Fall is Coming

Can you feel it?  Fall is on its way.  Yesterday, as I drove home from work, I had the windows open in my car because it was so cool out.  I could smell that special scent on the breeze that appears during the fall season.  I love that scent.

There’s just something about fall.  I always tend to get sentimental right around this time of year.  Maybe it’s memories of starting new school years and the endless possibilities that come with them.  In my mind, it has always been a chance for new beginnings and new opportunities.

Today dawned full of rain, but with much cooler temperatures – right around 60 degrees.  It’s supposed to warm back up this weekend, but I’ll take this as proof that it is indeed right around the corner.  And with it, I’m going to take the chance for a few new beginnings of my own.

For one, I think I’m going to try to be a bit nicer to myself.  For those of us with weight issues, negative self-talk can be a problem (as it can for many others who have never had weight issues).  In fact, Diana is the one who made me realize that I’m still pretty darn guilty of it myself.  I’ve been really hard on myself the past few days about my recent slip-up over the past week.  But, as Antoinette reminded me, we all have slip-ups.  That’s just life.

For some people, negative self-talk might inspire them to become proactive and to better themselves.  For me, it tends to have the opposite effect.  I usually end up completely incapable of even wanting to do more than get out of bed (if even that).  So, enough already.  Instead of a New Year’s Resolution, I’m making a New Fall’s Resolution.  I’m going to be nicer to myself and I encourage each and every one of you to do the same.

If I slip up, I will acknowledge it, but I will not suddenly become a horrible person because of it.  I’m no less worthy if I have an extra cookie after dinner than if I didn’t.  I do think that I may have already made some progress in this area, because while I do feel bad about goofing up so badly over the past week, I really didn’t beat myself up as viciously as I might have two years ago.  There’s always room for improvement, though.

I will also stop belittling what I have accomplished in my life (in all areas) and will start appreciating the unique individual that I am (’cause I think my friends would agree that there’s no one out there quite like me – whether they mean it in a good way or not ).

Now, I’m not going to start walking around saying, “aren’t I cool” and “aren’t I wonderful,” because that’s just not me.  But if I do find myself starting that negative self-talk, I’m going to do my best to nip it in the bud before it brings me too far down.  This is my challenge to myself.  And I’m going to expect you guys to call me on it if you catch me in the act!

I know it won’t be easy, but I vow to try.

Is anyone else as excited about fall as I am?