A Letter to Me....

I got this letter from an old friend who I haven't seen lately and it inspired me to get back to writing.  I have decided to post it as the relaunch of my blogging effort!

Dear Joey,

I was so excited when I saw you the other day, it seems like forever since we have had a chance to talk and catch up.  I wish we could have had more time so I thought I would drop you an old fashioned letter to take the opportunity to do just that...catch up.  Life appears to be treating you well.  Your wife is beautiful and your three kids are so adorable.  Just watching them play together and have so much fun made me feel young again.  I was glad to hear that you are still teaching and coaching.  Those are such rewarding endeavors and give you the great opportunity to work and help young people.  I know it can be a trying profession, but stick with it...you are doing so much good by simply being a positive role model for those kids.  I saw on Facebook that your boys tennis team won the conference championship last season and that your girls had another strong season as well.  Way to go!  I know tennis is something that you truly love and that you have devoted so much time to those programs.  Seeing that hard work pay off must be encouraging.  Like I said life appears to be great.  I did want to take a moment to check about how the weight loss was going.  I knew you were hoping to get into a consistent pattern of working out and eating right...just didn't know how that was progressing.  I know you can do it if you really put your full effort into it...that sounds a little corny and cliche, but it is true.  Look at what you have accomplished when you have been focused.  You went to ECU on a full scholarship.  You have been named tennis Coach of the Year 7 times.  You earned your Masters in Education and your National Board Certification.  You run a successful Driver's Ed program and have  been a finalist for Teacher of the Year at your school.  You have an amazing family, house and are a dedicated Christian.  You can do anything you set your mind to....when you are focused.  My prayer for you is to stay focused.  Trust yourself and the people around you.  They love you and are there for you.  You are not alone and you don't have to face this challenge in that way.  I will be here for you and will strive to encourage you to do your very best.  You can WIN...I BELIEVE IN YOU!  So, now is the time to go out and take care of this once and for all.  You have the knowledge and skills, you just need the will and desire to stick to the path.  The journey will me long and difficult, but that is what makes it so important.  Take care of yourself and push onward and upward.  I love you my friend and I can't wait to see you again!

Lovingly Yours,

JOEY 


Funny how life is...just when you think that you have everything figured out and all the pieces in place to make a change, you realize that the only piece of the puzzle that is missing...is YOU!  Here's to taking another first step...I have to succeed...my life depends on it!

RESPECT...

Throughout the past week at tennis practice, I have been running with the girls.  Each day I require them to do conditioning drills before and after practice.  Even when the temperatures reach the 100s, they give their all and complete the challenges I lay before them.  They push themselves to finish and make themselves better.  Since I have been completing the running with them, I have taken on a much greater respect for what I make them do each day.  They really are amazing girls and I am so proud to be their coach.  My legs are sore, but I am getting more motivated each time they ask..."Coach, aren't you going to run with us?"  Who could say no...

Actions Speak Louder than Words...

I am not a doer.......

I love to talk, discuss, intellectualize and rationalize lots of things in my life.  I spend large amounts of time discussing and planning my next big thing and then feel very satisfied with the idea, yet never move on to making things happen.  Don't get me wrong...I work hard and take care of responsibilities at home and work, but I don't make things happen in my life when it comes to my hopes and dreams.  I need to change that!  I want to  be a doer...I want to make my hopes become realities and my ideas take on some semblance of substance.  If I can start making myself be more proactive then I can begin to enjoy/reap the benefits of all of my wonderful plans and ideas.

So, with this being said, I am in the process of making some things happen.  First, I am organizing a family meal night with my in-laws so that we can spend more quality time together and focus our hearts and minds around good fellowship and God's Word.  Second, I am reconnecting with some treasured friends.  These are guys who meant a great deal to me growing up and played a significant role in my life.  We live just a few miles from each other and sometimes go months without talking.  We are now planning on meeting at least once a month to play tennis, enjoy a meal or just hang out.  Finally, I am rearranging my schedule for my after school commitments to be a more effective teacher and faculty member at my school.  I am creating a study hall for my tennis players and opening up myself to be more available to help students in need.  I hope that by starting with a few important decisions and creating an environment of doing and not just talking, I will be able to continue to build my confidence and self-respect, which will lead to a more fulfilling,successful and healthy lifestyle.

Now it is time to back up my words with my actions!

Perspective and Redirection!

The past two weeks have been filled with heartache and joy!  Two weeks ago, I spent most of my time each day helping my family deal with the loss of my wife's grandmother.  We took a few trips up and down the highway to attend services and spend much needed time with family.  Last week, I went on an annual beach trip with my wife's family.  It was a great time to get away and spend some focused quality time with my family.  Getting to be with my wife, kids and my in-laws after the previous week's emotional roller coaster was such a blessing.  Relaxing at the beach, sharing stories, laughter and sweet fellowship really healed many things in my heart.





I also had the opportunity to spend some time on our way home with my Mom, Step dad, Twin Brother and various other members of my family.  I especially enjoyed the time I got to spend fishing on my Mom's dock with my twin brother.  It is in those special alone times that I am reminded how much I love and miss him.  Our connection is so very special and it hurts more than I realize not seeing him more often.  While we fished, something that our MeMaw taught us to do many years ago, we had some time to talk with each other about what is important in life.  It was during this talk that I came to some conclusions and decisions about my life. 

1. My life is great....I have an amazing family, wonderful friends and abundance from God that is truly remarkable.
2. I love myself...yes, there are many things about myself that I hope to improve and make even better, but genuinely, I love who I am.  I spend entirely too much time focusing on the negative aspects of myself and not enough time appreciating the person I am.
3. I care way too much about money...I waste so much time worried about finances and how good of a job I am doing as a provider for my family that I make myself either worried and/or frustrated to a point where I am not happy about anything. 
4. I am a hard worker....I dedicate myself to the many jobs I do and I try to be the best I possibly can be.
5. I focus entirely too much on weight loss and not enough time on being healthy...my brother helped me regain perspective about what I really want to accomplish in my physical life, I want to be healthy.  I always talk about how I want to avoid the "fad diets" and the "quick fixes", yet I basically create my own diets and quick fixes by pushing to have immediate and mind-blowing results each time I plan a new weight loss goal.  I need to focus on slow and steady and look for real results that last.

It is with these new realizations that I have decided to redirect my focus.  I will continue to work on my summer challenge and use my BodyMedia armband, but I am going to approach it more scientifically.  I want to really look at the information that I receive from my armband and track the times that I am truly working achieve my goals and not just talking a good talk.  Hopefully, by doing some real analysis, I can make the needed to changes to reach my goals....whenever that may be. 

I do have one small victory to report....I made it through the past two weeks of crazy schedules and beach vacation and did not gain any weight.  The simple fact that I was able to be out of my comfort zone and controlled environment and not go crazy with putting in the pounds was pleasing to see today.  One thing I need to take advantage of and work on this week is getting to the gym.

So, next Monday I will post my BodyMedia stats for the week and will include something to work on and a victory.

Two steps forward....Three steps back!

Today I feel like the old me...someone who is easily frustrated, irritated and unwilling to compromise.  I feel that I have made progress in the past year, however, I do notice that old personalty traits do pop up from time to time and drive me a little bonkers!  I know I am suppose to roll with the moments, recognize them, analyze them and deal with them...today has not been one of those days.  Maybe it has to do with the fatigue of the week...both physically and emotionally...or maybe I am not as strong and collected as I have convinced myself that I am.  Maybe I am weak....in body and mind!  I am not losing weight like I should and I have been more resentful of others lately.  Instead of enjoying the successes that I have...limited as they seem right now, I am being driven by the utter failure that my weight loss and personality changes are making me feel right now.  Yes, I realize I am having a huge pity party right now, but it is what it is!  Hopefully, a week away from things and spending some much needed time with my family will help me reposition my perspective.  The intelligent and well-adjusted part of me knows that this is just an emotional reaction to a stressful situation and that everything will level out and I will learn from today, but the less evolved portion of my physche just doesn't seem to care!  Guess I should try and take another two steps forward......I hate this feeling!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In Remembrance of MeMa!

As you probably have noticed...I did not post an update this week.  The main reason for this comes from the fact that I have spent much of the past week helping my wife and our family deal with the loss of her grandmother.  At 93 years old, Mema was an amazing lady.  I loved her very much and I will miss her dearly.  When I met her 15 years ago, I had just lost all four of my grandparents. They each passed away within 9 months of each other.  Mema filled a much needed hole in my life and I loved the opportunities I would get at Thanksgiving and Christmas to sit and talk with her about history, literature and her beloved Savannah, Ga.  These are moments that I will never forget.

Mema and Gran: Happily Married for 70 Years!

Mema discussing history and other family secrets with me at Thanksgiving!

Dancing with Mema at my wedding!

So, with all the running around between here and Virginia, I did not get very productive or complete readings from my BodyMedia system.  I also missed a complete evening of sleep readings because my middle child became sick and I needed to take care of her.  I removed the armband to get her cleaned up in the shower and forgot to put it back on for the evening.  With so much missing data, I felt that I would not have a complete list of viable data to make a post that would truly matter.

I plan on posting again once we return from our beach trip next week.

On a separate note....

To honor the memory of my wife's grandmother, I wrote a poem.  I was not able to share it at her memorial service, so I thought I would share it on the blog.  I love and miss MeMa very much.  She was an incredible lady and someone who touched my life abundantly! 

ELEGANCE

Sun rises over a Savannah skyline,

cascading its golden fingertips across Georgia peaches

 and all the beauty of God's wondrous creation.

The soft coo of a child's laugh,

the warm comfort of a Mother's embrace.

The spirit of a Warrior, with the grace of a Lady.

A distinct Southern drawl

from the mouth of a Southern Belle

filled with wisdom, history and love.

The embrace of a friendship

turned to love, turned to devotion,

turned to eternity!

Brightness in a smile and the countenance of joy

shining through the darkness

in a world filled with pain.

Elegance personified

in the body of a woman,

walking in the love of God towards others.

Sunset on a Richmond landscape

withdrawing its golden fingertips from the

extraordinary gift of a life not soon forgotten.

Even asleep,

warming the hearts and souls of her beloved,

Even asleep,

radiating light throughout the darkness!

Weight Update and Food Forum

Today was my first official weigh-in for the Summer Challenge.....DRUM ROLL PLEASE.....I lost 1 pound!  I could look at the idea of losing 1 pound as a failure for week one, but I choose instead to be happy with the fact that I am one pound lighter this week than I was last week.  It is not the most exciting news to report and I know that I most definitely can do a much better and more consistent job during the week, yet if I truly want to focus on the long term aspects of this life choice, then I choose to be happy with one pound...not satisfied....happy!  Next week starts today!

Now for something new....I would like to create a forum for people to share their healthy culinary ideas about specific food topics each week.  I will begin by sharing a story and a meal idea I prepared and then open the floor for questions/comments/discussion/idea sharing etc...  Please feel free to jump in and post/share your thoughts about the weekly topic. 

This Week's Topic:  SALMON

Last week, I had the opportunity to work with one of my closest friends in the kitchen at the conference center she runs and it was a blast.  Getting back in the kitchen grind, even on a small scale, really got my culinary juices flowing.  I love cooking!  It is one of my greatest passions and I relish the opportunities I have to reclaim some of the old feelings I use to get when I worked in numerous seafood restaurants in high school and college.  After cooking for others all week, I had the opportunity to cook for my favorite customers...my family.  I put together a Salmon dish that I was very excited about and really enjoyed.  

The dish included:

Serrano Lime Baked Salmon

Cajun Sauteed Shrimp

Homemade Panko Crusted Okra

Curry Ginger Mushrooms

Corn on the Cob

Sauteed Broccoli

Whole Wheat Dinner Rolls

The Salmon was the focal point of the dish.  I seasoned it with salt, pepper, mango lime seafood seasoning and baked it with sliced Serrano peppers (seeds included) and lime twists.  The flavor of the lime and chili pepper infused nicely with the fish and was not overpowering to the palate.  I really like the combination of citrus and chili when cooking seafood of any kind, but especially on a meaty fish like Salmon.  The texture of the fish holds up nicely with the boldness of the flavor combinations.

What are some of your SALMON ideas?