must read monday

Recently I started reading three books that are rocking my world in all the right ways.  I am reading them in tandem, slowly digesting the passages and incorporating the practices into my everyday life.  These are the three books:

The Resolution for Women by Priscilla Shirer*

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Made to Crave by Lysa Terkeurst

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and A Course in Weight Loss by Marianne Williamson

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Can you tell what I'm working on, Ladies and Gents?  The battle of the bulge.  Losing my baby weight (finally! Cause my baby is in PreK) and my happy married lady weight.  You know how you get married, you're happy and you put on a few pounds?  Yeah, I'm coming up on a decade of marriage.  Still happy.  It's just time to lose the fat.  Never to find it again!  

It's time for me to delve deeper into healthy eating habits.  Today I said to my good friend, Holly: I'm finally facing, delving into, dealing with and kicking the crap out of my food issues.  I'm tired of the crazy cycle that leads to my fat pants!!!  

And with Christmas just around the corner, I do not/cannot/will not/am not in the mood to overindulge (because that always where indulgence leads me), gain 15 pounds and start the foolywank rigmarole of New Year's Resolutions.  I am dealing with the mess starting right now.  

I think my sister-in-law said it best: I'm not waiting till January.

So I do yoga, I shake my booty to Zumba and I deal with the heart of my cravings, desires and needs.  This is a really good thing and like I said, the books have been rocking my world in all the right ways.  So I'm taking notes, enjoying the reading and committing the truths to deep tissue memory.  Pun intended.  LOL!  I will share gems of truth with you as I continue to process through the material.  Hugs XOXO

What are you reading?

*Priscilla Shirer's book is not about weight loss, but it is about resolving to be your best self which flows in the same vein as health/wellness and fitness, ya dig?

What's "Above the Fray" Anyway?

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Above the Fray is a lifestyle, an attitude, a state of mind.  It is the decision to live life on a higher plain where I am learning how to honor the truths within my heart and live every day with intention and joy. To live Above the Fray is not a one time decision.  It is a lifelong commitment...  a journey of sorts where the state of my heart, thoughts and feelings (the aspects of me that no one can see) are growing and evolving in dynamic ways.  While the individual lessons are always different, the core element of the lessons remains the same: rise above it all and soar towards the horizon of your destiny.  For me, right now, it's all about moving forward despite failures and setbacks, loving others, letting go when necessary, holding onto hope, having a grateful heart and counting my blessings, not judging (myself or others), trusting the process and living one moment at a time.  In a nutshell, it's about celebrating life each day because every lesson, failure, opportunity or setback is just another stroke of the brush that is crafting this life into a beautiful and brilliant masterpiece.  Am I a finished work of art today?  No, not yet, but one day...

the not so much list...

Let me just begin by saying I truly appreciate the LOVE and ENCOURAGEMENT that was showered upon me yesterday.  All the support (texts! and emails! and comments! oh my!) makes me feel like the luckiest girl ever.  


Welcome to Day Deux @ Above the Fray... It's so fun getting to know each other and all...  This sorta feels like the beginning of the school year...  Getting to know the teacher... the teacher getting to know you... learning the rules of each classroom...   'Member that???

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Well, it has always been odd to me that we introduce ourselves with all the things we adore and rarely ever know (let alone tell) people the things that drive us up the wall.  Why do we keep annoyances on the downlow?  Do we expect people to figure these things out by osmosis?  It can take years (synonymous here with forever) to discover that which annoys the heck out of somebody and by then the bridge is usually going up in flames. 






My new philosophy is this: 
Know thyself... this includes the LOVES and the NOT SO MUCHSIES.  
This link will take you to my LOVES: 
http://sharitabent.blogspot.com/p/about-me.html

BUT since this post is not about my LOVES...  Ladies & Gentlemen...

My Not So Much List:
junk mail
stank breath
lazy peeps
charging my cell phone (can someone create a solution for this already?)
frowning
deviled eggs
miscommunication
gossip
anything cookie cutter
one way relationships 
pessimism
potato salad
ppl who talk while the movie is playing 
envy
strife
negativity
heavy winter coats
talking when I'm sleepy/hungry or first thing in the AM
mayo, ketchup, pickles, mustard
liars
energy vampires
idle chitchat
whipped cake frosting (gag!!!)
tuna
mean people
drama kings or queens
haters
labels/stereotypes
moles having a hayday in my backyard
prejudices 
living a mediocre existence (not honoring my dreams and passions)
denial
snakes
personal space invaders
stinky burps to the face or burps in close quarters




I initially came across the idea of a NO List in an awesome book by Cheryl Richardson called The Art of Extreme Self Care.  The idea seemed selfish and pessimistic to me at first glance; however, I am starting to realize:


The power of knowing how and when to say NO will allow me to say YES appropriately and without reservation.  



What about you... 
Are you any good at saying NO?  
What are some of the things on your Not So Much List?  

Hey Yall!!!

Welcome to my corner of the web!  I am so excited to be posting my FIRST blog!  I wanted to start a blog years ago, but I kept making excuses.  Finally, I'm over it!  I've put it off long enough... so today is the day!!!!!  Here at Above the Fray, I hope to provide encouragement and inspiration for folks to live out their dreams, discuss life challenges and find solutions, fully embrace the adventure of life, share the laughter & love, navigate the ups and downs, and never ever ever give up!
By nature, I am an encourager and a dreamer ... eternally optimistic and genuinely enthusiastic (unless I'm sleepy or hungry and then... not so much).  I appreciate good music, hot tea, connecting with others, true friends, supportive family, just about anything vintage, hugs and laughter that makes my side hurt.  I am a deeply creative, highly sensitive person who is often thinking outside of the typical parameters.  Without a doubt, I believe that everyone has the gifting and ability to contribute something that is special and unique to the world.  Everyday everyone gets another chance to live their best life.  If life sucks today, be encouraged...things will get better!  If your life is already good, well things can just keep getting better.  YOU, your attitude and your circle of influence are major determining factors.  
Let's support and motivate each another along the road of authentic living!  
I'm gonna make a difference in this world and I know that you can too!  I do hope you'll join me.  It'll be a fun ride!!! There's a little piece of the dream in my heart...  Writing this blog to you today is a part of my dream.  What's your dream?