My Happy, Healthy, Body & Soul Challenge

I've been thinking a lot about New Years Resolutions.  I prefer to do challenges.  I'm a competitor at heart and I know I'll succeed if I challenge myself.  Last year, I challenged myself to run a marathon, start my own business and become a pastry chef.

I checked all those boxes.  I wanted to prove to myself I could do it and rid my life of bad job juju. 

So this year, my job is great, my love life is wonderful, but I have to work on my body and soul.  I have too much guilt, too many bad toxins, and a lot of deprivation.  


This year, I'm challenging myself to a Happy, Healthy body & soul.  So I'm thinking about 20 things that make my body and soul happy: 


1.  A delicious meal
2.  Farmers markets
3.  Wine
4.  Martinis
5.  Cheese
6.  Baking & pastries
7.  Crossfit
8.  Hiking
9.  Biking
10. Yoga
11.  Napping
12.  Hugging
13.  Kissing
14.  Dancing
15.  Reading
16.  Laughing
17.  Dogs
18.  Homemade gifts
19.  Cuddling
20.  Sleeping in

And I'm thinking about how I can make this all fit into my life with ease and an emphasis on balance.  There are so many places to turn for inspiration:  the French, the Italians, the Spaniards, the Greeks, the Indonesians, us Americans, and then some.  And I think I've figured out how it's all going to work. 

Here is my pledge for the New Year: 

I pledge to myself that this year I will take care of my body and my soul by doing those things that make it happy.  I will enjoy 1 deliciously indulgent meal each week and delight in its flavor and sumptuousness.  It will be a guilt-free journey to food heaven.  I will promise to eat WHOLE foods, not processed foods.  If I don't recognize something on the label, I won't eat it.  I will sign up for a CSA with a local farm and shop at the farmers market.  I will try new vegetables and stretch my cooking repertoire.  I will enjoy a glass of wine with dinner.  I will order a dirty martini with extra olives because it makes me smile.  I will have good cheese as a snack.  I will bake my pastries using WHOLE foods.  I will promise to only eat 2 of my own creations and give the rest away.   I will go to my Crossfit classes 3x's a week.  I will do a pullup without assistance.   I will hike to the top of a mountain and marvel.  I will ride my bike once a week.  I will practice yoga with consistency because it feels good.  I will take naps.  I will give lots of good hugs.  I will give lots of kisses.  I will dance with my friends, my dogs, my family and my man.  I will read a book on a lazy Saturday.  I will laugh at myself and with my friends and family.  I will play with my dogs.  I will give homemade gifts.  I will cuddle up.  I will sleep in. 

I pledge that I won't feel guilty if my to-do list doesn't get finished.  I promise that I will find the balance in all of my goals.  Most of all, I pledge to love myself, just as I am, and love others, just as they are.  This is my key to my happy, healthy, body & soul. 

What is your new year challenge?  Here's to a happy, healthy, 2011.  With all my Sugar Lovin Love, enjoy a pastry a day and don't feel the guilt crunch when you do.