In ancient tribal cultures, when one wanted to put their past behind them, one would chop off their hair and bury it in the ground. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust. I get it—I recently chopped off the hair I was wearing when my mother-in-law died unexpectedly and when I lost a pregnancy that same week. When I left behind my first family home and moved to what seemed like another country. When I couldn’t run the half marathon I’d been training a year for because I could lose another pregnancy. When my Dad and Aunt passed away from sudden cancer diagnoses within weeks of each other—and the nine months it all happened in.
But the past is now gone, and a new thing is coming forth. Just like the Phoenix, this very one that I saw in the sky a few nights ago that confirmed God’s calling and instructions for this new blog project. It too fell to ashes after brutal burnings of life snuffed it out, but only then could it be reborn into something much more beautiful, more powerful, more commanding of the sky.
When a baby is born, she learns quickly and without much deliberation as to the importance of life’s disciplines. There is no rationalization for her about whether or not she should sleep or talk, drink her milk or fill up a diaper. A toddler similarly doesn’t question her desire to walk and explore. And yet these things happen consistently and without thought; habits are formed instantly that this child will carry throughout her life.
But not all habits remain. Yes, she is taught to brush her teeth and wash her face every day. Perhaps she learns to make her bed and wash her own clothes as the years pass. Soon a teenager, she is taught to do the dishes and take her vitamins daily. And so on. But once the bird leaves the nest, the choice is now hers as to how to walk out those same disciplines for the rest of her life.
Well, that’s the part where I failed. Thus, this blog was born in 2013 with the supposition that I could pursue the old disciplines that should have remained in my days but didn’t in the most basic area of health. Then a whole lot of life happened. So I chopped off my hair. I buried it in the ground. And I have been swamped beneath the ashes.
Now near the end of 2015, this blog itself is being reborn. It will keep me accountable to my pursuit of discipline through writing while I once again attempt to lose the weight I gained during my final pregnancy of my almost four-month-old son, as well as return to the basic disciplines of my own infancy. Yes, that’s right. I need to consistently brush and floss my teeth and wash my face every day, make my bed, take my vitamins, do the dishes, exercise, eat right and make every day count.
I will also delve into the disciplines of my behavior, compassion, respect, and other valuable traits at their deepest essence so that my life isn’t just a string of unproductive days. I want to laser focus my time management and be intentional about using it for the things that matter, such as Bible study and prayer, serving others, increasing my skills and talents, loving my children and nurturing their precious souls, blessing my husband the way he always blesses me, valuing friends and family that mean the most to me—and not letting the days pass without accomplishing something even small in significance.
So here it is. As evidence of my pursuit of discipline, I commit to losing 10 pounds per month for 10 months (40 weeks) and 1 blog post per week for 40 weeks. Let’s do this.
The Art of Choosing True Life 