulbs I planted last fall and pray that they are doing well and I cannot wait to see their greens emerge from their winter straw beds.

In anticipation for trips to the garden and the farm for fresh produce, tonight I’ve decided to clean out the refrigerator of all its veggies and make a healthy stir fry for dinner. I absolutely love one bowl meals, they seem to fill me with nutrition and peaceful happiness.

What’s on your plate tonight?

In our younger days, especially as we begin school, we have this undying desire to fit in. While we’re all unique we have our ways to be like others. We might be the leader, the class clown, the follower, outgoing, shy, extroverted, introverted or simply the friendly one; whichever our social integration happens to be we try to fit in, be part of a team, a group, a culture.

As we grow we find ourselves striving to be part of “something”, sometimes we know what that is and sometimes we reaching for anything that feeds our spirit. We continue to try to fit in until one day we realize that it’s okay to just be ourselves; then we try to ‘fit out’. We follow our desires, our thoughts and wishes but we soon realize that fitting out is still fitting in, only this time it’s with the “fitting out” crowd. We mimic, we do our own thing, we find our successes and our failures eventually feeling burned out and spinning in circles.

So how do we know “who” we truly are? Do you know who your true self is? What is your authentic quality? Do you showcase it or keep it stashed away? How will you bring your authentic self to life?

When you know who you truly are and let go of the desire to fit in and to fit out, and you step back letting go of your learned expectations and everyone else’s expectations of you, you will find your true self. When you become honest with what you like, dislike, yearn for and yearn to be, when you have a dream that you think can’t be reached but see yourself living it in your mind, you have found your true self. Reaching dreams and goals is not impossible when you want it badly enough. It will take work and honest dedication but in the end it’s worth every bit of sweat, pain and tears.

It’s necessary from time to time to take time for yourself to connect with your authentic self so that you can just be who you truly are. When you’re living your life as yourself, you can make great things happen, you can live your happiness.