2017 - The Year of...

Thanks for the tremendous feedback I received to my last blog on what happened in 2016. I fully admit that mostly I do this as an outlet for me. It sometimes is easier to get my thoughts down on paper (at least digitally). But I have had many people reach out in the last couple of days to share their stories and other sorts of encouragement. Thank you for that, it means a lot to me! :) So now onto 2017.

I am not much for traditional New Year's resolutions. Sure, I have done those before, but for me those are just short-term wishes that end up falling apart in just a few weeks. That said, I do believe in the power of living with intention and goal setting. Too often I find myself simply reacting and responding to what life throws at me rather than trying to live proactively. I may blame lack of time or 'busyness' but in truth it's often just me not managing things the best way possible.

Last year my intention was to try to make some small changes in my life that when added together would get me to a better place. Dr. Blake Wagner taught this at one of our work events a couple years ago and it stayed with me. Sometimes we get so overwhelmed by big goals we actually get unproductive and 'fall off the wagon'. So I tried things like taking my vitamin once a day (basic, but I never did that...and maybe not coincidentally I think I was sick less last year), walking more to hit my 10,000 steps per day, trying to drink more water, finishing some 'unfinished projects' around the house, writing my 3 thankful things etc. To be honest my record with those is pretty hit and miss, but even if I succeeded with half of them that was a vast improvement over what would have happened otherwise.

So with that in mind the last couple weeks of the year I started to think about what I would like to see happen in 2017. At times I felt a little out of control of things in 2016 and I really wanted to feel like I wasn't constantly having things come together at the last minute. So I spent some time at the office cleaning up. I admit that I'm not the neatest person by nature and I constantly say I don't mind it, but you know what? I think I DO mind it. I cannot tell you how peaceful I felt when I walked into work Tuesday to a clean desk rather than piles of stuff everywhere. The work is still there and it still needs to get done but I feel like I have a more peaceful mind with which to accomplish that work.

Secondly, I felt like at the dawn of a new decade in my life I should try to break out of my normal routines. I remember reading an article on the successful show biz producer Shonda Rhimes a couple years ago and how she had a year of "Yes" where she intentionally tried to accept things that were offered to her. That stuck with me. But in truth, I don't think I have a problem saying yes (maybe I need the year of no, haha). So after thinking about it for a few days I decided to make 2017 the Year of NEW for me. I tend to get stuck in a rut so my goal is to do/learn/listen to/watch something new everyday this year and then to journal about it and what I learned.

It sounds fun to say the year of new, but in reality I know that some of these new things will not be pleasant. They may be stressful or sad but they might also be exhilarating, inspiring or life changing. I won't know until try it so that's what my intention is for this year. I'm a few days in and so far my 'new' things haven't been too exciting but even listening to a new album, starting the year with a clean office or reading a new book can change your perspective on something. I'm excited to see what I learn and where this takes me.

Incidentally I'm still work on my 'small habits' intention from last year. First step is to start drinking more water and less junk! I'm interested to hear what you think and what you hope to do in 2017!

Happy New Year!

2016 The Year of Everything and Nothing -- A retrospective

So you are probably thinking I forgot all about this blog, my promise to my mom and my goals, right? The answer is both yes and no. I never forgot but life got in the way, as life tends to do! It's the beginning of 2017 and it's been four years (!!) since I last blogged but I thought I would dust this account off and start tracking my progress on some different goals.

2016 was one of the most interesting years in recent memory. On a national level it was filled with divisiveness, anger, loss, change, and confusion. For me personally it's hard to really to classify. It was the year I turned 40. Society says I should struggle with this age, but in truth I feel more comfortable in my own skin than I ever have. It was a year of immense changes at work that necessitated a lot of long hours handing multiple jobs. Yet, it was also a year filled with many professional successes such as chairing a national association board, presenting at a national conference and seeing much success locally.

It was also a year that I decided to get out of credit card debt. That debt was an albatross around my neck and I felt deep shame and an overwhelming powerlessness to change it. Then I sat down with a friend who is a financial planner and we put a plan in place to try to tackle it. My original goal was to pay it off in 18 months and truthfully that seemed like wishful thinking at the time. Yet, I'm very blessed to say that if all holds I should be paid off sometime in the next 6 weeks, just about 13 months after I started!!! (No secrets, just doing the cash envelope budget system and putting all available $$ towards my debt.)

In March 2016, buoyed by my success with my debt and after several months of just overwhelming stress and pressure, I felt convicted to try to find something to be thankful for everyday. I started with a goal of 3 things but almost immediately every day had 4-5 different things. Truthfully, there were some very difficult days where I had to think really big picture about thankful things. But most days were filled with individual blessings, normal, humble and mundane (and a few extraordinary ones). I started to notice how this act started to change my attitude and outlook during stressful times. It's a habit I'm keeping in 2017.

2016 had one last gut punch for me -- learning that my beloved dog, Ginger, had terminal lymphoma and our days together were numbered. I had adopted Ginger just a little over a year after losing mom. She has been my faithful companion and best friend through some of the most trying days of my life. To say the diagnosis was devastating is probably an understatement. But after my initial despair I pulled it together to try to make Ginger's last months filled with lots of love, kisses, snuggles, treats, walks, rides in the car with her head out the window and all the things she loves.

I started this blog post to write about 2017 but I guess I needed to write about 2016. So tomorrow I'll fill you in on what I'm planning for this upcoming year! Happy New Year!

A beautiful day for a run...

Wow...we've had sort of a miracle happen here in Rochester lately.  The sun. Shining. In March.  It was day 2 of gorgeous blue skies and sun.  I had to miss my morning group run with Fleet Feet due to a Rotary meeting but after having lunch with my Gram, I headed out for a run!  I decided to leave my pup at home today. I wanted the luxury of being able to run without having to worry about what she was doing or if we would see any other dogs.  I ran a little over 3 miles at about a 14:30 pace (averaged). I started faster but slowed a bit at the end. But I felt good the whole way.

In two weeks it will be my one-year anniversary of running!  It was a beautiful day, much like today, a year ago that I decided to start the Couch 2 5K program. I readily admit that I had no idea a year later that I'd still be running, but I am thrilled about it!

So I guess it's time to share one of my goals for the year: run a half marathon.  Yep, 13.1 here I come!  That seems crazy to even type, but after I did the Race with Grace 10K (6.2) at Thanksgiving I started to believe that with time and the proper training, I too can join the ranks of half marathoners.  Will a full marathon be in my future....who knows? I don't have any plans to run one now but if I continue to train and lose weight...the sky is the limit! :)

I have a couple other goals for the year...I'll try to share those in a separate blog post.  Thanks for all the lovely comments and notes of encouragement.  This is a long, slow process (much like my running...haha) but it's been most worthwhile. I wholeheartedly believe my mom is up in heaven cheering me on to success.

Happy Saturday!

It's about time for an update...

Wow.  Time flies!!! I can't believe that I haven't posted a blog since Thanksgiving...yikes.  Well the good news is, I have still been working away at my goal.  I'm very pleased to say that through the holidays I've maintained my weight loss. I'm still hovering around the 25 lbs lost mark.  I admit that once the Fleet Feet No Boundaries running program ended mid-December that I really backed off of running for a while.

I ran only a couple times during the whole month of January. I had some foot pain so part of that was just resting my foot but part of it was just that it was so dang cold outside! ;)

NoBo started back up a few weeks ago and I'm proud to say that I've been able to make most of the training sessions so far.  I'm also very happy that my times are steadily hovering around the 14 minute a mile mark.  I'm hopeful that in the next couple weeks that I can push myself to go up a little bit to the 13's group.  I'm still in the process of picking my races for the year but I'm excited to say that 11 months after I first went out for a run that I'm still running all these months later!!!

I've been putting together some goals for the year (I know, I know...it's already almost March) and I plan to share those in the next few days.  I'm just a few days away from the 2nd anniversary of my mom's passing.  It seems fitting that I unveil these goals for the year as I get ready for that day.  Thanks for all the wonderful support...it really means the world to me!

Happy Thanksgiving Mom!

Dear Mom,

It's hard to believe it's been a year and eight months since you passed. I miss you every day.  Today is Thanksgiving and I'm so thankful that I had a wonderful mother like you.  I think you would be pretty proud of how I am (finally) starting to fulfill my promise to you, mom.  At this point I've lost about 27 lbs since the spring.  It took me a while to get going but I don't think I've ever been more committed to exercise than I am right now. Beyond the weight loss, I just feel good!

This morning I ran the Race with Grace 10K!  It was by far the longest I've ever run and I am so excited to tell you that I ran the whole thing.  Dad came out to cheer me on. As I ran through the finish line I thought of you and what you would be thinking of this whole thing.  I know you would be proud and perhaps a little surprised.  I know I am surprised.  There have been a few things in my life that I have really set my mind to and accomplished something amazing. This is one of those times. 

Whenever I get tired or discouraged and think I can't keep going, I think of you mom.  Not only how doggedly you fought your disease, but also just how doggedly you lived your life. You had a lot of loss and tough things happen and you just kept going, picking yourself up and moving on.  You left us all a wonderful example to follow.

I miss you tons and wish more than anything I could drive to your house and tell you this in person, but I guess I'll have to rely on the heavenly internet. 

Happy Thanksgiving Mom!

One year ago...

I'm all packed up and ready to head out to the cottage (see photo below) for our week of vacation. I'm pretty excited for a week off from my busy job.  This week marks an important anniversary though.  It was one year ago when I was on vacation at the cottage that I decided to embark on this journey of weight loss and getting healthy.  While I haven't achieved everything I had hoped for I thought it would be good to give an update on where I have been.

First, I started last year with great intentions and motivation.  But as with everything else, life got in the way.  I never gave up, but I cannot deny that I have had some really tough and trying times in the last 12 months.  So this goal sort of took a back seat.  Understandable but disappointing nonetheless. I originally hoped that I would have lost a lot more weight by now.  Oh well...

Second, the good news is that I have not given up and I am making real progress!  One of my goals for 2012 was to run a 5K (in fact a few of them).  As you may know, I'm nearing completion of the Couch 2 5K running program. I started and stopped it a few times before late April when it finally took hold.  I was reflecting the other day and realized that I've been doing this running 'thing' for over 60 days now...so I believe it's officially a habit! :)  I'm only a couple weeks away from finishing and then to try my first 5K.  I'm still deciding which one but I hope to run a few before the year ends...including the one I am in charge of "Race on the Ridge" in the fall!

Third, I have started to lose weight again.  I find that the exercise I am doing makes me want to eat healthier.  I'm trying to listen to that voice inside which says 'eat healthier' and I think it's finally starting to come together.  I'm not doing anything organized (such as weight watchers). I will need to eventually, but I'm trying this for now.

Finally, I have had several people ask me if I still plan to do my trek to the Himalayas.  The answer is both yes and no.  Realistically, I cannot commit to the trek that is going next November because I don't know that I have the time to get in shape the way I need to.  However, YES I do still plan to do this.  The group I was going to go with also leads yearly treks to the top of Mt. Kilimanjaro.  That would been a pretty cool alternative and I wouldn't have to wait as long.  In fact, my Aunt Donna, who passed away in October, had planned to climb 'Kili' so if I do this, it would be very fitting.

That's the long and short of the situation. I'm not where I had hoped to be but I am moving in the right direction.  Thanks for all the great support this year.  Let's see what the next year brings, shall we?

Working out on vacation

I am up at our family cottage for the Fourth. Almost the whole family is here (not everyone though) so it is quite hectic. This morning I woke up and decided that I needed to continue my training. I was worried if I took too many days off I might not get back. That is a pretty momentous decision in and of itself for me. Usually when I am on vacation I take a break from working out. So not only was I breaking from tradition this would involve a bit of a drive. See the cottage is set amongst a really hilly part of NY. Though I have seen vast improvement in my endurance I knew I wouldn't be able to run those hills. So I drove out to the nearest high school track. Thanks to North Rose- Wolcott I was able to get my run in! Now I can get back to relaxing. Have a great day! :)