a month of choices

(editors note:  this post has been sitting in draft form since the last day of February.  The author fully intended for this to be a month-long daily posting - one daily choice at a time; OBVIOUSLY that did not happen. better late than never. ahem.) 


A few months ago, I completely cut myself off from drinking soda.   I wasn't a HUGE soda drinker, not even really one a day, but after reading some horrors of what the chemicals do to the human body, I realized it was one small change I could make.  One Small Choice.  I needed to show myself I could feel empowered and choose something for the better.  And aside from the occassional sip, my last full serving of soda (Diet Coke was my poison of choice)  was the first week of November (we won't mention the one 20oz Diet Coke I consumed with my Rocky Rococo pizza at the end of December. ahem.) 

And then, after the stern talking to I received from my Dr. (about not losing the weight she told me to lose 3yrs ago) at my (semi) annual check-up on the 3rd, I decided that February needed to be my month of making many changes. I needed to do something.  Big or small, I needed to make some changes.  And for me change is all about choice.  I chose to give up soda and have succeeded; I thought, what else could I choose?? 

So now, I have decided that the easiest way to do this would be to track my choices for all to see, for better or worse, as a way to make myself more aware....so here goes.  February - my month of choices. 

1st - I chose eat a huge salad for lunch over everything else.

2nd - I chose to go to church for a morning exercise session.."SHE moves".  It felt great.   The alternative would have been curling up on the couch with my tea and the TODAY show and most likely falling back to sleep at some point. 

3rd - I chose to NOT buy a coffee - passing both a Starbucks AND Caribou during my outing to Target.  So hard! (I really wanted coffee!) 

4th - I chose to eat whatever I wanted - we were invited to friend's for an evening dinner/birthday celebration.  It was good.  It was fun.  It was a good choice.

5th - Don't remember anything significant.

6th - I again chose to NOT purchase a coffee in the throes of my afternoon sleepys - saving money and calories. 

7th -  The choice was made almost a month ago, but today I had my first mammogram.  

8th - Spent the whole day at school running a bookfair - I chose joy and smiles, despite the fact that I did not want to be at school all day. 

9th - I chose a grilled chicken sandwich and SMALL fries over a Quarter pounder with cheese and regular fries. 

10th - I chose to eat only half of my baked chicken penne for dinner - and then chose to eat a small dish of ice cream with raspberries before bedtime. 

11th- I chose to eat ice cream and not feel guilty - we had a family date night to a show at RCT and a treat at a local ice shop that is one of our favorite places.  

12th - I chose to make my kids french toast for dinner, with bacon and eggs.  I only had two pieces instead of three. 

13th - I chose to pray over my pending ultrasound instead of being worried about the potential of cancer. 

14th - Happy Valentine's Day!   I chose to be a fun mom today - making heart shaped brownies and yummy dinner from scratch.  I even bought presents.  (Lunch and shopping with the hubby, plus receiving a very special gift didn't hurt either!)

15th - I chose to accept an invitation to have lunch with a friend, even tho it meant ANOTHER entire day of not being home.  I love hanging out with her esp sitting at her kitchen island - it was worth it.   

16th - I chose to not fold laundry, I now have 4 very full baskets calling my name.  I also chose the "grande" size caribou coffee. 

17th - I chose to "go lite" all day, so that I could enjoy our dinner out with friends at Outback.  I ordered the 'Rita Trio (a delightful trio of the tastiest margaritas around)  a steak and shrimp dinner AND cheesecake for dessert.   dee-lish.  

18th - I chose to make the best of a long day - being cheerful and smiley.  It was a day that started very early and with a good-bye to my Robot as he journeys to Shanghai for 7 days.    

19th - I chose to go to bed at a decent hour last night so I could make thru another long day without a nap.  I also chose to worry when I didn't hear from Greg when I kinda sorta expected to. I am good at that. 

20th - I didn't really have the opportunity to make any choices today....big or small.  

21th - Today, I chose a chocolate frosted glazer for breakfast,  joy and smiles (despite spending nearly 4 hours in the car driving a 12 mile loop over and over again), a SMALL (not large) Caribou coffee, and treats at Kwik Trip for the kiddos following an hour at the orthodontist. I also chose a nap. 

22th - I chose to eat a giant salad for dinner. 

23th - I chose a medium vanilla white/dark choc mocha with skim instead of a large.

24th - I chose to smile and laugh (after the intitial realization of the situation and one curse word) instead of cry the ugly cry when I ran out of gas this morning with 3 kids in the car.  I also chose an apple fritter for breakfast, but skipped a large Caribou. I also chose to not have ice cream. 

25th - I chose to treat the kids out to lunch - wasn't in the mood to make it or clean up after it so close to when Greg was due to arrive home. 

26th - I chose to get up earlier than necessary in order to do my best to be ready to go on time for our long day at a gymnastics meet - I was and we did! 

27th - I don't remember my choices for the day.....

28th - I chose to get up and go exercise with women from church - a new group called SHE moves. It's good for the body and soul. 

29th -I chose to Leap into March on this Leap day - I chose to save a little bit of gas and not go home in between volunteering and needing to be back afterschool. (It meant I got to have an impromptu coffee date with my guy)  I chose a medium instead of large latte. I also chose to laugh and smile when I was once again stranded, this time outside of school with a dead battery - yes in the middle of carpooling and on the way to gymnastics.