Tuesday, July 1, 2014

* WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES - PART ONE *

I love the song, "What a Difference a Day Makes." The lyrics are powerful and when sung by Dinah Washington, pure gold. It popped into my mind the other day when I was thinking about my life last year at this time and how different it is now.
 
 
 
 
The Ronald and I moved last spring which was a huge change and yet thinking back on it, went rather smoothly. I didn't write much of anything for quite a while except blog posts. (Do they count as "writing?!") My mind was a jumbled mess, but hey....that's nothin' new for me, is it?
 
As we unpacked and I began to get settled in, I mentally searched for answers concerning my memoir. At the time, I still wasn't finished with it! The chapters were complete, but not in any kind of order. I hadn't written a forward or acknowledgments, either. And I was still trying to decide how to publish it.
 
Another thing that was happening was I'd made up my mind to lose weight. I don't think I blogged about it because usually when I make "the big announcement" about being on a diet, I immediately lose all will power. The day we moved, I made up my mind then and there, to begin the following day. And I did. And I stuck to it. And over the summer I lost 25 lbs. (Don't start applauding, yet, though!) I walked a lot, did a few simple floor exercises, and practically went Cold Turkey as far as eating was concerned. I ate tiny servings of food, no matter what it was. I didn't give up anything, but I also lived on less than 1000 calories a day. I did not suffer. I loved it and it felt so good to fit into smaller sizes of clothing. (It was easy! It reminded me of when I quit smoking, Cold Turkey, about 30 years ago. It was just the Right Time for each accomplishment, I guess, since I began and quit smoking and dieting zillions of times.)
 
I made my publication decisions. I completed my memoir. And I self-published it with Createspace in November. All in all, it was quite a year.
 
Stay tuned for the next installment of "What a difference a year makes." Hope to see you there! (I changed the color on five important words above!.....)
 
~~~
 
P.S. Sometimes when I leave to go on errands, I turn the TV to a music channel for Vern to listen to while I'm gone! Yes, I really do! He likes Golden Oldies and Classic Country the best, so yesterday it was Classic Country. You won't believe what song was playing when I walked in the door..... Charlie Rich's "Rollin' With the Flow." True! (see blog post from June 27th.) Ahhh, another one of my Twilight Zoney, Cosmic moments.
 
 
"The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance." ~Alan W. Watts 



32 comments:

  1. WOW 25 pounds lost. How awesome that you made that commitment and stuck to it, just like the smoking! You go girl :)

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    1. Thanks, Keith...but don't get too excited! When I wrote "(Don't start applauding, yet, though!)"....I guess wasn't a big enough hint that those pounds didn't stay "lost!"

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  2. The day the Surgeon General announced that cigarettes were a danger to health, my grandfather, who smoked since he was 7 years old, quit cold turkey. And now you, a person I so admire, reveals her cold turkey strength. I attract strong people. Right now I'd love to lose at least 10 lbs. Too bad strength is not contagious.

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    1. Hi Myrna! That is really amazing about your grandfather. I believe that when it's the right time for something, it's easy to do. That's how it was when I quit smoking. It was right after my oldest sister died from a brain tumor, and in my state of grief, I considered it to be in her honor. And it was also my irrational way of thinking that it would help increase my odds of living. Now...to the lighter side....like I replied to Keith, don't be too proud about my weight loss yet....the story isn't finished! :)

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  3. You had a very packed year filled with many great accomplishments.

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    1. Hi Vanessa! Thank you! I'm glad to see your happy little icon! :)

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  4. Love, and admire your determination. Applauding wildly from the sidelines.

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    1. You're so cute, Ms. EC! Don't applaud TOO wildly, though. The next post will be about some failures....

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  5. Vern has good taste in music!

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    1. Hey Val ~ Thanks! I think so, too! Although he looks at me a little weird when I start singing along and dancing!

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  6. I was just going to say, Vern's got great taste in music!
    Boy, can I ever attest to your blog title. A year ago, if someone were to tell me my hubby was still alive (and well!) and our peace of mind had been taken over by two headstrong puppies, I'd have guessed they were on major drugs.
    I can't recall that Charlie Rich song off-hand; but its title sounds like something I need to take to heart!

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    1. Aaackkkkk! I've ATTEMPTED to leave a comment here for you, Myra, for THREE attempts so far...and if I don't pay attention to what I'm doing....I'm gonna throw my laptop!! No, not really. I would never do that. Okay..calm down..let's try this again.
      1) Yes, Vern does know good music when he hears it! :)
      2) That is just wonderful about your husband's health.
      3) Did you click on the arrow and listen to Rollin' With the Flow? It's really about a "kind of a wild" guy...but I love the music...and a lot of the lyrics!
      YAY...I did it without deleting it all!!!

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  7. I admire your determination. Can you send some of it my way?

    Pat
    Critter Alley

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  8. Congratulations on your accomplishments, Becky! I did sense more to the story with your hinted five words, but hey, an accomplishment is an accomplishment, right?

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    1. Hey Theresa! Thanks! And yes...I can go with your way of thinking! :)

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  9. Hi Becky,
    Well, you sure did have a banner year! And such wonderful things to accomplish! Isn't it amazing what we can accomplish when we set our minds to it? I'm looking forward to the rest of your story!

    By the way, thanks for entering my drawing to win a copy of my memoir! -Vickie

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    1. Hi Vickie! Thanks! I'm so happy we met because we have so much in common in our writing.

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  10. Your post made me feel guilty for what I don't do...and also tired from reading all you did!!!

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    1. Claudia, you made me laugh, because that's what I ALWAYS say to my OLDER sister! She has more energy than I ever did!

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  11. Wow, what a year it's been! Congratulations on your book (those comments are so great!) and on your weight and fitness resolve. "What a Difference a Day Makes" is such a good song, isn't it? I love it and will now probably be humming it now for the rest of the day..lol

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    1. Hi Trish! Thank you for the congrats. (I haven't done so well with my healthy eating, but I'll get back to it!) I've been singing and humming that song for a couple of days now! :)

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  12. You did have an amazing year. Here's to many more. :)

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    1. Thanks, Julie! You've had a couple of amazing years! Congrats on yours, too!

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  13. Congrats on the healthier lifestyle! That's HUGE and the best gift you could ever give yourself. A year does make such a difference, and you've certainly proved how goal-setting really makes things happen. You're an inspiration.

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    1. Hey Lisa! Thank you...and I do hope to get back into the swing of eating better foods again. Whenever someone says I'm an inspiration, concerning my writing and my memoir, it always comes as a surprise. I guess I just look at it as a stubborn determination! :)

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  14. Congrats on all the changes and a full packed year!

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    1. Hey Lynn! Thank you! I'm always so happy to hear from you....or would that be "read your words"...?? LOL

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  15. My word for you is Tenacious. There are those years that are crammed with changes and events while others just flow along. Like a growth spurt.

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    1. Hi Marcia! That is a great word for me! Yes, I am very stubborn at times!! Thanks much for stopping by!

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  16. Your stick-to-it-ive nature will always bring you success. It's one of the many great things about you.

    =)

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    1. Wow, Sue! You've totally made my day as I read all your comments!! Thanks so much.

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