All it takes

So I was emailing with my aunt about Mary Kay products. I haven't seen her for awhile but have heard amazing things about what is going on in her life. She started eating right and exercising and taking better care of herself. My mom told me she looks really good and is doing wonderfully so in one of the emails I told her I heard about her 'self care" and that I should start doing that too. She wrote back and said that when her sister had come for a visit this summer and was having physical problems, that she had decided that she didn't want to go through those things as she got older so she changed her life. I think that's why I have always been interested in diet  and exercise....I always thought that if I followed a good diet and exercised that I would just fly through menopause without a hitch....or I would be able to avoid unnecassary medications and surgeries later if I took care of myself physically. i know what it takes. i am book smart on the subject. The application is the hard part. There is always an excuse to not follow what is the best thing to do....and I love candy. My aunt said in her final email...."All it takes is a conscious decision every day to do the right thing." Hmmmm. a decision to do the right thing. You know? Sometimes, a person can talk and talk and talk about something and then never follow through with an action. Actions are believable. Words without action is.....um, like a clanging bell? Isn't there some Bible verse about that references a clanging bell? Yes there is in 1st Corinthians.....it says, "If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal" . That's kind of what I do...clang. I clang on a lot of issues. It makes me think of the Apostle Paul and what he said in Romans chapter 7......."I don't really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don't do it. Instead, I do what I hate." Paul was a man after my own heart.....I do that. I feel that way. I guess all it takes is a daily decision to do right....at least that is a good start, right? As you are reading this are you hearing blah, blah, blah? because I kind of am. Seriously, if I had a snickers bar laying here I would eat that thing so fast. If I had a 6 pack of snicker bars I would eat all six in one sitting. Gluttony. It's one of the 7 deadly sins. I know all about gluttony. Take running. For so long, I dreamed of running in a 5K. That was something I thought I really wanted to do. But you know what? I am not a runner. I don't enjoy it. I suck at it and it's hard work. I admire other people who run but I will never be a runner so why bother with that? I finally feel I am over that dream and I don't feel like a failure for not doing it. But I am not over the conscous eating dream and today I feel all powerful and good about it. I know I want to be healthy in 20 years. And I know the steps I take today will lead me to a good place in that aspect. I do value my health. And you know what? I've been smoking again and I hate that. There is nothing good that comes from it and it stinks. I'm so tired of fighting that battle.  Sooooooo, I am going to simplify things and start by making a decision to do the right thing today...and not be gluttonous. Conscious living. I guess before I can make a decision I need to have set goals or at least know what I am striving for.....my goal would be good health and Life itself.....because it, in itself, is good. Thank Peggy!