Slow down
Look around
Soak in the moment
Remember where you came from
See how far you have come
Put your hands up and applaud
You are strong
You take risks
You leap and you fly
Show gratitude towards your strengths
Hold the love gently in your heart
Smile wide
And remember, this is your one precious life
Live it BIG
A year ago I stepped up to the starting line and ran the Verizon Corporate Challenge. It was a balmy 90 degrees with 100% humidity. I had been running infrequently and signed up for the race because of the coaxing talk of my co-workers.
Some would consider the course hilly, and a year ago that is exactly how I felt. Before you make the final turn and get a glimpse of the finish line there is a hill you have to climb. Last year I struggled up that hill. My body did not want to move, my lungs were tired, and from the side of the road I heard "use your arms". I am not even sure who shouted those words and they most likely weren't even talking to me, but that phrase has stuck with me. Each time I am climbing a hill I repeat in my head "use your arms". It has become my hill climbing mantra.
Stepping up to the starting line this year I am a completely different runner. I have logged mile after mile and climbed hills that I never thought I would make it to the top of. I am not just a causal runner like I was last year. I could no longer joke about just wanting to finish without passing out. I am a runner. A runner who is training for the NYC Marathon.
As I made my way through the course this year my body felt strong. My mind did not once say "I want to stop, I want to stop" as it used to do. I was prepared mentally and physically. Those hills that pushed me to the limits and challenged me last year were a walk in the park. On the last hill where I received the wise words of "use your arms" I started laughing out loud. . . . this was the hill that was a killer, really?
It is so good to feel the results of all the hard work I have been putting in. To have a place to compare back to and be able to measure what I have overcome. I have grown leaps and bounds simply from steadily showing up. When things were hard and I wanted to quit I kept going. When I didn't want to run and my mind kept telling me to stay home instead, I laced up my sneakers and went out the door. It wasn't always easy, but I always showed up. Even in the rain, the cold, and the sweltering heart you would find me out there pounding the pavement as I racked up my miles.
I have learned that so much can be accomplished when we put our minds to it. When we stick to our guns and show up day after day after day. It isn't always going to be pretty. There will be days and moments when it totally sucks! But if we stick to it progress is made. We begin to feel stronger. And soon running three miles is a walk in the park and we are aiming to push past 14. It is amazing what we are capable of.
What big dream do you want to accomplish? Go ahead .... say yes to it and show up. It will begin to unfold and you will be amazed.
It was your eyes that first moved me
How they didn't turn away
Looking deep into my soul
Seeing what I wasn't yet ready to say
Your gaze deepened
As we made small talk
People passed
Yet I only saw you
Each time we move by one another there is a pause
For a brief moment
To say hello
Not with words, but with our gaze
There is something intense about not speaking
Yet knowing exactly what the other is saying
Its a feeling, a spark
A moment in time
It was your eyes that first moved me
I am still transfixed on them
As we navigate this uneven terrain
Your eyes inviting me in to stay just a little bit longer
a recipe for a happy jb
begin with the open air
brilliant sunshine
and time to roam free
add in laughter
good friends
and a song playing in your heart
don't skip on the giggles
add more than you think you will need
for these will last a lifetime
stir in your open your heart
long walks
and hand holding
add a dash or two of wishing on stars
a heaping of dreaming up new ideas
and let it all soak in the idea that anything is possible
place in the sunshine
give it time to breathe
watch in awe as it grows into a happy life
:: this writing prompt was inspired by michelle gd's 28 moments class.
what recipe would you write for yourself?
The moment you walked past I felt it
There was something in the air
An energy that wasn't there before
We didn't even speak
And still I felt it
What causes this
This moment where the world stands still
So many people pass me each day
But it was with you that the feeling changed
Did you feel it to
Do you have a favorite movie? I have more than a few and One Week is on that list. I have watched it over and over again and know the whole movie by heart. This movie reminds me about living THIS life. Yes THIS one right here.
This week I learned that in MailChimp you can put your campaigns into folders. The organizational obsessed side of me was so super excited!
Not sure what to do with your old running bibs from your races? How about making them into coasters.
open your heart & share your story
Hello I'm Jennifer! A writer, podcaster and heart-centered guide. I believe in the power of the written word and am here to guide you in opening your heart.
