Look into my eyes......

Some days I feel like the guy on that old Dunkin' Donuts commercial..."time to make the donuts". During the week, I have the same schedule - I wake up, workout, go to work, come home, make dinner, spend time with Jimmy, go to bed. That being said and me being the creature of habit that I am, I usually take the same path in and out of the office.

And I've noticed something lately and I can't tell if I find it funny or sad - people today are scared of eye contact.

I work in a large office building and so I pass people to and from the gym and to and from the parking garage and it's odd how people will all of a sudden stare at the most random things not to look someone else in the eye.

I'm not sure why that is. Where did things take a turn? Are we as a society becoming that desensatized that we don't even like to make that brief connection with someone else.

Why don't people like to look you in the eye? Are they scared you'll beat them up, hypnotize them, turn them into stone, sell them something, or worse - say hello?!?!

I'm usually a pretty reserved person, but lately, through my personal development reading, I'm learning to be a little more outgoing. So now it's like a game to me.

(say this part like the people on the National Geographic channel!!) I enter the hallway and spot the person at the very end of the hall. I go undetected for a few moments and then they see me. Mild panic comes over them. As we move closer, all of a sudden the walls, marble floors and plants become works of art to be admired. I keep my eyes focused on them, waiting for just a glance. I say good morning with a smile and we pass each other. Every once in a while I'll get the courtesy nod and half smirk - I probably scared them by speaking to them! Even by saying hello they continue to set their gaze elsewhere!

And I've also noticed that people tend to walk with their heads down. Are their brains so full of stuff that they can't hold their heads up or is it a sign of low self esteem?

I think that some people are just beat down. It's a shame that so many people are stuck in jobs they hate and aren't able to just do what they're passionate about. The world would probably have far fewer problems if people could just do all of the stuff listed in the "Hobbies" section of their resumes!

I challenge each of you to take steps to free yourself of the things in your life that beat you down and make you unhappy. If you don't like your job, figure out what you'd rather be doing and make a plan to put it into action. If you need help with this, let me know - I can help you get your time back so you can do those "hobbies" full time!!!

I will not be pinned in!

So a few days ago, Jimmy and I were at the mall and I decided to shop for a couple of things to wear to work for the summer. Usually Express is my go-to store. I love that they have simple designs in multiple colors and it's not gonna break the bank! So when I find one shirt that I like, I usually get the rainbow!

In we went - found a couple of shirts, pair of pants (I have a tough time fitting pants and Express is one store that I can usually just wear off the rack!) and disappeared into the fitting room, leaving Jimmy on the "husband couch"!

I have to say that it was a bit of an odd experience. Tried on the cute khaki capris and they fit like "mom" pants. I double checked the tag and the label and it was the correct size that I usually wear. Hmm... so then I tried on the shirt - again, size I normally wear and it just looked frumpy and baggy. What's going on?!!?

Now I've been busting my rear at the gym and have been seeing some really great results (see pics) and I've noticed that I'm not just getting stronger, but my body is changing, so that could be why stuff is fitting a little differently. I didn't think much of it right away. I'm not one to dive into a tub of ice cream or go do a massive amount of crunches if my clothes don't fit. My body's constantly changing and it's kind of a joke in our house. The second Jimmy or I buy clothes, we change, so I feel like we're always having to get more clothes for the new "us"!

But this stuck to my brain.

And then I realized that it's just Express adapting to society. I'm not the incredible shrinking violet all of a sudden (although I did lose 5 pounds and dropped 6% body fat thanks to ChaLEAN Extreme and Shakeology) - they've changed their sizing to make people feel better...most people...feel better about themselves.

Women hear supermodels all the time say "Oh yeah, I just eat whatever I want - cheeseburgers, fries, pizza, cookies..." and they go home and try to do the same thing. And slowly retail stores are keeping this "fantasy" alive in the mind of Joe Six Pack's wife. Now she says "Oh yeah, I just eat whatever I want - cheeseburgers, fries, pizza, cookies...and I'm still a size 10 - I don't know how I do it, but I'm not questioning it. Obviously the fad diets are working!!!"

Wake up people!

There are pins on EVERY mannequin to hold back the extra fabric - not to make the mannequins look good (although I bet they would have really great self esteem with as much as people say "but it looked so cute on the mannequin!") - but to hide the extra fabric so people will think that they will look like said mannequin when they put on the shirt or pants displayed.

It's time to make a change - and it doesn't have to be a radical change, but baby steps will change your life!