Happy New Year

2006 has been a rewarding year for me in many ways, but I am also looking forward to a fresh start to 2007 to wipe the slate clean of some not so great things for 2006 and move on.

Professionally. I have worked very hard with my own professional development and study and I feel that this has been rewarded and recognised which gives me a great start to 2007 to "just keep on doing what I am doing - and do it well".

Personally. I have neglected my own physical and mental wellbeing for many months now as I have been focussing on work - no excuse - but taking a few days off at the moment has given me some clarity in enabling me to see that I haven't been kind to me. I went on a course and read the book for "7 Habits of Highly Effective People" which reinforces the importance of what they call "Sharpen the Saw" - which basically means looking after yourself as a whole:

• Spritual
• Mental
• Physical
• Social/Emotional

It is so easy to focus on one thing - being work for me this last half of the year and think this is the most important thing. Although it is integral to a lifestyle and livlihood - if I don't keep ME functioning and well then I won't have the capacity to meet my worklife.

While I have been enjoying a few days away from work I have been refocusing on "Looking after Leisa". I have bought two books - the first being "the mindgym". An excellent book so far for recognising certain, perhaps negative patterns in our thinking and then exercising your mind to work at changing your ingrain thinking. I am enjoying this.

The second book I bought was a book of meditations by Louise Hay. I suddenly realised the week before I started holidays that I was at crisis point when I really overreacted to a bad situation without considering the consequences (which is what I am usually quite good at doing these days). It was a wake up call that I was slipping back into old emotional behavious that I have worked very hard on overcoming over the past couple of years. Due to this I have felt anxiety over my actions and then all other kinds of emotions related with have been dredged up and it doesn't feel so great. I have written down all my thoughts and feelings about this incident and the related feelings and got that all out of my system. I am using the Louise Hay affirmations to help me move my mind into more positive aspects and it is quite healing at times.

Needless to say with the focus away from my wellbeing my weight loss has been an unsuccessful area of 2006. I have continued with my meetings which at least has kept it in my conscious thoughts but have not followed through with any planning, tracking or exercise to actually achieve what I want to. I am pleased that I have stayed at my meetings as I am still actually under my joining weight and would hate to think what my situation would be if I hadn't spent the hour each week thinking about WW via my meetings.

I committed myself to not waiting until the NY to focus on my eating and had a successful week over Christmas losing 0.6kg which is the first time in the history of Leisa that I actually lost weight over christmas......a great motivator to keep me getting organised and back into my weekly planning.

Rob is great. He had a pretty tough year as well with work - but towards the end of the year he was appointed to a new job which is working out fantastically for him. Apart from the discomfort of being the new boy, and learning a new job he is enjoying it. We have grown significantly as a couple again this year....enduring and learning from many of lifes lessons that have been made available to us. Things just keep getting better - we just both need to keep getting better healthwise as well.

Here's to another opportunity with 2007 to make some fresh starts. I am not a Resolution type person, but I really appreciate the opportunity to draw a line in the sand and say "that was then - this is now" and move on to achieving everything I hope to over the next twelve months. Some of these things being:

• Lost 10 kg by Easter
• Lost 15 kg by Mid Year
• Lost 30 kg by End Year
• Get my cupboards sorted out - whether the linen, kitchen, bedroom they are all shocking
• Complete 4 subjects at Uni
• Get control over my mind and negative thinking and emotions (this is the easy one - NOT)

I may not be a regular blogger this year but will promise to at least update monthly and check in and see how everyone else is going - it gives me great support and comfort to know that the bloggin chicks are out there and so ready to share and support others.

Namistay