On Monday, I woke up feeling motivated to go for a walk. My weight has plateaued since having Phoebe and I know that in order to lose the extra baby weight, I have to get moving and eat less junk.
I have 20kg that I need to lose and I know it will take me at least 18 months to slowly lose the weight. I’ve never been determined to get to my pre-baby weight in the quickest time possible after having each of my girls. I’ve always adopted the slow approach so it doesn’t affect my milk supply and so I don’t feel deprived with my diet because I can’t imagine not eating a bit of chocolate when managing a newborn.
Anyway, I had good intentions Monday morning to work up a small sweat. I got out the double pram and while Phoebe slept and Jacob got ready for work, I took Esther and Magdalene for a walk around our suburb.
The weather was glorious. A perfect Spring day, with blue skies and gorgeous sunshine. I was grateful that Phoebe was asleep so I could tear myself away to enjoy some exercise. Esther and Magdalene enjoyed it too, pointing out to flowers or letterboxes as I pushed them along.
It wasn’t until a quarter of the way into our walk that I saw birds. Lots of birds flying and swooping above me and then I thought ‘Crap, it’s Magpie season and I’m not wearing a hat!’ I thought about turning back home, but decided to pray and keep walking anyway.
That walking scenario got me thinking about life. How often do we set ourselves a goal, go about achieving it but somewhere along the journey we get a magpie that likes to swoop in and make us want to turn back or hesitate on the path that we are taking.
The magpies can be thoughts or doubts or even unsupportive comments from family and friends. Magpies come out from nowhere and take us by surprise. Their attack make us want to turn back to our comfort zone. But there is something even worse than being attacked by a magpie and that is thinking we’re going to be attacked by a magpie which then stops us starting on the journey to reach our goals altogether.
A magpie will always go to attack your head and it’s the same with the magpies of life. The criticisms and doubt will hit your heart first and then lead to your head because it is the voice of reason over your hearts desires. The brain and heart are meant to work together, but sometimes the mind likes to take over.
The best way to protect yourself from magpies is to protect your head and that can be as simple as refuting the criticism or physically thinking a new mindset so that when the magpie thought decides to swoop, it will be repelled.
Too many people get attacked by magpies, but they forget that the attacks are only for a season. Don’t let the magpies win. Don’t let them take away your determination.
I ended up finishing my walk with not one swoop from a magpie. My prayer worked. But next time I will be more prepared and wear a hat.
Have you ever been attacked by a magpie – whether a real scenario or as my analogy? How did you protect yourself?
I’m linking up with With Some Grace for Flog Yo Blog Friday.
