Way back in January, I participated in Superhero Journal’s Mondo Beyondo, a way to release 2007 and set some positive intentions for 2008.
I had completely forgotten about (or so I thought) until I saw Andrea’s post about it on August 18th. I jotted down a little note to revisit my intentions. When I finally got around to checking the file on my lap-top, I was both pleased and surprised, as this is what I wrote:
This is the year of the novel, positivity, radiant health, and well being!!
Without really thinking about it, I have done just that. I finished my novel back in March, done several revisions, and have submitted it to two publishers. One rejected me, the other, who knows? It is too soon to tell.
Positivity – I am seeking it out in myself and others more and more often. When a negative thought arises, I make a mental note and turn it around. I also find myself seeing positive aspects in formerly negative situations. It feels wonderful to have a new perspective.
Radiant health and well being – Though I was pretty fit in January, I have had several nagging health issues for the past eight years. I took charge by commencing an anti-inflammation diet/cleanse three weeks ago. I’ve got five more to go, and then plan on making only a few modifications. This is a change for life. It is challenging at times, but I know the benefits will outweigh any discomfort that I feel now. Besides, this is about really being healthy and treating my body like a temple. Why should eating food that makes me sick be more comfortable than true love and nourishment?
To add on to that, I have also declared to exercise for at least forty minutes, six days a week. This part has been so much fun (there’s the positivity again). I had an injury that kept me from my usual yoga and rowing practices for a while, so I had to find some replacements. I chose a Nia class at my local community center twice a week – oh my goodness, awesome – and, thanks to a tip from my friend Sarah, the Jillian Michaels 30 Day Shred. Both have me moving in ways I don’t normally and seeing my body in a new light. What’s more, I now have more variety in my exercise routine – Nia, yoga, rowing, Jillian, walking, biking, all GOOD!
I think of myself like the Clerodendrum above. There are a few flowers open and smelling wonderfully fragrant. The rest are patiently receiving nourishment from the sun and rain, waiting for the right moment before blossoming into their full glory.
A sense of humor is very important. Take this photo for instance. I know that I don’t actually look glamorous, but I can pretend that I do, even in this get-up. Get-up, now that’s an expression I’ve never typed before. It looks a little funny. Anyway, I call it my John Travolta outfit. It reminds me of the white suit he wore in Saturday Night Fever, minus the mud stained bottom and paint drips, of course. 
When Martin Luther King, Jr. died on April 4th 1968, I was three years from being born. As a white girl, living in a predominantly white neighborhood, I would only be scarcely aware of his existence until I bought my favorite U2 album The Unforgettable Fire in 1984. Despite this pathetic history, he is ever present in my life now, providing me with a shining example of goodness, bravery, intelligence, and wisdom. 
