As I've gotten older and moved around, I've kept very few close friends; I have usually found it pretty difficult to manage a social life and family life since I'm particularly picky with my time. That all changed about three years ago when I joined a local running group on a whim.
We're a pretty unlikely threesome: a nurse-turned-SAHM-married to a cardiologist, an accounting VP, and a teacher. Needless to say, I initially felt a little intimated by my running companions. While they were whisked away on lavish vacations, I felt like I was struggling sometimes just to make ends meet. We're all from three completely different worlds.
What we found as we've shared miles and miles and pavement though is that we're actually quite a bit alike. A lot alike. We're all very family oriented but realize that taking time for ourselves is critical. We like wine, good stories, laughing, cussing, traveling, and occasionally pushing ourselves to conquer 26.2 miles. We've managed to work in two girls' weekends (with running involved) that have been absolute awesomeness all the way.
It's a ridiculous comparison, but it almost feels like one of those friends with benefits relationships you always hear about and think how impossible they must be. We get along great but can go weeks without speaking and still be okay. Our usual reserved time to run is Saturday mornings, but when schedules get hectic, we might go three or four weeks without seeing each other.
So it was completely out of the ordinary for me to text them Monday night to ask if they'd like to meet earllllyyy Tuesday morning for a quick four miles. I've been struggling with motivation and thought a committed run would help. One accepted, one declined, and I can't help but feeling there was some divine intervention there.
I was running late to meet my buddy on an already tight schedule, and I was pretty frustrated with myself since I had to be back to get ready for work. But I made it, and we bundled up and braved the wind and cold. About three minutes into the run, my friend turned serious and said that at 9 a.m. she would be due to find out the results of a needle biopsy she had to have after having a routine (her first!) mammogram; she turned 40 in October. I hadn't seen her since our November weekend in San Antonio for the Rock n' Roll marathon and had no idea.
Let me just say this chick is the picture of fitness. She's what we all want to be. And she's genuine, tough, motivated. Very private, and a little stoic. I had no idea what to say. Where are those funny get-me-through-this reserve lines when you need them?
I asked her the usual questions, but my heart just flat out hurt. What the hell?? What the hell did I just hear? I honestly wanted to cry, but I knew she would hate that.
I thought about how at some point we're all going to face that with the ones we love. At least one. The point where you "hold hands" and wait for the news-good or bad. I wished our other friend could have been there with us. I hear her response was, "You're going to be okay because we're not wearing your picture on the back of a fucking t-shirt in a race." Ahhh, that I could have mustered up such candor.
I checked my phone every 20 minutes this morning not knowing what to expect and finally figuring the worst when I hadn't heard from her by noon. Turns out her results weren't ready (can you imagine???) and she was having to wait. By five she got confirmation: NO CANCER!!
Thank you, Jesus, through and through. I love my peeps, each and every one. I really am in awe of the power of prayer. I can honestly say that my mind was convinced that she had cancer- I just knew it. But my heart kept reaching out and asking for better news; praise HIM from whom all blessings flow.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Au naturale
For the past three years or so I've made a concerted effort go as natural as possible in terms of what's convenient and affordable. I'm not going to be making homemade mascara any time soon. But from the available selection of so-called natural products, I've tried to steer us toward making healthier choices.
I no longer drink soda, purchase artificial sweeteners (which I never really used anyway), and avoid ingredients with any kind of additives or food coloring. I don't like using canned foods because of the risk of BPA contamination, but I do. I try to buy fresh produce although it's not always organic. My skeptical self wonders how we would know if the products were truly organic or just labeled as such to squeeze out another $2-$3 per pound. Our meals aren't anything fancy, but they're not out of a box or a frozen dinner tray, so in that sense I think we're on the right track.
But I can't for the life of me find natural beauty products I like, so I often wonder if for all of my attempts at healthy eating, I'm really being counterproductive. The ingredient lists for things like lotion, lipstick, sunscreen, deodorant are overwhelming and dangerous when you look up some of their uses when isolated! It seems I'm always on the search for something effective, particularly deodorant. I've tried Tom's and Arm and Hammer, and I gotta say a big no on both. As a teacher I'm constantly moving around and interacting with people. After my latest attempt with Tom's, I smelled a little funk and realized it was me! I don't know if the cost of natural living is accepting that humans just weren't' meant to smell like coconut mangoes a la Bath & Body Works, but there's got to be a better way.
I no longer drink soda, purchase artificial sweeteners (which I never really used anyway), and avoid ingredients with any kind of additives or food coloring. I don't like using canned foods because of the risk of BPA contamination, but I do. I try to buy fresh produce although it's not always organic. My skeptical self wonders how we would know if the products were truly organic or just labeled as such to squeeze out another $2-$3 per pound. Our meals aren't anything fancy, but they're not out of a box or a frozen dinner tray, so in that sense I think we're on the right track.
But I can't for the life of me find natural beauty products I like, so I often wonder if for all of my attempts at healthy eating, I'm really being counterproductive. The ingredient lists for things like lotion, lipstick, sunscreen, deodorant are overwhelming and dangerous when you look up some of their uses when isolated! It seems I'm always on the search for something effective, particularly deodorant. I've tried Tom's and Arm and Hammer, and I gotta say a big no on both. As a teacher I'm constantly moving around and interacting with people. After my latest attempt with Tom's, I smelled a little funk and realized it was me! I don't know if the cost of natural living is accepting that humans just weren't' meant to smell like coconut mangoes a la Bath & Body Works, but there's got to be a better way.
Sunday, January 1, 2012
Happy New Year!
So long, 2011!
The past few years have been pretty trying for different reasons and as always I'm grateful for a new beginning. I had a thought that if I wrote down some of my goals, I might be more likely to stick with them. We'll see!
I'm definitely going to get back into better shape. I completely overindulged the last few months of '11. And while I'm not huge, I've lost a lot of muscle tone and endurance. I'm signed up for a Dallas half marathon in March, and I'm hoping to do the marathon relay in OKC. I definitely want to kick up my athleticism a notch as I was a bit lazy last year.
As for my diet, I'm thinking vegetarian again. I remember how clean I felt. The main issue is time; it seems like most vegetarian meals require so much prep time- a resource that I just don't have right now. Also, the men in my house fight me tooth and nail on this one, so I end up making two meals. It's frustrating and unfair to have to spend so much time trying to establish healthier habits. I read somewhere that enlisting older children to assist with food prep is an option. I'm actually a huge fan of this idea. Tyler will be turning 10 this year, and I can't think of a better activity for us. He would be learning a life skill and helping out the family in the process. I really do want to have him become more responsible for household work. I feel like I'm the one who does the majority of everything in the house....
Which brings me to my next goal: everyone in the house needs a job and a schedule. As a full-time working mother and student, I have precious little time. It seems that every waking minute of free time I have is spent on homework or trying to keep up the house. I really noticed that I was becoming increasingly burned out around October. It's a grueling schedule to keep when you're trying to also find time to run, read, and keep sane in general.
Mental healthwise- I definitely feel like I need a spiritual tune-up. While at the point in my life I'm a firm believer, I don't attend church as regularly as I used to. I have a bible that is set up for you to read daily passages and complete the entire bible in one year. That's something I've always wanted to do.
Some little things I'd like to do in 2012: bake more bread, camp, I'd actually like to go fishing, bake a pie from scratch (with merengue), detox and drink less alcohol, look into to starting a doctoral program, stick to yoga, complete home projects, go to Bonnaroo again!
Some little things I'm proud to have accomplished in 2011: three half marathons and one full marathon, successfully recovering my dining room chairs- they look brand new, starting a Master's program, baking a German chocolate from scratch, getting the bathroom painted, baking cookies with my kiddos, lots of bowling, establishing contact with my cousin whose mother tragically passed in 2010, ringing the kettle bell with both kids, kayaking, hosting Tyler's Halloween party and making all of the treats with my mom, running a 5K with my dad in the crappiest weather imaginable.
So here's to new beginnings, self improvement, and hopefully continued propserity in health, love, and life!
The past few years have been pretty trying for different reasons and as always I'm grateful for a new beginning. I had a thought that if I wrote down some of my goals, I might be more likely to stick with them. We'll see!
I'm definitely going to get back into better shape. I completely overindulged the last few months of '11. And while I'm not huge, I've lost a lot of muscle tone and endurance. I'm signed up for a Dallas half marathon in March, and I'm hoping to do the marathon relay in OKC. I definitely want to kick up my athleticism a notch as I was a bit lazy last year.
As for my diet, I'm thinking vegetarian again. I remember how clean I felt. The main issue is time; it seems like most vegetarian meals require so much prep time- a resource that I just don't have right now. Also, the men in my house fight me tooth and nail on this one, so I end up making two meals. It's frustrating and unfair to have to spend so much time trying to establish healthier habits. I read somewhere that enlisting older children to assist with food prep is an option. I'm actually a huge fan of this idea. Tyler will be turning 10 this year, and I can't think of a better activity for us. He would be learning a life skill and helping out the family in the process. I really do want to have him become more responsible for household work. I feel like I'm the one who does the majority of everything in the house....
Which brings me to my next goal: everyone in the house needs a job and a schedule. As a full-time working mother and student, I have precious little time. It seems that every waking minute of free time I have is spent on homework or trying to keep up the house. I really noticed that I was becoming increasingly burned out around October. It's a grueling schedule to keep when you're trying to also find time to run, read, and keep sane in general.
Mental healthwise- I definitely feel like I need a spiritual tune-up. While at the point in my life I'm a firm believer, I don't attend church as regularly as I used to. I have a bible that is set up for you to read daily passages and complete the entire bible in one year. That's something I've always wanted to do.
Some little things I'd like to do in 2012: bake more bread, camp, I'd actually like to go fishing, bake a pie from scratch (with merengue), detox and drink less alcohol, look into to starting a doctoral program, stick to yoga, complete home projects, go to Bonnaroo again!
Some little things I'm proud to have accomplished in 2011: three half marathons and one full marathon, successfully recovering my dining room chairs- they look brand new, starting a Master's program, baking a German chocolate from scratch, getting the bathroom painted, baking cookies with my kiddos, lots of bowling, establishing contact with my cousin whose mother tragically passed in 2010, ringing the kettle bell with both kids, kayaking, hosting Tyler's Halloween party and making all of the treats with my mom, running a 5K with my dad in the crappiest weather imaginable.
So here's to new beginnings, self improvement, and hopefully continued propserity in health, love, and life!
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