“You’ve got to own your own days & name them, each one of them, every one of them, or else the years go right by & none of them belong to you.” — Herb Gardner
Love letters & feather headdresses,
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such good advice. I was just talking about this with a friend. You’ve got to own all you have, and rock that shit!
Your inspirational quotes are amazing Gala, exactly what I need to keep me driven. My plans are going pretty well so far. I wanted to keep myself more organized and I’ve sorted out my wardrobe and have been keeping everything tidy. I’ve also excersized every day and have been journaling.
I haven’t managed to stop myself snacking yet but
(like so many people it seems) it is my time of the month and I find it impossible to get through without a cupcake or two!
Thanks again for the lovely quotes, keep ‘em coming!
XXX
Maya
Good Morning iTC world!!
As if further supporting my assertion on Day 2 that the first 3 days are the hardest, I woke up to Day 4 at 6am BEFORE my alarm and watched the sunrise. Bliss!
Again, Gala, brilliant quote! It’s so true hey? Owning something means you refocus on it and refocussing usually brings us back to the present – a la Mr Eckhart Tolle’s wise counsel.
Happy Day 4 peeps! Make it count!
What a beautiful quote, and such fantastic words to live by :) Thanks for the inspiration, Gala!
today is a solid frank. not terribly fun, but hard working and sturdy. the reliable kind of guy…
so far so good for my itc, homework is coming along one step at a time… how is you? eating some veggies alive? lol
haha herb gardner! thats a wonderful name!
my itc is going very well! i also adopted your goal of exercising everyday. before this i only maybe sometimes did some crunches. i still don’t like the actual working out (ugh, physical extertion and grunting) but i found out that one of my favorite feelings is sore muscles. plus i made a list of like 20 or so things i can do to exercise and i’ve been going through it. very fun.
today was actually day three for me, and i heard that once you make it past the third day, you can do anything. totally true!
I’m putting these in my brand new moleskin to keep me going!!
iTC is going beautifully!
I already feel my outlook changing and becoming more flexible and upbeat and impervious to the stresses of schoolwork and daily chores.
I’ve also been making a conscious effort to be more in the moment and appreciate the time I spend outdoors, beautiful weather, just simple stuff like that. For example, today:
On my way home, I
Saw a heart-shaped puddle, and
It made me smile.
Cheers!
SO MANY POINTS for quoting A Thousand Clowns! oh man, all y’all who haven’t seen that movie really need to go out and rent it RIGHT! NOW!
Let me count the way in which I love you!!!!
iTC is going so great! I’ve lost one pound (probably water weight, but still progress!)... and tomorrow I’m buying a HOOP! Hooray!
I Love that quote. Thank you!
I’m still doing well at exercising each day, practicing hooping, and am alcohol free. I can feel my muscles growing, but it’s still frustrating to have only lost a small amount of weight (I have been doing this for two weeks already), especially because I’ve set prizes at certain amounts of weight loss and its three more kgs before I get a real hoop! Maybe I need to step it up a notch.
Dear Kate,
Buy the hoop now. You deserve to have something lovely and fun and eminently hoop-able.
Love,
The Universe
All this hoop business seems to have taken everyone by storm!
I didn’t exercise yesterday, due to lack of time (ok i could of gotten up early but so not my thing). And I was… well… kinda unhealth with my lunch but im gonna say spinach and fetta pastry aint as bad as i could have been!
I still havnt touched the energy drinks and I’m craving less. I just feel like awesome amounts of juice… I wish there was a boost juice near my work…
Im makin excuses for myself in the food department.. about 80% of what im having is healthy..so I guess its not that bad.
My goal of spreading my time around with friends and my boyfriend is working… all about the planning!
Ive even started to tackel a few projects that ive been putting off for sometime yayness!!
Still no word on my course as yet but fingers crossed….
I’m up to 25 posts on my blog, which is all about cooking delicious, nourishing food. I’ve also been really good about telling people about it this week, and today I had more visitors than I’ve ever had before. I’m really excited about the progress I’m making, and the progress I’m helping other people make.
One thing I’d like to start doing is generating a weekly list of what you can find at various farmers markets all over the world. I’ve made a list of all the year-round farmers markets in New York at localizing.wordpress.com/2009/..., but I can’t visit them all by myself. So I need a little assistance!
If you’d like to help me help the world locate fresh fruits and vegetables, that would be divine. All you would need to do is visit the farmers market closest to you and e-mail me with a list of all the lovely things you found there. Bonus points for taking a few pictures.
Drop me a line at localizing.wordpress@gmail.com or leave a note in the comments section at localizing.wordpress.com if you’d like to participate.
This one will be written down in my diary with big letters also, it’s great :)
Thankyou Gala!
I really love all of these quotes! they’re so inspirational and keep me motivated! as for the transformation challenge, it’s going surprisingly well! as a recovering procrastinator, i was surprised how easy it was to just sit down and do what i needed to do, once i set my mind to it. yay! also: i didn’t know where else to put this, but i thought you might like this blog: http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/ it’s by a former stay-at-home-dad who now travels the world photographing street style! The people’s style is almost as amazing as his photography! thought i’d let you know!
bisous! hannah
Wow Gala, this quote hits a little too close to home for me! Haha! I graduated from cosmetology school in late 07’, and I still haven’t gotten my cos. license {most of it is due to not having the extra money to save to take the tests}, but I feel like I keep making excuses, and if I keep putting it off, not only will my education be for nothing, but I’ll never get started in a real salon making real money doing what I love. I feel like the quote you posted really suits the situation I just described. I’m excited during this Transformation Challenge to seriously review aspects of my life and transform them into more positive and beneficial things for my future.
Thank you for being such a wonderful inspiration! I’ve been a reader for a very long time {sorry I don’t comment enough}! :D <3
YES YES YES!
My friend asked me today- you’re not behind today are you? (homework and stuff) And I replied- no, I’m not behind in such a confident voice I surprised myself. The truth of it just resonated in my soul and it felt really good :)
I set goals and why I want to achieve them(exercising, work) but as an extra bonus I find everyday not being rushed and stressed and crazy I can really appreciate everything around me. Even if in a day I just go to school and study at home, then sleep I find focusing on ONE task at a time and doing it well much easier now.
Before my life was mostly very stressful with some happiness along the way but now I have an amazing day, get stressed some like everyone else but don’t think about it.
I’m still here and better for it!
LOTS OF LOVE EVERYONE FOR YOUR BEAUTIFUL COMMENTS AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL SELVES!
XOXO
heya gala!!!
i started bad with my itc. but im trying so much to keep up. oh by the way i hid my laptop last night just to lessen the big temptation in my room hehe. im just using my bros pc right now so i could check your site. how awesome is the quote above. thanks for keeping us motivated gala! love you girl!
keep rocking!
Hi Gala (and everyone)!
I’m a little late to the party, but I thought I’d chime in, as I’ve decided to join the ITC myself. I don’t want to throw in a million resolutions and then not stick to them, so here are my ITC goals:
+ Start decreasing the amount of a certain medication that I take (and yes, this is kosher with my mental health team — I do have a lot of legitimate psychiatric issues). I’d like to substitute the medication with healthier methods of coping; soon I’ll be learning how to meditate, and I think I’ll go back and look at some of your (Gala’s) posts about EFT.
+ Wake up at 9 AM every morning — or at the very latest, 10. This will be tough! I’m a graduate student right now, and 12 or 1 has been typical for me because of my late nights. It’s not unusual for me to go to bed at 6.30 AM, whether it’s due to insomnia or plain-out working/partying. But I’ll set my alarm for 9 starting tomorrow. We’ll see how it goes.
+ Go to the gym 3x a week. I’ve been doing this since New Year’s, actually, but I might as well tack this on because I don’t want to give it up! I’ve already lost weight since I started out, and I feel really, really good about it.
+ And, since the previous goal is already pretty much under control, I’d like to add “watch less TV/read 100 pages a day” to the list. You’d think that as an English department graduate student I’d be reading a lot, but I think it’s the opposite — my brain is so tired that I just want to rot it away with bad TV! But I’d like to change that.
Thanks, everyone, and keep on keepin’ on!
Sometimes i think about the negatives and all i want to do is crawl in a ball and sit in the corner of the room.
But then it reminds me of how everyday I think positive in what ive and got and how to own it. Then I can show it to everyone that it is mine.
amazing quote!!
it’s still tuesday for me so wish me luuuck for tomorrow morning!
everybody else, have an amazing wednesday!
Hi Guys,
My progress is varying… I’m eating healthier, piece of cake – smoothies and salads are not hard to swallow! The new routine is taking a little getting used to, but this morning i woke up before my alarm, thats progress! I would like to step up how active I am though..
So far my favourite thing about this is the healthier eating… I feel just as full eating a salad as I would eating a burger, and right now all the fruit in season is perfect for smoothie-ing!
Now, all I have to do is something to make me sweat.. where’s my boyfriend?! :P
Good luck, I hope you are all going great!
I woke up without my alarm today and felt great! my mind seems to be clearer and more focussed at work too :)
My goals are to exercise more and be more prepared. i started out only managing to plan one day ahead of the other but now i have so much more motivation to plan things further into the future, i am usually bad at this my job requires me to work in 2 different places, both in opposite directions from my house. i have never really set up a roster to realise how much time i spend traveling! thinking ahead saves me time and petrol which has been sucking my funds and is bad for the environment.
I’m going well on the healthy eating, wholegrain berad, bananas, mixed nuts, homemade vegie soup, grapes, carrots & celery with ricotta. and lots of water.
My new years resolution was to stop drinking so much coffee it was EXTREMELY HARD as first but i am slowly getting there, i was drinking around 8 cups a day, now im down to 2 cups a week! i dont get all jittery without it anymore and am not really craving it either, i know there are other people on iTC that are trying to cut down on coffee, all i can say is keep going! i’ve been taking a big bottle of water with me everywhere which has helped.
I’m heading to pilates class tonight i haven’t been to one in about 4 years so i hope i go alright!
Everyone’s positive energy from these posts is giving me a big buzz, keep it up!!!
hey sweets!
Sorry I have a random question – when would you normally take 5HTP? On your recommendation (& I know it’s probably a different effect for everyone) I bought some a few days ago, and have taken in the morning as it suggests taking on an empty stomach… morning is best bet for that for me! ... but I have been feeling super low-energy & was wondering if it could be related to that? Do I need to push through for a week or so to “get used” to taking it? or is before bed the better way?
Sorry to bombard you with all those questions, wanted to ask someone who had taken it before….
xxxxx
reading all the comments every day really keeps me motivated! love to all the beautiful iTC-ers! x
Someone commented on the other post that they’d like to hear about what your raw menu looks like for the days and I agree with that!!!
Show us whatcha eating! xx
well today was much better than I expected in some ways! I had my Wednesday sleep-in which I have been DYING for – but only slept in to 8:30! It was just the right amount, I think. Although if I’d slept in until nine I think that would be fine too. & I jumped on the band wagon right away. As soon as I was fed and watered I hit the books and I was all done by twelve! Awesome. I thought. Excellent. Now i can spend the day doing whatever. But then I got bored. & freaked out over my maths work. & got angry with my mother because she didn’t want to go to the gym when I wanted to go. Some deep breaths, a hour or so in the hamock reading and writing and an apology later, I was back on track. We did go to the gym (although much later than I would have liked) and then had my favourite dinner!
It’s strange – one moment I’m feeling totally in control & powerful, but then something spooks me and my anxiety starts going threw the roof. sigh
Anyway! For the first time ever I’m looking for to TiLT! That’s a good sign, isn’t it?
Ekkk sorry all my paragraphs mushed!
a little dissapointed in my effort 2day, couldnt convince myself to go for a run this morning :( but really well so felt better about that! think i’ll change mine to just exercising once a day instead of the same thing every morning
I have named today : “the first time I made a nutritious delicious perfect steak-day.”
yesterday was “the first day I have ever made a COOKING recipe up in my head & made it & it was delicious”
(i am usually only fantastic at baking, and bake things that I make up in my head… thought until now that I was bad bad bad at cooking, but alas! not so, it seems)
Yay for my transformation challenge of chef-ness.
yes, yes, yes! i got up at 10:15 today and by 10:30 i was dressed, drinking a coffee and checking my inbox! i feel SO much better about myself already.
i know it might not seem like a big deal to some people but it really has been a struggle for me thanks to medication that makes me want to sleep all the time. the day is officially off to a good start!
Hey Team,
I’m a little slow in getting here…it’s Day Four?! But that’s a perfect example of why I’ve set the goal I have for this year’s ITC.
In a word, I plan to bring more INTEGRITY into my life. I’m a smart, ambitious, talented lady and have been playing waaay below my abilities…in all aspects. Seems it’s all bad tv and potato chips lately. I feel badly when I look back on a day and know I didn’t give it my all…and so here I am.
Living with more integrity includes remaining present, eating healthier, saying YES to the right things, saying no to the wrongs and pushing myself to be as great as I know I am, as opposed to offering only what the mediocrity around me requires.
I’m happy to be here! Bonne chance and gambarimasu to us all!
Food stuffs are going well, making the effort to make fresh smoothie for breakfast has paid off! Now slowly getting back into drinking lots more water.
I also walked further than I have done in a while today!
I love how everyone is doing so well! And even the people who feel bad that they missed something should just look at what they have done
Its only just Day 4 here now at 10:20am. When my alarm went off this morning I grumbled and sighed and felt that the snooze button may win this morning, but then I just sat up, grabbed the phone and hit off…and suddenly I was ok. It was nice. Also the crunches are getting easier to do in quick succession and they seem to be more controlled.
I just want to thank you again for this challenge. My goals seem to be coming along and even in these four days I feel like I’ve accomplished much in regards to them. However its not just in my goals that I’m changing, its my whole life and outlook on life! I’m pushing myself to do everything that comes to mind. For example yesterday for the first time ever (and I’m in my 3rd year of university) I went to my TA’s office hours as well as my professor’s. I have never sought out help from my teachers before and it scared me greatly, but I found that my normal nausea from anxiety wasnt present even though i was anxious! And the TA and professor were the nicest people and really helped me. The professor even provided tea and cookies!
It was just such a big step for me, and afterwards I actually felt some joy for my schoolwork! Its something I used to have in abundance and I knew was still deeply a part of me but I just couldnt seem to find it. So thank you Gala for issuing this challenge to help me unlock my potential.
You’ve helped me to start living in the idea of one of my favorite mottos: Live a life deliberate.
I’m doing GOOD! Never would have guessed, that I’d make it trough the first two days, but this is day 4 & I’m still here!
I’m going snowboarding tomorrow and it’s a long drive there (about 6h). So I went shopping and bought some healthy snacks so that I wouldn’t starve:
1. Bonaqua still
2. Carrots
3. Plums (it’s hard to get them at this time of the year, at least here in Estonia)
4. Bananas
5. Fresh salad with prawns (yum, I couldn’t resist)
6. two Fitness bars
7. Marzipan
8. Blackberry yoghurt
Losing weight or eating healthier wasn’t one of my goals, as eating is my favorite thing to do, but I feel proud of myself to resist those cheesebuns and grilled chicken.
Keep going, you’re all doing great!
BTW! LoveLoveLove that quote! Where do you get them?
Hello, beauties!
Today I woke up at 5:30 to do early morning yoga, then I went out for a delicious vegan breakfast (Bonjour, tofu scramble) with my best friend… today is fantastic!!
xoxoxo
My ITC has not started well. I’ve managed to break my only three ‘physical’ goals everyday since ITC started (no smoking, eating more fruits/veges and exercise 15-30 mins agday). Four days of procrastination and excuses! Although ‘mentally’ I have cleared alot of my cluttered thoughts in preparation of ITC into a sheet of goals and steps to get there. Baby steps. Maybe I’m not doing too badly after all…
xx
Well, I’m trying this for the first time and I’m slightly improving my old habits. My goals are more confidence, more creative expressions, and eat better while continue an exercising lifestyle. I would like someone close to talk to as well. Everyone around me are on their own. But im optimistic!
- Woke up decently late again, 9:30 am.
+ Ate well.
+ Enjoying the sun.
-/+ Slightly stressing about my economics class that’s due on Friday at midnight. I’m about 20% done. :D
But overall, jolly morning.
That’s such an awesome quote ^^
Today went really well for me. I’m back to 100% raw, still doing enough yoga, I listened to new music, bought tickets for upcoming concerts (I’ve put that off for weeks, for no real reason), drew and did something that absolutely terrifies me: apply for a job. I also talked to one of my long-lost friends again :) Which is quite an achievement.
I’ve already forgotten all about how bad yesterday was! Just like Britt, my whole life and outlook on it are slowly changing with these accomplishments. It’s strange.
Keep up the good work everyone!
Day Four has, to be honest, not been going so well. Iffy food, no workout because I’m still woozy from my blood donation yesterday, haven’t really started my work yet (though I have PLENTY), overslept and was late to work, etc.
I’m determined to make the rest of the day good though- I need to ask a professor for a reference, and I’m going to do reading until then. And then I have rehearsal, and then I’ll do more work.
I’m having more trouble with one of the subpoints I made for ‘health’ than anything else. The little note I made for myself under health says, among other things “Be active + proactive” and the later part of that is supposed to be about going for things I want, and getting them. Being proactive about things, because they won’t show up on their own. Among the things I had in mind for that was boys- I want to actually try to go for these things, instead of waiting around- and I’m not doing well at that.
the challenge isnt going to well for me. my goal is to gain weight, but besides weight lifting, making my meals larger, and drinking ‘boost’ im stuck for what to do,! i havent gained any weight yet, but its only day four. but i will up the weight lifting today and i’ll try to think of a new yummy treat to have in between meals! i usually just have a babybell cheese, haha. anyways huge congrats to everyone! it looks like lots of people are doing great already! keep it up! :)
i totally just wrote in my email wrong and would be wondering if anyone replied all day :P haha so i wrote it right this time! :D
Today has been a great day! Very moderate, which is my favorite kind. A little bit of working out, a little bit of school, a little bit of family time, a little bit of friend bonding time and I ate a healthy lunch …with a small hot fudge brownie sundae for dessert. Which was so worth it! I wish everyday could be like this!
And I love the quote. It makes me want to literally name each of my days. I wonder what would be a good name for today? Probably Temperance or Joy or Sarah ;)
I name today… “The day I went out and bought a Dance Dance Revolution mat + game for my boyfriend’s PS2 and actually started the iTC in full swing!!”
My resolutions were to eat healthier and exercise more… Past 3 days I’ve been in my old habits… Today I make the changes!!
Yay!!
My goal is to get more out of each day and try to enjoy my Uni work (heck, it’s ART, I SHOULD enjoy it)!
So, Uni has been shut because of snow but oh well, I can work from home. Today I got up a bit too late, but took lots of photos of my jewellery for my project. Also, with the getting more out of my day goal, I did lots of hula hooping, ate lots of protein (which I need), and cleared out one of the drawers from my dressing table.
Overall, not a bad day. But I could do better!
Awesome quote Gala! It makes me feel inspired to really squeeze the most out of life that I can.
OH MY GAWD!! My dad just took me to the local french cafe/bakery for brunch. Impossible to say no, really – we don’t do anything together, so when he suggests something I don’t like to say no. It was the last place I wanted to be right now. 5th day of iTC and all. That big glass case full of cheesecake, mousse, gateaux, croissants, tarts, as well as all the homemade pies, the temptation is too much! It doesn’t fit into my ‘healthier eating plan’!
BUT I WAS STRONG! I DID NOT BREAK MY WORD TO MYSELF! That is worthy of a comment here :)
I hope everyone else is finding themselves working through these small tests xx
Day four was great!
Woke up still feeling a bit woozy from my bout of sickness yesterday, but managed to work diligently all day & came home feeling veryvery good. Didn’t lie once, went for a fast-paced walk around the neighbourhood & explored some interesting side-streets. Am now planning on writing for a while, & then I’ll tackle the pile of books I borrowed at the local library. Good, quiet day.
& I love that quote. Also, how awesome is the name ‘Herb Gardner’? ;p
Lots of love for everyone doing this!!
A much better day! Woke up earlier than yesterday (10.45 am..baby steps…tomorrow- earlier!), knocked out a job application & had a groovy workout at the gym. PLUS whilst toiling away on the elliptical, I was struck with numerous ideas for writing, which I will start to gnaw away at tonight!
I’m loving the iTC & all involved :D
Day four seems to have been the day of the slump… today was simply wrought with drama that was SUCH an energy suck, i literally felt lethargic all day since my head was so full with it. I skipped the gym and hooping, I didn’t eat well and I did an awful job practicing my cello. But I hope to be snapped out of it for tomorrow, for it is day 5, day of the second wind!
In order to make small steps to prevent today from being a total failure, I: – drank a liter of water – washed my face – actually succeeded in not biting my nails! thank you so much for the manicure tips gala!