Amber - New Year's in July

I will admit I have been bad about writing the past few weeks. I haven't even been that great about going to yoga. I still have been going, but not with the same drive I started. I have hit that "slump." On the plus side, I have just made it to the four month mark and I'm only 2 months away from having everything retested to see my progress.

I had this amazing energy when I had sodas cut out, I was going to yoga nearly every day, and I was drinking tons of water. Then Easter came and Lent was over, so I celebrated with a 2-liter. Just like that the Diet Coke addiction was back. I have also found a new appreciation for Chocolate. Ask anyone that knows me and they will tell you that I don't eat chocolate. Now I crave it. So, I quit smoking because I wanted to. I quit drinking because I had to. Now I need to quit the sodas because it's the right thing to do.

Most of us struggle with giving up something that is a regular part of our life for even just the 40 days of Lent. I certainly have been known to cheat or not make it. It's only 40 days. Most of us try and give up something like candy. I don't know many people that eat candy more than once or twice a week - so that's really like giving up something no more than eight days. In Bikram yoga there are challenges. They recommend when you start yoga that you go for 30 days straight to really see the body changes and feel the total effects. Every once in awhile, they encourage regular practitioners to do a 30 or 60 day challenge. It's similar to Lent. It is a time that is meant to struggle for a period to be rewarded at the end. It is a sacrifice to give up that much time and energy to something. It is hard to remember why you are doing it and stay committed. The beauty is at the end it becomes a habit and the reward is your health. While you may not continue to go every single day, your practice is stronger. The similar thing happens when you truly sacrifice something in Lent. Every day the temptation reminds you why you are doing this and in turn your faith becomes stronger.

I am going to begin a 30 day challenge starting July 5th. This is the day after I return from vacation. It is the perfect way to start the second half of 2008 and the first month of my 30th year. It will be my New Year's Resolution.