Finally on the trail again!
So, did you fall off the horse yesterday? Last week? Last month?
It’s never too late to get back up again! Take it from one who knows! PERFECTION is a myth. Both in riding a horse and in staying focused in our 0 to 5 eating, Thin Within approach.
If you feel you have “failed” in your attempt to “be faithful” eating 0 to 5 — you had Halloween candy or a full-on pizza feast or…well…whatever it was…— it isn’t “failure” unless you stop trying! You fell off the horse. So GET BACK on him and GO! There are wonders to experience! Adventures to be had!
Ten years ago, my husband, two kids and I moved to the country to experience the “horse dream come true.” We did it all wrong. Someday I am going to write a book about it and save a lot of innocent (potential) horse buyers a whole lot of grief. 🙂 In our horse-buying experience, if anything could go wrong, it did. I was bucked off (or fell off) more times than I care to admit. It took years to get it my confidence back. I worked hard with a couple of very special, talented horse trainers (actually, they were HUMAN trainers…the horses didn’t need training–*I* did!).
For reasons which shall remain shrouded in mystery :-), I rode my horse for the last time three and a half years ago.
Until *yesterday*.
Yesterday was a BIG day for me. I got on my horse, Harley. I got to know a new riding friend. I have a feeling some adventures are in store. I accomplished a goal I had set for myself for this year—to get back on one of my horses!
Harley reminds me that perfection isn’t going to happen. It is a myth. The important thing is that when we fall off the horse, we get back on. Relish the NOW and all that can be!
This is what I know from what Harley teaches me:
Over time, on our journeys in life, we will fall off the horse. But over time, we do so less frequently. And we stay off of them less long. That is the way the Thin Within journey goes. When I consider the GREAT time I had out in the fall sunshine, visiting with my new friend, smelling horse sweat (nothing sweeter!), feeling him beneath me and his blowing of air (a good sign!) I can’t believe I waited so long! What was really holding me back? Fear of failure! But for three and a half years, I couldn’t experience the joy of the journey! The thrill of victory *OR* the agony of defeat. I missed it all–because I just wouldn’t try.
Yesterday, I almost let fear of failure RUIN a wonderful opportunity to re-start a marvelous adventure!
What About You?
Have you quit, restarted, quit, restarted and….QUIT…this journey? Our entire lives long, we will be on this 0 to 5 eating journey. We will fall off the horse. The thing is, we will fall off less frequently and stay off less long before getting back on. Will you get back on today? Now? Don’t stay off! Are you afraid of “failure?” There are marvels to see! Joys to experience! God is waiting with open arms to welcome you on a wild and wonderful ride!
Great post, Heidi, and so glad to know that even you, my mentor, sometimes have days we “fall off,” but we don’t have to stay down. Whatever pursuit, the important thing is to persist. Although I’ve become semi-vegetarian/flextarian, I try to apply the 0-5 scale with fist-size portions of Thin Within eating. The other day we ate out and threw caution to the wind and paid for it the next day. That alone, put my hubby and I immediately back on track to eating healthy. We, too, got back on the horse. Thanks for your encouraging blog posts and have a blessed day.
Hi, Cheryl. It is true! I have been at this so long, but there isn’t perfection. I fall off the horse less frequently..well, you know what? I don’t think that is true. I fall off the horse a lot, but I get RIGHT back up now. I know that over time I will fall off less frequently. When I went through menopause, so many things changed and I still seem to be at war with my body (and with God?) about it. It frustrates me. I am as active (more!) than ever yet my body has changed in a way that doesn’t make me very happy. I haven’t yet settled into what my new normal (for post menopause) should be like! I still am in denial I think! Thus, the “fallings off”…but I don’t stay down! I think it is great that you understand that you can combine the Thin Within approach with ANY kind of eating…vegetarian, vegan, pescaterian (is that what they call fish-only?), gluten-free…any of it! Thanks for bringing this up, Cheryl!
I love this post. I think I am finally beginning to understand how to apply grace to my eating. Even though yesterday was not my best day I don’t feel hopeless. I can just choose to continue on my journey. Thanks for the encouragement.
I pray that I can keep this perspective over the next couple of weeks. I am going to my in laws for Thanksgiving and I always feel the pressure to lose a bunch of weight before hand. But now I know this is not a healthy approach. I need to apply grace daily and not live to please others, only God. Anyway, thanks again, Heidi!
Oh Sarah! I am so glad to hear that grace is beginning to break through! No, you are FAR from hopeless! Observation and correction is one of the most wonderful tools of grace! Amen to living only to please the Lord!
Amazing! Just what needed to read after succumbing to Halloween. I think I “inhaled” more treats then the kids at my door. I love your “horse analogy”. Waiting for hungry…thanks again, Heidi, for the truth. Today I will push the restart button without condemnation. Thank you Father….. Hugs, Karon
Hi, Karon. So glad that God’s timing was right for you!
Love, love, love this post! I have fallen off my “horse” so many times that I’ve lost count! You are such a encourager, and today, I will once again climb back up on that “horse” and ride like the wind—well, maybe like a novice 🙂 — but that’s okay. Thanks Heidi!
I have calluses on my bum, Mary Anne! LOL! Let’s stay on for a while! 😉
Love the picture! You look so beautiful and happy!
Oh, Jenn. Thank you so much. There is something about being with Harley that just infuses my soul with joy. God knew I needed him! 🙂
That’s so awesome you got back on your horse! I’ve been wondering about your horse(s). Thanks for sharing this!
I’m ready to hit those happy trails again….time to get in the saddle full force and cast aside those weights that keep pulling me down. Fear of unknown territories. : )
I love this post!
“I still seem to be at war with my body (and with God?) about it. It frustrates me. I am as active (more!) than ever yet my body has changed in a way that doesn’t make me very happy. I haven’t yet settled into what my new normal (for post menopause) should be like! I still am in denial I think.”
I feel the same way about my body after having 4 bio kids. I run around a lot after my 5 kids all under 7 yet I do not like how I look. I think my denial is causing me to stay on the ground longer than I should. I let lies tell me it’s not even worth trying to get back on since my body will never be the same again. Thanks for your analogy and honesty.
Thank you all for sharing. So needed to read these. Though I have fallen, I shall arise. Micah (7:8??). Back on now. Thank you!!
So encouraging; thank you. I’ve been struggling to get back with it since a family vacation in early August. I finally returned to some journaling, serious prayer, a bit to excercise, and this blog. Thank you. Not totally where I need to be, but being pulled in the right direction. Thanks for sharing; glad you got back on your horse; that’s a fabulous feeling.
It is so good to see your “name” in the comments again, N! I hope you will just keep at it. Stay on the horse! 🙂
Glad to see you back up on your horse — literally and figuratively speaking 🙂 This posting was a huge blessing to me, Heidi!!
Thanks, Mary. I went on a ride on him on Saturday, too…wow…was that ride intense. LOL! Did Kay ever email me? If she did, I missed it.