Day 72 of  The Red Shoe Project has found me wearing a band-aid on my little toe while I run around in my sparkly RED shoes.  It seems my Ruby Reds have given me a bit of a blister.  Ouch!  New shoes tend to do that!  They rub against a part of your foot that's not used to continual contact.

So, it's Decision Time...  

Are these shoes worth it?  

If so, I will have to endure the breaking in period.  

Endure means to suffer patiently, tolerate, and put up with.

The Breaking In Period is the time it takes to get comfortable with something new, so that you are moving easily and gracefully with it.  

As my faith is growing with The Red Shoe Project, I have noticed there's a little discomfort involved.  For one, my time schedule has changed.  I'm up late at night writing, which means I sleep later in the morning.  I know that may sound wonderful to some,  but I sometimes feel like half my day is gone before I even get moving. 



Secondly, my financial situation has changed.  I used to know very specifically where the money was coming from and when.  I had put together a system of spending, saving, and bill paying that worked rather nicely.

Thirdly, I've noticed that my appearance has changed.  Daily, I was running around town in upscale, corporate clothing.  I must admit, I had put together quite a fashionable wardrobe.

Lastly, my job is different.  My calendar used to be very structured.  Everything happened on the same day, same time, month after month.  It was predictable!

So...  Is it worth it?  Is my new life worth this discomfort?  
Okay... I can hear some of you shouting at me, "Are you crazy? What's your problem?"  LOL.

There are many people who would die to sleep late.  Yeh!  Most days, I don't even use an alarm clock! How nice is that?  I'm slowly adapting to a new sleep pattern so that I get enough sleep, and re-working my schedule so that I can make the most of it.

Secondly, I've had a huge financial breakthrough!  Finally, I am living by faith, and it's working.  Yes... it's a life of daily manna, but that's ok... it's exciting to see God working in this way!  In fact, I'm rather fascinated by the whole process!

Thirdly, let me consider my wardrobe.  I absolutely LOVE the RED shoes!  I'm not sure I'll ever wear another color shoe again -- Not to mention that they cause me to catch what Christ is doing each day. I don't want to change that... ever!  The clothing end is crazy.  I haven't quite figured out what my new style will be.  LOL. Generally speaking... my new work allows me to be much more casual.

Most of the people I work with 

are looking for what's in me, 

not what's on me.  

They are checking out my words and actions, not my fashion style. A more comfortable look on me makes them feel more comfortable with me.  As a spiritual writer, speaker and coach... they know that I can relate to them.  They know that I'm like them.  I haven't presented to them a package of perfection that we often do in business.  My job is about being authentic and relevant. And what's more real than jeans, a shirt and a smile?

Finally, my calendar is loosely structured and rarely predictable. (Is predictable another word for boring?) These days it all about "the Adventure."  Yahoo!!!  I never know what God is going to do... but He's always doing something.  And as I learn to flow with Him, He invites me, more and more, to partner with Him in His work.  I'm loving that I continually get a front row seat to watch Him do the miraculous... not just in my life but in the lives of others.  What's better than that?

Why is it that changing our routine is so difficult?

That's what this is really all about.  My routine is changing.  Someone asked me yesterday if I liked what I was doing these days.  I almost jumped out of my seat with enthusiasm.  I'm writing, creating, teaching, facilitating, coaching, praying, believing, growing and loving every minute of it!  I am having the time of my life!

I'm also realizing that as CHANGE is taking place, I've got to shed the old ways and embrace the new.

I know that holding on to the old, 

only delays the wonders of what's in front of me.

I'm a work in progress.  But as I let go, I'm breathing in deeply, and  learning to go with the flow.  There are no complaints here as I find myself , right smack in the center of what I love to do, with awesome people, under the direct mentorship of the Holy Spirit.

So... Is it worth it?  Absolutely!
It's just time to develop a new routine:  The RED Shoe Routine.
A routine where I let go of how I've always done it and let my partner show me how it's done.

It starts everyday by putting on RED shoes!

Gail