Just a Little Christmas Post

Greetings from the Ridge! No, I have not fallen off the face of the earth, I've just been swallowed up in the vortex known as 'work' for the past week or two. Next week will be better, though...I'm starting my 'official' vaycay in about two hours, and when I come back after the first of the year, we'll be getting two new additions to our department...just in the 'St. Nick' of time to keep us from completely losing our sanity, so my life should finally start settling down to some semblance of normalcy.

Last week, we had the 'Four Days of Christmas at work, which basically means that we all divide up into teams and one team is responsible for making the tables in the break room groan each day. On the fifth day, we all bring something for a big potluck luncheon and a Dirty Santa exchange before everyone heads off their separate ways for the holidays.  When I started my journey back on January 5th, I had just finished going through this process, and waited purposefully until it was over before I began, knowing any attempt to start beforehand would have ended in abject failure. I'm glad I made that decision...I was much more successful because I didn't start this journey under a blanket of guilt at having fallen off the wagon before even getting started (for the millionth time). 

Still...I knew all year that this week was approaching, and that I would have to decide how to deal with it. The nice part was that I had a full year of walking the walk to prepare for it.

I'm happy to say that I indulged.  All week. Yes, you heard me right....I'm actually happy about it.  You see, I was able to go through a week, enjoying my choices, celebrating with my work family, and not giving in to the temptation to feel guilty about it.  I'm very proud of how much I've accomplished this year. No, I'm not at my goal weight yet...I've still got about 30 pounds to go, in fact...maybe even a few more than that, after last week.  But I know now that by this time next year, I will have reached that goal and be firmly in maintenance mode.  Next year, I will need to work on enjoying in moderation.  But I ended this year 80 pounds lighter than I started it, and I'd say that even if I did gain a couple of them back, it was a good year's work.

That work is definitely not done, though. I still have a lot to do, both physically, and mentally. I've learned a lot about myself through the indulgences I've allowed myself this past week or two...namely, that my body hates me when I feed it crap, or too much. It hates me more when I work such crazy, late, stress-laden hours that I can't burn off the crazy with a run (the last several of which I have missed), or even a walk.  And it is most definitely ready to resume it's regularly-scheduled programming next week. As a matter of fact, I'm actually eagerly anticipating it! What a difference a year makes, eh?

Today being Christmas Eve, I'm working a few hours this morning, and then Keith and I are headed to Bristol to visit a dear friend who's in the hospital and not expected to make it much longer. (This is not sudden....just sad)  Afterwards, we're headed to the in-laws' to celebrate Christmas with them, play cards, and visit. I'm hoping to get home at a decent hour, though...still lots of presents to wrap that I haven't had time to get to yet! 

Tomorrow, we'll be celebrating Christmas quietly, with neighbors.  And sometime this weekend, we're expecting friends from NC to come visit for a few days...looking forward to that! I'm off all next week, so it will be nice to relax and recoup, and kind of do a mental and physical 'reset' for the year ahead, and give some serious thought to my goals. 

And sometime in the next two days, I have to squeeze in a virtual Ugly Christmas Sweater 5K for my Lovely Ladies group! Which is really hysterical, considering that we stripped all the blankets off the bed and slept with all the windows open last night.  Running with this baby on will give a whole new meaning to the term 'gettin' mah sweat on'.....but my Christmas celebrations will not be complete without this run.

From my house to yours....Merry Christmas!! Here's hoping Santa brings you everything your heart desires this year!