Perspective Shifts and Epiphanies?

Epiphany - noun. a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.

Since I seem to be lacking epiphanies, I wonder if shifting my perspective on things can cause an epiphany? You know, give my perspective a kick-start in some way.

Someone please kick my perception into gear!! I need an epiphany!!

What am I missing?

Wallet? Check.
Phone? Check.
Shoes? Check.
Hat? Check.
Keys? Check.

Family? Check.
Health? Check.
Friends? Check.
Education? Check.
Job? Check.
Home? Check.
Hobby? Check.

Ever just feel like something's missing from your life? Something meaningful, fulfilling...but you just can't quite put your finger on it? Has there ever been something pulling you from the inside, pulling you in so many directions but none of which you can pin down? Too many choices. Too many options. What is the paralyzing factor? Is it fear or simply not knowing? What do you do when you're ready to take a plunge but don't know which direction to plunge?

It's time...

It's time again to take a step back and reflect on all the things I have to be thankful for:

• healthy family and self
• more friends than I can count and some I can count on day/night
• my babies and their health
  
• the freedom to run whenever I want
  
• never having to go hungry
• never having to go without wine
• a roof over my head that makes me happy
• opportunities to share my passion with others
• and the opportunities to learn from others
  
• living in a country that allows me liberties others only dream of (if that)
• Folgers holiday commercials
• employment that allows me to do the things I enjoy

There are so many other big and small things to be thankful for that I would be here all day writing, however, there's a Trot to run and turkey to eat. So often it is the day-to-day trials and tribulations and "why me?"s that float around our heads instead of the joys that all around us.

So after the turkey has been eaten, after the family gatherings dissipate, once the holiday madness has ended - try to remember to be thankful for something EVERY DAY.

Torpedos Be Damned!

Words from my coach, Derick Williamson of Durata Training, on how to approach my race on Sunday. It's been an interesting trek getting to this weekend - lot's of torpedoes have been deployed this journey and I've gotten a few scars but have managed to avoid total destruction. From various injuries to a nasty flu-like cold last week, it's been full of peaks and valleys. But how is that any different from life or anyone else's training? It's not. We all encounter obstacles; it's the tactics we use to combat them that makes us unique.

Traversing those peaks and valleys in my mind has been the greatest challenge for me. I've gone from feeling super confident to feeling that I wouldn't make it to the start line to giving up running altogether. Fortunately, I keep reminding myself that no matter your preparation, race day comes with no guarantee of success or failure, so all I need to do is put one foot in front of the other and enjoy the day.

...and damn those torpedoes!


Thanks to everyone for all your support and kind words. I may have trained alone, but I certainly don't feel alone!

Doing Something for the First Time...

Aside from dusting off the blog, I decided to do something I've been wanting to do for a long time. With fortuitous timing and my tipping point reached, I decided that this is the time to make the first move.

Donate to Locks of Love

Locks of Love is an organization that collects donated human hair and creates custom wigs to children suffering hair loss from diseases and traumatic events such as cancer, alopecia, burns and other life-altering events.

Sure, I could have donated a check. What organization can't use cold, hard cash? But I want my contribution to be personal. I want to know that when some little girl looks in the mirror and smiles because for a moment, she isn't reminded of her illness or disease by her lack of hair, it is because I was able to give her a gift. I'm not curing cancer, but maybe I can help her feel better in some way while she fights through her illness. I don't know, it just seems like the right thing for me to do.

I tried to do this several years ago, but my hair was not quite long enough (shy about an inch) and I was too impatient to let it get any longer. But for the last two years, I've been letting it grow...and grow...and grow...


I am donating over 10 inches of my own hair.



It was a bit more surreal than I had imagined because I had not realized how attached to it I had become. It seems that long hair sort of becomes its own being, it has it's own life because it too changes over the years. And I unfortunately found out, also leaves you with some strange cowlicks and growth patterns that you don't discover when it's long and weighed down. But hey, I get to grow my hair out...some of these kids might not ever.

Growing Pains and Growing Gains...

Gains often arise from the pains we experience through life. This is not something I have discovered all on my own - not like Albert Einstein proclaiming the Theory of Relativity. You've no doubt heard this many times, in many different renditions. But while so many times we tell ourselves "oh, I'm learning my lesson" - learning to adapt to injury, life-changes, work-changes, etc. - it's also important to ACCEPT these lessons.

Learning the lessons and accepting them, I have discovered, are not equal. Last year, as I "learned my lesson" while dealing with my hip and feet injuries, I had a difficult time accepting them. I learned that I needed to stop, to rest, to recover, but I did so with a combination of despair, resentment, bitterness and sorrow and an assortment of conflicting emotions. I knew and did what I needed to do and tried really hard to stay on course. I took a break, but in taking a break, I didn't do anything. I was so affected by not being able to run that I simply did nothing.

A few weeks ago, I began to experience a setback with my other hip. REALLY?!?! Come on! This time, I sought out the professional care necessary to begin dealing with this situation sooner than later. I also informed my coach and together have come up with ways for me to continue training without running until it resolves.

This time I will not "do nothing"...I will do what I can. I can swim, so I swim. I can spin, so I spin. I can't ride hills, so I don't. I can't run, so I don't. Bitter? Not this time. Frustrated? Sometimes, but less often than previously. I know if I listen to my body and give it time to heal itself, it will. And do you know what? Every day it seems to be improving - patience, positivity, PT and prayers - are my keys to recovery.

It's all going to be ok...for real this time!! :)

The Epiphany...

Yes, it happened. The minor epiphany did occur during my run this morning...as was predicted!

I decided that while I am not currently experiencing any "drastic" life altering events, I am experiencing life altering changes:

I am eating better (most of the time)
Cooking more
Taking my lunch to work regularly
Enjoying my babies (my 4-legged babies)
Making my work life more satisfying, but never closing my eyes to possibilities)
Practicing Yoga
Making girl-time
Making couple-time
Making me-time!
Finding ways to relax
Sparking my training
Sharing my knowledge by teaching
Conscientiously trying not to be so critical of my shortcomings (except for my weight - unavoidable!)
and...
running. running. running!!

I am trying to adopt a more relaxed attitude and be open to more possibilities - be it sport, work or whatever!

So, doing the same things year after year doesn't mean you're in a rut - it's how you do them that's key. Life changes come in all shapes and sizes and right now...mine are m&m sized but quite plentiful!

Where am I?

As I sit here with my coffee, preparing for my run, I'm thinking...the kind of thinking usually done after consuming a bottle of wine at home after a long day. And I'm thinking "where am I?"

How can so many things be different, yet it all somehow feel the like nothing's really changed?

Perhaps I'll have an epiphany while out on my run...I'll keep you posted!

Well, hello again!

Yes, yes, yes...I've been on hiatus. No, no particular reason either...just didn't feel like sitting down to write. And no, I'm not going to try and catch up on the last five months...I'd go crazy and you'd be bored!

Right now I'm obsessed with the winter Olympics. I've watched any number of events every day and have a whole new interest in them. I've always enjoyed the summer games, but am now becoming drawn into the winter sports.

Speed Skating
Alpine
Moguls
Super G
Ski Jumping
Snowboarding
Ski Cross
Snowboard Cross
Cross Country Skiing
Luge
Figure Skating
etc.

I've watched and watched and watched in awe and amazement at what these athletes can do, what they've sacrificed to get there and how much of a lazy bum I am since I haven't been training much! At the very least, it is quite motivating...especially since I will not ever be an Olympic athlete, I don't have to train that hard!

Nevertheless...I'm back on a training program...as of today. Day 1 has been a success! The one major difference this year is that I very well may not do one single, solitary triathlon. Not one. Zero. Zilch.

What am I training for, you might ask??? MCM. Marine. Corps. Marathon. And my ticket to Boston. I will be a running and yoga-ing fool who will still bike and swim.

So now that you've read this you're asking yourself, "that's it? 5 months and her return post is this? WTH???"...yawn!

Oh, I'm sure the next several months will be eventful and insightful...at least through my eyes!