Derailment or Opportunity????

Every day as the assignment manager at WSPA-TV is different for me due to the nature of news.  I hope when I walk in the door that things will be calm, no rain to cause accidents, and in general I hope that people will behave.  Guess what?  Life isn’t like that and so begins the news day.

This has been a particularly grueling couple of weeks with the snow, tornadoes (yes, we have them here in SC), and breaking news.  While gathering information for one particular story on a train derailment in Newberry County I have had this theme running through my head.

Is my life derailing??? Or is there an opportunity here??

Courtesy of Newberry Co. Sheriff’s Office

This picture kind of says it all.  The train isn’t completely off the tracks.  Some of the cars were listing to one side.  I’ve felt a little like that.  A little over a month ago I started The Daniel Plan which focuses on eating whole foods, focusing your life, and incorporating exercise.

How things began

The first few weeks of any new program I am excited and embrace things to the fullest.  If you follow this blog you know there have been some challenges along the way.  During the snow and 12 hour days at the TV station things started to change for me.  Old habits came back.  When Waffle House biscuits showed up several mornings in a row it was like manna from heaven.  Until… you start remembering what those biscuits do to your body.  I can tell you that after I would eat them that I didn’t feel better.  I was more sluggish and tired.

I have realized that lack of sleep, more stress (do ever wonder how much you can take without falling apart?), and when you are off a regular schedule life can derail in a moment, hour, or over a period of days.

Here is the opportunity

Instead of beating myself up (truth disclosure: yes I did have guilt and beat myself up), I started forming a plan to move forward:

• I spent a little time at the end of last week and discovered the Rail Trail in Spartanburg.  I’ve heard about it for years, gathered information on it’s development for my job, I’ve shared information on Facebook but I had never been on it.  Wow, what a little treasure.  I walked it twice last weekend.

 

• I am focusing back on my eating plan and creating a menu for our brand new week.  The Daniel Plan cookbook is set to arrive at my doorstep in the next couple of days.  Very excited!
• I hope to explore the Swamp Rabbit Trail this weekend and buy a new pair of shoes at Fleet Feet  in Greenville.
• I need more yummy lettuce from Tyger River Smart Farm and good stuff from The Grain Loft!
• Probably the biggest decision is to take a break from school.  I have been in classes for 2 1/2 years. While I have a handful of classes.  I need to clear up some areas of my life and my health is the most important part to get on track.

Lasting quote

Here is a quote that my mom shares with me every so often:

Today is a gift, that is why we call it a present  –Anonymous

Where do I go from here?

Onward and upward!!!   Full steam ahead on the track of life.

Thanks for taking time to share a little part of my life.

Mary Lu