February is the month of love…Cupid flying around with his arrows of love, red hearts everywhere…couples kissing…the sounds of smooches in the air. However, for me, February has been a month of immense sadness for the past several years. February 7th is my dad’s birthday, and February 9th is the anniversary of my mom’s passing. And, because my husband works for NASCAR, they always send him to Daytona on (and around) Valentine’s Day, leaving me alone with my feelings. February threatens to envelope me with sadness, and follow me around with foreboding doom and gloom…satiated only by stuffing my face with as many “comfort” foods as I can, to fill the void left by my parents passing (that’s them in the picture).
This year, I will not let February win. I will fill my heart with love. I will fill my mind with happy memories, and I will NOT fill my mouth with food. I will not let sadness reign.
This month, I will focus on the things that make me most successful: meal planning & activity. I will try new recipes. I will get my waters in. I will let my doggies shower me with love. I will reach out to friends/family if I’m sad. I will lose weight. I will be happy. I will be successful. I will move more. I will earn a new Fitbit badge. I will push myself. I will make the decisions daily that will make me successful for a lifetime.