Clean Stove Top

Tonight we cleaned the stove top. It's been an ongoing process, however tonight it is glistening white, and I'm in aew at how white it can be. It takes awhile for something to get dirty and, in that process, we get used to the dirty and forget it's former glory. Now that it is clean, I almost feel remorse for letting it get that bad and hope not to do that again.

I have a feeling this isn't too far from life. The slow encroaching of bad habits, bad thoughts, and bad outlooks slowly spoil the light and delight of life, while we become immune to the absence of all the former goodness. I'm curious how many things in my life, when taken away, would remind me of a time, place, or feeling that would again bring me to a place of awe, with the inner vow not to let things slide that far again.

This week begins two new habits in our life: Sara going to the gym, and tv-free Tuesdays and Thursdays. After advice from a doctor, I (Sara) need to loose some weight. It hasn't gotten to a point of desperation - personally I feel pretty confident, beautiful, and healthy - however there is a slow gain. Without a bit of help from exercise classes, with the additional work outs to the ones I have been doing, slowing the gain and hopefully back-pedaling a bit will be feasible. I have a pant-size goal and a goal weight (it's recorded around here somewhere...), and hopefully the summer will help resolve some of the issues. I'm very glad to have found a gym that is both affordable and has fitness classes that fit our schedule!

TV-free is our attempt to get back into reading. Inspired by our friends who have implemented, and successfully stayed with, that habit, I hope to actually read books again, rather than simply organize them (which I do do very well). I'm excited for some new thoughts, new perspectives, and maybe even some new forms of entertainment (the novel was invented for a reason...). We'll see how it goes!