Challenge!

I was watching Cars with the kids tonight after already walking a few miles so I decided it was crunch time. Literally.

I am trying to get to 100 crunches straight by the end of June. Tonight I got to 54 & had to stop. I wonder if I can do this? I used to do 200+ crunches a day in 2004! I want to get to that point again. Of course, in 2004, I wasn't trying to do all 200 at once, I did all sorts of different crunches over the span of a lengthy workout.

I know that physically, the crunches won't do much good since I have so much weight I need to lose. You won't see abs through belly fat, after all. It's more of an ego boost for me. Just knowing I can do it would mean a lot to me. The next thing I want to work on is REAL push ups, but that will take a while.

My kids.

I know most of my blogs are about me & what I am doing to get in shape, and the occasional blog packed with healthy tips, but today it's time for something different. You have probably noticed by now that I am big into preaching about motivation& how important it is to stay motivated. There is nothing more motivating for me than my children.

Let's start with Jackie.
She's not *mine* in the truest sense of the word, but she certainly feels like my own child. I've been with Andrew, her father, since she was only 22 months old. I taught her how to walk, talk, and read. She kind of knew how to walk when I met her, but only with support. After 2 months with me she was walking on her own with ease & even going up & down the stairs by herself!
She taught me the importance of patience and also how amazing & rewarding persistence can be. She was diagnosed with autism back in 2009. Jackie isn't a "typical" kid, she's got a lot stacked against her. She had developmental delays since birth, and it's been very hard for her to lead a, um, "normal" life. She has trouble paying attention & staying focused, and quite a bit of sensory issues as well.
She's a burn victim. You'd never guess by looking at her that over 60% of her body was once scalded by hot water (including half of her face). Poor baby spent 2 weeks at Shriners hospital in Boston recovering. Had to have a few skin grafts, too. She healed up great! You really can't even tell except for on her left hand and foot where the skin grafts are.
I hate using words like normal and typical, but as anyone who knows someone with autism knows, kids who've been diagnosed are anything but. Not in a bad way, necessarily, but life with Jackie is definitely different!

She has an amazing sense of humor, she loves to dance, is obsessed with leaves & sticks, and is a big fan of cats. She's got the most beautiful blue eyes in the world & they are framed quite nicely by hair the color of chocolate. She loves fairies, especially Tinkerbell. Her favorite toy is her V-Reader. She is learning how to read this year & doing a nice job with it. She tends to forget if we don't practice every night so we have to stay right on top of it & repeat, repeat, repeat.
Jackie lives with us full time. Her mom lives out of state. She's been such an inspiration to me and to many people who have met her. Already, she is blowing right passed the expectations of doctors, not just for how she healed up after her accident, but with everything she has been able to achieve since receiving her diagnosis in October of 2009. She is a special little girl & possesses two rare gifts for a child her age: extreme patience with others & never wanting to give up.

Now, Xander.

Xander is my pride and joy. I hope I don't sound like a jerk for saying that, but I mean no offense to Jackie by saying that. Some people have made me feel guilty for having such a strong bond with Xander & for having a strained bond with Jackie. Any step mother in my situation would probably feel the same way as I do though, and it's only natural. I LOVE both of these kids with all my heart, I just feel closer to Xander. Him being a part of me for 42 weeks might have something to do with it.
I have learned so much since becoming a mommy on November 6th, 2007. My life wasn't really heading anywhere before I found out I was pregnant. I was a train wreck. My depression & anxiety issues were on the verge of consuming me, and I wasn't too interested in making anything of my life. All I wanted to do was party. I drank almost every night. I'm not proud of it, but it's true.
Xander gave me focus, purpose. My life is still a mess, not going to lie. The good news is that I rarely drink anymore, maybe a dozen times since he was born - and that doesn't mean I've gotten drunk that much, I am counting each night I've drank here. Now, I am all about fixing my life & making things better instead of destroying everything. I recently sought out counseling & I am being treated for panic disorder. I am hoping to get that straightened out in the next few months so that maybe I can go to school next spring & help these kids live the lives they deserve - full of opportunities and happiness.
Xander makes me so happy, and gives me so much love it's unreal. He is my best friend.




These kids are my world. I am going to keep trying to be the mom they need. They are my main motivation in every aspect of my life. I will reach my goals & I will be the healthiest, best mommy I can be for them.

Reward system for working out?

I have been doing pretty good in the last 24 hours with exercising. I did around 8 miles between yesterday & today. I even used the 30 Day Shred twice, and two other DVD's. I also cleaned up the kitchen, bathroom, and living room yesterday and believe me, that was no fun. Cleaning my house should definitely be considered a workout.

After being sick all week, it took a lot of effort to get moving, let me tell you!

I've decided that I will only allow myself computer time (something I generally don't even get that much of, believe it or not) if I've earned it by working out. This is probably one of my better ideas since this is actually getting me moving! I love going online & checking cnn, facebook, and my blog. I really look forward to it every day, in fact! Now I have to earn the chance to do so, and I think it's fantastic.

From now on, I will only come on the computer if I have walked at least 2 miles, have done something with my workout DVD's, or have had one fruit or vegetable. I need to do at least 2 out of those 3 things in order to come online.

Do you reward yourself with something for working out?

I am not a fan of Mondays.

I am not sure if today has been horrible because of the fact that I had such a great weekend & it's over now, or if it's because I haven't worked out in a week. Whatever it is, I feel horrible. Learning that I gained not 1 pound but 3 pounds certainly didn't help. Good news is that I had lost 27 pounds as of last week & never updated the scale on the top of my blog to reflect the loss, so it still says 24 down.

I am not thrilled with gaining 3 pounds, but with as sick as I've been, I'm not surprised. I didn't exercise more than two or three times last week, I was barely eating & when I was eating, it was only once or twice a day. I don't think I had more than 5 piece of fruit last week. Ugh. I was too sick to cook a few days last week & Andrew got me fast food. On my trip to Rhode Island on Saturday we had nothing but fast food. At the drive in on Sunday, I had fast food. I did not drink any soda though, so I'm glad to say I have been completely caffeine free for a week+ now.

One interesting thing I learned is this: because I hardly eat fast food anymore, when I do, I can FEEL how horrible it is for my body. I actually felt sick after eating Taco Bell last week. It's the only fast food I can even stomach.... All I had were cheese roll-ups & cheesy fiesta potatoes (hush, I know, I know)  but I actually felt my body running differently almost immediately after consuming that crap. I am pretty sure I have kicked my love of fast food! I used to be a french fry addict & also loved cheeseburgers & chicken nuggets. Now I don't eat meat much (as in less than once a week, most of the time I eat none at all) so that's not an issue. French fries absolutely disgust me now. So, yaaaay.

I am trying to turn this crappy week around and learn from it, though. I am never letting myself go more than 2 days without exercising again. I am going to be better about eating ever 3 or 4 hours from now on, sick or not. I am even thinking of setting timers on my phone to remind me to eat something to keep myself going.

So, anyone wondering how I feel after one week of not working out much? Horrible! My energy is gone, my positive attitude has disappeared, and I am just down right miserable. I even had a panic attack on Saturday.

Getting myself in the mood to exercise was impossible. I just crawled out of bed today and forced myself to walk a few miles on the Nordic Track. I really took it easy & only did 4 miles in 56 minutes. But it's something! I am planning to start the 30 Day Shred again tonight, too. I even picked up 5 new DVD's today to get me motivated. One new DVD a day should keep me interested.

Learn from my mistake - work through your sickness, even if all you do is go for a walk each day. Don't let your cold rule your whole life, like I did. I gained weight, I feel gross, and I have to get used to exercising all over again. Not good.


I know that once I get back into the swing of things, it will come easy. I am just dreading what these workout DVD's are going to do to my body after a week of barely doing anything except sleep.

By the way - what on earth happened to my blog while I was gone? On Thursday I was flipping out and so excited to reach 1000 hits and now I have almost 1800 & I haven't posted since Friday!

Weight Loss Motivation.

I've said many times that the most important part of weight loss is motivation. Without it, you're not going to get very far. This post is all about ways to keep yourself motivated and help you reach all your goals. This is the big one, guys, the post I've been working on for a while now.

Buy a notebook & document EVERYTHING.

Go out & buy a notebook specifically to document your current weight & measurements, long & short term weight loss goals, your time spent exercising each day, a food diary complete with calories, whatever you want that may help you lose weight. Use this notebook daily and jot down everything. Keep a record of your energy level before and after workouts, notice that on days you don't work out or eat right how different you feel. This is a really awesome tool that will help more than you can ever realize right now. It will be amazing when you're a few months in and see a huge difference in your weight, energy level, and stamina.



Goals.

In my journal, I like to make a list of 3 little goals I would like to achieve for the week. They could be small goals, for example: this week I have been sick, so I'm shooting for 15 miles walked by the end of the week, 80 ounces of water a day, & getting plenty of rest. Last week, my goals involved using the 30DS every day, walking a few miles a day, and no late night snacking. If you do a great job & are able to meet & beat your goals, reward yourself somehow. It could be something simple like watching a movie you haven't seen in ages, or going out with your loved ones. Maybe a treat of some sort, in moderation of course!


Make a short term goal list, like mentioned above, and a long term goal list. My long term goal is 3 months. By the end of 3 months, I want to be able to ...... fill in the blank with whatever you want! Keep it REALISTIC! Don't force yourself into too much too soon, you'll burn out. Small, manageable goals are less daunting and more likely to be reached. I am keeping my long term goals to myself, and I read the list daily. Every 3 months, I come up with a new list. It's really easy.

I know all of this sounds like a lot of work, but it's really not. Once you get going, you'll get really pumped and not want to stop any of these things! You WILL need to change your thought process a little and forget about your defeatist attitude, if you have one. You need to turn every negative situation around into a positive one. If something happens that's stressful and you go on a snacking rampage, instead of getting upset about it - learn from it! Learn not to let your emotions rule your stomach. Go out and go for an extra long walk & clear your head. As lame as it sounds, think happy thoughts. It really does help.

Make lists.

A great thing to put in your notebook is a list of pro's and cons of losing weight. This may sound a bit silly, because what cons are there to losing weight? That's kind of the point. You need to see that the only thing stopping you is YOURSELF. I am going to share with you the list I created. It's a bit personal, and I may feel a bit awkward about people who know me in person reading it, but it's something I need to share.

PROS
- I will be healthy.
- Confidence!
- I won't feel awkward in public
- I can wear what I want when I want
- No more hoodies in 90 degree weather to cover up my arms
- I will be able to run around and play with them without being in severe pain or having to quit abruptly
- I will see the kids grow up & create their own families
- I will have the strength and courage to know I can do whatever I set my mind to
- I can carry what I have learned from this experience into different aspects of my life
- Everything will become a bit easier
- Losing weight will alleviate a lot of stress, and I will finally be able to relax
- Relaxing might lead to me not being so snippy
- Better relationship with Andrew?
- Sex with the lights on! Haven't done this in years. Seriously.
- I am really looking forward to having nice arms again. I know that sounds silly, but it has been a very long time.
-SKIRTS! I love skirts & dresses, and have always loved them secretly but I never told anyone. I look forward to being able to pull them off again in the future.
- Once I reach my goal, I get a tattoo & a lip piercing!

CONS
- Buying a whole new wardrobe with little money
- Buying more expensive foods, like organic fruits & veggies may not be easy with our budget
- I am honestly kind of worried I might turn into a stuck up bitch
- I will need to forget years of bad habits and maintain a healthy diet and exercise plan all my life & that sounds a bit daunting
- I will have to find a new way to deal with emotional distress rather than eating
- I will need to learn how to cook

If you look at the CONS list, it's not so much cons to losing weight, but hurdles I will have to learn how to jump over in order to meet my goals. There is really no reason to avoid trying to lose weight. No reason at all! Make this list & post it somewhere you can see it every day. It doesn't have to be in a common area if things are too personal, but it is preferred. If you alert everyone around you of your attempts and they can see it on paper, they will be more supportive and also help to keep you on track with everything.
DON'T FORGET TO KEEP ADDING TO THE LIST!



In addition to this list, create a list of the consequences you will face by NOT meeting your goals, or by giving up.



Create a "vision collage" of your future.

I know this might sound stupid, but I've been working on mine for a few days now and it's kind of fun. You surf the internet for pictures of what you want to achieve, of how you'll reward yourself, of anything that might motivate you.
As you can see, I included positive quotes, pictures of nice bodies -- although I don't really expect results like that. It would be nice to have the confidence to pull things like that off, though!
You'll notice I included a tag from a shirt, it's size Medium. I haven't been in a medium since 2004!
I also put a picture of someone doing pushups, someone with really toned arms.
I even put a bit of humor in there with the first picture. the one of the dinosaur because I am sadly just like my 3 year old son with my dinosaur obsession so this picture is PERFECT!
The picture of me with blonde hair and the piercings, that's the weight I want to reach again along with the piercings I plan to reward myself with.
The picture of the tombstone with the words "everything was beautiful & nothing hurt" is from Kurt Vonnegut, and it's the tattoo I am going to reward myself with.

I printed this out and I have put one in my bedroom, in my car, in the kitchen, and also in the living room. I won't forget to my goals at all if I keep this collage handy! Definitely an awesome and FUN motivational tool. I am creating another vision collage with pictures from a magazine when I have the time. It's a bit more fun than using paint to make your collage, but at least with the internet I can look up pictures for ANYTHING and EVERYTHING I could possibly want up there.


Use your local library!


There are tons of other great ways to get yourself motivated.
Books are great! Dieting, weight loss, cook books, inspirational books, etc. Try out any and everything from your local library and see if anything there helps you out. I picked up a few cook books from the library & plan to teach myself how to make delicious and HEALTHY meals with them. If I find a cookbook I really like, I am going to reward myself by buying it in a week or two.

Workout DVD's are amazing motivators, too! I am not sure if every library has a DVD section on exercise videos or not, but mine does. I have checked out quite a few of their DVD's and even discovered some new interests that way. Everyone knows I am a fan of Jillian Michaels. I have five of her DVD's and I love them all. 30DS is by far, my favorite. I also enjoy Ripped in 30, though it is more challenging. You want to get DVD's by someone who you know can motivate you. I love 30DS and RI30 because they have time limits, 30 days. You can choose to follow them, or not, but I find that knowing 30 days from now I will have some great results is a great way to keep me moving.

Research.

Don't take my word on all the stuff I post in this blog. Go out and do your own research! Google is the best invention in the world, ever. Hands down. Okay. maybe not quite the BEST thing ever, but damn close. I use google every day to look up motivational stories, inspiring quotes, & weight loss tips. I've gotten a lot of really great information from the internet but it shouldn't stop there. I also use my local library regularly and check out any books I can find on weight loss or exercise to get more ideas.


I really hope some of this helps you as much as it has helped me!

Leslie Sansone - Walk Off Even More Weight

Leslie Sansone - Walk Off Even More Weight

I picked up this DVD over a year ago on clearance at target. I think it was 15 dollars, marked down to 5 or so. I was so excited to buy it, but hadn't quite finished packing up for my move & decided to wait until I was settled in at my new apartment. The DVD got packed away and forgotten about until a month ago. Oops! Better late than never, right?

Let's get down to business. The DVD comes with a 2 pound adjustable weighted belt. At first I was really skeptical about whether or not an extra 2 pounds could really help a workout, but no longer. This belt is amazing! I've even used it while doing other exercises and I think it might be one of my favorite things in addition to my ankle and wrist weights.

All I can say after using this DVD a few times is this : what an amazing find! I didn't really think walking could ever FEEL like a real workout, but this DVD proves me wrong. The weighted belt is great. I use 5 pound weights in addition to the belt & even tried it with ankle weights. I really felt it afterwards, in a good way.

The DVD has two different 2 mile walks and a quick 5 minute Express walk. Each of the 2 main walks take less than 30 minutes. One of the 2 mile walks is at a decent pace, while the other one is definitely more fast paced. I like to use the 5 minute Express walk, and follow it up with the fast paced walk. I haven't been up to much exercise this week so I've been popping in this DVD when I was able. Sadly, the last few times I've been sticking with the slower of the two walks. I am sure by next week I will be back up to the faster walk!

This is a fun, quick DVD. I am looking forward to getting more by Leslie in the near future.

Exercise, finally!

I went into the pool today for 2 hours+ & walked 3 miles last night. It feels good to be a bit more active again, but my god - getting back into the swing of things is going to be tough. I didn't realize how much a 4 day break would throw me off balance! I'm not exercising, so I'm not drinking as much water, or eating as healthy. I even had a milkshake today and I tend to avoid milk that isn't organic or soy like the plague. Oh well, I can tell I'm feeling better. Half a week for a break isn't so ridiculous if it's really needed.

I got my vitamins today, which I am thrilled about. Love those BOGO sales! I got Chromium Picolinate, Super B Complex, & some Vitamin D. I haven't even been taking my vitamins this week, except for vitamin C & echinacea. My throat has hurt too much to swallow so many horse pills. Today was the first day since Saturday that I had little to no signs of a sore throat. Starting my vitamin regimen up again tomorrow!

Anyway, I have a really great blog coming up, it's a bit different from anything you've seen me do so far & that's why I am so excited. I am not sure how long it will take to throw together, but maybe by mid week I can post it.

BTW, WOW! I am only a few views away from hitting 1000. Thanks for reading, everyone!

Losing weight with PCOS

For those of you who don't know what PCOS is, let me tell you. "Polycystic ovary syndrome is a condition in which there is an imbalance of a woman's female sex hormones. This hormone imbalance may cause changes in the menstrual cycle, skin changes, small cysts in the ovaries, trouble getting pregnant, and other problems." taken from the link above.

I never really knew until today that it is believed to be much more difficult for women who suffer from PCOS to lose weight than it is for other people. In fact, about half of the women diagnosed with PCOS are obese.

It's nice to know that the cards are stacked in my favor for losing weight. Not.

If you have PCOS, a change of even just 10% of your body weight is said to bring your period back to normal. Maybe losing 24 pounds is why I am getting my period again? If you are suffering from PCOS and are able to lose weight, it's best to keep right on trying. The exercise is good for you & it helps reduce other symptoms.

It's suggested that you follow a diet consisting of mostly fruits & veggies, lean protein, and whole grains. Baking & broiling food is the preferred method - avoid frying. Butter should be used sparingly. It also doesn't hurt to eliminate as much as much simple sugars as you possibly can.


Sounds an awful lot like following a regular, healthy diet, doesn't it?

There are a few other things to be prepared to do if you are tyring to lose weight while dealing with PCOS. Eat a healthy diet like the one mentioned above, get plenty of sleep, be as active as possible, and quit smoking. I have done all of these things.

In addition to that, I'm reading about this medication that is usually used to treat diabetics. Women with PCOS tend to have insulin resistance, which can cause them to have issues with their weight. The drug is called Metformin & it seems to have pretty good reviews & many women have positive things to say about it. If I am ever lucky enough to have health insurance, I might look into this.

Do you suffer from PCOS?

Yep, I'm still sick.

I've been sick since Sunday and my workouts are definitely suffering because of it. I'm barely eating because I can't taste or smell anything, and I have no energy to get out of bed, let alone workout. Last night I walked 3 miles. This is horrible! As soon as my lungs are able, I plan to start doing heavy cardio again and picking up with my videos. I am sad to say I haven't done the 30DS since Monday.

As for barely eating - let me clarify. I am eating every 3 hours, but only a few small fruits or veggies like grapes, strawberries, carrots, or broccoli. I am not eating real meals. I am eating enough to keep my body going, but only the bare minimum. Not on purpose, it just hurts! On top of that, my throat has been too sore to drink too much water, so I'm down to about 1.5 liters a day. Ouch.

I wonder how poorly this will affect my measurements in two weeks? Do you think it's wrong that I am taking so much time off, or is it okay because I legitimately do need it? I just don't want this to be mistaken for laziness or for not caring. I DO care, I love the results I've achieved this far and I want to continue. Last night, I could barely walk at a pace of 3 mph. I usually keep it between 5-7 mph. I am so drained! Even though the pace is slow, I think I need to keep up walking - if only a few miles a day until I am better. Just to have the peace of mind and knowing I'm not letting this cold defeat me.

Oh, on top of the chest cold, I got my period today. TMI? skip this whole section, then. I have PCOS & get my period very randomly. This is the first period I've had since March, and it's awful. The pain is almost unbearable. I usually don't have any pain with my period but this is just awful. This just happened today.. typically my period only lasts for 2 days or so but the thought of this going on for 48 more hours makes me want to just die. I am thinking walking will help the cramping, but oh god... I don't want to. haha.

Anyway, I want all of  you to work out extra hard for me this week, okay? I can't believe how much I miss it! I am so bored sitting on the couch. I don't know how many more times I can play with play doh or color in coloring books with the kids before my head explodes, hahaha.  Not to say I don't enjoy doing those things, but that's ALL I've really done since the weekend! Getting a bit boring. I miss the pool, the fresh air, going on walks, working up a sweat. Ugh.

Weight loss myths.

Think you know everything about weight loss? I suggest you take this quiz! I actually was wrong on one of the questions, which was a shock. The question was about eating at night. Oh well, good to know!

I am not mentioning a thing in here about diet pills because we all know they are a waste of time. They may give you results initially, but not in a healthy way! STAY AWAY!

Myth #1: Muscle weighs more than fat.
This drives me absolutely nuts when I hear people saying it. I seriously want to slap people who go around saying that muscle weighs more than fat. That is simply NOT TRUE! One pound of muscle and one pound of fat are - you guessed it - ONE POUND. The problem is, fat takes up more room & muscle is lean. Check out this link to see what I mean!


Myth # 2: Skipping meals will help jump start weight loss.
Oh boy, you couldn't be more wrong! Skipping meals is what got me in the predicament I am currently in! You see, when you don't eat frequently, you are slowing your metabolism down & forcing your body into "starvation mode" and your body will keep the fat and burn off muscle instead. Ouch. You also tend to overeat at your next meal or snack heavily on things you shouldn't.

Myth # 3: If I watch what I eat, I don't need to exercise.
This is NOT the case! Exercise is definitely very important to weight loss, as is watching what you're eating. Doing one of the two alone is not going to be nearly as effective as combining them. You need to burn off over 3500 calories to lose a pound of fat, do you realize that? How on earth are you going to lose weight if all you are doing is counting calories? Counting calories does not help you burn them. On the other side of things, exercise alone isn't enough. If you go to the gym three hours a day but then hit up the McDonalds drive thru later on, you're just making things worse for yourself. You NEED to watch what you're eating AND exercise. I'll say it again: combine exercise & a healthy diet to see maximum results!

Myth #4: Never eat at night, it turns into fat!
I never believed this one entirely, but I thought it made more sense to eat during the day so you had a better chance of burning calories off.. I feel really dumb now. Calories don't have watches. What you need to do is make healthy choices after dinner. Opt for fruits or veggies, that's what I do! I cut out late night snacking on chips & ice cream & chocolate and traded it in for apples, broccoli, etc. Health snacks! The trick is to eat less, and eat healthier.

Myth #5 This has low fat & no sugar? I'll eat more!
This is something that a lot of people mess up on. They think that if something is low fat or has no sugar, they can pig out on it. Not true. Low fat doesn't mean no calories.

Myth #6: If I lift weights, I'll bulk up! 
No, no, no. Lifting weights will not turn you into a bodybuilder. Strength training should already be a regular part of your exercise plan (at least 2-3 times a week) because we all (should) know that these activities will lead to building muscle and the more muscle you have, the more calories you burn. The only way you will bulk up is if you're really trying to by doing intense training. The heaviest weight I own (besides the adjustable one) is 10 lbs, which is more than enough for most exercises.


Myth #7: I have to give up my favorite snacks & desserts to lose weight.
Anything is fine in moderation! Depriving yourself of the things you love to eat will only make you miserable and more likely to fail. Allow yourself a small incentive a few times a week, but make sure you keep it small. Portion control is key!

Myth #8: Aerobics are better than strength training. 
True, you'll burn more fat during an aerobic exercise, but the benefits from aerobics end shortly after exercising. Strength training, however, keeps your metabolism alive long after the workout is over. Look at it this way; weight training is like a salary, whereas aerobics is the bonus. (Taken from here, click!)

Myth #9: My perfect weight is whatever the height & weight chart says it is. 
Again, this is totally wrong. Everyone has a different body type & shape. Genetics play a role, as does your metabolism. I am big boned, for example. I am 5'8" and so I "should" weigh around 146. HA! I have always been bigger than other people, even when I was thin, I still weighed more than most of my female friends. When I got down to 170, I looked stick thin and emaciated, so surely I would look awful at 146. Everyone is different.

Not enough myths debunked for you? Well here is another quiz you can take. I think I handled most of the bigger myths here, but don't worry - I'll add more from time to time!

Motivational quotes for today:

Most of the shadows of this life are caused by our standing in our own sunshine.
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

They can because they think they can.
- Virgil

 

You are the handicap you must face. You are the one who must choose your place.

- James Lane Allen

 

What progress, you ask, have I made? I have begun to be a friend to myself.
- Hecato, Greek philosopher