If I Had To Live My Life Over

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Here's the poem from Erma Bombeck that we read this morning. There are many versions of this on the Internet, but this is the version she wrote in her column on December 2, 1979. Enjoy and cherish those sweet moments!

If I Had My Life To Live Over
Someone asked me the other day if I had my life to live over would I change anything.

My answer was no, but then I thought about it and changed my mind.

If I had my life to live over again I would have waxed less and listened more.

Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy and complaining about the shadow over my feet, I’d have cherished every minute of it and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was to be my only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.

I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.

I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained and the sofa faded.

I would have eaten popcorn in the “good” living room and worried less about the dirt when you lit the fireplace.

I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.

I would have burnt the pink candle that was sculptured like a rose before it melted while being stored.

I would have sat cross-legged on the lawn with my children and never worried about grass stains.

I would have cried and laughed less while watching television...and more while watching real life.

I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband which I took for granted.

I would have eaten less cottage cheese and more ice cream.

I would have gone to bed when I was sick, instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren’t there for a day.

I would never have bought ANYTHING just because it was practical/wouldn’t show soil/ guaranteed to last a lifetime.

When my child kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, “Later. Now, go get washed up for dinner.”

There would have been more I love yous...more I’m sorrys...more I’m listenings...but mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute of it...look at it and really see it...try it on...live it...exhaust it...and never give that minute back until there was nothing left of it.

© Erma Bombeck

Dan Cathy, COO of Chick-fil-A, Visits Us!

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Thank you so much to Dan Cathy, COO of Chick-fil-A, for dropping by the SHINE-FM studios this morning and hanging out with us! Here are a few pictures from the morning, plus a video of Dan answering questions listeners asked on Facebook.

TMD Interview Matt Hammitt of Sanctus Real

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...And The iPad Goes To...

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Congrats to everyone who qualified to win by listening to our show, Lara Scott during the middays, and Jack & Erin in the afternoons! We thought you'd like to hear Jack & Erin give the iPad away...so listen away!

Flipping the Switch!

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Hi friends!

For me, getting healthy feels like such an intermittent thing. It's like a switch in my brain is either flipped on or off. When it's on, I'm all in. I'm eating right, I'm exercising, I'm rocking it! That's how it was for me for about 2 years. I made so much progress.

But then... my switch got flipped off. Not sure how.. Probably a combination of having some health issues, hormones and just life stuff. No excuses here. Just the reality, that I am a back-slider. I just celebrated my 46 th birthday and I refuse to believe that this is the best of me. It's not just about the number on the scale, but growing in my spiritual life, becoming more like Jesus.. and how about that fruit of self-control?

Have you been there? I know many of us have. But this fight is not over! I am determined to live a healthy lifestyle- after all, God created this body. It is fearfully and wonderfully made. In order for me to love and serve others well, I want to get my mind off myself and feeling so self-conscious about my weight all the time. So with reverence and humility, here I go again.

Join my Facebook group called "Flipping the Switch" and share the journey with me. It's for all of us who share this struggle to mutually encourage one another and share the wisdom we've learned along the way. It's for accountability. It's for victory! My switch is flipped "on"!

How about yours?

Check it out Flipping The Switch here (note: you do need to be on Facebook to participate).

Victoriously,

Tracey

Matt Stover's In The House!

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Make You Jealous?

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We just got this from Tracey...she's sitting on the beach of St. Thomas. Cruel. Just cruel.

Today is the Day

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Hi friends,

So you know how we say, "my diet starts tomorrow, or I'm going to work out tomorrow, or I'm going to do everything right- tomorrow"? Well my tomorrow is here, today. January 18th, 2010 is my day. I had hoped it would be Janury 1st, 2010, because I love it when things just tie up in nice neat little packages like that, but my life seldom wraps up that way. And.. as it turned out, I really wasn't ready on January 1st, as evidenced by my many false starts. (see my blog from January 17).

Today. My start day is today. I had good healthy food today, consisting of oatmeal, eggs, whole wheat bread and veggies. I went to the gym and pushed myself hard on the weights. And I did the "Shred"- Jillian's killer 20 minute workout, that if you do it 30 days in a row, will make your body look like a sculpted masterpiece. Part of me actually believes that, and another part of me, just hates Jillian. (You know, "hate" meaning I really admire you but you really bug me)

So... Any other false-starters out there? How about we encourage one another and push through this thing together? It's hard to make big changes in your lifestyle but absolutely necessary if you want to reach your fitness goals. And remember, the change won't just happen on the outside. On the inside, I am really a dead-ringer for Beyonce. Really.

Smiles,

Tracey

False Starts and a New Beginning

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False Start (noun) - 1. an invalid start to a race usually due to a competitor beginning before the official signal has been given
2. An unsuccessful attempt to begin something



Hi friends,

I have been pondering the definition of a false start and wondering which applies to me. When this new year began, I was full of hope but apparently that's not all I was full of. I stated I was beginning again with my fitness goals. I was going to do the 30 day shred workout program again. I was going to go back on the Daniel's fast again. I was going to be disciplined, strong, and victorious and finally, finish this thing I started 2 years ago. I have made so much progress. Lost nearly 50 pounds from where I began 2 years ago and last year, really broke through with the exercise and weight loss finally being noticeable in losing 4 sizes.

This is great right? However, at the end of last year, I started to feel a lapse in my momentum. I was tired. Tired of eating nothing but salads and nuts. Tired of working out so hard every day. Just tired. So I gave myself some grace. A day here, a day there... Be careful when you give yourself grace. It can become an excuse, a license to do whatever you want. In fact, what I am learning about myself and about grace, is that I should not be the one giving grace to myself. God is the grace- giver.

Grace by definition is the unmerited favor of God. How can I give that to myself? I don't believe that we understand the principle of denying the flesh that Jesus talks about. Instead, we say things like, "don't deprive yourself, you did well, you deserve a treat, etc..." We don't want to deny the flesh. We want to give ourselves grace. And when I decide to give myself grace, what happens is a misuse of something that is holy. As I put off my plan of exercise and diet, whatever it may be, I slowly lull myself into this place of complacency, where my flesh decides what it will do and my spirit is the thing that's being denied.

I am not trying to beat myself up here- I am trying to grow up here. I want to understand myself and the things that trip me up from making positive changes in my life. I don't have it all figured out. But I do know this. I have had a few false starts this year and it's only January 17th. So I paused to pray and examine my motives again and ask God if perhaps I got ahead of HIs signal to start. The answer is yes. I wasn't ready in my spirit. I had not fully committed this to Him. I had not thought through what His goals for me might be, and surrendered my unhealthy motives.

Instead, I was excited about the "date" of the new year and just wanted to jump in, and finish this thing. Plus, I think I got a bit self-sufficient. I thought, "I've done this before, I know I can do it". Forgetting that it was because of God's help, I was able to make progress- not just sheer strength of will and discipline.

So today, I have found something that I had lost and I believe it will help me begin again. I found the reverence for the process. I am not just magically healed from my struggle of weight issues. I must work at this. I must approach it again with a healthy sense of fear and dependance on my God. One day at a time- one decision at a time. I can't "will" myself to succeed. I can't give myself grace.

But I can and I will call on God to help me begin again and ask Him for His grace. So with fear and trembling and a commitment to share my journey authentically.. and an understanding that denying my flesh is not optional.. I begin again. January 18th, 2010. I know it's not the 1st of the month and I may have to do some math to figure out numbers along the way... How about you?

Humbled,

Tracey

Dirty Car Contest - And The Winner Is....

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...Skip Lee!!! Mike says it looks like Skip painted his car to look like a salt landscape. Tracey agrees that Skip's car may be even dirtier than hers. Skip wins The "Gold Package" wash from Ritchie Car Wash in Brooklyn Park!
Congrats and thanks to all who sent in pictures!

Now, go wash those cars!

Your Family Safe Movie Review & More!

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MORE INTERVIEWS FROM THIS MORNING

CLICK HERE to listen to the family safe movie review from Bob Waliszewksi of Focus on the Family's Plugged In.

CLICK HERE to listen to Jimmy Page, Heath and Fitness Director of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, share healthy weight loss resolution goals.

CLICK HERE to listen to us convince Aaron Shust why he should switch to being a Ravens fan now that the Steelers are out of contention.

CLICK HERE to listen to Henry Cloud's tip #9 for New Years resolutions.

CLICK HERE to listen to Henry Cloud's tip #10 for New Years resolutions.

TMD Interview Dr. Henry Cloud

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Kitty Shred

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Happy New Year...Really?

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Happy New Year friends!

Ever wonder why say that every year? It’s not just a polite saying with no real meaning. “Happy New Year” is a true longing of our hearts. We want to be happy. We’d like the people we love to be happy. And wouldn’t you just be thrilled if 2010 were truly that kind of year for all of us? The thing about happiness is, there is no real formula, no specific set of circumstances, no one thing that can guarantee happiness for everyone.

Have you ever thought about one thing that you really wanted, you prayed about it, you saved for it, you just knew that if you could get this one thing, surely you’d be happy. Then you got it. And you found yourself wondering, is this all there is? What’s next?

Yeah, happiness is not so predictable is it?

One thing I do know, is that I am my happiest when I am growing, when I feel loved, valuable, and a part of something that is transcendent. You know-something bigger than me and my concerns.. Contributing in some small way in lifting up another soul, “adding to the beauty” -as one of my favorite songs goes.

I am one of those people who likes to make resolutions for a new year. Now that doesn’t mean, I keep them all and I am successful 100% of the time, but I do actually get it right - some of the time. I take it seriously. I want to change. I want to improve. I want to learn from my mistakes and get better in every area of my life. I believe God is in that desire and that He will guide me in the areas He is working on.

So with a heart full of hope and a sincere desire to make some wise resolutions for 2010, I sought out some help. I asked Dr. Henry Cloud, author of bazillions of books, (like “Boundaries”, “Changes that Heal”, etc…), why so many of us fail at keeping New Year’s resolutions and how can we do this better this year. Dr. Cloud came up with a “Top 10 for 2010” list of tips to help us do new year’s resolutions different this year. We’ll be sharing them with you on the air this week and updating you here on our blog as well. You can also check out Dr. Cloud’s fan page on Facebook that he personally interacts with, sharing practical insights for living well to the glory of God.

I hope these tips help you the way they are helping me. We don’t have to be afraid of setting goals, or making resolutions. We don’t even have to be afraid of failing at them. I think for me, the point is learning. And that happens when we try. What will you try to do better this year? What do you long for and dream about? I pray God will hear the cry of your heart and pour out His blessing in 2010. And with all sincerity and passion, I want to say to you.. Happy New Year.


In His Love,

Tracey

Merry Christmas from Kizmet and Me

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Anita Renfroe Interview

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