Angel Over My Shoulder

The year has flown by so fast! Like you, I've had challenges and triumphs. Through it all, I continue to stay encouraged. When I started this blog back in January, I had all these fantasies about documenting amazing changes I was imagining. I looked forward to an incredible year of transformation in all aspects of my life. I pledged to take you on an odyssey of hope and fulfillment. But now that the year’s just about over, I realize the transformation I dream about is only getting started. So instead of drawing up a score card listing what I accomplished or did not accomplish in 2010, I’m affirming that the journey itself is the biggest blessing. I realize that living in a state of perpetual gratitude is the light and motivation that drives me. I realize being thankful is the key to my success. I realize living and breathing and moving forward with positive thoughts is a driving force that cannot be measured or gauged. One of the most affirmative outward expressions I took this year was to create a writing space in my home that honors the literary artist I know lives deep in my spiritual essence. I believe this painting of an angel, which is a treasured gift, is so appropriate in my “magic room.” She floats just over my shoulder while I’m writing, constantly reminding me of the miracle my life is. May her inspiration spread to your world too! Peace & Blessings Always.

Perpetual State of Gratitude

As a distance runner I am aware of the reality that sometimes you plod along and sometimes you float. Today, I floated. I felt the sensation that my body was running. I wasn’t running; my body was running for me. A perfectly effortless peaceful state of Zen passed through me as I pounded the asphalt, one foot after another, one breath after the next. First I spotted a butterfly and as my eyes followed it fluttering by, I saw a robin red breast perched low on a nearby branch. I looked down and my neighbor’s garden filled with pink and white impatiens greeted me with cheer and encouragement as I whizzed by. What a welcoming affirmation to the start of a new day.
Here’s a photo of me last Fall at the finish line of the Half-Marathon in Philadelphia. This year I’m training for the Philadelphia Marathon, with a goal of finishing in less than four hours. Yes, a four hour marathon is mine! Wish me luck. Asante Sana. Peace & Blessings Always.

A Sanguine & Winding Road

As the journey continues, I look forward. I think back. I’m the traveler on the road, seeing my destination before me, thinking about how far I’ve come. Thinking about how this journey is me; the road is me: I am gradually finding my way. When I think about food, I realize food is my friend on this journey, not an enemy to take blame, or a weakness to avoid. Food comforts, nourishes, soothes, satisfies. I love food, absolutely adore it. I love to cook and eat and entertain.
Yet as I reach this phase of my life – this juncture in the journey – I realize I am willing to love my food in a way so that my food can love me back. I realize I am willing to lower my caloric intake, eat a higher quality of food and exercise consistently in order to achieve the balance my soul is craving.
Now that I have come out of denial and owned up to all the weight I’ve gained, I can’t blame it on food or the aging process, as much as I acknowledge that the added weight represents an imbalance – an emotional imbalance - an intellectual disconnect.
So as I travel along this journey, I’m checking the compass, making sure I’m pointed in the right direction. The focus is on finding my center, reaching an effortless state of equilibrium. Interestingly, this trip is actually a journey of the mind. The road stretching out before me is a journey toward more love, complete acceptance. And that place is ultimately deep down inside. This journey is moving me along the path, taking me toward a place where I make better choices in my mind about how I want to live my life. As the journey continues, I remain ever so thankful, triumphant and confident I will reach the desired destination very soon, and that point of destination is a state of perfectly balanced health and fulfillment. Yes, as the journey continues I remain optimistic and happy this road I’m on keeps me spiraling upward on a path of perpetual gratitude. Asante Sana. Peace and Blessings Always.

Summer Solstice - 2K10 Turning Point

Well, here we are. School’s out. It’s hot. The flowers are in full bloom. Today’s the official beginning of summer. Today’s the day that gives us more daylight than any other day of the year. The Summer Solstice also marks the end of the mid-year point - the shift to the final months of the year. Once our brief summer season is over, it’s back to school, and before you know it, the holidays will be here. So if there is anything you want to accomplish during 2010, now’s the time to do it. Now is the time to hunker down so you’ll meet your goals by year’s end. What are some of your heart’s desires? Close your eyes for a moment and meditate on what it is that you really want. Determine that you will stay the course. Remain positive that you will achieve your goals. For me, it’s all about transformation. Dream career. Dream salary. Dream health and fitness. Dream destinations. Dream life. The journey continues. I’m pursuing my passions as I revel in my dreams. Yes: dreams, aspirations, prayers and affirmations. Blessings during the Summer Solstice.

Umpteen Years & 60 Pounds Ago

I want my body back! There, I said it. And looking at this picture, you can see why. I’m holding a skirt I used to wear umpteen years and 60 pounds ago. They say you can’t go back in time, but I’m out to prove that you can. I’m out to prove that I, Pheralyn Dove, am a conqueror. I’m out to prove that mind can triumph over matter, that we all have within us the ability to change and improve. My goal is to comfortably fit back into this skirt. My quest is to reach optimum levels of health and fitness. I am going about this in a holistic way, approaching change not only in my physical body, but also in my mind, my thoughts, my soul, my spirit, my finances, my career, my associations, eating patterns, exercise regimen. It’s all about changing relationships for the better. I am challenging myself on a daily basis to become a higher evolved Pheralyn. Each day I am asking myself what steps I will take to come closer to my goals. I am challenging myself to embrace this wonderful opportunity, challenging myself to take advantage of all my God-given gifts, talents and abilities, challenging myself to “seize the day.” Carpe Diem.

Happy & Sad

Today is Monday. Thinking back over the weekend, I am both happy and sad. Happy my family came together for the joyous occasion of celebrating my cousin's 80th birthday. Yet sad about our collective state of health. So much sickness and chronic poor health conditions: diabetes, cancer, heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and the OBESTY! UGH!

In my unscientific observations, I estimate that 95% of the women at the cookout were overweight (unfortunately myself included). Of that 95% of overweight girls and women, a good 90% of that cohort are morbidly obese. One look at the banquet that was spread out and I clearly understand why. There was no menu, per se. Just an over-the-top smorgasbord of every kind of meat and starch imaginable, with a smattering of fruits and vegetables thrown in. Oh yes, plus the drinks and desserts. Everything was oh so tempting. And everything was oh so delicious. And the fellowship was absolutely grand.

But there’s something wrong with this picture. So much food was on display it was virtually impossible to consume it all in one day, even by a crowd of over 100 people! But boy how we tried!!! One trip up to the table after another. Some of this and some of that and then some of that too. All under the guise of observing the time-honored tradition of getting the family together around an overflowing table of soul food. With this kind of ingrained behavior - admitting that gluttony has become a cultural acceptance, as a family we can only look forward to more marginalized lives due to obesity and its complications, more chronic diseases and more pre-mature deaths. So many relatives have passed away through the years, family members who are 10, 20, 30 and even 40 years younger than my 82-year-old-Mom and 90-year-old-Dad.

As a result of my feelings and observations, today I decided to redouble my efforts on my own personal health quest, to return to optimal weight and fitness levels. I went online and registered for dailyburn.com, in order to track my progress. Here’s a photo of me taken last month on Mother’s Day. This time next year, I promise there will be a slimmer, healthier me. Wish me luck, pray for me & stay tuned for future posts. Asante Sana. Peace & Blessings Always.

I BELIEVE I CAN FLY

I believe in destiny. I believe in victory. I believe in miracles. I believe in dreams come true. I believe in God and the angels and the ancestors. I believe I can walk into the highest actualization of myself by going into my own mind. I believe in quantum physics. I believe in quantum leaps. I believe I can maintain my perfect size. I believe I can eat healthy. I believe I can complete a four-hour marathon. I believe I am ageless. I believe I can make a beautiful living by utilizing my talents, gifts and abilities on my own terms. I believe I am always on the right path, walking toward my divine destiny. Yes. I believe in destiny. I believe in victory. I believe in miracles. I believe I can fly.

2010 - Dawning of a New Decade

Let the Transformation Begin - Part I of II
Click Clack Click Clack Click Clack. . . the heels of the woman’s stilettos strike the pavement in precise, predictable movements. . . Ding Dong Ding Dong Ding Dong. . . the chimes in the church tower repeatedly announce the arrival of the next hour. . . Tick Tock Tick Tock Tick Tock. . . the clock on the wall comforts with its dependable yield of beats by the second – each and every second. . . Ring Ring Ring Ring. . . the alarm clock on the night stand signals the start of a new day. . . Click Clack. . . Ding Dong. . . Tick Tock. . . Ring Ring: rhythmic movements mark the ubiquitous, elusive passage of time. And now - after all of this measured predictability - we find ourselves astounded – absolutely reeling. We are amazed by this relentless invisible force. We find ourselves amazed as this invisible acceleration rapidly ushers in the first quarter of a new decade. Yes, amazed indeed. And yet at the same time, ever so thankful.

As I live to see the dawning of another decade, I fully realize I have so much to be thankful for, so many blessings to praise. I am so very humbled, so grateful, so encouraged to keep moving in faith along this remarkable journey. Yes. I am thankful. I am grateful. I am humbled. I am encouraged. And, I am inspired. Today I am inspired to officially start my transformation journey and to chronicle it through this blog. Today I am inspired to embark on my year of reckoning. My year to make good on all these promises I have made to myself. My year to totally become the Pheralyn of my dreams, the Pheralyn I know exists inside, the Pheralyn yearning to emerge. Please – come along with me. Experience this adventure as it unfolds, opening up day by day, like the petals on a lotus blossom.