 It’s unbelievable how quickly things can change in the course of 24 hours. But first, Let’s back up to 2002. I was being amazing. Risky and careless. In my quest to push the limits (or at least my limits) I decided that learning to jump on my snowboard was a fantastic decision. I had major failures, some funny, some painful. But I also had some successes. Not a ton, but enough to keep me going. I loved the sound of the chairlifts, the smell of the mountain early in the morning. The feeling of my snowboard gliding over the quietly, crunching snow gave me such joy. As I write this, I can still hear my shaky toe sided stop. Lunchtime peanut butter and fluff sandwiches usually fueled my afternoon until the lifts closed and ski patrol did their evening sweep on the trails. I was fortunate enough to have the mountain practically in my backyard. Which meant every chance I got, that was where I was. That morning, a friend and I headed out early. So early the lifts were still quiet and we had to hike up to the jumps. We would tear down through the fresh snow, the icy air making our eyes tear. (Goggles were only for snowstorms, keeping you hat on your head or dressing up your helmet.) Jump after jump. We would crash, laugh, unbuckle our bindings, sling our boards over our backs and hike back up. I remember sitting in the snow that cold morning quietly looking down at the jump I just couldn’t seem to master. Hmm. My bindings tight and helmet buckled, I punched my right mittened hand into my left and took off. Speed. Maybe if I could just get off that kicker with a little more speed I would have enough time in the air to figure out my landing. Oh sure. I don’t remember much except sky and then the landing. Right on my ass. I just lay there. At first, I couldn’t feel anything. Well, I felt fear. Then I felt the worst pain I had ever known (until I had kids that is!) I heard my friend yelling my name. The sound of him coming up behind me was such a relief. I felt the spray of snow as he stopped. Saw the look of concern on his face as he hovered over me. After a while I got up. I could move my legs, wiggle my toes. So I guess that meant I could keep riding, right? It took 3 long months to be able to sit without pain, poop without difficulty and I never went snowboarding again. (Except for in my front yard.) But more than those 3 months of recovery, my back would bother me off and on for the next 15 years. Sometimes rendering me unable to do even the simplest of tasks. Back to present day. There were 6 days until the half marathon I had been training for. This training cycle had been happy, pain free and strong. My decision to train for this half came 6 years after training for the last one, the one that had been cancelled due to a hurricane. I had given birth to my daughter and 2 weeks later was lumbering away on the treadmill, sweating, gasping and feeling like a million bucks. So why not sign up for a half? Why just do something a little when you can do it a lot?! Can you hear my sarcasm? Anyhow, that Saturday before, I worked on the ambulance with my brother covering the Lakes Region Triathlon. Which I will conquer someday…of course…. We had been standing at the finish line watching the racers come in. One of the EMT’s that was with us happened to be running in the half marathon as well. We chatted about how excited we were, nervous about weather, the right amount of clothing to wear, proper hydration. All that stuff. By the time we left I was super motivated. I was truly looking forward to the race. Not only to FINALLY have my medal but to be able to sleep in on the weekend again. And to not submit my precious children to the double stroller day after day. And to not have to say to my husband when he got home from work, “Hey babe, how was your day. Can I go run now?” Poor guy. He truly is a frigen fantastic human being. It was super hot and sticky out that evening. I only had 2 miles on my training schedule. 8 for Sunday or Monday. But that night, only a beautiful, short 2 miles. I slipped out the door while everyone was quiet. My run was slow, purposeful and wonderful. The hot day had made the smells of summer more pungent, actually it was technically autumn. My husband sent me a text of a bunch of turkeys in the road with the caption, “Uh oh. How are you going to get home?” (Birds are slightly horrifying) “Almost there!” I responded. The turkeys all ran off as I came up on them. It was a great run. I felt happy and successful all evening. The next morning, I was getting ready to take the kids to church. I put on something light. It was hot. And it happened. The explosion of pain across my lower back. I didn’t dare move. It felt like someone was actually ripping the muscles out of my body. Tears filled my eyes. No, no, no! I won't be able to pick up the kids. (I’m super grateful that was my first worry and not running the half.) After a few minutes I managed to hobble down the stairs. Maybe it wouldn’t be that bad. I leaned on the counter holding my weight off my back. And then it happened again. Worse. Almost unbearable. Oh blow it out your shorts lady, I thought. You pushed out 2 kids no problem. But the pain persisted. By lunchtime, I couldn’t stand up strait. And I was kinked over to the left. I looked and felt like an old lady. A REALY old lady. I couldn’t pick up the baby, sit, stand, lay down. I was screwed. In 24 hours I had gone from a strong mother and athlete to a hunched over woman who couldn't even pick up her infant or wipe her own rear end. Heat, ice, stretching. Nothing. Was. Working. I hadn’t been to a chiropractor in years. I was desperate though, so I found one that had an opening. After an hour of electrical muscle stimulation, heat therapy, stretching and adjustments, I could only stand a little better. I asked the Dr. What he thought about running the half on Saturday. He responded with a laugh and told me not to hold my breath. When I got home, I could pick up my daughter, uncomfortably, but I could. I had hope. I went back to the chiropractor the next day. And the next day. And the next. On Wednesday evening, I walk/jogged on the treadmill. I felt victorious. Thursday afternoon I ran 4 miles. I was stiff and sore Friday morning. Hmmm. Was it worth hurting myself so that I couldn’t pick up my babies? Nope. Was it worth it to maybe permanently injuring my self so a half was never going to be attainable again? Nope. I swear I can hear a quiet little voice saying maybe there is a reason that you have yet to finish a half. Figure it out. What is really important in your life? Your physical prowess? No. Your ability to run a ridiculous amount of miles? No. Your…..gasp…..medal? Gulp. No. My family. That is what is important. 10k here I come. It was raining and freezing. I mean I have run this race for 12 years and this was the coldest it had ever been. Kendra, my consistent running partner, and I huddled under a tree in attempt to stay dry. My Dad came to watch the start. One of our local police officers told me to run faster as I jogged past him. Kendra’s parents parked at a local pizza joint and took pictures. My mom was two miles up cheering me on. A long time friend high-fived me as I happily turned at the halfway point. I had a nice conversation with a woman in mile 4 about the run/walk method, which she had truly mastered. She finished almost 2 full minutes ahead of me. A woman with no shoes sped past me. Geez. My feet hurt in shoes. My brother and Kendra met me at the last .2 miles. My mom and dad were at the finish line. And so were my wonderfully, supportive husband and the two best things I have ever done. My children. I had made it. 6.2 miles. I ran every step of the way. Smiling. I crossed the finish line uninjured and proud. My son and daughter got to watch their mom be strong, healthy and happy. A true goal attained. And my next goal you ask? I’ll worry about it tomorrow. 
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I don’t know about you, but my biggest challenge with running is finding the time to do it!
I wake up every day with a great plan. Drink tea. Eat Breakfast. Do morning chores. Get husband out door. Wake kids. And that’s where it all falls apart. I feel the laughter bubbling in my chest as I write this. Those darn kids! They don’t want to get up. They don’t want to get dressed. They don’t have to pee. And how the hell do they not have to go to the bathroom?! They’ve been sleeping waaaaaay longer than I did, and I had to get up in the middle of the night to go! So I can’t imagine that those tiny, little bladders aren’t about ready to explode. Oh……and then they do pee! But not in the toilet. Ahhhhh. After that disaster is wiped up we talk about the importance of peeing when we wake up. Then they aren’t hungry. They still don’t want to get dressed. Well at least brush your dang teeth!! Nope. So I help that one along a little. Cavities don’t seem like fun to me. About eight o’clock rolls around each morning and whether it’s time to leave for the day or it is a home day…… one thing after another keeps happening. And by the way……. Two mugs of tea in and I haven’t peed since 4:30am. So by the time I get to a few spare moments in my 19 or so hours of awakeness…… I haven’t got it in me to even lace up my shoes. Sometimes I will give into the comfy recliner and a good book. Other times, especially if I’m at the gym anyways, I will drag myself to a treadmill. The following is the process my brain goes through while I am running/lumbering…… THIS is going to be epic! I love running. Here we go. Ahhhhh. This is the best. Oh. Yikes, that’s actually really uncomfortable. Why the hell am I doing this?? Is this actually keeping me healthy? Nope, I can NOT get a full breath. I wonder what type of chest pain is dangerous? I definitely need to buy a new sports bra. I should go that right now. Naw, I should probably just go home and do all the dishes. And then…….. I’m soooooo glad I ran today. My children are the best. I don’t mind that I have to drive home in a snowstorm. And who cares about all those dishes. I sure do love running. I feel amazing. You know what? I’m going to run a half marathon. Yes! I can do it. Wait for it….. Shit. I should have peed before I ran. Shit. Cramp. Shit cramps?? Naw, just keep running. Why the fuck do I do this? Chocolate cake sounds good right about now. What IS for dinner anyways? Cramp. Cramp. People may be watching. Make it look like you are in no discomfort at all. That lady is looking at you admiringly. Smile back at her. Yup, there you go. Did I wear waterproof mascara today? Nope, probably not. Yup, it’s definitely running down my face. Is all natural mascara supposed to burn my eyeballs?? Why do I wear non-waterproof mascara anyways?? Oh, right. Cause I’m trying to only put healthy products on my body so that when I eat donuts somehow they cancel each other out. Right? Mmmmm. Donuts. Okay. That’s better. The thought of donuts makes EVERYTHING better. Just breath. These are the pants that fall down aren’t they? For the love of god. I think I cut the drawstring out of these when I wore them right after I had the kids. Actually, I think I may have lost a few pounds. Like since I started running 3 minutes ago. I mean, I feel so much thinner. Wait an effing second, I have only been doing this for 3 minutes?!? WTF. I think the guy on the treadmill next to me is running at 7.5 miles an hour! He looks so relaxed. My heart feels like it may explode and I’m barely making a 10 minutes mile. And I generally increase my speed at that point to feel better about myself. The way I convince myself to start is by telling myself that I will stop at one mile and be satisfied. I never do. 2-3 miles later, sweat soaked, mascara streaked and much happier, I clean off my machine and attempt to stretch my very inflexible body. If you can at all relate to the above few paragraphs, then you may be my kind of runner. Motivated to be the best you possible, certain that with each and every run you may die, and a working mom/dad. But that’s what it’s all about. Pushing through that, I can’t, I won’t, fine…..just a mile. And feeling stronger, better and more alive on the other side. The dishes aren’t so overwhelming. The lunches that need to be packed for then next day aren’t as frustrating. And you go home as a better wife/husband/partner/parent/human. We all have those times that we just can’t figure the day out. And that’s okay. But remember that sometimes we have to stop figuring out everything around us and take just a mile or two or three for ourselves. Remember to feed your runner soul.  So, it’s been a while since my last blog post. But SOOOO much has happened since then! To start, my brother, sister-in-law and I opened a gym in our beautiful town! It’s been 12 years in the making, many late night discussions, produce cooler conversations and back of the ambulance brainstorming sessions(without a patient of course!)
I also became a certified personal trainer and health coach, got a puppy, learned how to build a website, quit my full time job to help grow our business, was a vegan for 6 days, really began my own health and wellness journey (so far, I’ve lost 25lbs in 2.5 years!) AND ALL WHILE BEING A MAMA!! Now to the meat and potatoes of this story! Or the kale and beans for all my vegan friends out there. Your journey is just that, YOUR JOURNEY! What works for the woman next to you on the treadmill, may not work for you! So stop comparing yourself to others!! And how the heck do we do that? Simple-ish. Look in the mirror every morning and smile. You are beautiful when you smile This may be difficult or near impossible for some. We never feel good enough, unhappy with what we see or maybe we are totally stressed out by what’s currently going on in our lives, but if you’re taking the time to read this then I want you to start right now. SMILE! Stop judging others! It breaks us down. Unfortunately, It’s almost a natural thing to do these days. The next time we feel that judgmental part of our human ways peek from behind our shoulders, take a minute and find something positive to think about that person instead. And if you are an extroverted extrovert, maybe you can even let that person in on the positive you see in them! It might be a little awkward at first, but so was walking and you seemed to figure that out pretty alright. Find something each day that you feel good about. Even if that is simply brushing your teeth! It doesn’t have to be an amazing feat to be amazing to you! Be grateful. Take a moment to look around at all that you have. Everything that you have and have accomplished (including still being alive) up to this very moment is worth being grateful for. Your life, your ability to read, the device you are reading this on, the roof over your head, the food that has so far nourished you this day. Anything! Just be grateful And the biggie. Stop caring about what others think! I have a news flash for you. Most people don’t give a f*** what you do. Who you are. What you’re saying. Unless it directly effects them. And those that do care, either love you or hate themselves and find it easier to judge you then take care of their own crap. STOP WORRYING ABOUT THEM AND ENJOY BEING YOU! The wonderful, beautiful, strong, talented mom, dad, brother, sister, son, daughter, grandmother, grandfather, aunt, uncle, cousin that you are. Put a little confidence in your back pocket today. When you feel unsure, put your hand back there and know your journey is FUCKING FANTASTIC and I’m rooting for you! In recap, you don’t have to aspire to be the person on the treadmill next to you or the woman with the super bouncy haircut and perfect outfit. And the mom who looks like she has it all together? (she doesn’t, not even close. We’re all just hanging on by one poopy diaper.) None of us have it all together. We all struggle, we all fail. And hallelujah, we all get back up again. So......Keep going! Your story is yours and it’s only written until this very moment.  I have a confession to make. I get OVERWHELMED. Gasp. And I don’t hide it well. Ask my poor husband. But I think I’m in pretty good company, we have all been there. Whether we care to admit it or not. We are a stressed out, no time for ourselves, totally overwhelmed society. As human beings, we try to be as efficient as possible. We try to get too much done in a short amount of time. We take on as many projects as we can. We may work multiple jobs, be taking a number of different classes, running a household, toting children back and forth to school and to sporting events. Doing laundry and dishes, chasing after a peeing puppy. How about picking up groceries with two happy toddlers? Trying to get everyone out the door on time. Or maybe painting our fingernails when there might be five minutes to let them dry before someone wants something that requires your hands. Or going to the bathroom by yourself. No way. That’s not going to happen. And there you have it. OVERWHELMED. The sudden ringing in your ears is not music, it’s your blood pressure. The flushed feeling in your neck and face is not romance, it’s stress. The sudden sweat in your underarms is not the afterglow of a good workout. It’s just a run of the mill morning. We always make sure everyone around us is taken care of. Even if that means not getting our own checklist done. And before we know it, we are cranky, itchy, eating waaaay too much ice-cream and wishing we could just reset! And we can.  I know it seems impossible and this may seem old school, however….the only thing we have control over is ourselves and our reaction to our current situation. I will admit it. It’s not easy. Our instinctual response is to control and fix EVERYTHING. But sometimes we have to STOP. Stop. Think. Options. Proceed Stop. This is probably the hardest part of the whole deal. It takes effort to NOT yell. To NOT spiral downward into a stressed out mess of a crazy person. Make that effort. Don’t do it. Just stop. Think. Okay so we didn’t lose it. Now what? Think about the impact you have on those around you. On yourself. On the rest of your day. With that in mind reassess your reaction to the situation. And the effect that reaction will have. Options. What are your options? Well, we can stress out, our ears can ring, our vision can get blurry, figuratively and literally. But we’ve been there. And there sucks. So….how about we stay calm-ish? Let’s approach the situation with a little maturity and try to remember that this too will pass! And if we control our emotions then we don’t have to take the situation and it’s results with us all day long. Proceed. And now we are in a place where we can choose that calmer option and move forward with a practical reaction. When we can accept the fact that we only have control over ourselves and our reactions then we are well on our way to sweating a little less, only raising our voices in a life or death situation and maybe seeing the humor in these sometime over-the-top times in our lives. So, the next time (three minutes from now?) you are faced with a gathering in the bathroom, everyone crying and refusing to eat dinner or the weekly hunt, gather and yell at the grocery store remember to STOP. You may not have a ton of time to yourself, but I promise you that if you can run through those steps in your head you will create a new type of time. Time that is less overwhelming and therefore more successful. Be Strong. You’ve got this.   A simple share on Facebook inspired this blog post.
Charlie Brown, who has joined us daily since The Great Pumpkin was discovered by my kids, said it perfectly. It’s not what’s under the Christmas tree that matters, it’s who’s around it. How true is that?! We get caught up in the commercials, online shopping, sale fliers and lists of wants. We want to be the best gift givers, the esteemed hostess and have the most festively decorated home, (we are not all Chevy Chase by the way). We want our kids to remember how generous we were. We don’t want to feel like we didn’t do enough. Credit cards come out of hiding and are used with the premise of…. It’s the holidays! Stress mounts & tempers flare. However….. If we can just take a few minutes to stop. Take a deep breath and think about why we are celebrating this season. Depending on your beliefs, faith and spirituality; this season may be about the Christ Child. His birth and the simple beauty that surrounded Him, Mary and Joseph in the manger so long ago. Perhaps, it’s about the family gatherings. The laughter and food. The exchange of gifts and the joy of being with loved ones. Even if our loved ones are a pet, or only with us via phone or email. Or maybe, for you, it’s the time of year you reach out to those around you. Those less fortunate than you. Donations of food, money and time fill your holidays with purpose and satisfaction. For we must remember, that there are those who do not know the story of Christ’s Birth. Those who have no family, laughter or food. And those who can’t even fathom reaching out to another, for their own world is too dark. So as we go through our busy days, shopping, wrapping, baking and gathering with friends and family….. Be grateful. Be aware at how much good you have in your life. Hold the sarcastic comment, the cranky face. And back to Charlie Brown, It’s not what’s under the Christmas tree that matters, it’s who’s around it. So surround your tree with what matters most to you. Whatever or whoever it may be. Merry Christmas!  Each and every one of us has a lot to be grateful for. There are days that we feel unsuccessful, frustrated, overwhelmed, under appreciated, insignificant, unnoticed and just not good enough. Okay, cool. Feel those feelings. Live them. Know them. But only for a minute. Now get up. Get up physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. WALK AWAY FROM THOSE FEELINGS. Will they still be there if you go back? Yep. Will they still be convincing? Yes. Is it easier sometimes to feel all those things than to not? Correct. So let’s not do that. Let’s stay over here where we actually like ourselves. First of all. You are alive. Feel your heart beating? Awesome. Second, your reading this so, you have a moment to yourself. Next, you have things. Whether they be tangible or not. They are yours. You have information. You have the ability to make the best out of what is yours. It’s not about what we have, but about how we use it. If you are a parent, you have your precious children, no matter how challenging it may be. If you are a cashier, doctor, farmer, pilot, active military, bus driver; what you do matters. Are you struggling with weight? Health? Sobriety? One Day At A Time. All of us. There is nothing more stressful than trying to figure out everything, right now. That being said, all of the self improvement, career betterment and continuing education that we want/need……. Stop. Look around at who you are. What you do. What you have done. There is peace in a grateful heart. When we accept ourselves and work to improve, not change……we succeed. Today and tomorrow. So as we embark on this holiday season, let our hearts and minds be filled with gratitude and acceptance. You have everything you will ever need.   It’s time to talk about running! As the first few warm days of spring encompassed our area with chirping birds, scurrying chipmunks, yard work and open windows; a few other things reared their ugly heads too. Shorts, tank tops, sweat and chaffing. Oh boy! I know I didn’t keep up with my fitness as much as I should have this winter. Heck, I can wear layers! Sweaters! Jackets! But that doesn’t work so well when the temperatures soar into the 80’s and 90’s. Not only did my wintertime nightly snacks help me to bulk up a little but it was weighing on my mind as well. So out come the running shoes, shorts that are a bit too tight, my loosest tank (for ventilation, of course) and multiple motivating playlists. I start to make all these huge plans. Running 5 days a week. No, 4 will be good. Hmmm. Let’s just plan on 3 or whenever the kids are quiet. Good, we'll go with that. Should I train for some big race?!? Woah. How much free time do you think you have? Stick with something you know you can succeed at WITHOUT forgetting about your family. Like pooping by yourself. Believe me, they won’t let you forget, they’re just on the the other side of the door. Now, those first bronchospasming, chaffing, jiggling miles. You’re probably thinking, why did I think this was a good idea? I very possibly may die. Where is the chocolate pudding?!? And where in HELL are all of these black flies coming from?!? (My advice to you, start swinging you arms around your head when you leave the house and don’t stop until you get back.) And the familiar feeling on your bare arms as the always popular deer flies take that first tasty chomp on your pasty flesh. And of course they are just out of reach so your exaggerated smacking motions do you no good. Ahh. That beautiful first of the season run outside. I am sooooo grateful for my treadmill. That’s probably something most people don’t say very often. I’m grateful for my treadmill. Huh. Well, after a few grueling weeks of running 5, yup 5! days a week, those shorts are fitting a little better, the chaffing isn’t as horrible as it was and I’m craving the chocolate pudding a little less. (Only a little though.) My point is this past month was going to go by whether I took my future in my hands or not. So you just have to do it for today. You just have to do it a little. Because a little is waaaaaay better than nothing at all. Run, walk, chaff, sweat and get bitten by bugs. Just for today.   Size does not matter. It has taken me quite a while to truly understand what this statement means. You can be skinny and unhealthy. You can be curvy and in fantastic shape. You can be heavy, considered overweight even and still be in better shape than someone 50 pounds lighter than you! Of course! You chuckle quietly to yourself as you read this. How did I not know that? Did I really think the only type of fitness that existed was less than 15% body fat, no love handles, able to run a marathon and abs to talk about? No! Geez! I know that in a broad sense. I know that when I'm talking to a girlfriend who wants to lose a few pounds. Or my mom who at almost 70 is in better shape than anyone I know! But when it come to myself? Well, I guess I didn’t realize that I could ease up on my fitness parameters a little too! So I have taken a different approach. The “I want to be strong, healthy and around a long time for my kids” approach. Okay, so what does that mean exactly? Well first off, SIZE DOESN’T MATTER! Phew. Cause after having babies…… well, that’s just it. Everything is different after having babies. But can I play in the snow with my boy without gasping for air? Yup. Can I get down on the floor to build a lego castle pretty comfortably? Yup. Can I run a mile without too much discomfort? Sure, we'll go with that. But my point is, I am physically capable of doing these things fairly effortlessly. Would I like to be able to run a 10k in under an hour again? Heck ya! But when life is busy, these things take good time management and patience.  Next, strong heart and lungs. SUPER important. If you think about it, besides your brain, they are pretty much the most important parts to your physical existence. Don’t do things to them that you wouldn’t want someone doing to you. Take care of them. Don’t alter your body, and eat fairly well. The perimeter of the grocery store is where I try to shop. Fresh veggies, low fat cuts of meat, cheese, eggs, milk. (Sometimes Ben and Jerry’s is important though.) Sanity comes next! Get outside at least once a day. Fresh air is good for everyone! Stand up and move around once an hour. Get your blood flowing. Maybe a brisk walk a few times a week. Go with a friend or listen to your favorite playlist. OR just enjoy being quiet and remember to take a deep breath and smell whatever season you are blessed to be outside in. Do something for you. Whatever that something is. However long it takes you. Enjoy it. Be it. And if you are one of the many people I know whose daily physical activity consists of taking care of animals, indoor or out, remember to be grateful. Try to leave a little extra time so you can reap the full benefits of being a caretaker. And in this wonderful winter weather of ours, wear your ice cleats for gosh sake! I guess the moral of my blog is….. JUST MOVE! Stay active! Be grateful! If you're skinny and can't walk up the stairs without being out of breath, do something about it! If you're curvy and can run a happy, sweaty mile. Then awesome! (Do your thighs rub together uncomfortably when you run though? Wear longer shorts or Body Glide, both work great!) But just keep moving. And whenever it is that you are reading this. Stop. Take a deep breath. Put your hand on your chest. Thank your heart and lungs for all they do for you. And know that you are strong and amazing.  Who you are is okay. Let’s start there. Never let anyone tell you otherwise. There will be times when people will try their darnedest to convince you that there is something wrong with you. Tell them to Blow It Out Their Shorts. For me, this usually happens at two different times. Either when I’m feeling really confused, unsure, tired or defeated. And the other seems to happen when I feel excellent. Confident, proud, strong. Yup. In both instances I’m an easy target. My emotions are a sure ping on everyones radar. I wear my heart on my sleeve and don’t do a great job at hiding the way I’m feeling. People love to pounce on the weak. It’s a perfect time for them to feel better about themselves. To get out pent up frustration to prove they aren’t the ones that suck. So, how do we prevent this from happening? How do we avoid the bubble poppers? What can we do to not be noticed by the grumps? I have a few thoughts on this. 1~ Simply ignore. This however takes skill. Even if you can manage to audibly ignore, emotionally and mentally disregarding takes a lot of effort. 2~ Learn to defend ones self. But then you get into arguments, become all fired up and potentially say things you will later regret. Because let’s be honest, this isn’t a scripted movie and most of us are not suave enough to come up with the perfect thing to say in the face of adversity. 3~ Avoid. Don’t call attention to yourself. Hmm. Could I do that? Like really not be noticed by those around me? Yes. I think with a little bit of practice, some self control and the Grace of God, it is possible. I truly believe avoidance is, in this case, the best option. For me at least. So how the heck do we do that? Well, from my experience it’s not easy. Not impossible, just not easy. I have found that the more times I have had my bubble popped, I start to recognize the situations in which it will occur. Then at the point of recognition I simply avoid that interaction. Until I learn the coveted skill of ignoring. Everyone has a different level of tolerance when it comes to bubble poppers. Whatever yours is, you're doing awesome. Continue to be joyful and don’t let others discourage you. Try to see the positive in every situation, even when it seems impossible. I promise you, no matter how wrecked you feel, you will be okay. So let’s get away from those negative situations and re-inflate our bubbles.   As a child, I loved Christmas. As an adult, I love Christmas. As a parent, I absolutely love Christmas. I have always had the best time shopping for gifts that fit the personalities of the people who are important to me. I feel successful sending out simple, yet thoughtful greeting cards and I always try to make something delicious to share with my co-workers during the season. Receiving from another is of course a delightful experience. Not because I’m getting something, but because I believe that the person giving the gift must have had the same happiness as myself in selecting, wrapping and presenting it. But in honesty, gift giving has become more of societies obligation to one another instead of a joy and an honor. Time and desire seem to be falling by the wayside and money, well let’s just say most of my gifts come from the heart. I still enjoy tales of Santa, his reindeer and his magical travels. How does he visit every house in one night anyways? I have hope of snow and sit quietly at night watching the twinkle of the lights lovingly wrapped around our specially selected tree. Christmas gatherings have always been a highlight in my holiday season. The planning, execution and afterglow of a successful get together. Whether it be for work, church or family. I thoroughly enjoy the laughter, eye rolling and stories that come with such an experience. The Advent Season in church is beautiful with songs, candles and greenery. The four Sunday’s leading up to a simply lovely Christmas Eve Service are my favorites. Hugs, promises of get togethers and the exchange of a gift on a snowy night before Christmas will always hold a magical place in my heart. And the most important part, at least for me. The infant Jesus. His birthday! His story. How his mama found out she was expecting. Her ride to the place where she would give birth and those who were at her side as she brought her precious son into this world. That’s it. It’s that simple. Yes, the story, as for all of us in life, goes on. But that specific part is cherished by so many in our world today. So enjoy the lights! The food! The commercials! But always remember the journey of a woman and the cries of her babe so long ago. For they will always be the reason for my Christmas Celebrations.  |
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