Welcome to a new year and a new decade! It has been a while since I’ve written a blog post, and I missed writing. I wanted to give you all a personal update, as well as an update on my plans for this blog, plus some wise words from Mr. Benjamin Franklin.

Going forward, I would like to enhance this blog so that it may become more of what I originally intended for it to be: a place to discuss personal development topics and concerns.

I suppose in a way that has been the focus, but thus far, my posts have been more akin to an online journal. As a reader, I value honesty in writing, so as a writer I believe it important to be willing and able to bear my soul at times. We all wrestle with some sort of personal demon(s), but that doesn’t mean we always have to go it alone. Sharing with you has helped me to work on my own shit, and hopefully it has helped you with yours, even if it was merely the fact that you knew someone else was having a difficult time too.

So I don’t think this was a bad way to start out, and I would like to continue sharing my personal journey with you, but ultimately, I hope for you to get more out of it as well. I also wanted to say thank you to those who have taken the time to read my thoughts up to this point. It has meant a lot to me.

I have come into 2020 feeling hopeful. I think I’ve moved past the worst of last year’s loneliness, and I feel more ready to tackle some of the changes I have been wanting to make in my life and in myself.

Last year, I attempted to get my external environment under control. I went through my belongings and ended up donating a lot of clothing and clearing out a lot of clutter. I still need to finish going through my storage, but my apartment has finally become a place I feel comfortable coming home to at the end of the day. It’s amazing how much your exterior situation can affect how you feel inside. Or maybe reflect?

It was difficult trying to pinpoint what I should work on next, but I’ve decided my most immediate need is to get healthier again. I know weight loss is a super cliché New Year’s resolution to make, but I have come to realize how much my weight, along with my diet and fitness habits, are affecting my entire being. It’s also something I have been successful at in the past, so I know it will be an easy plan to adopt once I make a few adjustments.

I started toward this new goal on January 6^th, and a little over a week into it, everything has been going well. I’m not really cutting anything specific out of my diet other than overly processed foods, so I haven’t had any major cravings yet. I’m just cutting down on portions and adding in extra veggies, fruits, and proteins to my meals, plus a healthy snack or two. In effect, I’m likely eating a lower-carb diet, but that’s not my focus. I’ve never believed in trendy diets.

But please allow me a side note here. I’m not knocking anything that may work for you. I’m all for evaluating what each individual needs to achieve success, and most of that means being honest with yourself. For instance, I know Keto and Whole30 have been super successful for a lot of people. It’s just not a permanent change I can see myself sticking with, and I’m more concerned with an overall, long-term to permanent lifestyle change. Plus, I’ve typically been more of a bored eater, so I think my main challenge will be keeping myself occupied so as not to be tempted to snack on my personal comfort foods.

Aside from diet, I have added a 35-minute power walk and some light stretching to my evenings. It may not be an hour at the gym, but I think it’s a good start considering my recently sedentary lifestyle. I’m excited to see what kind of progress I can make in the next few months.

Thank you for reading. I would love to hear your thoughts on what issues you struggle with, so feel free to drop me a line. Ultimately, I want to make this a cool site we can all get something out of.