Hello Mornings - AC

I am about to start the Hello Mornings Fall 2013 challenge.  I was going back through my Facebook groups and it looks like this will be my sixth Hello Mornings challenge.  In all that time, I have not “arrived.”  I am still not a morning person.  I still struggle with getting to bed early so I can rise early, too.  And while I started the last challenge by adding a new fitness goal – starting the C25k challenge, I ultimately stopped everything when our schedule was turned upside down.  As we faced the challenge of getting our house ready to sell and getting moved into our new home, things started heating up – literally.  We had some VERY hot weather, and without my treadmill available, I didn’t even try running out in the heat.  (I know, I’m a wimp.)

 As we have started settling in to a better routine in our new home, I am finding that I have more time to focus on studying my Bible, as opposed to just quickly reading.  I have more options in the new house for truly quiet spots to be able to focus on what I am doing without distraction.  And I even have a spot where I plan to set up the treadmill.  I have thought of signing up as an Accountability Captain (AC) in the past, but I knew that the timing was not going to be good for me.  In getting ready for the Fall 2013 challenge, it just felt like the right time.  I definitely have the ability to focus more on the goals I am setting for myself, and I have done enough challenges now to know that I will probably struggle through something unexpected as the months progress.  Honestly, I think signing on as an AC will give me an extra boost of accountability for myself.

So, what are my goals this time around? 

First, I plan to review the 15 Transformational Tips for the Night Owl.  In my first challenge, this resource was not yet available.  However, when it came out I read it - and quickly realized many of the things I had done “wrong” the first time.  I can remember trying to just get up and get by on coffee, as I wasn’t getting enough sleep.  You can do that for a while, but I was definitely taxing my body.  I think reminding myself that this is a process is going to be very important.

My second goal, though my first priority – even above getting up earlier – is to make sure that my time in Bible study comes first.  God uses many things to speak to us and I am happy about that.  But the Bible anchors us.  When I get time to study, I find that I think differently about everything in my life.  I want to make sure that I focus on getting that time. 

My other goals include starting the C25k again, taking more time to plan my schedule, being more vocal in our Hello Mornings Facebook group and working on some of my unhealthy eating habits.  All of these goals are secondary, though.  If I can get my time being encouraged from my Bible study, I know that it will overflow into all these other areas.  If I don’t, I may succeed in some of these areas but it will start to take its toll on me emotionally, spiritually and physically.  I look forward to this season not because I think it will be perfect but because I see the changes in myself from past challenges and I believe that God will continue to use the accountability of this group to work on my character.

If you are interested in joining the challenge, you can read more about it on the Hello Mornings Information Page.  Although many of the ladies I have been with in past challenges are returning to our group, we still have some room in our Facebook group.  If you want to join us, or another group, registration is open from August 5 to August 14, and the challenge begins August 19th.  Send me a message if you would like to link up with our group, and I will get you the link for my page.