Debi Johnson Coaching

When I was a little girl, I believed that someday I would reach a place in my grown-up life when I would have the Barbie body, the shiny red mustang and that my life would be complete.  I truly felt that someday I would have everything figured out and live happily ever after. 

I remember turning 16 and realizing that I was the same age as Sweet 16 Barbie.  Really?!  My hair was brown & curly compared to Barbie’s, straight & golden.  I looked at her tanned body with the thin waist and perfect perky boobs; my body, well not at all like hers.  I felt gypped on the women gene pool.   

I can honestly say that as I kept getting older, I kept thinking that I would arrive to this place closer to perfection.   I went through the milestone ages of 21, 30, and then 40.  By the time that I got into my forties, I finally realized that this childhood story that had been living in the back of my head just wasn’t going to happen, especially the boobs!

My so called “mid life crisis” hit.  Changes were happening in my life that I just hadn’t anticipated; from close family members dying to my sweet angel children becoming rebellious teens.   Damn it, I wanted to have it figured out and I didn’t.  I did a lot of growing up in my forties and actually welcomed turning fifty.  
   
I am fifty one and so much wiser than in my youth.  I now know that there is never going to be a time in my life that I will have everything figured out, in fact NO ONE else has it all figured out either!  That’s just part of life. 

What I have gone through in my past has led me to who I am today.  I wouldn’t change any of it. It feels like I am looking at life with new glasses.  I have learned a couple of secrets that I want to share:

• Be in the present moment:  Truly!  Whether I sit through life looking ahead for bliss or bitterly wishing my past was different, I miss out on the amazement of right now.  Now will never come again. Right now is the closest that I have to figuring anything out, because I am living in the midst of it. 
   
• I have control of my thoughts: I can control how I feel about my life.  I can choose to live my life as this kick-ass blessed adventure or as a woman that strove to figure everything out, but didn’t. 
  I have chosen the KICK-ASS BLESSED ADVENTURE 

I am more than okay that I don’t look like Barbie or have that shiny red mustang.  What I love is that I don’t know what my next adventure will be.  I am part of the synchronicity of life with all of the other people that don’t have it figured out.  I love it!

How about you?  What are your secrets for giving up the Barbie fantasy?

I woke up this morning with a thought out of the blue, it made my heart smile. I decided to set an intension 
“Today I’m going to treat myself like my own best friend”.

I put on my favorite green t-shirt and jeans.  I looked in the mirror and locked on to my shiny blue eyes instead of my newest wrinkles.  I didn’t even jump on the scales because I was happy at the weight I was at. 

I went into work and I swear my coworkers treated me differently, well I TREATED ME DIFFERENTLY.  I guess I was walking with my head held a little higher and a smile on my face.  Hmm, interesting!  At lunch I went to my very favorite restaurant with a good book, ordered my favorite burger and fries (dropping the guilt) and sat and relaxed. I noticed as I was leaving that I left half of the food on my plate.  It tasted fantastic, but I got full….and stopped.  How cool was that?

My inner mean girl was sent away. Instead, I said kind things to myself, laughed and enjoyed my day!

I lived my life today as an adventure. I noticed my good!

Here it is 9:00 pm. I can’t say the whole day went perfect. I still had my deadlines at work and the backed up traffic. I will say it was easier being in my own shoes. I didn’t try to be perfect, I was just imperfect me!

Amazing! It just took setting the intention this morning to act like my own best friend, it happened! I absolutely enjoyed my own self!

How about you? What would be different if you started the day treating yourself as your own best friend or maybe as your sister or daughter? How would you face the mirror? Try it! Tell your inner mean girl, lizard or whatever you call your inner critique, to get lost.

Take a day to shine and love your amazing self. Live your adventure.