Awakened by menstrual cramps at the age of 45.8, I'm choosing this moment – these moments – to embark on a new adventure, for my own good and the good of those around me.
To say "I want to lose weight" is cliche and inadequate, so I won't. As a grammarian, my motto is, "When in doubt, rephrase." I have no doubts about my desire to "lose weight," but to increase the statement's accuracy and originality, let me put it this way:
I resolve to gain fitness, flexibility, and strength in my body, mind, and spirit.
"Resolve." That's the word I settled on after typing "want," "intend," and "seek," successively. Resolve is a less current-sounding word, but it carries more weight (I do enjoy irony). Resolve means I've decided, with determination. I'm not just flitting through this phase again, for the umpteenth time. (Maybe as one of my entries I could catalog my previous weight reduction attempts, successes, fizzles, and failures.)
For now, I want to settle into my spirit's intention, nestled in the Spirit's approval; to agree with my God and myself that this is a worthwhile endeavor – that *I* am a worthwhile endeavor, and my well-being a multi-faceted goal worth pursuing wholeheartedly, doggedly (I do love my dog), graciously, and optimistically.
op-ti-mis-ti-cal-ly (adverb): in a way that shows hope and confidence about the future.
"The bank optimistically predicts an economic growth rate of 5 percent."
"The woman optimistically predicts fitness, flexibility, and strength growth rate of 10 percent."
May it be so. "Resolve" implies the existence of a problem that needs solving again, and that is so. The problem is not *me* per se. I am a person; I have problems. ("I am a soul; I have a body." – C. S. Lewis) Right now, for the immediate, foreseeable future, I am resolved to gather and apply my considerable resources (which I will notate, with gratitude, in a future posting) to rejuvenate my body, mind, and spirit for the sake of a fuller life, as God intends.
"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." – Jesus (John 10:10 ESV)
Away with you, thief! I'll sick my dog on you!
