I’m back! – sometimes real life gets in the way of these challenges. Today I will sort out those that I have finished and get updates written up. After all these challenges are not going to do themselves.

when you are giving speeches and writing books.

I’m back and about to do some more challenges… I have a few that I’ve mastered.. I’m signing off on the meditation challenge (I must admit it’s my own version of meditation but I am doing for 45 mins, 3 times a week and I’m loving it).. and I’m about to start what may be the best challenge of all – Raising money for an amazing young girl to go to camp bon coeur (a summer camp for kids with heart conditions). She is amazing and you will all fall in love with her just the way I have.. information is coming soon, and video…

What I’d really like is some 5 minute challenges that I can do on video… is there something you want me to do / to attempt ?? Let me know by leaving a comment and I’ll give it a go…

Although for the past few weeks I have been completely buried in ‘book writing world’ I have still had time to work on a couple of challenges…see you’d thought I’d forgotten. Here are some of the updates and some stuff you can do to be part of the challenges…

I went last weekend to watch a rugby match at UL. Photos will be uploaded soon. It was a beautiful sunny day and I must admit it felt like being in England again. The shouts from the crowd were just as humorous and pointed. The team played really well and won by an excessive margin. Photos coming soon.

I have also been working on my weight loss and fitness goals. I have lost 10lbs so far (since March 1st) and am loving how it feels. Thirty-five to go. Aiming for sometime in July to complete this goal. Feel free to hold me to this! I have been working out most days and writing down everything I eat. I have been using ‘Lose It!’ on my iphone (a free app) and it’s keeping me on track. I put in everything I eat, even the stuff I shouldn’t be eating. It keeps track of calories and protein/carb/fat ratios. I’m a sucker for information.

I have updated some other goals as well. My business plan is complete, and a few other things are started.

I have just started on the 45 healthy meals and have decided I need help. Do you want to send me your favorite healthy meal? I’d love to publish it. I’d put it together in a free ebook and give you credit (and a link). I think it would be fun that way…

I’m about to start raising money to send an awesome girl to Camp Bon Couer (a summer camp for kids with heart problems)- stand by for more info about this. I know who she is but haven’t met her yet.

If you have any fun, quick challenges I’d love to hear from you. I need some more to complete 45.

As you all know I have been neglectful of these challenges for a while. Sometimes life happens, sometimes it teaches you things. Every now and then we need to sit down and re-evaluate our lives. Being sick really knocked me sideways for a while and made me realize what my priorities are.

I’m loving doing these challenges and intend to continue with them. Some won’t get done. At the moment my knees are preventing me from even training for the half-marathon but I’m going to lose weight and get fit and see what happens from there. The 45lbs weight loss is still something I intend to acheive.. I’m heading in the right direction.. slowly.

I’m not sure the horse-thing is going to happen, sometimes life gets in the way of the person who challenged you too. I know Maritza has become incredible successful and busy (and engaged) and it may be something we have to do another time. I know we will end up doing something together, probably speaking. She is a dynamic presenter.

I did complete most of the talk to strangers for 45 days challenge, I just couldn’t keep bringing myself to write the blog posts. I felt increasingly like I was betraying my conversation. I wondered how those people would feel if they read about themselves online. I did learn a lot from it though – I learned that starting a conversation with anyone, anywhere is quite easy if you are geniune. I learned that if you look for the positive in people you always find it. Ok, maybe I didn’t learn that, but it was reinforced. I’m going to count this challenge as complete. I have notes on all the encounters if you want to check. If I ever get to write the great American/British novel I already have a great character list.

There are a few other things happening at the moment. I’m going to meet with the people from Camp Bon Couer soon and see about fundraising. I am also going next week to give a speech at the local hospice. I am working on some of the others, getting closer to the meditation goal (post coming up on that sometime soon).

So this week I’ll look at all the goals, re-evaluate where I am and what I can do. If you have new goals for me I’d like some fun, but quick ones. I’m 100% committed to writing my new book at the moment and have to put that first, so any challenges that take a short time and bring some fun would be welcomed. I will commit to posting more. I know many of you are following along with this journey. Maybe this is a chance for us to all take a step back and look at what we’ve done and what we intend to do.

Thanks for reading and I look forward to getting a challenge from you. I challenge you.

It’s been a tough year so far. I have been out for a few weeks just exhausted. I went to the doctor. It’s only the second time I’ve been to a doctor in the last 7 years (that tells you I was sick).

He ran a whole load of blood tests, looking at my kidneys, my thyroid and of course (cos I’m THAT age, my hormones).. all the tests were clear and good. It looks like what had floored me was down to a major vitamin D deficiency (and some other minor things) Wow. I got a shot yesterday and took a supplement today and I’m already back. I actually have some energy and focus. Vitamin D is activated through sunlight and it’s been a cold winter (for Louisiana), we also, these days, have make-up with built in sunscreen, more protective clothes.. we need Vitamin D. We get it from Oily fish, egg yolks, cheese and foods that have D added (cereal, milk etc). I’m no expert but have been shocked by how bad this had made me feel. I intend now to learn a lot more about my body, and what it needs. Big wake up call.

In short, I’m back – prepare for the challenges to resume.