Competition v. Acceptance

January 31, 2012...can you believe it?  I mean the month of January is over!  That is incredible to me.  It has been a busy, but fun month.

I had originally set 3 goals for 2012 and figured I would fill you in...

1. Declutter---hmmm....looks like I am WAY behind on this one.  I did clean out a drawer in my dresser, so we will count that.  :)

2. Start a prayer journal...this I have done and like.  It is nice to be able to glance at it and remember who I am praying for.


3.  Run (with some walking) a minimum of 500 miles in 2012 with the hope of getting in 750 miles.

Now, we need to talk about this goal.  This is the competitive part of me.  You see, I really want 750 miles.  To achieve 500 miles I need to run 41.6 miles a month.  To reach 750, I need to run 62.5 miles a month. I want to run daily.  I want be able to run for 10 miles at a time.  I want to run faster.  I want to run 62.5 miles a month.  It is at the point that I feel guilty if I'm not running daily.  Now all of this is good.  I am glad I am motivated to work towards this goal!

Here is the, what I would call, tough part.  You see, I teach a fitness class 1 night a week at a local gym and I try to attend classes at the gym at least 3 nights a week.  The classes are hour long and are GREAT!  I mean they kick my tail!  I am usually exhausted when I leave and physically worn out.  So, I am trying to fit running into a schedule that already wears me out physically and takes up over an hour 4 nights a week.  And, remember I am exhausted.  I work all day, try to spend time with my girls and husband, go to classes, and run.  I know my body needs a few days off to rest.....but it is so hard to do it because I WANT/NEED to achieve my goal.

January 2012...I have ran/walked just over 57 miles.  I am 15 miles above my minimum for the month and 5 1/2 below my "desired goal."  I feel like I am doing a good job.  I am just having to ACCEPT that I may not be able to do it ALL.  I am hoping as the year goes on that I will be able to run longer and faster and get in more miles, but until then I will be proud of the first 57 miles I have accomplished.

Have a GREAT night!!!

Looking around.....

Life definitely has its ups and downs.  Being an adult isn't fun sometimes.  There is that desire to do, be, achieve, provide, embrace, love, etc.  It can be overwhelming.  Lately, I have been TRYING to notice the little things, the blessings.

As I drive the girls to school, I LOVE to listen to the girls sing to the songs that are on the radio.  I tell myself they are a blessing (even if it is off key...which sometimes makes it that much better).  :)

As I've been running lately, I've been trying to look around or focus on the purpose.  I am excited about the fact I can actually go for a run.  I used to barely be able to make it to the end of the street without feeling like I was going to fall on the ground.  Now, I can run a good ways before I really want to quit. I feel healthier, stronger, and at times skinnier (which, I can't lie...makes me smile, until I eat Chick Fil A....but it is soooo good!)!!!  :)

I've been trying to let Mark know how much he means to me.  He does so many thoughtful things for me.  I am proud of the man he is and blessed that he is my husband.

I've been trying to have more patience lately...though I definitely struggle with that.

I've been trying to be a better friend lately.  I've been trying to encourage and let people know I care.  It is a work in progress, especially the busier life gets.

I've been trying to keep a cleaner house.  This one.....well, let's just say today...the house still looks descent which in my opinion, is an accomplishment since we cleaned it Sunday!  :)

Sometimes I get so busy with things I stop focusing on what is really important.  The truth is there are blessings everywhere...you have to stop and LOOK for them sometimes, but they are there.  They are in the crazy art things I have been trying to make, because it is fun times with friends that I am making them.  They are in the conversations I have with people, because we are talking and listening to each other.  The blessings are in the sunrises, sunsets, the cool crisp mornings, the smiles on my girls' faces, the love in my husbands eyes.....they are there.

Don't forget to stop and look around.....you can't wait for others to point them out to you.  Blessings are there......

How well do we really know each other??

There is a post from Huffington Post circulating on Facebook and it is really good.

  Don't Carpe Diem  If you haven't read this, it is really good.  It is about the reality of parenting and how others view it.  It made tons of sense to me...and yes, I love it when the girls go to bed and I get quiet time. :)

However, this post really got me thinking.  There is another side to this story.  How about when a stranger critiques our parenting skills?  I mean, when someone tells us how to do our job better.  All of the sudden we become defiant.  Our defense mechanism kicks in and we find ourselves thinking or saying that we know what is best and that these are our children, who we love and cherish and how dare someone think we don't do a good job!

Society is changing. I wonder when we were kids, how our parents communicated how parenting was going for them.  I mean, did my parents pretend they enjoyed every minute?  Did they anxiously wait for bedtime all the while pretending that they were embracing every minute when others were around?  Did they meet up with friends and talk about the hard times of parenting?

I think things are different for us.  So many people equate all of their relationships to Facebook or Twitter.  We let a status define us.

 Some people post how wonderful their kids are and what a wonderful day they had, how much they accomplished the entire time they had 2 sick children that were hanging off of them.  We see that and think...UGH!  Overachiever!!!  We end up comparing ourselves to them and often, we feel we come up short.

Then there is the other side.....the people who complain on Facebook constantly.  They are too busy with their kids stuff, their kids are always a problem, their kids are always sick and then we find ourselves thinking....UGH!!  So glad I'm not like that!

What kind of REAL conversations do we have with people?  Do you know how your friends lives are really going?  I know people don't want to hear lots of negative statuses, so most of the time, I post the positive.

But, what do you really know about me?  Do you know about the days I am sad?  Do you know about the days I am upset?  Do you really want to know?  Or would you rather hear the light hearted, fun things my family is involved in?  If you don't care about any of that...you may want to delete me as a friend, or stop following me on Twitter.  :)   I am a Mom, a wife, a teacher, a daughter, a friend, and a person....I have good days and bad days.  I try my best and want my family and friends to be happy.  I love the fact I have friends who DO know what is really going on in my life and know the ups and downs and don't judge me for the good and the bad.  Remember, there is more to us than what you see and yes....my girls are in bed!  :)

Look how sweet they can be...:)  

 

Have a GREAT night!

Analyze this.....Analyze that.......

Analysis.....the separation of an intellectual or material whole into its constituent parts for individual study. I LOVE Pinterest!  It is so much fun to look through!  You can find awesome crafts, recipes, and super cute outfits!!  I have also been loving some of the quotes on there!   Lately, I seem drawn to the quotes that deal with thinking too much and friendship.   I'm not sure why?  I know I am an analyzer and lately I have been doing things, been  in contact, and just really enjoyed some good friends....so maybe that is why? I wish I wasn't an analyzer!  I envy people who can just let things go!  It is  definitely something I need to work on!  I mean, I can be one of those people who can call or test someone, not hear back from them and immediately wonder if I offended them!  I wonder if I should text them again, apologize for something, what should I do?  Then, I find out....they left their phone at work and didn't get it until the next day!  Why did I worry?  Silliness!  And this was just an example! Here are a few quotes I saw on Pinterest that I really liked!  :) I need to remember this!!! Hmmm....gotta get better at this! I have loved being able to stay in contact with friends.  I truly have some wonderful  friends.  Some of my friends have been there a long time and some a shorter time,  and some are some fantastic new friends.  It is so nice to have people who will  listen to you!  Here are a few quotes about friendship that I really liked!   Love this!!! So true...... ************************************************************* Just an FYI on my goal of running/walking at least 500 miles in 2012...It is  January 14th and I have run/walked 26 miles so far!  Hoping to get in quite a few this weekend!! Have a WONDERFUL weekend!!!

Running, running....sore....

2012 is here and is off to a very nice start!  One of my goals is to run/walk 500 miles in 2012 and I am up to 6 miles so far.  Now, most of you know that 500 is at the low end of my goal....so really I am hoping for around 750....but I have accomplished 6 so far and I am happy about that!

Yesterday...the first day of the New Year I set out to run.  My plan was just to go as far as I could (really thinking about 2-3 miles).  I planned to kind of follow the Couch to 5k program...run 90 seconds, walk 3 minutes....however once I took off...it felt good.  Now, I'm not going to lie, the longest I ran at one time was  7 minutes.  However, on day 1, I ran/walked just over 4 miles and I ran 30 of the 50 minutes I was out there.  YAY!!!!!  I WAS PUMPED!!!

Now....I am sore.  My hips hurt, my legs are sore, I look like an old lady walking around...ugh.  But, today I went to the gym (too much of a cold wind for a warm weather girl like me) and ran/walked 2 miles.  I actually ran about 1.25 of that!  Yay!!!  Now, I think I am even more sore.  I still went to my hour long Zumba class tonight....still sore.

I know the saying..No pain, no gain...and I am counting on the pain going away at sometime.

Yet....I only have (minimum) 494 more miles for 2012 and I excited about that!!!

I hope your New Year is off to a GREAT start!!!