Reasons Why I Run

I read an article today by a lady who proposed 10 reasons that running is not so bad. They ranged from everything from being able to stare at hot guys running in little clothing to the freedom to be sweaty and totally un-lady-like without shame. I started running in 2006 and I have to say I’m still not assuredly convinced that “running is not so bad.” To tell the truth, after all this time, most days I still dislike the first mile of any run. Can’t tell you why, just is what it is. I have just gotten to the point where I don’t give myself an option, no out, the decision has already been made to run, so I do it.

Owing to this particular article I started thinking about the reasons I run. I may not even make it to 10, but here goes…. I’m not even saying they are good reasons, but none-the-less, reasons just the same

• As a girl who grew up overweight, it was something I never thought I'd be able to do
• When I told my mom I was going to run my first half-marathon her exact words were "It just seems silly, I don't understand WHY you would want to do that?!" Believe it or not, this mostly straight-laced girl has a rebellious streak and there's nothing I enjoy more than making people choke down a little crow.  Sorry, Mom, Love ya! :)
• Because at the end of every run, whether it was good or bad, I've never regretted doing it
• The overachieving high school kid in me still has a sad need to collect medals
• It‘s relatively cheap, I can run anywhere I want for the most part, no gym fees and always a good change of scenery
• Because for however many miles I run, I’m alone with my thoughts. I can think, pray, cuss, cry, reason with myself or whatever I need to do without anyone bothering me or asking me what’s wrong. Just for the record, I think there’s been a couple of runs when I’ve done all the above.
• It’s a great excuse for buying clothes and shoes – oh wait, scratch that, I never needed a reason for shoe shopping
• Because I always feel better after a run
• It's simple, just move!
• I love that I burn roughly 100 calories for every 10 minutes I run!

I really love to travel and one of the things I'd love to do is traipse all over the globe and run a half in all different parts of the world.  And just because you have nothing better to do (HAHA!) here's my top contenders for that dream.

1) DisneyWorld Half -Marathon
2) The Rock n' Roll Marathon Series - Madrid, Spain sounds good for that one or San Diego, CA
3) Chicago Marathon
4) The Flying Pirate Half - Outer Banks, NC
5) The Air Force Marathon - Dayton, OH
6) The Maui Marathon - FOR SURE SIGN ME UP TO RUN IN PARADISE!!!!!
7) The San Francisco Marathon

Hello, my name is Sarah, and I'm a mess

It is said the first step in every recovery is admitting you have a problem. Well, there it is for you in black and white for the WorldWideWeb to see. And no, I do not need a 12 step program, thank you. I’m just a recovering perfectionist, that’s all.

"At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep, for you, God, have put my life back together.”
Psalm 4:8

I love reading The Message translation of the Bible. It’s a completely different perspective on verses I’ve probably read 100 times. After all, I’ve been going to church all my life, heard most every Bible story at least 20 times…how else do you manage to keep something real and fresh after that long? This verse especially struck me for obvious reasons.

Ok, so I must admit that maybe not every day feels this way, but only in a perfect world would it ever, and for now at least I live on earth so it’s not even a remote possibility! But I’m feeling more and more this way every day – just so incredibly blessed! Life by nature is just is a mess. I’ve come to accept this. I’ve quit striving for that perfection that doesn’t exist. No matter what I do my life will always be somewhat of a mess, some messes smaller than other, but it’s always something. Sure makes things a lot easier to realize you’re not perfect and never will be! No matter what your circumstances, history or your future, that reality just is what it is. Everybody has their issues. I’m just so thankful there is a God in my life and people around me who have loved me and held me up in the middle of my worst messes and when my life was in no way shape or form - together.

God’s glory is evident in my life for the very simple reason that my world is very much less than stellar. Only in my chaos can His blessings truly be illuminated for all to see. So for all of you feeling your mess is too much for God, too much for others or too much for you – I say RELAX! He’s got this one…and the next and the next and the next… He wants you and your mess so He can put your life back together they way He wants. And He will bless you abundantly in the process. For you who have loved me thru dramatic “Lifetimes Movie” story lines and guaranteed messes to come, I am grateful. I love you all in your imperfect craziness too. Know that if you are struggling today rest easy, He will put your life back together too, and I’m always here if you need me.
May you sleep soundly, knowing that storms never last forever, but He does!

La Vita Bella!

Freakin' Goldfish Crackers!

I blame my first grade teacher for my unhealthy obsession with Pepperidge Farm Goldfish Crackers.  See, every day at the end of the day if we had a good day, didn't cause any trouble, were good in class, my first grade teacher Ms. Karen would reward us as we left the classroom with a single little small Goldfish cracker she would drop in our mouth like a mama bird as we walked out the door.

I loved those tiny little crackers and I always wanted more than one.  I'm sure I probably begged Ms. Karen on more than one occasion for at least two.  I am sure this is where my obsession with overachieving came from. Goodness knows it was the end of the world if I did not get a little fishy cracker. 

For years after my first grade experience with Goldfish crackers I always remembered how much I loved those things and how they tasted and how I wanted more.  I am sure I had them at times after first grade, but I don't really remember having them again until I was an adult and bought them myself.  I don't know if it's just my nature or just remembering thru the eyes of a first grader, but I simply cannot control myself when it comes to those freaking Goldfish crackers!  UGH. 

Now, my girls love them and want to have them for a "snack." I literally cannot contain myself around them.  I have to have at least a serving of them every time, can't just have one or two or fifteen...a serving FIFTY FIVE of them, yeah that's right.  I literally count them out....well, except for tonight when I had 523 calories left to eat for the day and just poured out a cup of them and couldn't even enjoy them one at a time, it was more like five, and couldn't wait to get the next ones in my mouth. 

Was it first grade that cursed me with this sickness or am I just nuts? Or maybe both.  Whatever the case I'm just not sure but I just can't help myself around the freakin' Goldfish crackers! UGH.  I think I need to talk the girls into a snack of a different type, one I don't have "issues" with.  So, there you have it, my Achilles heal - Goldfish Crackers.  Who'd a thunk it?!  Bet you didn't! ;)

My Favorite Name

I’ve had some pretty awesome and pretty rotten jobs in my work history thus far. Everything from rubbing elbows with some of the most well-known of political figures to forays into the depths of the worst parts of this town to drudge up drug addicted individuals who’ve neglected their kids. But by far, the best job I’ve ever had comes with the simple title of “Mom.”

Sure the job came with sleepless nights, extra laundry, potty training, horrid permanent stretch marks and, in my case since I was roughly the size of a VW Beetle, repairs requiring nothing short of a tummy tuck. However, along with those things came the greatest joy I’ve ever known, love in it’s purest form, laughter of the best kind and gratefulness for the tiny glimpse of what my heavenly Father’s love for me must be like.

The job certainly has never been anything flashy or notable to most, but to two smallish type people in my home I know it means something. I think anyone who is a parent knows that most days just simply feel like routine; up, dressed, eat, school, home, eat, homework, showers, bed – and repeat! But somewhere in the midst of that routine you find that you really are molding the form of a grown-up-to-be. For me that comes in all kinds of forms from terrifying to ecstatic. Sure I do all I can to try to teach my girls the right, moral, good way to do things, but what I don’t always realize is that just their presence teaches me to be a better person too. So many times I find myself faced with decisions to be made and situations and people to be dealt with and my barometer is usually “When my girls get older and find out about my life what do I want them to think about me and my actions?”

It’s not always easy to go along with the actions I think would make them most proud of me as a person and mom someday, but I suppose that’s what having kids is all about; sacrifice. Despite the awesome responsibility, early Saturday mornings, extra laundry, and occasional sick duty, “Mommy” is the best job in the whole entire world. My girls are my conscience, my joy and my sanity. At times they were the only reason to get out of bed when I would have rather wallowed in self-pity. No such chance with them, and for that I am truly blessed!  My cup runs over!

Things I've never done...

This morning as I drove to work in rush hour traffic I saw a huge stretch limo rolling down the highway and I thought to myself, "I'd like to ride in one of those someday..." and the wheels began to turn in my head and I thought about all the things I've never done.  Some I'd like to do, others maybe not not-so-much.

People make much ado about having a bucket list.  I don't really have one of those, but upon the sighting of the limo this morning things just started popping into my head, so here you go!

Things I've never done but would like to do...

• Ride in a limo
• Eat at Big Truck Tacos
• Go to Ireland
• See the Grand Canyon
• Sky diving - a tandem jump, that is...
• Get my concealed carry license
• See the NY Jets play live
• Drive a lap around a Nascar track
• See lighthouses in Maine in the fall
• Ride a zip line
• Do a mini-triathalon
• See Adele in Concert
• Eat Sushi (maybe - still on the fence on this one)
• Enjoy coffee at sunrise wrapped up in a blanket with somebody who loves me
• Have a piar of Manolo Blahnik shoes on my feet
• Go on a cruise
• Take a photography class

Things I've never done but don't really mind...

• Bungee jump
• Own a face shredding monkey
• Snowboarding
• Eat bugs
• Visit Iran
• Own a snake
• Ride in a hot air balloon
• Be a contestant on "The Bachelor"
• Attend a hip-hop concert
• Wrestle an alligator
• Attend any event hosted by the Habana Inn
• Drive a motorcycle (I'll just ride, if it's all the same to you)

I'm sure there's more I could add, but I guess you get the picture! :)

A dream is a wish your heart makes...

Here we are, four days into the New Year and yet this is the first you’ve heard from me. I just know you missed me! :) Here I was, so excited for a fresh new set of 12 months, and now find myself all dumbstruck. Perhaps its writers block or maybe just being free from the weariness and heaviness of the past 12 months that forever have left their mark on not only my life, but those in my life too, has left me a bit speechless. In my perfectionism I was feeling this pressure of needing to write something profound for the first post of 2012. However, I had an epiphany on my run this evening (I told you, running is good for the mind too). I am neither brilliant nor profound, I’m just me - plain, simple, weird little me. Why then should my silly musings be anything other than what they always have been, just a slice of who I am and what goes on in my head (you might want to shiver at this point, it could get scary).

Owing to my excitement over crossing that midnight threshold into this new year, I’ve been mulling over a quote from my favorite author, C.S. Lewis. “You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”  Thinking about all my hopes, dreams, and wishes for what this new year might bring in my world, I know that obviously I have little control over my surroundings, but I do have control over my own self and my thoughts and actions. So, I’ll just do what I can, set my goals and hope for those dreams, and trust that God will shore up my inevitable short-comings and honor my heart being in the right place.

If you have known me for any length of time you know that my all time favorite Disney princess is Cinderella. Even I, at the age of 32, had to have my picture taken with her when we went to Disneyworld – and I’ll do it again the next time I’m there too! There was always something so hopeful to me about her story. Little orphaned cinder girl becomes a Princess thing, maybe. What I love about the story is that even in the midst of serving her nasty step family, she never copped an ugly attitude, and she never stopped dreaming that one day her life would be all she wanted and hoped for. My parents somehow instilled in me the same spirit. Dream big, work hard, keep the right attitude, and let God take care of the rest. I pray that I will pass that same thing to my girls.

Sure, things happen you never planned, but this is life and unfortunately we live in a fallen imperfect world.  What I have come to understand is that when things happen and dreams die, God is loving and gracious enough to give us new dreams and desires if we let Him. The trick is, in our humanness, most of the time we think ourselves unworthy of His favor, and honestly, we are. But He doesn’t give it because we deserve it, but because He loves us. Know that God wants desperately to shower his favor upon your life - no wait, not shower, He wants to SOAK you in his favor. My challenge to you this year is to realize that yeah, you don’t deserve it but he loves you so get over yourself and LET Him bless you beyond your comfort zone. Who cares what everyone else thinks! Trust me, when you let go of your pride and allow yourself to live in His blessings, you will be far too happy and blessed to care what all those “religious” types think. They’re just jealous anyway. Besides, who are you to refuse His blessings? I bet your kids wouldn’t turn down all the good stuff you could give them, so why would you do that to your heavenly father who is a more perfect giver than we ever thought of being.

I have some very serious and perhaps some quite silly hopes for this new year, but they are all still desires of my heart and I know without a doubt that my Father cares about each and every one of them. So, I will try my best “to be still and know” that He is God and I will watch as he pours out His favor upon my life and those around me. I pray that you will do the same. Dream new dreams, BIG dreams, and watch Him do great things in your life. He wants to, I promise!