Who is the best you?
So recently I’ve been doing a few things to try to improve myself. I’m wanting to be the best “Lacey” I can be.
For now it’s mostly taking voice lessons and exercising.
I’ve finally decided I like my voice, at least for the most part. I’ll be making a CD later this year with my voice teacher, so I’ll post some songs once that is done, maybe. We did a fun recording a couple weeks ago, and I was like, “Wow, that’s what I sound like.” It sounded much better than what I have on my voice recorder that I use for classes.
With accepting my voice, I think I’m also able to accept other parts of me, like my body.
I know I’m not over-weight or very large, but I have the weakest cardiovascular system ever, and like zero muscle mass. I know if I work on toning my muscles, especially my stomach, and build my cardiovascular endurance, then I can sing better. I enrolled the girls in a once a week class at our local rec center, and got myself a monthly gym pass to the gym there. The class is an hour an fifteen minutes long, so I can get a decent workout on the treadmill and elliptical. Then the girls also “babysit” for Sam once a week, and I go to the gym then, and she’s able to get things done while they entertain Matilda. It’s a win, win situation, because she also pays the girls, and they have lots of fun doing it, and we both get things down that we need to. (I now have to let them know when they’re “babysitting” and when Sam is the one watching them, so they don’t expect to be paid every time they go over.)
I also workout at home 2 to 3 days a week, and a man in my ward bugs me to make sure I’m doing what I’m suppose to do. For some reason being accountable to him helps me, since he’s a friend, but has little mercy for me or whatever excuses I might give. This is my third week and I’ve been able to go to the gym regularly, though I have slacked a little for my at home work-outs. One step at a time, right?
I’ve decided my motivation to exercise is not solely to lose weight. It would be so nice to lose weight, but I want to be a better healthier me, and live a healthier life in the long run. I’m really hoping that by making small changes, I can make them habits and keep them for life.
I’m also hoping that I can be a better dancer for when the play comes around each year. I’m always so out of shape, and I figure as I get older, I need to work harder so I’m not left in the dust.
A lot of this so far is so I can be a better performer, but it’s only been till now that I’ve ever felt courage enough to do these things. I’m so thankful to have Jon as my husband because he is so supportive and kind and very encouraging.
Lastly, I’ve also been reading, like novels. As silly as it seems, I read Pride and Prejudice after Christmas and it was the first book I had read for myself, solely on my own, and completed since I graduated from college 4 years ago. It was fun to read and I’m now reading Little Women by Louisa May Alcott. It feels nice to be improving my mind, or at least exercising it a little.
So I’m working on being the best me. Never mind that my house is a disaster a lot more since I’m home less, and we still use the same amount of dishes, and the girls still love to play and make messes.
I’m still learning how to balance me and the house, and the girls and life. It’s been hard, but I think overall I’m happier and I know that being the best Lacey is more important than an empty sink, or spotless house. (Not that I had a spotless house before.)
How can you be the best you?
March 16th, 2011 at 11:08 pm
You’re figuring this stuff out years before I did…it really took me until I turned 30 to realize what was truly going to make ME better. A lot of it had to do with learning who I am, instead of relying on other peoples’ ideas of what I should be or do. Now I don’t worry as much about dirty dishes or my messy house, and I have come to enjoy my own company.
Sounds like you’ve been coming to some of the same conclusions. You are so smart and such an inspiration to me Lacey. ๐
March 17th, 2011 at 9:11 am
Deciding what I really want instead of what I think you should want has been a huge step toward greater satisfaction with my life. Who grew up thinking that their life’s ambition was to have an empty sink? ๐
Much success with your endeavors!
March 20th, 2011 at 10:10 pm
OH my goodness! Those are my two favorite books!! Little Women has a short sequel called Little Men that is also fun to read.
Way to go on the working out! Just keep doing all the you can and focus on what you have done, it helps. As far as weight, you’re wise in not worrying about that aspect. My teacher was talking about a group of 4 women who were his clients that all wanted to lose weight. All in all they dropped 4-5 dress sizes but the most weight lost by any one of them was 5-10 lbs. Anyways, sounds like you’re doing great!