I hate to be the bearer of bad news...especially this kind, but someone has to say it. You're going to fail. These New Year's Resolutions that you're working on for next year, they're not going to go so well. I know this comes as a shock, but I figured it would be best to have this conversation BEFORE the end of the year instead of around February, March when we normally chat. I know that your intentions are good. I know that your heart is in the right place, but it's not gonna happen. Let me explain why:

This is my new inspiration. I am inspired by greatness, by beauty and by strength, but my love for all things chocolate and my crazy busy schedule has not allowed me to find the inspiration needed to get my body together. I've been living life in my comfort zone, married and not technically overweight, I've convinced myself that I'm "not that bad" or "at least I don't
look like that."

But all that has changed. My marriage is ending. Things are different. I have decided that ok is not enough. I am challenging myself to be more than "not that bad." It's not about weight. It's not about fat or skinny. I just want to be proud of me. I want to be great. I want to look great.

This weekend was great. I mean as far as weekends go this one ranked right up there with giving birth and getting married and while children grow up and learn how to talk back and marriages...well mine at least...had it's good and bad days, Sunday, March 11, 2012 will forever go down in history as one of the happiest moments of my life.

In true "learn something new" fashion, Sunday I pushed myself to do something that I've wanted to do for an entire lifetime...ride a horse. Now to some of you horseback riding is not a huge deal. I'm sure a couple of you have gone a couple of times, but for me it was heaven realized.

The other day I happened upon a concept that I was unfamiliar with. It's called companion gardening. As I try each season to develop my gardening skills, I was instantly drawn to the phrase and wanted to know more about it. The basic premise is that in nature there are certain plants that encourage the growth and development of others and certain that actually repel or depress the progression of their neighbors. Skilled companion gardeners take time to learn and research what plants should be positioned next to each other for optimal development.

The concept of companion gardening was intriguing to me not only as a novice gardener, but also as a therapist who specializes in women's empowerment. Immediately I began to marvel at my sister, Mother Nature, and the brilliant ways that she clues us in to how to live. If you understand companion gardening then you understand that the company that you keep can either impair or empower you. Your friends, coworkers and associates either upgrade or hinder you. Their attitudes, beliefs, actions, goals, etc. are either rays of light or suffocating weeds.

Take out a piece of paper. Draw a picture of a flower in the middle of the page. This flower is you. Now draw and number ten flowers around the picture. On a separate piece of paper write the number one and then assign a name to the first flower. Number one should be a person that has a significant place in your life. Ask yourself the following questions about the first person.

• What role does he/she play in my life?
• What does he/she believe about success?
• Is he/she happy?
• Does he/she make me happy?
• What does he/she do consistently to help others?

Repeat this exercise for all ten flowers and then ask yourself. How healthy is your garden?