inspiration

The stories we tell ourselves.

We move through our worlds and all the while, tell ourselves our story. Have you ever had a moment where one of your stories changed?

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The other day one of my stories changed. It was a story, that I got to unpack it with the other person who had lived it. The events had held resentment and pain. Once unpacked, in safety, in the light of day so to speak, the pain seemed to simply dissipate, like fog in the sun. I feel so profoundly healed to have heard things I knew confirmed, and things I had wrong, cleared up.

I realize we all go through this life doing our best and when things happen we just keep going, adding to our story. Have you ever thought of your story and how it intertwines with all those around you?

My conversation today with an old friend, who unraveled some of a shared story with me today was amazing and healing on so many levels. Calling that person you know, who you care about but may have hurt, takes guts. Finding laughter and healing on the other end of a tough conversation is truly beautiful and such a gift.


What do a Super Bowl Ring, Brain Cancer and a Dead Puppy have in common?

What do a Super Bowl ring, brain cancer, and a dead puppy have in common? They ALL landed in my week this week. It has been epic. Epic as in amazing and horrible all at the same time. I feel like I have been on the most intense dollar-coaster ride and am ready to get off, and throw up.

This week:

  • Spoke at a work event, shared where my passion for my work comes from and got to try on a Super Bowl Ring.
  • Found out a mom I have been volunteering all year with has inoperable brain tumors, plural. She has been sick all year.
  • Mended a year long rift in a 40-year-old relationship to see if I could get the mom with the brain tumors help…
  • Attended a dinner where I have been selected as a promising leader and will get guidance in how to in rise faster in my chosen career.
  • Helped coordinate a fundraising party with a martial arts instructor who is amazing.
  • Came home, ready to leave for my son’s state competition with my family, only to find in the 8 minutes we were home, our 3-month-old puppy got out, got hit by a car, and died in my nine-year-old son’s arms. We stayed, buried him in a special place on our property, collected ourselves, and left for his competition.
  • Our puppy, RIP.Our puppy, RIP.
  • Attended younger son’s state competition, which his team won, they are off to Globals, and my husband has to leave on a business trip.
  • Tonight we light a lantern for our lost puppy.

What do you take from a week like this? I am thankful when I open my eyes that I am still here, still able to love and care for my family, friends and others. Still here to serve. God isn’t done with me yet.

All I ask now, is to keep giving and serving, as my heart is broken and only time will heal it.

The moment you didn’t realize it would be the last time…

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How many moments in your life do you recognize as the last time you will get to do something? We all seem to assume we will get to do it again. Yet I realize, especially with my kids, that really, every day is the last time. Each day I watch them change and grow, see them become new every morning.

They are the moments when your kids used to need you, that until they don’t one day, you don’t realize, that last time they asked you- would be the last, until afterwards.  These moments are all poignant and beautiful, but so many, we miss.

We notice these most when someone dies, yes dies. I abhors the phrase “passed away,” we ignore death and avoid the topic so much it makes me angry. When someone dies we are forced to see these last moments all at once, because they are over. My goal is to take these moments as they come, recognize as many as I can, and celebrate them. I believe this is why I have fewer regrets than most people I know.

I encourage you to look at today with fresh eyes and recognize, in your own way, what will never pass your way again. Simply take the time to see it and recognize it for what it is.

P.S. My dog is sleeping by the fire…

Hot Yoga, Humility and Falling On My A@@

Hot Yoga

I love Hot Yoga- I live East of Seattle so this should be no shock. My greatest frustration in living here is spending much of the year cold and wet. Hot Yoga has saved me from doing all my workouts on the treadmill or outside. While I love running outside there are days I crave nothing more than to just feel warm, you know- that lizard lying on a rock warm? Hot Yoga does that for me. It also loosens up my muscles and gets me centered. If you haven’t been- GO!

Humility

Now the thing about where I go for Hot Yoga is the teacher is incredible. Carina Terra of Terra Yoga in Issaquah– has a way of helping you move towards more difficult poses- teaches you some of the balance and invites you to try. It isn’t a competition, she recognized everyone is at a different level, but she always invites you to try. Today, I tried, and surprised myself by doing something- an arm balance I can’t remember the name of- and almost did it, then promptly….

Fell On My A@@!

So while my sweaty fall from the crazy arm balance I have NEVER tried before was not too painful physically, my pride, as always was a little bruised. Thankfully Carina didn’t laugh when I fell and I didn’t take out anyone else on my way down!

Zumba, what ALL women NEED to learn to do with their hips!

Zumba, been hearing about it for ages, wondered what it was all about, but just hadn’t managed to get to a class. This

What we feel like when we Zumba!

Zumba!

weekend I was in Bellingham for my sister’s 50th Birthday weekend. We had the chance to attend a free Zumba class. It ended up being the five of us plus the instructor, so basically a private birthday party class! This is the first exercise class I have ever been to which uses both hip and rib isolations! Now the funny part was realizing all these different dance methods incorporated into one class and how bad we all were at moving our hips! I think all women should take Zumba to learn how to move their hips! If we do this maybe we will have healthier hips and maybe a better time in the bedroom!

Laughing at myself and loving what I learned this weekend!

Today I ran in my underwear…

So, today I ran in my underwear. It was Cupid’s Undie Run in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood- one of the few which would not have protests regarding a bunch of people running around in their underwear! It was hilarous and so much fun!

Running in your underwear, cold, humbling and hilarious

What I learned today:

1    Fashion Tape can make any decent underwire bra work as a decent jog bra for a SHORT run.

2     Underwear runs are much more popular with 20-year-olds interested in drinking BEFORE they run

(not that this was a surprise mind you- just fun to watch)

3     I was not too old to run fast, not so worried about my self image to care if I looked perfect in my silly outfit, and knew enough to come with friends!

4     Regular nylon stockings keep you pretty warm and might be a good idea for a longer, cold run I want to wear shorts, but am concerned about being cold!

5     It felt good to go run for a cause and have a good laugh while we were at it!

And finally, this was training of a different sort, you see I know there will be moments in the Tough Mudder where I will feel VERY humble, this was an excellent training exercise in humility!

The Starting Line

Top 5 Quotes to get you through your NEXT workout…

1 Taken from runningthriver on the 12th….

The Starting Line

The image in my head when I start a run, any run

       Train like your Stronger, Fitter, Evil-Twin is plotting to KILL You!     http://runningthriver.files.wordpress.com/2012/02/photo-6.jpg

2  For those of you know know me this is SO good- train harder = good!

 If you train hard, you’ll not only be hard, you’ll be hard to beat. ~Hershel Walker –
and Belton Lubas’ Gym Wall!
3 For the races I am aiming to win, I keep the people in the mascot suits in mind to beat!
Show me a guy who’s afraid to look bad and I’ll show you a guy you can beat every time. C. Brock
(Damn those guys in mascot suits can run fast sometimes!)
4  For all those runs you think about skipping-
Success is following through when the moment of inspiration has left you. Rita Davenport
5 For the days you need to feel humble and grateful-
Every cancer patient you have ever heard of or known,
would give almost anything,
to be you,
healthy, strong and able to go work out. TC