Category: Journaling

friday’s “secret”: to be happy, you gotta step outside of your comfort zone, again

3 Comments

Logo. Galaxy of Lights 5KThis week, I did something that was truly terrifying for me. I ran the Huntsville Botanical Gardens Galaxy of Lights 5K race alone; in the dark.

The Galaxy of Lights is a holiday extravaganza of lights displays throughout the Garden during the holiday season. Displays include the 12 Days of Christmas, and my personal favorite, the Icicle Forest which takes my breath away every time. The displays are sponsored by local companies and community members and installed, repaired, and maintained throughout the year by NASA engineers, electricians, and volunteers. After Thanksgiving, Galaxy Driving Nights allow you to experience the displays in the warmth of your vehicles. The 5K and 3K Holiday Dash allows you to experience it up close and personal.

I had made plans to run with a friend. Being alone in large crowds terrifies me. Unfortunately this friend hurt her ankle and couldn’t do it with me. I spent the day scrambling trying to find someone else to go with me. On top of that, it was raining cats and dogs throughout the entire day and I told myself that the was suppose to be a fun race and running, in the rain, alone, in the dark, was not going to be fun.

Around 3:30 PM, the rain let up enough for me to consider doing it. But I couldn’t find anyone to go with me. I flip-flop back and forth between going and not going for about an hour and ultimately decided to go. I had all ready arranged for my mother-in-law to keep the Buddy Man later with Hubby picking him up after work and I rationalized that I would ultimately regret it if I did not.

I got there at 5:00 and hour and a half before race time. In retrospect, this was a mistake. I wanted to make sure I had close parking and that I was able to pick up my race packet in time to pin on my number and use the restrooms which had lines throughout the night. It had stopped raining and I wandered around the exhibits looking for someone to talk to. Overwhelmed, I gave up and went to my car and the tears formed. Why was I doing this? I began to feel guilty about not being there for the first time to put my baby to sleep. I was lonely. This wasn’t fun.

I found a book and read by the light of a flashlight until close to race time. Once, we were off, I thoroughly enjoyed it! The lights were beautiful and every time I run, I feel awesome!

I felt so proud of myself. I did something else that I was afraid to do. And I don’t have to look back and wish that I had had the courage to do what I really wanted to do. I did high-tail it out of there as soon as the race was over, though. And what do you know, but it started pouring again!

How about you? Ever done something you were afraid to do?

enjoy life…

friday’s, uh, thursday’s “secret”: being grateful = being happy

2 Comments

Here’s my absolutely, positively, number one, sure-to-work, no-fail secret to my being happy, and it’s mind blowing: I must be grateful for what I have.

So this Thanksgiving, I would like to increase my happiness quotient by highlighting just a few of the things that I am grateful for this year.

  • My Hubby – this guy has proven himself to be an excellent father, in addition to being a great husband, just like I knew he would be when I started dating him 13 years ago.
  • Buddy Man – this guy! What can I say about him except it’s true: your life changes in so many ways, both expected and unexpected. It’s the unexpected ones that truly surprise me. I love this guy more and more in each day.
  • My Parents – speaking of the Buddy Man, I could not raise my son half as well without the support that they give us. I truly appreciate my mother much more, being a mom myself. What she did for my sister and I, day-in and day-out, cannot be calculated or described.
  • My Sister – another wonderful source of support during this new adventure I find myself in. I can’t even begin to thank her for everything that she has done for me this year.
  • My New Brother – my sister got married this year! I absolutely love my new brother, a fellow reader! He’s awesome!
  • My Mother-in-Law – Thanks for those much needed periods of restoration from the Buddy Man every week. Don’t know if I could make it without it.
  • My Family and Friends – a special shout out to those who have especially supported me throughout this challenging year: Grandma, Mel, Nicole, Joy, Jamila, Domonique, Cindy, Mrs. Cort, and Erika.
  • Challenge Groups and Team Beachbody – my Challenge Group peeps (Nicole, Jamila, Ciera, Aunt Libby) and the Beachbody Team  – Randi and the 21 Day Fix program. I’m making progress to my fitness goals. Thanks for all of your support.
  • Great Books – book have definitely kept me sane this year. There have been so many good ones but a few deserve a special mention this year: Nourished by Becky Johnson and Rachel Randolph; Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert; and Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin and her Four Tendencies Framework provided a, dare I say it, framework to make and continue some changes in my life. Life-changing!
  • The Ability to Run – the other major thing that keeps me sane.
  • And it’s always nice to take a hot shower after a run.
  • And finally, all of you – the readers of my blog. Thank you so much!

“Given the amount of unjust suffering and unhappiness in the world, I am deeply grateful for, sometimes even perplexed by, how much misery I have been spared.”

– Dennis Prager

Happy Thanksgiving! enjoy life…

Happy Thanksgiving 2015

friday’s “secret”: “make someone else happy”

1 Comment

One of my favorite authors, Gretchen Rubin has the following quote:

 

Make Yourself Happy

One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy.

I have shared Jennifer Belthoff’s The Love Notes Project here. What’s so great is that it was an experience that keeps on giving. On The Love Notes Facebook page, a fellow member posted about the Chemo Angels Program.

This simple but truly wonderful program supports individuals battling breast cancer matching applicants together based upon age, gender, interests, etc. You then send your assigned fighter cards, letters, and small tokens of positivity, support, and encouragement through good old-fashioned snail mail. The goals of the project are to show individuals battling this terrible disease that they are not alone and maybe help fuel a positive attitude to aid their recovery.

There are two kinds of angels: (1) Card Angel and (2) Chemo Angel, which is a little more involved than a Card Angel. To be a Card Angel, all that is required is that you send one card or letter once a week – 49 cents per week = $27.44 a year. Once you have accepted your assignment, you commit to sending something every week. It is worth noting here that Chemo Angels and Card Angels is a very serious commitment. Someone is counting on your notes!

I applied last month for a number of reasons:

  1. Making someone else happy would help make me happy!
  2. If I were ever diagnosed with breast cancer, I would love to receive notes of encouragement. “Do unto others…”
  3. By writing someone who is in a more challenging situation than myself on a weekly basis, I will be more grateful about my own life and my own circumstances. I received my assignment two weeks ago: a young woman, my own age with three young boys! Mission accomplished!

If you are able to spare the time, please take a look at this program and if you feel so inclined, please sign up. It’s such a little thing to do that could have a HUGE impact in the life of someone else. The website is: www.chemoangels.com and link directly to an application here.

enjoy life…