Happy Tuesday! As I sit down to write this looking forward to the New Year and all of the things I want to accomplish, I get excited. One thing for me is that I really procrastinate about writing. I keep putting it off. I'll say I'll do it tomorrow and tomorrow never seems to come. What if I had just started? Each one of us has something in our lives that we do that with, for whatever reason and if we just sat down and did it, our whole life would change (for the better).
It never fails me, if I do what I say I'm going to do, I FEEL really great! There’s just something in committing to something regardless of your circumstances. I subscribe to morningcoach.com which is a really great inspiring group of people. A fellow member wrote an article that I read today about how to become a better writer. Click here for the link. The #1 thing to do on his list was write—just sit your butt down and begin. Or as Nike says, “Just do it!” Such a simple thing really, yet most of us don’t do it; we don’t begin. There’s never a so-called perfect time, ever! Maybe we’re afraid of not being good enough or sucking really bad at first. Consistency with anything, every single day and you get good at it. Consistently don’t do something and you get good at that too. What do you want to be consistent at and get good at?
Today, after I read that article I told myself, I am going to do this today! Seriously, I put it off as long as possible. It’s past my bed time now but I told myself, I am getting this done today even if I don’t sleep! I am thankful I read that article today. It really spoke to me. Things come to you in life when you are open and ready for it! I AM READY!
I decided this year that my word for the year is ADVENTURE. It’s a year of travel and exploration and yellow is my color for the year which signifies JOY and the Sun of course! Ape Fit came from my nickname “ape” short for April and I love to swing on things like an ape and “fit” because I love fitness. Ape now stands for (Adventure, Passion, and Enthusiasm) and Fit now stands for (Fun, Inspiration and Transformation). When you combine all of these things in life, then it’s gotta be good, right?
If you made it to my website, then you either got a happy thought message from me in which I hope I made your day a little brighter or you see that I post a lot of pictures and quotes about sunsets, sunrises, the moon, etc. I love nature and it’s such a simple thing that is free for each of us to enjoy if we just step outside. When I am out in nature, it keeps me in the present moment. It’s such a beautiful thing that words can’t even express. It just brings a smile to my face.
I am passionate about feeling PHENEMENOMINAL as I like to say, which is better than phenomenal! I do things in life that bring me joy and makes me happy and hope to inspire people to see the magnificence in the simple things, like a sunset or a seagull.
Back at the end of June, I suddenly started taking pictures at the beach. I don’t really know where that came from but I have been consistent with that every single day since then. I have only missed a handful of days since then because I just wasn’t able to make it because of an appointment. Now, it’s so ingrained in me that I don’t even think twice about missing one. It can be foggy or raining at sunset time but you can be guaranteed that I’m there. The sun is still shining, even though you can’t see it. Now when I look back at my pictures and see all of the beauty I think to myself, if I hadn't started this then I wouldn't be experiencing the joy I get from it now.
I find with anything that if I allow myself to miss it a few times, then that becomes a habit and I become lazy. I don’t allow myself to do that. Just like working out, if you miss a couple of days, then it becomes a couple of weeks and then all of a sudden you’re not working out anymore. Don’t allow yourself that option.
Sunset time is just like my workout time for me. It’s scheduled and don’t even think twice about me changing that. I will happily work around it but I’m not missing my sunset time. You can ask anyone who knows me well. It’s important to me and it brings me joy so I do it and I am not canceling it :)
I encourage everyone to find whatever their passionate about in life and do it with all your heart. When I’m at the beach taking pictures or I’m at the gym working out or hanging upside down swinging in my yoga trapeze playing my Lumosity game (looks a little funny I know but my scores are better when I’m upside down and it’s fitness for my brain). It’s my designated time. What else am I going to do upside down? Gotta make full use of my time. All of these things make me feel like a kid, without any limitations. What an awesome feeling that is!
My number one thing for me in my life is my health. "The better I feel as an individual, the more I am able to contribute to the world." So when it comes to my health and fitness I don’t even think twice about it. I wake up every morning between 2:30 and 2:45 am like clockwork. Gym time to me is like Christmas every day! I love it so much! I look forward to seeing all of my fellow 4am friends at the gym. We are all there with a common goal. I say: that is commitment when you get there that early. I surround myself with people who inspire me. I encourage you to do the same!
I hope that with you reading this that it inspires you to make things for yourself in life fun! That is why you’re here and if anyone tells you differently, then just don’t listen to them. They just didn’t get the memo that life is meant to be FUN in every sense of the word! Be HAPPY that you got the memo!
Everything in my life that I do, I make it fun. With my food, I make my veggies into fun shapes with vibrant colors. With my exercise I do the same thing. You have so many options in the world today that there is something for everyone that will bring them joy. Do the things that inspire you in your life so when you look back on your life, you smile. That’s what I do and it makes me happy. I look back now at my pictures over the last 7 months and it makes me smile to see the consistency and how much I have improved. It makes me proud. I can't even imagine today what my life would be like if I hadn't started that because it's such a huge part in my life now. If you make those same choices with your health or whatever it may be in your life, then your whole life transforms.
Here’s to a wonderful year ahead full of adventure and joy in whatever direction you decide to pursue! Have fun! Whatever it is you want to do in life just begin it. There's power in that!! You can do it! I believe in you!
April :o)
