live fully with gratitude

Be grateful
Today, tomorrow, everyday
For this life that you are creating
For the way you show up
For how hard you try
You are surrounded by love
You get in what you give out
You choose how you spend your days
Remember that your words have power
Remember that you can make a difference
Remember that people care deeply about you
Show gratitude towards the things you have
The places you have been
The people walking this life along side you
Say I love you
Often and with conviction
Let others know you care
Spread your spirit
Open your arms out wide and invite others in
Do not be afraid to share your heart
This is your one wild and precious life
Live it out loud filled with gratitude and love

I am ready

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For the past six months I have chosen to show up.  Lacing up my sneakers and pushing myself out the door.  One foot in front of the other.  Exploring different roads, finding new ways home, pushing myself further and further.  With each step I gained strength in my body and my mind.  
When I trained for my first marathon in 2014 each mile I ran was a new goal accomplished.  At the time the most I had ever run was 3 miles, and here I was looking to go 26.2.  As I slowly increased my distance I was hitting numbers I never thought possible, 6, 10, 15, and even 20 miles.  I felt an incredible sense of accomplishment after each run.  

This time around I began knowing that I do have it in me to make it 26.2.  I have done it before and if I stay dedicated and show up than I increase my chances of being able to make it happen.  I settled into a wonderful routine of waking up before the sun rose and getting my miles in before heading out to work.  This was not the way I trained in 2014 but this slight shift felt monumental.  I enjoyed the quietness that engulfed me on my morning runs. 

I am six days away from stepping up to the starting line and my heart is filled with gratitude.  It has been an epic journey!  In 2014 the mantra that rang through my head prior to race day was:

I am ready
I will run strong
I am ready
I will run happy
I am ready

These words play on repeat in my mind today.  I hope that I feel the incredible elation and joy that I felt when I ran that first time in 2014.  I know that is a big ask considering there is only one first time but I am holding that thought close.  I want to run happy.  I want to run strong.  I want to finish smiling.  I have shown up.  I have prepared.  I am ready.  

I am running in memory of my mom, for family and friends who have kicked cancers a** and for those are are deep in the fight.  I am running on Fred's Team to support Cancer Research at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital and I couldn't be prouder of the work they do.  There is still time to support this great cause.  Jump on over to my fundraising page to hear a piece of my story and share your support. Every dollar counts!

believe in yourself

If there is one thing I could tell you
It would be
Believe in yourself
Today, tomorrow, forever
Always believe in yourself

You are a divine light in this world
What you do
What you say
Who you are
Matters

Believe this with your entire heart
Feel it
Know it
Never forget it
Because YOU, yes you are incredible

You work so hard
You show up
You share your heart
You give it everything you got
You do not give up

Take a moment to see how far you have traveled
The journey may have felt long
But you overcame obstacles
You stood up for what you believe in
You found your way to you

You are who you are today because you carved the path
You created yourself
You choose your own happiness
You followed your heart
You kept stepping forward

So when your chips may be down
And you aren't sure which way to turn
Remember this moment
Remember how much you have accomplished
And how hard you have worked

And believe in yourself
Always, always, always
Believe in yourself

shifting

It was in that moment when everything changed
Yes, everything
You didn't expect it to happen
But it did
A shift on the inside that was felt through your entire being
One moment you were standing on solid ground
The next, the earth was shattering and you couldn't tell up from down
Here you are now
Deep in the thick of it
So much you want to say
Yet so little you are capable of speaking
You wonder how you got here
How one moment changed everything
You do not like this feeling of uncertainty
You liked when you knew where you were going
What do you do now
What choices do you make
Which heart strings do you follow
How deeply do you listen to that quiet voice screaming in the back of your head
One single moment
Shifting you
Pushing you
Challenging you to look at the world differently
Do you lean in or run the other way

choosing how to begin

Morning has become my most favorite time of day.  I wake before the sun has a chance to rise.  The glow of the moon and stars guiding me on my run.  Putting one foot in front of the other my intentions for the day become clear.  I soak in the quietness of the streets and savor this precious moment in time.  

When I arrive home the glow of twinkle lights greats me, calming my quick beating heart.  I take this quietness with me into the bathroom as I light a candle and shower by it's dim glow.  The soft light feels gentle on my soul.  Reminding me to ease in, take it slow, appreciate the moment.  Showering by candlelight has become a new favorite ritual.

I choose how I spend these tiny moments before the world awakens.  Before I have to step out the door and enter into the mandatory's that need to be fulfilled.  Movement, meditation, soft candles glowing, this is what I gravitate towards.  I have carved out time so there is no need to rush into the day, I take it slow.  

My mornings used to be hectic.  Rushing out the door before I even had a chance to breath.  Training for the NYC Marathon has helped me shift this time by pushing me out the door to get a run.  I never thought I would be a morning exercise person but my body loves it.  My soul craves it.  When I do not do it a piece of me feels off.

We all have the power to choose how we spend our time.  When we are conscious of this we become more intentional with what we choose to do.  You can spend hours going down a rabbit hole with social media or you can choose to read a book, pull out your journal, move your body.  The choice is yours, and yours alone.

How do you choose to begin?

tossing your old story

You have to stop telling yourself that old story
You know how it goes
The one that says you aren't good enough
You don't matter
You have no idea what you are doing
That one story that has been playing on repeat
Dragging you through the mud
Yes, now is the time to let it go
That story no longer serves you
Because you, yes YOU
Are a divine human being
What you do and what you say matters in this world
That other story, it's just nonsense
And it doesn't deserve a single second more of your time
So drop it
Right here, right now
Toss that story into the fire and watch it burn
As flames engulf this old story allow new words to fill your heart
Words of love, light, happiness, and strength
Because you, yes YOU
Are strong, brave, fierce, and incredible
You impact individuals with your quiet way of knowing
Your presence is calming
And the way you invite others in makes them feel right at home
You care about connection, love, and kindness
You aren't afraid to stand up for what you believe in
Or take the time to put in the hard work
You my dear are a rockstar, a total rockstar
So toss out that old story
And embrace a new one
The one that says "Hello world, here I am, ready to shine"