We have two big birthdays coming up at our house in the next two weeks!
One of those belongs to Mayve. Mayve will turn ten on June 3rd.
The other belongs to Morgen. Morgen will turn 13 on May 26th.
When I look back at old pictures of birthdays I am often reminded of just how far we have come. And how thankful I am to be living out my own unique purpose as a human being.
Ten years ago I had no idea what my purpose was. We had recently moved to Rapid City from Bozeman, Montana. Mitch was in the middle of baseball season. I was really, really pregnant with Mayve and trying to find an office to work out of in Rapid City before baby #2 came.
For some reason I thought it would be a good idea to throw a 3rd birthday party for Morgen at a city park.
The party turned out great! She absolutely loved it! Morgen loves parties!
However, the behind the scenes work was a feat and included:
- Renting a commercial bounce house that had to be picked up and taken back the next day.
- A power source for the bounce house at the city park.
- Cooking and serving a hot meal for 20 people with no kitchen on-site.
- Making Morgen's birthday cake from scratch.
- Helium balloons and decorations that had to be picked up and affixed so they wouldn't blow away. (Thank God for Grandmothers).
- Family Picture appropriate wardrobe for Mitch, Morgen and I.
Mitch gave me so much grace with my crazy party ideas back then. Needless to say I was exhausted after all that and being 36 weeks pregnant! But honestly friends I did it to myself. Morgen would have been happy with a simpler party, a few friends and just cake.
Expectations I put on myself and what I thought others had for me were VERY HEAVY in my life ten years ago. Those expectations left me:
- exhausted and fatigued trying to live up to them
- with zero time for exercise
- a poor diet of sugar, carbohydrates and caffeine to get through the day
- a scarcity dominated mindset of lack and anxiety over finances
- lonely and living in a blur not really fully present anywhere
- surrounded by toxic products that I was completely ignorant of
During the next six years, the stress and toxins finally took their toll on my physical health.
I see this quite frequently in others. It doesn't happen over night. The breakdown comes after years and years of ignorance, neglect and lack of intention.
My body had enough and I became a revolving door of sickness:
- mononucleuosis
- laryngitis
- repeated upper respiratory infections
- eczema
- undiagnosed thyroid condition
- mental illness?--probably!
Enough was enough! Over the last four years I have completely changed my mindset, my eating habits, my home products, my habits and thus my life. I'm still a work in progress. I learn something new everyday that contributes to my spiritual, mental, emotional and physical health. And then I take what I learn and do my very best to put it into practice.
Now everything I do on a weekly basis revolves around living out my purpose:
The thoughts I let into my mind
The food and drinks I consume
The schedule I plan
The products I purchase and use
The books I read and listen to
The conversations I have
The prayers I pray
The words I write
I feel a sense of freedom that is so worth all the changes I have made. All that refining fire I walked through left me leaner, smarter, more resourceful, healthier in mind, body and spirit and a better friend.
After walking through some of these very same topics with a group this month I decided to give you a peek into my daily routine and then hold you accountable to making your own changes for freedom.
Starting June 8 and running through June 28 I am opening up a group called "Feeling Good." I named the group this because when we feel good, we take care of ourselves, we take care of others, we serve more willingly to those in need and we have something left to be creators and innovators. That's what we are called to do!
Plus, My kids love that song "Sunday Best" by Surfaces so we are rolling with it.
Feeling Good will be me nudging you into:
a weekly time schedule that works for you
daily meal plans with health promoting foods
time restricted feeding for better digestion and weight loss
daily required water intake
antioxidant support for inflammation control and craving support
required daily contact with other humans
suggested gentle exercise prompts
sleep promoting habits
productivity hacks for work
weekly mindset homework and required thinking time
suggested movies, podcasts and books
suggested toxic product swaps
I will be your guide through all of this. I write the meal plans, shopping lists and daily prompts. Everyday you will get a text from me with your daily prompts. We will touch base once per week on your progress.
You will get a shopping list before the challenge starts for meals and supplies. Some supplies will have to be ordered by May 27th arrive in time. The cost of the supplies will be a minimum of $100. Some you may have on hand already.
Do you want to be FEELING GOOD by June 28? Do you need a friend to help you get there?
Yes!??! Great you are in!
Click this link to let me know you are in. https://getoiling.com/JaceyMesser/landing/feeling-good
Can't wait to do this alongside of you!
For Freedom,
Jacey
