Today is the First Day of the Rest of My Life

September  27, 2015 — Paris, France …  I didn’t know it then but it was a start of something extraordinary. I loved to travel, I knew it since I was a young girl. My dad was a pilot (aviator)  and I was surrounded by a family of pilots and flight attendants and relatives who worked in the aviation industry on one side and of doctors and nurses on the other. I worked for a major international airline for 5 years right after I earned my degree and I don’t know why I never took advantage of traveling then. I was invited by so many friends  I made from other countries (most of them passengers/ frequents fliers)  through years of working there and one thing I realized was that though I wanted to be a flight attendant, I didn’t do it because I was too afraid to fly. (For real! LOL )  So that explains it! I have never taken a flight where my dad was not the Captain until I was in my 20’s.  Just before I moved to the U.S.,  I took a trip to some Asian countries but that was about it. Then I got married, had kids, life happened and I got trapped in this web of wife/motherhood/career woman and couldn’t get out of it until last summer.

I guess I was bad at work-life balance. I just couldn’t do it. … my kids were more important… my husband… my family… my work… then I was a single mom for a long time and I had priorities. Everything else took precedence over me.  I had placed myself last and I lost myself without even noticing. I  sort of disappeared in the background. Then I came back from Paris and all of a sudden I felt like I got a dose of thousands of  volts of electric shock that revived me. I felt ALIVE again!!! I looked for my “101 Bucket List” and started working on it… crossing them off one by one. I even added stuff that I used to be too scared to do.

What happened last summer was a miracle of sorts. I cannot begin to explain. I came back to the States with a different mindset. Everyone noticed. Did I mention that I lost 25 lbs in one month? I have been struggling with my weight, self-confidence and (positive) self-image the last several years. Now people were asking me what my “secret” was… I have none. People have been saying, “Something must have happened in Paris! Whatever it is, keep it up!”.  When I realized that I lost so much weight without even trying I had to see my doctor just to make sure nothing was wrong  because as much as I was enjoying it I didn’t want to be shocked to find out that I’m sick with something like cancer or thyroid problems  (it runs in the family) or anything that could explain my sudden weight loss. Thank God my Doc gave me a clean bill of health and  my labs turned out to be a lot better.  I’m now down to 40+ lbs and counting… I’m more focused on my health and not obsessing on getting “skinny”. I’m reinventing myself and just working on being the best version of myself.  I am finding it more important to let go of things that no longer serve me as I get older. I plan to  embark on a journey to fill my life with things that I truly enjoy which will ultimately help  shape who I am and just focus on choosing to do the things that bring joy and meaning to my life.

I believe this quote is originally Dr. Wayne Dyer’s but I could be wrong.

Fast forward 9 months… I’m enjoying this feeling. I’m walking on sunshine, the sky is bright, I feel high and happy and grateful and healthy. I thank God so much for turning my life around. I’m ALIVE!. My kids are healthy. I’m surrounded by supportive family and friends and I have a plan. The future is getting better and brighter and promising.  Thank you God! Thank you Universe! Thank you my alter ego…  LOL  (Live Out Loud!) 😉

 

Carpe diem!

LIVE   LAUGH … BELLE PAPILLON 

 

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NOTE TO SELF…