A day of awesome

Some days are just extra-awesome.  Yesterday was one of them for me.

My son made breakfast for the two of us.  He had offered the previous evening but I wasn’t sure that he’d remember or that the offer would still stand.  Well, he was still game so we had fried eggs and toast (as a sandwich, which I haven’t done in a long time!).  I was impressed that he had learned how to fry eggs the way we both like – hard and no runny stuff for me and perfectly “leaky” for him (ewwww).  :-)

After breakfast, we headed to church where there was a really great message on Adoption, Liberation, and Formation.  If I go into all of that right now, this will be a very long post so maybe another time!

After church, I really needed some coffee (I was completely out at home) so I stopped to get a specialty coffee – not something I do often but I needed to keep myself occupied for what was coming next…  Driving practice!!  Haha, my son had no idea that I had that in mind.

We went to a fairly empty parking lot near a restaurant where we would be joining a large group of friends for lunch.  We drove around and around, not just in circles but following different paths throughout the lot.  He did pretty good and I wasn’t quite as scared as I expected.  (It helped that we weren’t dealing with any moving traffic this time, haha.)

Then it was time to join a group of friends at a Thai & Sushi restaurant.  Mmmmm!  I do love Thai food but I hadn’t had sushi in I-don’t-know-how-long!  So sushi it was for me (and a few bites of my son’s Pad Thai – also delicious!) and good times catching up with people I hadn’t seen in a long time.

After a leisure lunch, my son and I enjoyed a few more hours together before I had to drop him off.  And then I went for a run!  My longest and farthest run so far.  Slower than I’d like but maybe that’s what happens when barbershop quartet songs somehow find their way into the music playlist….  (I bet no one else on the trails had a playlist even close to mine!).  I won’t let the speed (or lack thereof) get me down because I can always work on that and right now I’m still exploring this whole running thing!!

Oh, even better, I found an app that donates to charities that you select according to the distance you walk, run, or bike!  So the run I was going to do anyway ALSO benefited Habitat for Humanity!  Win-win!!

Then shower, dinner, and SLEEPY TIME!  All in all, a day of awesome.  :-) 

What happens when you try

I haven’t written about my dreams in a while.

The one I had last night had to do with a race with various obstacles.  The interesting thing is that it wasn’t so much a matter of time but a matter of completion.

I only remember one obstacle in the dream and this is the one that mattered.  This obstacle could only be attempted by one person at a time and the activity was kept hidden from other participants.

The race thus far had been physically challenging but nothing I couldn’t overcome.  But I could tell that there were other participants much more fit than myself who couldn’t pass this next obstacle and had to give up the race.  I wondered what the obstacle was but no communication or hints were allowed.

My turn came.  I went through the door, down some steps, and came into a room with a small tight window.  I had to somehow get through that window to continue the course.  It didn’t look possible.  Even if I got my upper body through the opening there was no way my hips would fit.  I would be absolutely stuck.  Even a child wouldn’t make it through that little window.  It looked like a set-up to me.

But I wasn’t ready to give in just yet.  At each obstacle, there was a race official monitoring progress (or lack of progress).  They weren’t allowed to help or offer suggestions.  I knew this and wasn’t going to ask.  But I decided to ask this official if he had completed this race himself before.  He nodded his head and then waited to see what I would do.

I looked at him and I looked at the window.  He was bigger than me but still managed to get through??  How did he force himself through when he got stuck?  Crazy upper body strength?  If the extra-fit people ahead of me couldn’t do it, how could I?  I stared at the window wondering if there was an angle that could work.  I couldn’t see a solution.

I approached the window and felt the wooden edges.  I was just going to have to try.  If I got stuck, well that would be embarrassing but it was better than not trying at all.  I put my head and shoulders through and then turned carefully so I could get better push leverage than trying to pull myself through.  I could already feel the edges of the window around my body and my hips were next.

This was going to be the tough part.  I was kinda sitting on the ledge and began to push against the window and wall to force myself through.  I felt myself getting stuck.  I pushed harder.  And then I felt the window giving way and retreating INTO the walls!  There really WAS more room!  It was a trick window and required just enough pressure to release the barriers within the wall.

I was astonished.  This window was no problem after all!  But why didn’t so many other participants get through?  Then the race official smiled and nodded.  “The others didn’t even try.  They thought they were going to get stuck and they weren’t willing to take the chance.  They gave up when all they had to do was try.”

That’s it.  Just TRYING made all the difference.

Today is a new day

I am brand new to running.

I take that back.  I have logs from when I tried various running programs back in 2002, 2006, and 2011.  Those attempts didn’t exactly stick – maybe I never figured out how to push myself, maybe I didn’t want it bad enough at the time.

But today is a new day.

Recently I asked a friend why I still struggle with running since I’m definitely more fit than I used to be.  She asked if it was my legs or my lungs that were the problem.  And then I realized that it was neither.  Yes, they both feel uncomfortable at various times but the problem is mostly mental.

Guess what:  defeatist thoughts don’t help – duh!  I found a quote today that stated, “If you think you can’t run, just stop thinking.”  Ha!  So simple!  So no more negativity and so what if it didn’t work in the past.

I said, “Today is a new day!”

So I found a bunch of motivational running images and quotes for personal inspiration.  Most are saved on my own computer for future reference but I’ll post a few here in case they help anyone else.

Whatever your goal, whether running or otherwise, you’ve got to get your head in the game and it needs to be on YOUR side!

Two Roads

I remember my first encounter with Robert Frost’s poem “The Road Not Taken”.  It was an assignment in 6^th or 7^th grade and I was not impressed.  Aunt Karen (we referred to adults as aunts and uncles) was introducing me to different styles of poetry.

I expected the rhyming and flow to be different so I didn’t know how to read it.  But I loved the message and it has stuck with me for years.

We make choices throughout life that take us down different paths.  Sometimes we come full circle and get to try another option.  But even then, our experiences influence whether we take the other path or how we perceive whatever we encounter down that path.  Whether we repeat a path or take a new one, it’s not the exact same experience.

But that’s not really my point.  What I especially love about this poem is the selection of the path less frequented.  It’s taking a risk.  Volunteering for an adventure.  Not that the worn path is necessarily safe, but that taking a chance on the unknown is that much more appealing.  Worth the effort.

And THAT has made all the difference.

THE ROAD NOT TAKEN by Robert Frost Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;	5
Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,	10
And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.	15
I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

ADHD/ADD awareness month

It turns out that my birthday month is also A.D.H.D./A.D.D. awareness month.  Hmmm, coincidence?  Um, ok, probably…  :-)

Personally, I love the uniqueness (some might call it randomness, etc) found in the A.D.D. people I know.  Fresh perspectives all the time (what with all the squirrel action, you know).

Seriously though, it does have its downsides, particularly if you can’t calm your mind to sleep.  I never understood the sheep counting thing.  It takes too much focus to think only about sheep which defeats the purpose of relaxing.  I could never conjure up the sheep anyway.

Regardless, I think A.D.D. is pretty awesome when you learn how to make it work for you instead of against you.  Some folks might not get it but that doesn’t change awesome!

Getting high

I got high last night and I’m still feeling it.  No, no.  Not drugs.  Workout high!!

When I first joined the gym and everything here was new, I got workout highs after most classes.  And definitely after every personal training session.  (This isn’t news to you if you’ve read some of my earlier posts.)

It is an amazing feeling!!  And I didn’t realize I had been missing it until it came back to me last night.

I stopped personal training a few months ago to cut down on expenses I didn’t think I needed.  Also the training was getting less regular since my trainer had increasing conflicts.  I shifted to workout classes only.  They were good but I know I wasn’t putting in everything I had like I used to.

Last night I picked up a personal training session with the instructor who teaches the classes I go to in the mornings.  The man is crazy (like a lot of us at the gym, haha)!  I knew whatever he would have me do would be A.D.D. appropriate, intense, and effective.  And fun.  That’s always a plus.

Oh, yes, he let me have it.  One thing I loved is that he knew what I was capable of and I was determined not to disappoint.  I pretty much collapsed when he said I was done.  But I felt amazing!

I left with shaky arms and wobbly legs.  And a grin that would have brightened the gloomiest of days!  I’m still grinning now!!

I had forgotten how awesome that felt.  And I’m not letting it go.  I told my instructor of some specific goals I have in mind.  So now it’s a matter of figuring out schedules and getting my high on.  :-)  WOOOO HOOOO!!!!!

Music in the forest??

My work schedule is changing up temporarily to gather some data in the field.  As of yesterday afternoon, I expected to work from 1-9pm today.  Since I had the morning free, I thought that would be a great opportunity for some mountain biking.

I was off!  I decided to time myself this time so I could see where I was at and have a concrete number to beat next time.

Toward the end of the trail I thought I heard music from somewhere.  I had seen five deer and numerous squirrels but music??  Where would that be coming from, or was I making it up?

I kept going.  It did occur to me that it could be the ringtone on my new phone which I had with me.  I decided to finish the course before checking since I was only a few minutes from the end.  Besides I was being timed!

It turned out that the music in the forest was indeed my phone.  I had two calls saying the field work was being postponed a day so it was a normal workday afterall.  Awww, shucks.  And I was going to repeat the trail!  Oh well, at least I cleared some cobwebs for the next riders.  And I’ll get to ride again!

Good to know I wasn’t going crazy – at least not by hearing music in the forest!

MAKE a great day!

“Make a great day.”

My mom sometimes ends her emails this way.

I really like it because it’s so much more than passively appreciating or accepting whatever happens to you on a given day.  Instead, you’re not waiting to see what the day brings, but embracing it and turning it into something good.

It doesn’t have any option but to be good… because you’re making it that way!

So come on, Monday.  And Tuesday.  And Wednesday.  And every other day.  You’re going to be a great day because I’m going to MAKE you a good day!

Blessings from spilled coffee

“Pardon me – I’m wearing my glasses so I can’t see.”

Yes, I Just said that to someone at work.  My vision is terrible so I usually rely on my extended-wear contacts to navigate the otherwise obstacle course that is life.  Since I can wear my contacts while I sleep, I can see as soon as I open my eyes.  Of course I do have to take them out periodically to replace them with new contacts.  During this interval, I wear my glasses for a few days (or as long as I can stand it) to give my eyes a breather.

My glasses are the right prescription.  I’ve had them checked and re-checked.  But everything requires so much more concentration with my glasses.  My depth perception changes and I can’t seem to process motion and details as easily.  And of course, glasses provide limited peripheral vision.  [You’d be surprised how often you glance at your fork or spoon to guide it to your mouth – even though your mouth has been in the same place your entire life!]

Anyway, this morning I ended up leaving the gym early because my vision couldn’t keep up with my bouncing glasses during jumping jacks, etc.  And then at work I found myself bumping into walls and spilling coffee (twice!) before 9am!

As I wiped up the mess for the second time, I noticed my “gratitude jar” that a friend gave me to keep at work.  It made me reflect on what I could be grateful for about my vision instead of being irritated.  I started thinking about how different my life might be if glasses and contacts didn’t even exist, or if I didn’t have access to them.  I’m not saying I couldn’t have a full life but it would certainly be different. 

How would I mountain bike?  How would it change my working out?  How would it affect my employment?  What about getting around, my relationships, my independence?

Again, I could still have an amazing, full life even if I didn’t have vision.  It would just be different.  But my little thought process made me realize that I take much for granted in my current life.  What a great prompt to open my eyes to the fullness of my life!  To view “unpleasantries” as merely peripheral – present but not game-(or attitude?)-changers!

Today I am especially thankful for my glasses and for spilling my coffee twice.  Otherwise I might have missed out on seeing that I am blessed indeed.

[By the way, I looked up blind mountain biking and blind personal training and guess what??  These things have already been done!]

"Eating food... how annoying"

A while back, two co-workers were talking about how eating food was annoying.  Annoying.  I needed an explanation.  They said they wouldn’t eat if they didn’t actually need the nutrition – it was boring and time consuming to eat (even if already prepared for them).  One wished there was just a pill or something she could take and skip the whole eating business.

How can people like this exist??  I love to eat, and not just for nutrition.  In fact, long after I’ve received sufficient nutrition I still want to keep eating.  (I believe this is true for MANY of us.)  I just want to continue the experience.  Sometimes it’s about enjoying the textures.  Sometimes it’s for the flavor.  And when both worlds come together – oh have mercy.

I think I appreciate individuality well enough.  But to think of eating food as being annoying?  That’s just plain weird.

Mom & son email banter

Email conversation with my son this afternoon:

Me:  “Please mow the lawn this afternoon since you won’t be home tomorrow.  I would REALLY appreciate that!”

Son:  “sure thing”

Me:  “You’re the best!  :-D”

Son:  “i know”

A few hours later…

Me:  “Did you have a chance to mow yet?  It’s looking gloomy here like it might rain soon.  Does it look like rain there too?”

Son:  “yes i have already mowed and man it is raining cats and dogs over here”

Me:  “Well don't catch any cats or dogs because we don't want any pets - especially ones falling from the sky!  :-)”

Son:  “aawww why not (man i better find somewhere to hide this little puppy). no need to look in my closet in when you get home.”



What did you hear?

I think it’s funny how mishearing something can completely change your understanding of things.  What you heard and reality could be entirely different!  (No wonder there are conflicting eye-witness testimonies of the same event!)

Yesterday evening my son and I were in the car.  I observed a beautiful sunset in the rearview mirror so I said, “Wow, awesome looking sky!”  My son noticed that I was looking in the rearview mirror so he turned around to look.  He apparently didn’t see what I saw and looked at me confused.

I said, “You’re not impressed??”  He looked again, then back at me and shrugged – clearly still confused.  I said, “Hmmm, maybe it’s my angle because I just see the bright colors between the clouds and not the rest of the sky.”  My son suddenly laughed and said, “OH!  You said ‘sky’ not ‘guy’!”

I cracked up.  Did he really think I was commenting on an awesome looking guy??  He said when he first looked there weren’t any cars even near us so he couldn’t figure out who I was looking at.  And then I was surprised that he wasn’t impressed??  HAHAHA!!!  I’m still laughing. 

Was más?

I love languages and I love to mix them.  Sometimes I keep the phrases in my head because I’m not sure others would be as amused as I am.

For example, you might hear me ask “What else” but lately the phrase in my head has been “Was más”, combining German and Spanish.  Or if I have a stomach cramp, “Mi estomago de pain me-o” blending Spanish with Pidgin.  Another phrase I’ve thought of but tend to keep in my head:  “Ban sani ba (Hausa:  I don’t know) laikin (Arabic:  but) we go see (Pidgin:  we’ll see)”.

Sometimes I don’t even use real words.  I just change things around the way I please, such as saying “Mucho better-o”.  (I’ve been known to actually say this one aloud.)

It’s fun to converse with people who understand all the combined segments and keep it going.  Sometimes it’s a matter of not knowing the word for something so we drop in the English (or other language) as needed.  Or sometimes we know the complete translations but it’s just fun to mix things up.

Entonces mek we parler togeda (Spanish/Pidgin/French/Pidgin:  In that case let’s talk together.)

"Rep"resent!!

Six weeks ago, a few of us at work decided to start our own little fitness initiative.  Hourly reps of some exercise or another.  Why?  Because we just don’t get enough of gym-time or play-time!!  :-)

OK, maybe we just wanted to incorporate some additional fitness into our day and break up our work a bit.  These hourly exercises only take a few minutes at a time, and even the cumulative exercise time ends up being much less than those who take smoke breaks.  In addition, we’re accomplishing something healthy for our bodies!

We acknowledged that sometimes some of us would be in meetings or in the middle of work projects and deadlines, so it wasn’t a competition.  Well, it’s not officially a competition but there are a few of us who are … shall we say “inspired” … by the accomplishment of others.

Every morning we decide what our workout of the day will be.  Sometimes attire makes a difference in our choice of exercise (believe it or not, dresses/skirts/heels are not conducive to some exercises!).  We usually start at 8:30am and end at 4:30pm, although once in a while we start at 7:30 or someone stays late and ends after 5:30.

I started tracking everyone’s reps right from the beginning.  I figured someday we would be curious how many total reps we did of some particular exercise, or we might be interested in the data for some other reason.  Everyone didn’t want to have their reps tracked and that was perfectly fine.  For those who liked having their reps tracked, I quickly came up with a spreadsheet that would automatically tally everyone’s reps and update some graphs.  Very efficient and doesn’t take time away from my work.

Every week I send the totals and graphs to those who wanted their reps tracked.  And this week, I sent out a 6-week summary (hard to believe it has been that long now).  Thought I’d share it here to (without revealing anyone’s names).

I DID IT!!!

I did it!  I did it!  Something I’ve been trying to do for a very long time!  A full-hanging, unassisted overhand grip pull-up!

My trainer (and others) have been telling me that I’m strong enough and more than capable, but I seemed to have a mental block or something preventing me from getting that initial lift.  I’ve been a bit frustrated because I agreed that I should be able to do them but couldn’t seem to engage the right muscles.

Today at about 6:40am, I finally did it like it really wasn’t a big deal.  I was so excited!  I started hopping and dancing around like you wouldn’t believe!  (OK, some of you would believe, haha!!!)  After a little celebration for my accomplishment, I did another.  And another.  OK, my chin barely got to the bar on the 3^rd but I’m counting it!

I am so excited to prove I can do a pull-up!!  FINALLY!!  It took me almost four decades to get here but who’s counting??  :-)

Now what should be my next goal??  I’m open to ideas!

Prayer huddle

My younger brother recently left the ranks of singlehood.  I am thrilled for him!  He has been waiting for the right woman for a long time.  So it was an absolute joy to share in his happiness at his wedding.

Many pictures were taken.  I’ve only seen mine so far and some that were posted on facebook.  But one of my favorites is of the groom and groomsmen huddled in prayer just a few minutes before the bride walked down the aisle.  I loved what that represented.  Men committed to supporting and praying for others, in this case my brother as he was about to enter into marriage.  The focus on God when it would be much easier to be distracted by the ceremony and anticipation.  Prayer before action.

It wasn’t for show.  It wasn’t part of the program.  But it was definitely sincere and moving.

God is good!

Going nuts

I might have just gone mad.  If you know me, you know how much I love peanut butter.  I believe this obsession has surpassed my pre-fitness cravings for burgers and Cokes.

Well, it has come to the point where I think I need to get reined in.  I’m going through copious quantities of peanut butter.  In fact, if there was a peanut butter store, I alone might keep it in business.

It has become a case of too much of a good thing.  Even though I’m eating exactly as advised by my trainer, he never specified peanut butter limitations and I’ve been taking advantage of that.  I know he wouldn’t approve if he knew how much I actually consume.  Not only that, but I can tell that my body needs a change from this much peanut butter.

The thing is that I can’t seem to just reduce my intake on my own.  I can tell myself to cut back (I’ve already tried this several times) but I still cave.  Others can also advise me to back off and I would agree with them that I should and even intend to do so, but…. I’ll still give in.

I concluded that the only way this is going to change is if my trainer specifically restricts my peanut butter consumption.  He is the one authority I follow completely regarding my personal fitness and nutrition.  My family and friends know that I don’t deviate from anything he tells me.  I’ve already experienced results through his expertise and I trust him to help me to keep taking it to the next level.  So I take his advice quite literally.  (In fact the other night after a fight night, a group of us met at a restaurant.  It was past midnight, meaning it was technically no longer Saturday so my cheat options should have been void.  My companions kept telling me I didn’t need to be THAT strict, haha, but it was a dilemma for me.)

Knowing that I will respond to whatever my trainer tells me and that I’m overdue for a change, I fessed up this morning and asked him to give me some restrictions.  Is that going mad or what??  I’m so glad I did though.

Sorry, peanut butter store.  You might go out of business now….

Don't ask me to remember....

Today a friend asked me to remind him about something the next time I saw him.  I told him if it didn’t have to do with peanut butter I couldn’t guarantee remembering anything.

It’s crazy what things I remember easily – sometimes things I’d rather not or that just don’t matter.  And then there are the things I just can’t seem to recall even though I really want to.

Ah well, I’m learning to cope…

Getting elevated

This morning at the gym a few people wore elevation training masks for a greater challenge.  Apparently these masks help the user build endurance, enhance lung capacity, and improve overall performance.  You can adjust various settings in order to simulate being anywhere from 3,000-18,000 feet above sea level.

What’s funny is that they look like gas masks.  It’s just an odd thing to see!!  But I got a kick out of it and if fitness freaks at my gym are using them, I want in too!! 

I’m not saying I could function well (or at all) with one during a workout yet, but I could wear one around the house to begin getting acclimated.  I can just imagine someone ringing my doorbell and then the look on their face when I answer with the mask on!

Better yet, what if I wear it at work while at my desk??  Or driving in my car??  Oh the looks I would get!  [You should see the huge grin on my face as I seriously consider doing this….]

Hmmm….  Why yes, I do believe I should order my mask today…. 

Going in reverse

The other night I had two short dreams that have stayed in my mind.  Not so much for their content but what they made me think of in my waking hours.  I’ll share one for now and I might post the other another time.

In one dream, I was trying to start my car in my driveway and it didn’t want to start.  Somehow it started rolling backwards and I couldn’t make it stop.  The brakes didn’t work and either I didn’t have an emergency brake or that didn’t work either.  My car wasn’t going fast but I didn’t have any control besides maneuvering in reverse around parked cars on the street.  I prayed that nothing bad would happen to anyone else or their property.  Some people saw me going backwards but couldn’t really do anything about it.  What would they do??  Run out and use their He-Man strength to stop a rolling car going backwards downhill??

Finally my car came to a stop at the bottom of the hill.  I was thankful not to be moving anymore and that no one was injured.  But then came the frustration of needing to think through where I would have the car towed, the time and money that would cost, and the fact that this disruption was not very timely since I had planned to go somewhere.

My waking thoughts on this dream segment focused on how sometimes life seems feels like it’s going backwards.  I might be in the driver’s seat and facing forward but that doesn’t mean I’m actually in control or even moving in the direction I think I should be headed.  I can hope and pray that I won’t destroy anyone or anything while I’m headed in the wrong direction.  And sometimes they can’t help me even if they want to.  Once I do come to a stopping or turning point, the relief sometimes feels short-lived because there’s still the struggle of actually getting back on track.  How many times do I try to find the most convenient, easiest mechanic instead of turning to THE MECHANIC for help?

Was I at fault for going backwards?  I don’t know.  Could I have done anything else before getting to the bottom of the hill?  I don’t know.  Maybe these questions aren’t the point.  Maybe the real question is where do I turn for help.  And when??  Am I waiting to get to the bottom of the hill before calling on THE MECHANIC?  I need regular maintenance, not just emergency repairs.  Of course that doesn’t mean everything will be a smooth ride, but my MECHANIC knows and understands what I need better than I do.

Things to think about...