“When the time comes for you to make a change or to grow, the universe will make you so uncomfortable you will eventually have no choice.” – Iyanla Vanzant

Happy, Happy 2015!!!! Sitting in my living room, wondering if I should take my Christmas tree down, I cannot help but feel overwhelmed with how magical Life is. Already this year taught me a very significant lesson.

Three words: my physical health.

It has dwindled, and it’s scary. But my eyes are flooded with tears of gratitude because it has been yet another moment of Awakening. And I laugh with rejoice! I laugh because, why have I been so blind?

Would you like to hear the story? It may not be the shortest…

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Before year-end, I knew that 2014 was all about learning, while 2015 would be about applying everything I learned. I did not set resolutions, goals, etc., though I knew exactly what I wanted more of.

But I suppose the Universe needed to remind me I was neglecting my most important vessel.

Let’s take a step back.

In 2013, my routine corporate life was in desperate need of a reality check. So I recollected my self and my excitement for life, and I stepped out of my cage to try all things new. I do not remember how many festivals, events, and 5Ks I completed that year, including my 1^st Tough Mudder. Gym sessions and Insanity workouts with my boyfriend became my new routine, and my body loved the healthy fuel I was feeding it. But my desire for adventure and soul-seeking only became deeper.

In 2014, my blog was born. I will spare you the story, as it is all documented for you in this little corner of the web. What I have not mentioned is that mid-year, my gym sessions had completely stopped. I’m the girl who paid at least five months of gym membership without ever using the facility. I’ll let you gasp for a moment…

In the middle of it all, I completed my 2^nd Tough Mudder. However, I’ll be honest and say I half-assed it because my body was not as strong anymore. Disappointed with my performance and endurance, I signed up for my 3^rd Tough Mudder (2015) as soon as I got home.

But that did not bring my spirits down! My soul was happy with flutters of adventure and Vitamin N! And with my outings and camping adventures came the road trip food and unhealthy campfire food choices. You can see where this is going…

I was restoring balance within my mind and soul, but subtracted from my physical body. I knew that I needed to recalibrate – I felt my body yelling – but I had not made it a priority.

Before I realized, Christmas Day was here, along with a terrible piercing pain at the pit of my stomach…at 5:00 AM. Talk about a wake-up call, and it wasn’t from Santa. But I had felt this pain only one other time during my road trip to Painted Hills/Crater Lake, so I knew it was a temporary situation probably caused by something I ate.

And so I ignored the Universe.

Fast forward to New Year’s weekend, and I found myself in the ER at 5:00 AM again with the same terrible pain. Only worse. After two hours of sitting in the waiting room without being seen, the pain had subsided, and so I left.

And the next day I woke up with a very swollen, painful wisdom tooth.

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WHAT IS GOING ON?! AM I BROKEN!? WILL MY INSURANCE COVER THE COST OF MY BODY?! (wondered the Ego, worried)

And then it all made sense.

When the time comes for you to make a change or to grow, the Universe will certainly make you so uncomfortable you will have no other choice but to make all necessary changes.

How long have I neglected my physical body despite all the signs it gave me? The weak core, decreased endurance, tiredness, softer muscles. How many times last year did I say, “Tomorrow I will go back to the gym”, “Next week I will kick-start my workouts again”, “We’ll eat this junk food just this one time”, “I don’t really need to take my wisdom teeth out, right?”

I had been so focused on my inner self.  Sure, happiness and peace come from within. But if the vessel, which so delicately holds our most prized treasure, is not strong and healthy…our efforts are almost worthless. I knew this. But I began to nourish one more than the other.

And so worry turned into floods of gratitude. I no longer have a choice. I need to stay healthy in order to stay pain free. I have to get back to my strong self, all the while learning how to balance that same soul-filling love for adventure I fed in 2014. So I have a LIFE’s RESOLUTION: Recalibrate. Balance the Mind, the Body, and Soul with equal importance. 2015 is still about applying all that I am learning.

Oh! But trust the Universe, as it knows what you need, for if you reciprocate with gratitude it will surely provide you with all the tools you need to succeed!

After the holidays, I went back to work very thankful to have finally become unblind, only to find out my Little Year-End Bonus had suddenly increased to a Big Year-End Bonus. What?! (Take that, Ego!) Endless gratitude, my friends, comes with endless blessings…And lessons! Will you be ready to listen?

Stay Golden,

Denise

PS: Worry not, friends! Based on my family history, I have a strong sense of what may be causing the gastro pain. But either way I am loading on the positive vibrations. And those wisdom teeth are on their way to extraction, as is my Self back to using my gym membership (hahaha). All doctor’s visits have been scheduled! Operation Fix My Physical Self is in full effect.

Below are photos of the holiday weekend with my sisters. We wanted to end the year with a final outdoor adventure! Enjoy!

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LAKE CUSHMAN, OLYMPIC NAT’L PARK, WA

Sissy road trip, and this little jewel, #OfWildestVan!

…But sissy #2 refused to climb.

Thee Sissy #2

Dandelion loves road trips :-D

Until next time, friends!

Wishing you all the magical blessings filled with gratitude in 2015 and beyond! <3

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