This has been a very exciting year so far and I expect it will continue to be exciting.  Why, you ask?  Because I am looking at this year through a new set of glasses.  They are a bit rose colored and I like that.  I began this year with a goal - that goal was to create the life I want to live for the next five years and then back up and figure out what it will take to make that happen.

How did I do that you ask?  It was easy and difficult all at the same time.  I closed my eyes, took a few cleansing breaths and focused on 5 years from 2013….so the year is 2018, where am I and what am I doing?  Here’s what I saw:

Where am I living:  Kauai, HI

What am I doing: 

• Waking up each morning, having a cup of coffee, some protein and taking a long walk on the beach. 
• Coming back to my house, sitting on the lanai and reading and replying to emails and Facebook messages
• Going for a swim or doing some strength training or both
• Coming back to my lanai, having lunch and working on my newsletter and next set of courses/groups on line
• Every January, April, July, and October have a retreat on Kauai scheduled for 5 days of support for other WLS peeps including “the rules”, back on track, exercise, food, counseling, coaching and fun giveaways.  This retreat will be filled to capacity each time.
• Staying true to my own goals of health and wellness by choosing each meal wisely and staying physically active each day.  (living on Kauai supports both 100% - fish, fishing, swimming, diving…well, you get it!)
• Visiting with my daughter and grandkids several times a year wherever they choose to live.  Same with my brothers and other relatives.
• Opening my home so we will have friends and family here to visit my husband and I frequently as well.
• Days full of sunshine and laughter, with tears as necessary to feel emotions and the ability to move through them and beyond.

As I wrote this the most amazing calm came over me as well as a longing to make this my reality.  I know my husband sees this future for us as well because we have discussed it and dreamed it together out loud many times.

Now how to make this happen:

• First step was to close the computer business I have owned and operated since 1986.  That is almost complete and will be done in March at the very latest.
• Next step was to become a certified support group leader.  Done
• Next step was to become licensed to facilitate the most amazing classes/groups - done
• Next step was to start facilitating some groups - WOW - this is done, in process and will continue to grow thanks to all of you out there ready to step up to your own personal CALL TO ACTION.
• Next was to learn new and hone existing coaching skills and that is in process with the most amazing leader, coach and instructor.

These are daily, weekly, monthly tasks, and are all in process.  This is exciting.  The next big piece of the puzzle will be how to transition from Oxnard, CA to Kauai, HI. 

• Step one - reality check.  Once the computer business is fully closed and the support business is fully engaged it is time for another planning session.  This time I need my husband fully engaged in this planning to allow us to work together towards the same goals.
• Next step- schedule that visioning session with my husband.  I have to share something incredible with you all here.  Our 45^th anniversary is coming up in April and he wants to plan a long weekend in Palm Springs because it is close, almost guaranteed to be warm and sunny and has outlying areas for us to go hiking as well as swimming and bicycling to keep us active and happy.  The great restaurants definitely add to the charm.  Other than a great anniversary, a nice weekend away, what am I babbling about?  Yes you caught on just as I knew you would because you guys are all smart.  The universe has presented to us, at just the exact right time, the opportunity to take ourselves away from our everyday environment to a different environment and we CAN and WILL schedule our visioning and planning session so we have some more next steps by the time we return from our anniversary celebration.

It just amazes me how it all starts fitting together perfectly, like a puzzle I have just solved because I took the time to see it, speak it, plan it and GET IT.

I was banded 5/28, 2004 so I have a “bandiversary” coming up shortly.  Never in my wildest dreams on 5/27/2004 did I see myself where I am today.  It took work, perseverance, and the courage to look deep into my heart and soul to get to 250 pounds down and maintaining with a new life now and a new one in front of me.

My five year plan has me, at the beginning of 2018, sixty nine chronological years old.  Wonder if I’ll celebrate my 70^th birthday in French Polynesia, Australia, New Zealand or ?  That’s another visioning exercise to be had soon.

What can you envision your life like in 5 years - in 2018?  What “never in my wildest dreams” do you have the ability to make real?