TheRoseWithin~Shannon

Jaunuary 1, 2015

Edited from Introduce Yourself forums...

Day 1: Stepping Outside My Comfort Zone...

...by surrounding myself with supportive, like minded individuals focused on creating life-affirming habits. 

Hi, my name is Shannon. I have become quite the hermit-my not so healthy, pseudo-safe comfort zone. Ha! It was a gradual process. I noticed myself withdrawing, over the last 10 years, and felt stuck - starting various projects and goals, yet rarely completing.  I ended up distancing myself from nearly everyone and allowed my fitness routine, (6 days a week) which filled me with strength emotionally, mentally and physically, to completely wane and then stop. While the details are not important, I do believe I started withdrawing, in part, because I allowed myself to embrace former in-laws facts, perceptions, and beliefs of who I am, more than I embraced and valued my own worth as a unique individual, wife and mother. 

Enough is enough. I miss my healthy, fit mind and body as it empowered me to respond to every-day-up-and-down-life-situations in more healthy life-affirming ways - in spite of and because of how painful or difficult the situation.

Today is DAY ONE!

I'm looking forward to running again. I'm 51, a single mom of four-two still at home, 40 pounds overweight, completely out of shape, and I've set my sights on a Saint Patty's day run. My children are eager for me to begin. Me too, along with a niggling inner voice that is still doing it's best to create a little bit of self-doubt. Letting that voice go! LOL It's a process right!!  Working out will certainly help by aiding in rebuilding my self-confidence, (this I know) as will surrounding myself with others who are determined to create change.  I'm looking forward to being encouraged, and encouraging.  I hope to champion each person who has a desire to meet all goals set!   

Engaging again-in all aspects of my life-online and offline!
Cheerfully, Shannon 

ps. Portrait is from my 44th birthday. I'll post a more current as soon as I take one.

* * * *

SPARK by John J. Ratey, MD. 

This book jump started my desire to re-engage - it primed my spirit and desire to bring exercise back into my life.  After reading this book (and discovering C25K) saying "I'll do it tomorrow"  was not an option.  Dr. Ratey talks about medical issues/diagnoses, disease, anxiety, addictions and more ....

"A groundbreaking and fascinating investigation into the transformative effects of exercise on the brain, from the bestselling author and renowned psychiatrist John J. Ratey, MD."  

* * * *

A wee bit more about me ... little tidbits that I have shared in the past, As corny as it may sound, I AM re-embracing my Song, (my Songs); my beliefs AS IS. <3 

Do I contradict myself?

Very well, then, I contradict myself.
I am large, I contain multitudes.
-- Walt Whitman, Song of Myself --
The older I get, the more I realize I am just right AS IS in spite of and because of.
-- Shannon Collins, Song of Myself --

Do you see my wings?

They unfold most gracefully.

Do you see those little 
cloven hooves and horns;
my forked tail?

Can you see the little girl within
dancing and skipping happily?
All part of me.

Have I told you that I am blessed?
I AM!
The Rose Within/Shannon

There was a time in the recent past, (last year LOL) where emphatically stating, "Fuck you!" was absolutely appropriate and was utterly cathartic.

I have learned that as I continue

to love and to accept others AS IS;
and as I continue to welcome myself AS IS
It is only then that my life is touched by others.
It is only then that perhaps my life will touch another.

My Mission is to use the gift of my experience and energy in service to others; to use my wisdom, knowledge, compassion and acceptance to embolden profound connections that kindle a space where harmony and serenity, trust and intimacy blossom and flourish - one by one by one.   

Lets have FUN together!  As Rumi shared:  "Don't hide your heart but reveal it, so that mine might be revealed, and I might accept what I am capable of."  Likewise, so that I might encourage you to see and believe in what you are capable of!  

January 2: How could I forget this next quote ...

Passion makes the old medicine new: