Wednesday, December 28, 2011
The 40 Runner’s Commandments
I saw this on I <3 to run on facebook and had to share. :)
The 40 Runner’s Commandments
by Joe Kelly
1. Don’t be a whiner. Nobody likes a whiner, not even other whiners.
2. Walking out the door is often the toughest part of a run.
3. Don’t make running your life. Make it part of your life.
4. Keep promises, especially ones made to yourself.
5. The faster you are the less you should talk about your times.
6. Keep a quarter in your pocket. One day you’ll need to call for a ride.
7. Don’t compare yourself to other runners.
8. All runners are equal, some are just faster than others.
9. Keep in mind that the later in the day it gets, the more likely it is that you won’t run.
10. For a change of pace, get driven out and then run back.
11. If it was easy, everybody would be a runner.
12. When standing in starting lines, remind yourself how fortunate you are to be there.
13. Getting out of shape is much easier than getting into shape.
14. A bad day of running still beats a good day at work.
15. Don’t talk about your running injuries. People don’t want to hear about your sore knee or black toe.
16. Don’t always run alone.
17. Don’t always run with people.
18. Approach running as if the quality of your life depended on it.
19. No matter how slow, your run is still faster than someone sitting on a couch.
20. Keep in mind that the harder you run during training, the luckier you’ll get during racing.
21. Races aren’t just for those who can run fast.
22. There are no shortcuts to running excellence.
23. The best runs sometimes come on days when you didn’t feel like running.
24. There is nothing boring about running. There are, however, boring people who run.
25. Distance running is like cod liver oil. At first it makes you feel awful, then it makes you feel better.
26. Never throw away the instructions to your running watch.
27. Don’t try to outrun dogs.
28. Don’t wait for perfect weather. If you do, you won’t run very often.
29. When tempted to stop being a runner, make a list of the reasons you started.
30. Without goals, training has no purpose.
31. Go for broke, but be prepared to be broken.
32. Spend more time running on the roads than sitting on the couch.
33. Make progress in your training, but progress at your own rate.
34. “Winning” means different things to different people.
35. Unless you make your living as a runner, don’t take running too seriously.
36. Never tell a runner that he or she doesn’t look good in tights.
37. Never confuse the Ben-Gay tube with the toothpaste tube.
38. Preventing running injuries is easier than curing them.
39. Running is simple. Don’t make it complicated.
40. Running is always enjoyable. Sometimes, though, the joy doesn’t come until the end of the run.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Diagnosis
Well, I have a diagnosis.
It isn't what I wanted. It isn't what the specialist wanted. Not good news.
I was hoping and praying that it would be something simple. Something we could treat easily. I had a feeling it wouldn't be that way, but I was hoping. The specialist ran some preliminary tests before my biopsy and it indicated one cause, but then my biopsy showed something different. Dr. Thompson (my specialist) doesn't sound like he's entirely ruled out the first cause, but the biopsy pretty much gives a grim picture for me. Not the news I wanted to hear.
I had my follow up with him on Wednesday. I haven't told a lot of people yet what's going on. I don't want the sympathy. I don't want people looking at me like a sick person and their nosey 50,000 questions I do not want to answer. I know I'm sick. I know I have serious issues going on. Believe me, I know. I now have 8 medications I take on a daily basis. Believe me, I have a constant reminder that I'm sick.
Dr. Thompson keeps trying to tell me what a normal life I can lead, but all I keep thinking about is how sick I am. I hate being sick. I hate that I have to stop and think about what I'm eating, what I'm drinking, how high my blood pressure is, if something is going to make my blood sugar spike. These are constant thoughts in my head. My anxiety is at an all time high. I meant to mention that to Dr. Thompson the other day because it's starting to affect my sleep and I never had trouble sleeping before.
I'm scared. I'm more scared than I've ever been. I hate this feeling like everything is out of my control. I hate not knowing any answers or even knowing what caused me to get sick. I think that's what bothers me the most.
I HAVE NO REASON OR CAUSE WHY I'M SICK.
Just that I'm sick. We can't figure out what's caused me to get sick. I don't know if it's hereditary because we have a high incidence of problems like this in my family. I don't know if it's an auto-immune disorder like Dr. Thompson suspects, but can't seem to find the cause.
I hate that I have to constantly think about if I'm going to be hot or cold or if I'm going to be able to eat or where I'm going to be able to eat things. I hate that I have to limit my potatoes because I love potatoes. I miss caffeine. I miss having a good salty snack.
I was angry with God for a while. I don't know why he caused me to get sick - because I do not want to be sick. I don't want to have to deal with all of this, but at the same time, I'm not ready to give up either. I feel like I have so much to give to life and so much to do in my life. It's just so frustrating. I guess I'm still kind of angry. Not just with God, but with my primary care physician for seeing the symptoms and allowing me to fall through the cracks and misdiagnose me until it was too late to do anything preventative. i had to get really sick before they would even refer me somewhere. That makes me angry.
I don't feel sick. I don't look sick. Most people would presume I am healthy to look at me because I'm not weak. I have a normal energy level. I'm not pale. I have all my hair. I don't have a physical handicap or anything external that would make me appear to be sick. I'm still able to go to work and live my normal, everyday life. I guess I should be thankful for that because someone as sick as I am should feel bad and not have energy, but I do.
I keep trying to remind myself that there's a reason God has put me on this path that I'm on. There's a reason he allowed me to get sick and allowed me to go through all of this. I'm trying to find that reason. I'm trying to understand. Maybe it isn't for me to understand or to know. Maybe it's just my job to trust in Him to provide and work things out. It's hard not to worry about it or be anxious though. My life is hanging in the balance here and what's scary is that things will get worse before they get better. They're going to get much worse before they get better. Maybe not. But I have a very long road ahead of me.
It isn't what I wanted. It isn't what the specialist wanted. Not good news.
I was hoping and praying that it would be something simple. Something we could treat easily. I had a feeling it wouldn't be that way, but I was hoping. The specialist ran some preliminary tests before my biopsy and it indicated one cause, but then my biopsy showed something different. Dr. Thompson (my specialist) doesn't sound like he's entirely ruled out the first cause, but the biopsy pretty much gives a grim picture for me. Not the news I wanted to hear.
I had my follow up with him on Wednesday. I haven't told a lot of people yet what's going on. I don't want the sympathy. I don't want people looking at me like a sick person and their nosey 50,000 questions I do not want to answer. I know I'm sick. I know I have serious issues going on. Believe me, I know. I now have 8 medications I take on a daily basis. Believe me, I have a constant reminder that I'm sick.
Dr. Thompson keeps trying to tell me what a normal life I can lead, but all I keep thinking about is how sick I am. I hate being sick. I hate that I have to stop and think about what I'm eating, what I'm drinking, how high my blood pressure is, if something is going to make my blood sugar spike. These are constant thoughts in my head. My anxiety is at an all time high. I meant to mention that to Dr. Thompson the other day because it's starting to affect my sleep and I never had trouble sleeping before.
I'm scared. I'm more scared than I've ever been. I hate this feeling like everything is out of my control. I hate not knowing any answers or even knowing what caused me to get sick. I think that's what bothers me the most.
I HAVE NO REASON OR CAUSE WHY I'M SICK.
Just that I'm sick. We can't figure out what's caused me to get sick. I don't know if it's hereditary because we have a high incidence of problems like this in my family. I don't know if it's an auto-immune disorder like Dr. Thompson suspects, but can't seem to find the cause.
I hate that I have to constantly think about if I'm going to be hot or cold or if I'm going to be able to eat or where I'm going to be able to eat things. I hate that I have to limit my potatoes because I love potatoes. I miss caffeine. I miss having a good salty snack.
I was angry with God for a while. I don't know why he caused me to get sick - because I do not want to be sick. I don't want to have to deal with all of this, but at the same time, I'm not ready to give up either. I feel like I have so much to give to life and so much to do in my life. It's just so frustrating. I guess I'm still kind of angry. Not just with God, but with my primary care physician for seeing the symptoms and allowing me to fall through the cracks and misdiagnose me until it was too late to do anything preventative. i had to get really sick before they would even refer me somewhere. That makes me angry.
I don't feel sick. I don't look sick. Most people would presume I am healthy to look at me because I'm not weak. I have a normal energy level. I'm not pale. I have all my hair. I don't have a physical handicap or anything external that would make me appear to be sick. I'm still able to go to work and live my normal, everyday life. I guess I should be thankful for that because someone as sick as I am should feel bad and not have energy, but I do.
I keep trying to remind myself that there's a reason God has put me on this path that I'm on. There's a reason he allowed me to get sick and allowed me to go through all of this. I'm trying to find that reason. I'm trying to understand. Maybe it isn't for me to understand or to know. Maybe it's just my job to trust in Him to provide and work things out. It's hard not to worry about it or be anxious though. My life is hanging in the balance here and what's scary is that things will get worse before they get better. They're going to get much worse before they get better. Maybe not. But I have a very long road ahead of me.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Diagnosis?
I still don't have a diagnosis as to what's causing my health problems. I had my biopsy done on Thursday. I'm feeling pretty good. I'm a little stiff and I woke up sore some this morning, but I also apparently slept on my stomach last night and I haven't done that since my biopsy last week. It hurt too much, so I must be feeling better.
The doctor cleared me for exercise, but no heavy lifting for a week. So, I've gone ahead and gone to class this week. Working out with Cody twice a day Monday and once yesterday. He wouldn't let me join his class at noon yesterday. I'm fairly sure he thinks I'm pushing myself too hard.
The doctor cleared me for exercise, but no heavy lifting for a week. So, I've gone ahead and gone to class this week. Working out with Cody twice a day Monday and once yesterday. He wouldn't let me join his class at noon yesterday. I'm fairly sure he thinks I'm pushing myself too hard.
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Health Issues
So, I mentioned something about this in my last post. I apparently am havin gsome health problems. I didn't realize it. I feel okay. I don't feel sick, but I apparently have something going on. I haven't mentioned anything specific to a lot of people yet. Really the only people who know are my immediate family and a few close friends.
Yes, I know I talk A LOT. I know it seems like I'm always asking for attention - what can I say? I'm the youngest. that's what we do. However, this was something I've kind of felt like keeping close to the heart this time.
It's been a lot for me to deal with. I pretty much had a full-on freak out in the specialist's office when I went to see him and he told me what was going on. If you haven't picked up by now, I'm a fairly emotional person. I can cry at the drop of a hat. Sometimes it's there before I even realize it. Apparently, it's my coping tool.
I have to have some specialized testing done this week. A biopsy to be be specific. I'm nervous and scared and anxious. All the other biopsies I've had done on other parts of my body were all done in the doctor's office and were not on a major organ. It's a bit scary for me.
I'm scared. I'm scared they'll find out I have some kind of rare disease that's un-treatable. I'm afraid they're going to go in and find out that my kidneys are worse than expected or that they're going to have to keep me in the hospital. I'm afraid that they'll find something else wrong with me while I'm in there.
Yes, I relize it could be the opposite. They could actually find out what's going on and it could be easily treated.
I've been through so many changes in medication, diet and my lifestyle lately that things just feel like they're spinning out of control. I hate that. I am a creature of habit and I don't like changes to my schedule or expectations without some advance notice. It's just a lot to digest. A lot to take in.
It's rough having a doctor shoot straight with you and tell you that one of your organs is performs like it's 40 years older than you are. With our family history, it's very scary for me.
I think the worst part of it all is that feel sick. I don't feel bad. I feel perfectly normal and healthy. I have plenty of energy. I worked out Monday, and did 2 workouts yesterday. There haven't been any changes in my appetite or bodily functions (that I've noticed) and I don't appear sick. However, according to the doctor, I'm pretty sick. That's what I don't understand. If I really am sick, wouldn't I feel sick? One would think so. It's hard to wrap your head around something when you can't see what the doctor sees or don't feel sick.
Yes, I know I talk A LOT. I know it seems like I'm always asking for attention - what can I say? I'm the youngest. that's what we do. However, this was something I've kind of felt like keeping close to the heart this time.
It's been a lot for me to deal with. I pretty much had a full-on freak out in the specialist's office when I went to see him and he told me what was going on. If you haven't picked up by now, I'm a fairly emotional person. I can cry at the drop of a hat. Sometimes it's there before I even realize it. Apparently, it's my coping tool.
I have to have some specialized testing done this week. A biopsy to be be specific. I'm nervous and scared and anxious. All the other biopsies I've had done on other parts of my body were all done in the doctor's office and were not on a major organ. It's a bit scary for me.
I'm scared. I'm scared they'll find out I have some kind of rare disease that's un-treatable. I'm afraid they're going to go in and find out that my kidneys are worse than expected or that they're going to have to keep me in the hospital. I'm afraid that they'll find something else wrong with me while I'm in there.
Yes, I relize it could be the opposite. They could actually find out what's going on and it could be easily treated.
I've been through so many changes in medication, diet and my lifestyle lately that things just feel like they're spinning out of control. I hate that. I am a creature of habit and I don't like changes to my schedule or expectations without some advance notice. It's just a lot to digest. A lot to take in.
It's rough having a doctor shoot straight with you and tell you that one of your organs is performs like it's 40 years older than you are. With our family history, it's very scary for me.
I think the worst part of it all is that feel sick. I don't feel bad. I feel perfectly normal and healthy. I have plenty of energy. I worked out Monday, and did 2 workouts yesterday. There haven't been any changes in my appetite or bodily functions (that I've noticed) and I don't appear sick. However, according to the doctor, I'm pretty sick. That's what I don't understand. If I really am sick, wouldn't I feel sick? One would think so. It's hard to wrap your head around something when you can't see what the doctor sees or don't feel sick.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Late night thoughts (a ramble not about weight loss)
Sometimes I wonder what would have happened had I gone to OU instead of choosing to go to a smaller college - NSU. With everything that happened while I was away at school and with everything that happened while I was at school, the bad choices I made... It just makes me wonder how things would be different now.
Would I be a college graduate? Would the outcomes of the decisions I made be different? Would I have chosen a different major? I certainly would have different friends from college - not that I'm in touch with any of them now. I've alienated all of them in one way or another. A fact I'm not particularly proud of, but it is the truth. I'm terrible at relationships. Something I'm trying to work on. It's hard work. Relationships, that is. Probably why I'm still single.
Getting to my point. I decided not to go to OU because I was accepted on a contingency basis. I would have to check-in with an academic adviser twice a week, was required to meet with a tutor at least once a week, had class attendance requirements and would have to maintain a higher GPA than was required by other students in my classes. The logical part of me knew it was for my own good. However, the rebellious 18 year old in me thought that was too much like high school and wondered why I should go to a college that was exactly like high school. (Which, it would have really been different, but I didn't see it that way at the time.)
Now that I'm old and would kind of like to get back into school - since I can see the benefits of finishing school, I can't really afford it and I have responsibilities. I also wonder if I would have started on the downward spiral I went down while I was away at school. I made a lot of bad decisions while I was at school because I didn't really have any support system. I wasn't active in a church. I had an uncle 30 minutes away, but I never talked to him or my cousins in Muskogee. Again, I had one set of friends the first semester that were great. Second semester was a different story. I think had my second semester been more like my first, I would have done a lot better at school. At least I had the desire to do better. I had an ambition to do better the second semester. But I had other things going on personally that I couldn't deal with along with school, but I knew that if I went home, I would have to actually face my problems and emotions. I wasn't ready to do that.
In their defense, the friends I had my first semester tried to talk to me about what was going on and tried to steer me in the right direction, but I didn't want anything to do with what they were telling me. I wanted to do what I wanted to do. Since I decided to make bad choices socially and emotionally and even some bad physical decisions, I pushed them away too. My other set of friends were just convenient. I had one friend that helped me some. He was there for me when I would let him. However, I was content to hide my pain in whatever weird relationship we had. I kind of wish I'd stayed in contact with him. He was a nice guy and was actually pretty good for me when I would let him close to me.
I wonder if I had stayed in Norman, gone to OU, been close to my family, close to my church family and my friends how different things would be. I know I would be forced to deal with my problems head on, but I think in the long run, that would have been better for me than for me to run from them like I did. It probably would have saved me a lot of money having to re-take all the classes I failed the second semester (and believe me, I failed a lot) because I would have had someone looking over my shoulder pushing me to do better than I was and I would have had someone there behind me that I needed.
I guess the only thing that I can really say is that hindsight is truly 20/20. It's easy for me to see my mistakes now and attempt to keep from repeating them. Which is why I try so hard at relationships now. It's hard for me to see where I'm actually trying at relationships, and where I'm just being needy.
I always joke around about being emotionally stunted or socially behind because I had to be the adult for a few years in my house during my late teens and early 20s because no one else would remember to pay the bills or rent or get groceries. They were too absorbed in their own addictions. It was a good thing and a bad thing. The good thing is that now when there's a problem with a bill, I know where to go and what to do. The bad part is that I feel perpetually about 25. Not that that's terrible, but I'm 33. When everyone else my age was going through things to grow up and be a mature adult, I was having to deal with so many other more important things. I feel stunted and have no idea where to go from here. I know I should be more mature than I am, but when I try to be mature, I end up feeling about 50. It seems like I have no emotional or maturity medium. Either I'm way older than I should be or I'm way younger. Day by day, I feel like sometimes I never know where I'm going to be.
I've been dealing with some fairly serious health issues over the last few weeks. Culminating in a lovely, minor medical procedure I have to have on Thursday - which, by the way, I'd appreciate your prayer, good vibes/thoughts, etc. on that day. I'm scared/nervous/anxious about that. I'm not sure if my bad choices earlier in life led to this or where this has come from, but I've been feeling more like an adult than I have in a long time. Having to think about health insurance, deductibles and making life choices... it all feels so real. So... grown up. It's kind of hard to put into words. It also makes me think about the choices I've made in life. Which is how I got to this in the first place tonight (or this morning as it may be).
I don't expect anyone to have answers. I'm sure these are all issues that are best explored with a trained counselor or therapist or someone else along those lines. As I've lost weight, I shared before how I'm having to deal with a lot of emotions that I had been hiding with food, low self-esteem and my fat mentality. The culmination of having to face my health issues and emotional issues that seem to be appearing with my weight loss is making me face a lot of things lately. I'm not sure what to think about that. Just taking things day by day by day and depending on God to see me through things. I mean, we're not all promised tomorrow, right?
Would I be a college graduate? Would the outcomes of the decisions I made be different? Would I have chosen a different major? I certainly would have different friends from college - not that I'm in touch with any of them now. I've alienated all of them in one way or another. A fact I'm not particularly proud of, but it is the truth. I'm terrible at relationships. Something I'm trying to work on. It's hard work. Relationships, that is. Probably why I'm still single.
Getting to my point. I decided not to go to OU because I was accepted on a contingency basis. I would have to check-in with an academic adviser twice a week, was required to meet with a tutor at least once a week, had class attendance requirements and would have to maintain a higher GPA than was required by other students in my classes. The logical part of me knew it was for my own good. However, the rebellious 18 year old in me thought that was too much like high school and wondered why I should go to a college that was exactly like high school. (Which, it would have really been different, but I didn't see it that way at the time.)
Now that I'm old and would kind of like to get back into school - since I can see the benefits of finishing school, I can't really afford it and I have responsibilities. I also wonder if I would have started on the downward spiral I went down while I was away at school. I made a lot of bad decisions while I was at school because I didn't really have any support system. I wasn't active in a church. I had an uncle 30 minutes away, but I never talked to him or my cousins in Muskogee. Again, I had one set of friends the first semester that were great. Second semester was a different story. I think had my second semester been more like my first, I would have done a lot better at school. At least I had the desire to do better. I had an ambition to do better the second semester. But I had other things going on personally that I couldn't deal with along with school, but I knew that if I went home, I would have to actually face my problems and emotions. I wasn't ready to do that.
In their defense, the friends I had my first semester tried to talk to me about what was going on and tried to steer me in the right direction, but I didn't want anything to do with what they were telling me. I wanted to do what I wanted to do. Since I decided to make bad choices socially and emotionally and even some bad physical decisions, I pushed them away too. My other set of friends were just convenient. I had one friend that helped me some. He was there for me when I would let him. However, I was content to hide my pain in whatever weird relationship we had. I kind of wish I'd stayed in contact with him. He was a nice guy and was actually pretty good for me when I would let him close to me.
I wonder if I had stayed in Norman, gone to OU, been close to my family, close to my church family and my friends how different things would be. I know I would be forced to deal with my problems head on, but I think in the long run, that would have been better for me than for me to run from them like I did. It probably would have saved me a lot of money having to re-take all the classes I failed the second semester (and believe me, I failed a lot) because I would have had someone looking over my shoulder pushing me to do better than I was and I would have had someone there behind me that I needed.
I guess the only thing that I can really say is that hindsight is truly 20/20. It's easy for me to see my mistakes now and attempt to keep from repeating them. Which is why I try so hard at relationships now. It's hard for me to see where I'm actually trying at relationships, and where I'm just being needy.
I always joke around about being emotionally stunted or socially behind because I had to be the adult for a few years in my house during my late teens and early 20s because no one else would remember to pay the bills or rent or get groceries. They were too absorbed in their own addictions. It was a good thing and a bad thing. The good thing is that now when there's a problem with a bill, I know where to go and what to do. The bad part is that I feel perpetually about 25. Not that that's terrible, but I'm 33. When everyone else my age was going through things to grow up and be a mature adult, I was having to deal with so many other more important things. I feel stunted and have no idea where to go from here. I know I should be more mature than I am, but when I try to be mature, I end up feeling about 50. It seems like I have no emotional or maturity medium. Either I'm way older than I should be or I'm way younger. Day by day, I feel like sometimes I never know where I'm going to be.
I've been dealing with some fairly serious health issues over the last few weeks. Culminating in a lovely, minor medical procedure I have to have on Thursday - which, by the way, I'd appreciate your prayer, good vibes/thoughts, etc. on that day. I'm scared/nervous/anxious about that. I'm not sure if my bad choices earlier in life led to this or where this has come from, but I've been feeling more like an adult than I have in a long time. Having to think about health insurance, deductibles and making life choices... it all feels so real. So... grown up. It's kind of hard to put into words. It also makes me think about the choices I've made in life. Which is how I got to this in the first place tonight (or this morning as it may be).
I don't expect anyone to have answers. I'm sure these are all issues that are best explored with a trained counselor or therapist or someone else along those lines. As I've lost weight, I shared before how I'm having to deal with a lot of emotions that I had been hiding with food, low self-esteem and my fat mentality. The culmination of having to face my health issues and emotional issues that seem to be appearing with my weight loss is making me face a lot of things lately. I'm not sure what to think about that. Just taking things day by day by day and depending on God to see me through things. I mean, we're not all promised tomorrow, right?
Friday, December 2, 2011
30 Days of Thanks-FAIL! (Pt. 1)
I started a 30 days of Thanksgiving, but I so did not finish it. There are days where wrote a lot and some days where it was just a sentence. I'm going to try to post some of them here.
10/6/11 (we started ours early for the Bobay Challenge at work)
Today I'm thankful to work for a company that values wellness. I've tried to take as much advantage of it as I can. Between the free gym & personal trainer to their willingness to pay for wellness activities (races, marathons, etc.) outside of work, I'm very fortunate. I see how much my friends struggle and stumble on their own & I'm fortunate to have someone my employer pays whose sole job is to help us live healthier lives.
Had I not been employed where I am or had to pay for any of this on my own, I doubt that I would be nearly as motivated to change or be healthier. Nor would I be as motivated to exercise. So, today I'm thankful for whomever it is in the Roll organization that decided their employee's wellness was a worthy investment. Without that person, I doubt I'd be where I am today.
10/07/11
Today I'm thankful for grilled chicken sandwiches. I know it sounds silly, but They're by far one of my favorites. I've always loved chicken. I blame it on my grandmother. She grew up on a chicken farm. Taught my mom how to cook a chicken about 200 different ways and then mom fed it to us as kids. So, I've always had chicken around me. Seriously, I think it's my favorite protein.
11/1/11
I say this every year on this date, but it's still true. I'm thankful for my dad. he does a lot for me and I don't tell him thank you nearly enough. He's such a good person and tries to help where he can and when he can. I'm a helpful perseon, but not nearly like my dad. He goes out of his way to help others (including me). He sacrifices a lot for himself to help other people out. Whether it's me, my brother or my mom, he's always our taxi and willing to help out. Also, today is his birthday. :)
11/02/11
Today, I'm thankful for a car that runs. This time last year, I didn't ahve a car that ran and was constantly having to get rides from people. I always remember that and how "stuck" I felt. Although it isn't the newest, flashiest or fastest car, it still gets me from Point A to Point B and has proven to be fairly reliable. It's fairly good on gas and I'm thankful for that too. It won't win any races or car contests, but it does its job.
11/03/11
Today, I'm thankful for extended family. Even family I don't know well. It's always good to be around family. I've grown up around my loud extended family and when i don't see them for long periods of time, I miss them terribly. My cousins are always there to cheer me up and make me laugh. we have different tastes and attitudes, but we always have each other's backs and support each other when we can. We talk on Facebook and text messages, but nothing beats getting together and having a good time visiting and catching up with one another.
11/04/11
I'm actually thankful for a good long run today. I had a terrible day today, but after 3.7 miles, I feel SO. MUCH. BETTER. Things aren't resolved and it doesn't sound like they will be for a while, but I'm grateful for long runs I can use to get out my aggression. It feels good to have a physical outlet for stress and I feel better afterward. Not only am I less stressed, but I'm less tense and anxious as well. It's the only thing I've found that really helps. I just clear my head and RUN.
11/5/11
I'm thankful for a mother who taught me the value of a dollar and how to spend it wisely. As I've lost weight, I've had to get creative with some things. I need some new clothes and I'm glad my mom has taught me how to budget my money and to look for a good bargain to make what money I have go further. She's also taught me to buy worthwhile things with my money and not blow it on frivolous things.
11/06/11
Today is a cheat day for me. Yes, I'm thankful for that too, but specifically, I'm thankful today for Braum's and their delicous caramel fudge sundaes with butter pecan ice cream. I haven't had one in MONTHS and finally had one today. It was SOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD! When you eat healthy every day for so long, it just feels so good to cheat and have something so deliciously yummy.
11/7/11
I'm thankful for rain. It's so relaxing to fall asleep to the sound of rain and it's raining tonight. I don't think I've shared this, but I have problems sleeping sometimes. It's gotten better with regular exercise, but some nights it's still a struggle. Having the rain to listen to as I lay down is definitely helping.
11/09/11
It's a very easy one today. I'm thankful for the safe delivery of my nephew - Micco. He's early, but healthy. He and his mom are both fine. My sister-in-law was scheduled to be induced tomorrow, but he decided he was ready to come now. He's so adorable and tiny. I'm thankful he's here and that he and my sister-in-law is fine. I'm thankful to live in a country where there are plenty of medical personnel to help her give birth in a safe environment.
11/10/11
I'm thankful for my other nephew, Achena. He brings such a joy and a delight into our lives. Yes, I know I'm biased because I'm his aunt, but he's a fun little guy. Even to people we know, they all seem to get that joy from him too. He always makes people smile and is always in a good mood. Now, if he would only slow down so we don't have ot chase him all the time.
11/11/11
Two things I thought of today. I'm thankful for our Veterans. They serve and defend our country for very little pay for what they're doing. Some of them served without any choice in the matter. Some of them give their lives and limbs for our country. They're definitely more daring than me. I'm too chicken to even hold a gun or defend myself, much less to be trained to do all the things they are. Thanks to all our vets who have served the country.
I'm also thankful for my friend Joe. He is a really good person even if he is a little blunt sometimes. He's very sarcastic and has a dry sense of humor, but he's good to vent to and he's excellent at math. He's also very tall. I like to give him a hard time about that. His legs are 2/3 of my body! Seriously though, Joe has been a very good friend to me over the years I've known him. Today made me think of Joe because of his love of numbers and because it's a... oh the name of whatever that is that's the same frontward and backwards. I want to say metronome, but I'm sure that's not right. Joe I'm sure would correct me if he were here.
11/12/11
I'm thankful for the 2 Movie Guys for their Muppets movie ticket promotion. I won passes to see it a full week before everyone else. I'm SO EXCITED!! I love the Muppets and am super excited to see them on the big screen again. I've been SUPER looking forward to seeing this movie and can't wait!!
Okay, enough for now. I'll try to post the remaining month later today or in a later post. I did do it. I just didn't post it everyday.
10/6/11 (we started ours early for the Bobay Challenge at work)
Today I'm thankful to work for a company that values wellness. I've tried to take as much advantage of it as I can. Between the free gym & personal trainer to their willingness to pay for wellness activities (races, marathons, etc.) outside of work, I'm very fortunate. I see how much my friends struggle and stumble on their own & I'm fortunate to have someone my employer pays whose sole job is to help us live healthier lives.
Had I not been employed where I am or had to pay for any of this on my own, I doubt that I would be nearly as motivated to change or be healthier. Nor would I be as motivated to exercise. So, today I'm thankful for whomever it is in the Roll organization that decided their employee's wellness was a worthy investment. Without that person, I doubt I'd be where I am today.
10/07/11
Today I'm thankful for grilled chicken sandwiches. I know it sounds silly, but They're by far one of my favorites. I've always loved chicken. I blame it on my grandmother. She grew up on a chicken farm. Taught my mom how to cook a chicken about 200 different ways and then mom fed it to us as kids. So, I've always had chicken around me. Seriously, I think it's my favorite protein.
11/1/11
I say this every year on this date, but it's still true. I'm thankful for my dad. he does a lot for me and I don't tell him thank you nearly enough. He's such a good person and tries to help where he can and when he can. I'm a helpful perseon, but not nearly like my dad. He goes out of his way to help others (including me). He sacrifices a lot for himself to help other people out. Whether it's me, my brother or my mom, he's always our taxi and willing to help out. Also, today is his birthday. :)
11/02/11
Today, I'm thankful for a car that runs. This time last year, I didn't ahve a car that ran and was constantly having to get rides from people. I always remember that and how "stuck" I felt. Although it isn't the newest, flashiest or fastest car, it still gets me from Point A to Point B and has proven to be fairly reliable. It's fairly good on gas and I'm thankful for that too. It won't win any races or car contests, but it does its job.
11/03/11
Today, I'm thankful for extended family. Even family I don't know well. It's always good to be around family. I've grown up around my loud extended family and when i don't see them for long periods of time, I miss them terribly. My cousins are always there to cheer me up and make me laugh. we have different tastes and attitudes, but we always have each other's backs and support each other when we can. We talk on Facebook and text messages, but nothing beats getting together and having a good time visiting and catching up with one another.
11/04/11
I'm actually thankful for a good long run today. I had a terrible day today, but after 3.7 miles, I feel SO. MUCH. BETTER. Things aren't resolved and it doesn't sound like they will be for a while, but I'm grateful for long runs I can use to get out my aggression. It feels good to have a physical outlet for stress and I feel better afterward. Not only am I less stressed, but I'm less tense and anxious as well. It's the only thing I've found that really helps. I just clear my head and RUN.
11/5/11
I'm thankful for a mother who taught me the value of a dollar and how to spend it wisely. As I've lost weight, I've had to get creative with some things. I need some new clothes and I'm glad my mom has taught me how to budget my money and to look for a good bargain to make what money I have go further. She's also taught me to buy worthwhile things with my money and not blow it on frivolous things.
11/06/11
Today is a cheat day for me. Yes, I'm thankful for that too, but specifically, I'm thankful today for Braum's and their delicous caramel fudge sundaes with butter pecan ice cream. I haven't had one in MONTHS and finally had one today. It was SOOOOOOOOOOOOO GOOOOOOOOOOOOOD! When you eat healthy every day for so long, it just feels so good to cheat and have something so deliciously yummy.
11/7/11
I'm thankful for rain. It's so relaxing to fall asleep to the sound of rain and it's raining tonight. I don't think I've shared this, but I have problems sleeping sometimes. It's gotten better with regular exercise, but some nights it's still a struggle. Having the rain to listen to as I lay down is definitely helping.
11/09/11
It's a very easy one today. I'm thankful for the safe delivery of my nephew - Micco. He's early, but healthy. He and his mom are both fine. My sister-in-law was scheduled to be induced tomorrow, but he decided he was ready to come now. He's so adorable and tiny. I'm thankful he's here and that he and my sister-in-law is fine. I'm thankful to live in a country where there are plenty of medical personnel to help her give birth in a safe environment.
11/10/11
I'm thankful for my other nephew, Achena. He brings such a joy and a delight into our lives. Yes, I know I'm biased because I'm his aunt, but he's a fun little guy. Even to people we know, they all seem to get that joy from him too. He always makes people smile and is always in a good mood. Now, if he would only slow down so we don't have ot chase him all the time.
11/11/11
Two things I thought of today. I'm thankful for our Veterans. They serve and defend our country for very little pay for what they're doing. Some of them served without any choice in the matter. Some of them give their lives and limbs for our country. They're definitely more daring than me. I'm too chicken to even hold a gun or defend myself, much less to be trained to do all the things they are. Thanks to all our vets who have served the country.
I'm also thankful for my friend Joe. He is a really good person even if he is a little blunt sometimes. He's very sarcastic and has a dry sense of humor, but he's good to vent to and he's excellent at math. He's also very tall. I like to give him a hard time about that. His legs are 2/3 of my body! Seriously though, Joe has been a very good friend to me over the years I've known him. Today made me think of Joe because of his love of numbers and because it's a... oh the name of whatever that is that's the same frontward and backwards. I want to say metronome, but I'm sure that's not right. Joe I'm sure would correct me if he were here.
11/12/11
I'm thankful for the 2 Movie Guys for their Muppets movie ticket promotion. I won passes to see it a full week before everyone else. I'm SO EXCITED!! I love the Muppets and am super excited to see them on the big screen again. I've been SUPER looking forward to seeing this movie and can't wait!!
Okay, enough for now. I'll try to post the remaining month later today or in a later post. I did do it. I just didn't post it everyday.
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