Great Thought For Today

A friend on Facebook posted this quote today and I loved it.

"You are not a victim. No matter what you have been through, you're still here. You may have been challenged, hurt, betrayed, beaten, and discouraged, but nothing has defeated you. You are still here! You have been delayed but not denied. You are not a victim, you are a victor. You have a history of victory."
-- Steve Maraboli, Unapologetically You: Reflections on Life and the Human Experience

I was told something similar a long time ago but hadn't thought of it in a while. I encourage you all to say these words to yourselves, "I am a victor! I am triumphant over my past!"

Whitney

Just to Clear Things Up

After my last blog post my parents have been fielding a lot of questions from friends and family. I just wanted to let everyone know that no one in my immediate or extended family was involved in my abuse. I didn't tell my parents about it until after I was married. They don't know any of the details so come to me if you have questions. I am very open and willing to talk about it. Know that I am fine and have put this all behind me. I would really like to help others that have struggled with this issue even if I am just someone to talk to. Thank you all for your concern. I hope that cleared up any confusion.

Perks of Being a Wallflower

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I liked this movie. My sister just wrote a great blog post about how Perks affected her. You should check it out: http://lifeisabutte.blogspot.com/. She mentions that the "We are infinite." line really resonated with her. I'm glad she posted this because it reminded me how the movie made me feel and the specific lines that stuck with me. I have been meaning to post about it but have kept putting it off. I texted them to myself that night so I wouldn't forget them.

There were two lines in particular that went straight through me. The first being, "We accept the love we think we deserve." In the movie I believe this is when Charlie is asking Sam why she dates dirt bags. I felt my heart fissure when I heard this line and my eyes instantly welled up. As someone who is a sexual abuse survivor this brought flash backs to the time in my life that I thought I deserved the treatment I was getting. I believed that I didn't deserve any better. I was broken and confused and thought that I loved and was loved by that person. In that small moment of the movie I went through many thoughts and emotions in an instant. I thought back to that time specifically. I thought about the struggles I had with guilt and my self-worth. I thought about the group therapy I went through and how terrifying and hard that was. I thought about the shining moments when I remembered that I was worth so much more than I thought; that I did deserve true love and respect. I am so glad to be in a place in my life where I have the love of my life by my side who treats me like a queen and makes me feel so wonderful.

The second line that struck me was "We can't choose where we come from but we can choose where we go from there." This was at the end of the movie when Charlie is talking to the doctor. That brought a fresh wave of tears. These were more inspiring tears than sad. The truth of the statement is what set me off. The truth that you can move on from whatever your past was. You can become who you want to become regardless of your past. I can turn my experiences into teaching opportunities or use them as connections to other people that may need help or someone to relate to. I have heard of other people who have had similar experiences to mine and have let it consume their whole life and can't see a way beyond it. My heart aches for them because I have been there. Our free agency allows us to choose to focus on the negative/past or the positive/future. I am eternally grateful that I have been able to find the positive and move on. This is greatly due to my amazing support system of family and friends. Choose today to live a happy life. Don't let your troubled past win. Choose to surround yourself with people that truly love you and respect you. Don't waste your time on people that bring you down. Love yourself. I know it is hard but I know you can do it! I still struggle with things and I continue to learn more and more about myself all the time. Please know that I am very open with what happened to me and if you need someone to talk to (even anonymously, find me on ask.fm) I am here for you. Keep your head up and become who you are supposed to be!

Whitney

30DYC: Day 30 - Last Day!

Here we are. We have reached the end. I have thoroughly enjoyed doing this challenge. It wasn't difficult and all of the stretching felt great! Here is the last video of the challenge. Hope you all enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0fSjR9HgpA

30DYC: Day 29

Yesterday's video surprised me. I thought It would be harder to do dancer's pose but it ended up not being that hard. Maybe doing yoga every day may be improving my strength and flexibility. Weird. ;) Today's yoga is for better sleep. I'll be doing it right before bed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFdhMMrCYw8

30DYC: Day 27 & 28

Sorry I missed a day! Here are both videos. The IT band stretches were great and today's video teaches dancer's pose. Here ya go! They're in order.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDVB0OreMng

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QP7ohuQuBfA

30DYC: Day 26

Hope everyone has a great start to their weekend. This is a short video today but still effective. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzNPhWbf6aE

30DYC: Day 25

Yesterday's yoga was great. On my work days I get home and immediately turn on yoga. It is a great way to destress and start my weekend. Today's video is sun salutations and quicker moving than most. Its not fast, just a little faster than normal. I kind of like it. Here ya go!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4NUyCeViKD8

30DYC: Day 24

Yesterday's yoga was just what I needed. I got home from work with a killer migraine and the neck and upper back stretches were the best. I still had to medicate but the stretches felt great. Today's is super chill early morning yoga. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Vtf9n6gw-A

30DYC: Day 23

Here is today's video. Its all neck and upper back stretches.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0ejZxy7Doc

30DYC: Day 22

Yesterday's video was fun! I can't remember the last time I did a headstand. I did two and loved it. Today's video is a slower, relaxing video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vDslyixyUc

30DYC: Day 20-21

The shoulder workout from yesterday's video was a challenge for me (big surprise, not). I had to take rests frequently. Today's video is head stands! Sam said he didn't get up to a headstand but I did it twice. Takes a lot of core muscles! You can do it! First link is for day 20 and second link is for day 21.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SPJdqILwqiM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo092Oo7zqM

30DYC: Day 19

Yesterday's video was a challenge with all the moving. I tweaked my knee a little bit but I hope it doesn't effect my ability to do the rest of the videos too much. Today's video is all about twists to strengthen the spine and aid digestion.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--pd8b_PuTA

30DYC: Day 18

Here is today's video. Like she mentioned at the end of yesterday's video today is a more fast paced flow yoga. Let's up our energy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Gcemdyw-38

30DYC: Day 17

The splits yesterday were killer! I got no were close! My hips are still sore though. Today is more flow yoga with constant changing of positions.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6fNgaIB0oU0

30DYC: Day 16

Yikes, did yesterday's video kill anyone else? I don't know why I struggled so hard but it was  a doozy. Legs are a little jello-y right now. Hope you all are getting what you are looking for out of these videos. They have been great for Sam and I.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xAzPbkFhmA

30DYC: Day 15

Here is today's video. It is flow yoga which I believe is going to be a bit like Tai Chi. Let's do it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNEdjp4NISc

30DYC: Day 14

I love hip stretches! That is where I carry a lot of my tension so any excuse to stretch them out is fine by me. Today's video is for you runners out there. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ag-TO3zQOjY

30DYC: Day 13

I was surprised at how tight my hands and forearms were as we went through the video yesterday. Guess I should do that video more. Today's video is opening the hips and lower back. Yay!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOb0UzTzPB8

30DYC: Day 12

Happy Friday everyone! Yesterday's meditative yoga session was great. Today's is all about the wrists and hands to help stretch them out. Hope you all have a great day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifZGhTMQJ40

30DYC: Day 11

Yesterday's side stretches felt so good! Today's video is all restorative yoga. Its long holds in your stretches and deep breathing. Sounds amazing! Hope everyone enjoys :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kk_QqxBcSo

30DYC: Day 10

Hey guys! Here is the video for day 10. I can now say that I don't completely loathe downward dog. Haha. Have fun!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-7twUqEIvuk

30DYC: Day 9

How many of you did full wheel pose?! Not I said the weak-armed one. Haha. I really liked the back stretches though. I'd probably do that one over just because I liked it. Today is balancing poses. I hope you all enjoy them!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaM-ELpYN_I

30DYC: Day 8

Hey all! I hope everyone is enjoying this yoga journey. I am liking it thus far. Yesterday's crow pose practice was fun. I liked her method of teaching the pose though I'd done it before. Breaking it down into parts made it simpler for sure. Today's video focuses on back flexibility. Sorry I didn't get this posted earlier. It has been a busy day!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9b2oeZCD_nY

30DYC: Day 7

It has officially been one week of yoga! Yesterday's video for the lower back was a good one. Today's is "How do to crow pose". Its the shortest video so far but it will be helpful for future videos (so Erin says). I hope you all have a wonderful Sunday and that you enjoy today's video!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhpqLa6jlFA

30DYC: Day 6

Good morning all! I abs/core are so sore that it hurts to sit up and coughing is the worst! Obviously these videos are working because I am feeling the burn. My favorite part of yesterday's video was when she had us lay in sphinx pose and then roll up to plank. I used every muscle! Any way, here is the video for day 6. I hope you are ready for a lower back workout!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uxbD4KpU2z4 

30DYC: Day 5

Day 5 is core work out! I should be less enthused since my abs are still sore from yesterdays video. You know you're sore when you wake up in the night and think "My abs are sore." I wonder if there is an easier way to do downward dog because I have to come out of it every time now because my hands and wrists complain loudly. Guess I will have to continue through it in hopes that I'll get stronger. Here is today's video! Hope you like it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jn0ylCz3RxU

30DYC: Day 4

Welcome to day 4 everyone! This will be an ab work out which I dread and look forward to a little. Abs are something I used to pride myself in having but they have gone away. Far, far away. Who knows, maybe I'll be in a little bit better shape when this is all said and done. I liked the video yesterday where we did poses to help our posture. I felt like this one was more of a work out than a stretch. Does anyone but me have a hard time in downward dog? I seriously can't support my own weight on my hands. Sad. I want to be able to though. Goals! Haha. Well here is the 4th video for our ab workout today. Good luck and I hope I survive!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0hvEw9BBGE

30DYC: Day 3

Yesterday's video was chest and shoulders. Two words describe my experience: weak and unstable. Upper body strength is NOT my forte. I was shaky the whole way through and had to come down out of certain poses periodically. Downward dog is really difficult for me. Guess I know what I need to work on more. I didn't enjoy this video as much as the first video but that is probably from the struggle I had. I am still looking forward to more. Here is the third video. I hope you are all enjoying yourselves!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T227IRrH5ac

30DYC: Day 2

I wasn't able to get around to this yoga video until around 8:30 last night but I loved it! It stretched the place that I hold tons of my tension, which is my hips. Pigeon pose is my absolute favorite and has been for years! Sam was a good sport and decided to go along with me and do this challenge. It was a great away to end what was a VERY stressful day for me. The biggest benefit was overcoming a pending migraine. As I left work I started getting warning signs that I had a migraine coming on. When we went to a meeting another symptom set in so I was sure I was doomed for the night. We got home and did the yoga video and the migraine never came! I've never had that happen before. Even though I still have a migraine "hangover" I guess stretching out the tension really helped. I am really looking forward to the second video. Here it is for everyone's access and using pleasure.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtW2jrbFYeo

How did everyone else like the first video? Did you like the instructor? Any great results or feelings? Let's hear it!

Whit

30 Day Yoga Challenge: Day 1

SO! Welcome one and all. This is really not as big a deal as some of you might think. I thought of this idea one day last week when my back, hips and legs were aching so bad at work all I wanted to do was stretch out. I Googled it and someone else came up with this idea already which makes this easy on me. The reason I invited others to join me was for the sense of camaraderie and support. It will also keep me accountable to know that people will be checking on me to get updates or to share theirs with me. I'd love to hear how it is going in the comment section!

Here is the instructor's website which she started to offer a free 30-Day Yoga Challenge to make people feel good (which is my overall goal). I recommend watching the video on the site.

http://www.doyouyoga.com/challenge/

You don't have to sign up. I did so they'll be emailing me every day with the video just to see what it is like. But since I'm posting the videos for you here (which are already free on YouTube) you have no need to sign up. If the emails offer tips or anything like that I'll be sure to to pass them on to you all.

Here is Video #1. I will be doing it tonight after work and will report tomorrow on how it went. Let's feel good people! Let's get this party started!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_wJtQjQ4HI8

Whit

Need a Pick Me Up?

We had friends over for the 4th of July tonight and got into discussing some pretty funny stuff. I thought I'd share some of the story links and videos here to spread the funny around. If you need a good laugh (or not) you should read these. Some reduce me to a fit of giggles and tears. :) Fair warning: contains fair amount of bathroom humor but you can relate to almost all of it.

- Cat Freaked Out by Lizards
- The Fart That (Almost) Altered My Destiny: Some language but HILARIOUS!
- News Reporter Surprised
- Ghost in the Stalls
- The Island of Misnamed Toys
- Quadruplet Babies Laughing
- What Cats Are Really Thinking
- Ultimate Dog Tease
- Funny Talking Animals
- Scratching Post
- Graceful Creature

Hope you all like them!