Random Status Updates That Never Happened

I took a planned 6 week hiatus from Facebook in February and March. It also appears I have taken an unplanned hiatus from making excuses. No worries, though, there were plenty of excuses especially in regards to writing. Top of the list, my beloved computer was on the fritz and, call me old fashioned, I couldn't bring myself to compose a blog on a tablet even though there is an app for that.

Now that my computer is up and running, a blog on my Facebook fast seems a little less than timely but you get what you get...

I was off Facebook for over a month! There were meals eaten, crafts done, outings taken, games played, pictures snapped -- all of which fell into that black hole of pre-facebook existence. If you've done something and did not post it to Facebook, did it really happen?

What about you? What about all the stuff I missed from my friends? If I fail to read a newsfeed item, is it still news?

Some of you had birthdays I most likely would have missed anyway, but Happy Belated Birthday! Some of you birthed babies, congrats! Some of you moved, sorry I didn't volunteer to help. Some of you or your families underwent medical procedures, and I missed praying for you (although some of you were already in my prayers). Some of you ranted about things that either would have randomly garnished a like or an immediate “unfollow friend,” depending on my mood. There were lots of articles posted, most of which I would have only read the headline ignorant to the fact the article was bogus. Some I would have shared anyway. Many of you posted the best pictures of your family whether they reflected reality or not, I would have done the same. Many of you posted pictures of the elaborate Easter gifts you gave to your children, to which I would have groaned “when did Easter turn into Christmas?” as I stuffed my own children’s baskets with toys. Some things happened in the world that I missed because I didn't have my Facebook newsfeed to tell me. Some people were forgotten because I missed their posts about what they had for dinner. I, myself, ate numerous delicious healthy meals that I was unable to tell my Facebook friends about.

Here are some random status updates I might have posted had I been on Facebook:

• This stuff is great. Like should be illegal great… #nutritionalcleansing
• Hiking in North Carolina sans kids:

• No Parking In The Comfort Zone:
  http://www.365excusesbyjulie.com/2015/03/no-parking-in-comfort-zone.html
• I never thought I’d say this: I am loving the two day fasting cleanse!
  http://www.isagenixhealth.net/cleanse-your-way-to-flat-abs-firm-thighs-and-a-fit-body/
• Anybody want to go to Book Con with me this year?
  http://www.thebookcon.com/guests/?qu=Mindy-Kaling&campaignid=61860550&iusercampaignid=85409451
• ISO: Excitement
  http://www.365excusesbyjulie.com/2015/03/iso-excitement.html
• I heart e-shots!
• Who wants to do Crossfit with me?
  https://www.groupon.com/deals/crossfit-skylands?utm_campaign=UserReferral&utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=deal_ita
• Date night on the slopes:

• Day 30: 9 lbs and 19+ inches gone!
• Loving #30daysofyoga with Adriene!
• Hitting the slopes on April 1st. No joke!

• This Walking Dead show is kinda good. Who knew?
• Do you people know there is this thing called Netflix in which you can watch entire seasons of one show in a single night? #walkingdead Feeling tired.

Also, It snowed a few times this spring, pictures could have been posted with witty captions. My heater was finally fixed. We had some leaks because of ice damming. I baked some stuff, cooked some meals, did some crafts, played some games and took pictures which I could have posted as evidence of my parenting prowess (or something to that effect).

I am back in full swing Facebook time suck mode, so news will not go unshared! And, hopefully, I will get back to writing and this blog with the same vigor. Until then...

If you like this random list, here are some other blogs you might enjoy:

• It’s How I Was Raised
  http://www.365excusesbyjulie.com/2013/03/its-how-i-was-raised.html
• It’s In My Purse
  http://www.365excusesbyjulie.com/2013/06/its-in-my-purse.html
• Distracted By Facebook Again, Why oh Why
  http://www.365excusesbyjulie.com/2014/05/distracted-by-facebook-again-why-oh-why.html
• Did I Really Just Say That? #thingsmomssay
  http://www.365excusesbyjulie.com/2015/01/did-i-really-just-say-that-thingsmomssay.html
• 36 (or so) Reasons Why I Will Never Be A Professional Writer
  http://www.365excusesbyjulie.com/2015/01/36-or-so-reasons-why-i-will-never-be.html
• 36 (or so) Reasons Why I Will Need To Be A Professional Writer
  http://www.365excusesbyjulie.com/2015/02/38-or-so-reasons-why-i-need-to-be.html

No Parking In The Comfort Zone

There is something to be said for the comfort zone – it is, umm, comfortable. I suppose we could all live our lives comfortable in it. Not that we would be lazy, the comfort zone can be pretty busy, hectic at times – with the cleaning, the laundry, the errands, work, volunteering, family, vacations, etc. A life inside the comfort zone could be a full and happy one. But, is that the life we are meant to live?

If there was a “No Parking” sign posted on our comfort zone, could we have reached a higher potential? Is there a life we are meant to live outside the comfort zone?

I recently came across this quote (on a friend’s fridge):

“Life Begins At The End of Your Comfort Zone”
~ Neale Donald Walsch

This friend recently left her own comfort zone – her job, her apartment, her life – and moved to another part of the state to begin a physical therapy program. She took a leap of faith and left her comfort zone to answer a calling rather than sit back and ignore it.

Is there a calling that we are afraid to answer whilst sitting comfortable in the zone?

I would like to say that I am finally answering the call to be a writer. But, my writing life is going along happily in its own comfort zone right now. Being a comfortable drawer writer eliminates all stress and obligation from the process (writing something and hiding it in my drawer). Writing something, revising it, submitting it somewhere – that is way out of the comfort zone I am currently parked in. The draft for my NaNoWriMo novel, for example, I have picked up a half a dozen times since November but never really accomplish anything noteworthy. What’s the rush, really, when you are in a comfort zone and no one is threatening to tow you?

And this inability to reach beyond the comfort zone stretches into many areas of life – relationships, physical activity, and diet. We can allow ourselves to get into cycles that keep us from ever really experiencing life to its capacity.

As a married woman with three children approaching 40, I was OK with the way I look, my physical activity, my diet. Sure, I kinda wish I looked a little better in a two piece bathing suit. I kinda wish I could run any amount of distance without wanting to pass out. Maybe it would be nice to have a little more energy without relying on coffee loaded with cream and sugar.

A few weeks back I decided to listen to another friend and try out a nutritional cleansing program she recommends. And I am wondering why in the heck I didn’t try it sooner! It’s like going from Good to Great – I feel great (and 10 days in I lost 6 lbs and over 9 inches)! I didn’t even know it was possible!

I am trying to detoxify my body inside and out – go beyond just OK to the best I can be…

What about you? Are you parked in a comfort zone? Can you do something today to push yourself outside comfortable to the best you possible?

Spring is approaching. It is time to wake up and move out of the comfort zone. Take some chances. Do something differently. Get out of the rut and live to our fullest potential.

Who’s with me?!

(If you want to know more about the nutritional cleansing program I am on, shoot me an email – we can do it together!)