surviving post marathon

In the end of March this year I decided that I was going to run the NYC Marathon.  That was seven months ago.  Seven months of life changing dedication to one single thing.  My habits changed.  My conversations with others shifted.  Everything was focused around the marathon.  There was many times I had to say no to things I really wanted to say yes to simply because I had to run.  

As I type these words I am on the other side of that accomplishment.  The training has been done.  The race has been complete.  Where do I go from here?  How do I adjust to life that does not include hours and hours of marathon training?  What do I do with myself now?  

Having one lofty goal to concentrate on narrowed my focused.  It made me see that I can push myself towards one thing and make it happen.  Usually my mind is all over the place, jumping from one thing to the next.  Training made me hone in and stay on track.  It also made me realize how much stronger I am than I ever thought I was mentally.  

However, all of that is gone now.  I still desire to run but when I struggle up that hill I am no longer thinking; "you have to push yourself in order to prepare for the marathon."  Now it just another run.  The roads that I trained on are now just roads again. Before they were a glimmer of hope, a challenge. 

What is the next hill I want to climb?  What is the next journey that I want to take.  I know that I will never be complacent in this world.  I constantly must be pushing myself forward. Seeking out new challenges and discovering new things that bring joy to my life.  I never thought running would be a place of joy, but it has become that.  

Life after a marathon isn't easy.  I took a bath with epsom salts the day after to help heal my legs, but how do I heal this yearning in my heart that is sad that it is over?  I know that I must remember the way I felt.  The accomplishment.  The joy.  The pride.  Hold onto all of those feelings and bring them with me on my next challenge.  Because the roads of training aren't always filled those types of feelings.  

Today I am stepping into new territory.  Navigating a braver me.  Stronger. Ready to take on anything that comes my way.  

sit with me

Come sit with me
Tell me what is right below the surface
Share your inner desires
What is moving you
What lights you up
Share your heart, your soul
Share all of you
I will hold your hand
Listen deeply to your stories
Tell me where you came from
And where you wish to go
Tell me anything and everything
Together we will laugh and cry
We will reminisce
Make plans for the future
You aren't meant to live in this world alone
So come and sit beside me
Together we will be

reaching for your dreams

Today in my brave journaling class we are exploring our dreams.  The ones that don't let us fall asleep at night because we are too excited about them.  The ones we keep quietly tucked away because we fear if we speak them out loud they may not come true.  The dreams we dream about time and time again.  

Yes, we all have dreams, wishes, aspirations for our lives.  They surface at the strangest of moments and once they latch on they don't want to let go.  There is that little voice inside of you that speaks louder than all the other voices you hear and it is nudging you to follow your dreams.  

How do you follow your dreams?  
How do you go after what your heart is calling you to do?  
What do you do if your dream feels completely impossible?  

There are times when we are clutching so tightly an idea of something happening the exact way that we have it planned in our head that we lose site of the feelings that are fueling this idea.  We think if the idea doesn't unfold like we planned then it wasn't right, or there has to be more. But there will be times, many times when an idea will not go the way you thought.  Sometimes we have to let go of our plans in order to allow space for the puzzle pieces to come together.  

This doesn't mean letting go of the dream entirely, but it means honing in on the feelings that the dreams stirs up and allowing space for that to unfold exactly how it is meant to unfold.  Sometimes the way we think it is suppose to be isn't the way it is meant to be.  Loosen your grip and let go of the reigns.  

Once you free yourself of your exceptions you will begin to see different things you never saw before.  You will be more open to opportunity and you just never know what may appear at your doorstep.  It can be hard to let go of expectations, but it may be the most freeing thing you have ever done.  

What expectations can you let go of today?  
What dream do you have can you get of the way of letting it come true?  

preparing for the winter blues

Winter is always a struggle for me.  It is the darkness that brings me down.  Upon leaving work {in the dark} I head home and want to flip on my heated blanket and crawl straight into bed. I think in a past life I was a bear that hibernated all winter.  This year before the winter blues take hold of me I am going to prepare and set my mind up with different ways to brave the blues.  I know that once I get to deep into the darkness it becomes a struggle for me to surface.  With these plans in place I will hopefully not fall down the dark whole.   I hope you will join me in braving the blues. Let's begin.  

Ten ways to prepare for braving the blues

1. Twinkle lights, lots and lots of twinkle lights.  In my house twinkle lights are not only for christmas.  I have them on year round.  They cast the perfect glow.  I love curling up on the couch with my journal, twinkle lights glowing, and music softly playing.  It feels incredibly peaceful.  To help brave the blues I am going to pull out some more twinkle lights and hang them up inside.  
2. Get outside.  When it is dark and freezing cold out the last thing you may want to do is get outside, but it may be the best thing for you.  A simple walk around the block and breathing in the fresh crisp air will do wonders for your soul.  You will feel rejuvenated and alive.  Yes, the hardest part is walking out the door but once you return I promise you will be so glad you did it.  Dress appropriately.  Layer up.  Put on your gloves and a scarf and step outside.  I live a few blocks from a coffee shop.  Instead of curling up and hibernating I am going to grab my laptop and my journal and head to the coffee shop to write.  The short walk will do me good.  
3. Be around others, even if they are strangers.  Walking to the coffee shop is only half of the prescription for braving the blues.  Being around others and not cooped up alone will lift your spirits.  Even if all you are doing is listening to others conversations and observing the world around you, it is nice to be reminded that you are part of a greater good.  You are not alone in your winter blues.  When I lived alone I spent many hours in coffee shops, at bookstores, or in the library.  As human beings we long to be around others.  Even though you may not talk to someone while you are out in public you will be reminded that you are not alone.  
4. Become friends with your local library.  The library is a wealth of inspiration and knowledge.  During the cold winter months seek out different books that will take your mind on a journey.  Spend some time in the kids section and read children's books.  Rent a movie, listen to music.  Pick up the latest travel magazine and dream about summer time and where you want to travel to.  The library has all sorts of amazing resources.  This winter I plan to make a weekly trip to the library to discover new things.  
5. Set up a weekly date with a friend. Having a weekly standing date on your calendar gives you something to look forward to.  Find a friend who lives nearby and set up a weekly movie date, meet at the coffee shop, walk together.  Do anything, just do it together.  
6. Dance the blues away.  After sitting at your desk or being cooped up in the office all day get your body moving.  Put on your favorite dance song get silly in your living room.  Dance, dance, dance those blues away.  
7. Create mini creative adventures.  On little cards write down some things that you can do with supplies you have on hand and seal them up in different envelopes.  For example:  pull out the watercolors and paint, tear out inspiring images from magazines, draw stick figures scenes, get a little messy and fingerprint.  Sometimes when we are feeling the winter blues it is hard for us to decide what to do.  Let the fate of the cards determine your next adventure.  When you are feeling down pick an envelope and commit to doing what ever it says.  
8. Send snail mail.  Sit down and write a letter to someone you love.  Let them know how much they mean to you.  You will be surprised how it lifts you up to send a little sunshine.  If a  letter is to much try a postcard.  
9. Have a movie night.  Make pop corn, curl up on the couch, and watch your all time favorite movie.  You know, the movie that you know word for word.  
10. Learn something new.  Being cooped up inside you will have time to learn a new skill.  Give your hand at crochet, a new language, or how to do something you always wanted to do.  

The winter can be tough but you when you brave it with others and have a plan in place it may not be as bad as you thought it was going to be.  So together lets brave the winter blues. 

I will be sharing images on instagram {@jbelthoff} with the hashtag #bravingtheblues and hope that you will join me.  Seeing others photos may inspire you and help you brave the blues.  Let's do this together!  

finding your power

The journey may be long
Roads filled with unknown struggles
Uphill battles
You may make a wrong turn
Get a lost along the way

It may not always be easy
But you will find your way home
You will discover your own path
Learn how to get back up
Say no to what doesn't ignite your spirit

Lessons will be learned
Again, and again, again
It may take time for you to feel you are headed in the right direction
But once you find your path
You will be glowing

You will become unstoppable 
Sure, there will be roadblocks and setbacks
But you know that is par for the course
You will be ready to take them on
And you will continue to step forward

No one can extinguish your power
You are focused
You are fierce
You are proud of the person you have stepped into
And you are ready to shine

these are the feet

These are the feet that have carried me
Across different states
On all sorts of adventures
Miles and Miles

When I was tired, and unsure
These are the feet
That brought me home
No matter how far I was, they always found there way back

They never once complained
They just kept moving forward
Getting me one step closer
To where I wanted to be

I am grateful for these feet
For carrying me
Guiding me
And always helping me find my way home