Hello old friends...yet again, it has been like weeks. Not one, not two, but THREE weeks since I've written. Part of the reason for my lack of motivation to write is that not much has really been happening lately. I say that, but it's not really true. I've been quite busy, but it seems like not much really noteworthy has happened. I don't have any races coming up, I'm still kind of at an apathetic plateau weight-wise and I'm still treading water emotionally and psychologically with my home/work/family life balance. Who wants to read about that? Well, maybe you do. I guess that I would like to know that there are others that are feeling the way I feel.
Validation = priceless, so here I go, let me get comfortable and I'll tell ya ALL about it...
Validation = priceless, so here I go, let me get comfortable and I'll tell ya ALL about it...
Running Life
Running has been going well. I was sick at the first of the month, so that sidelined me for a handful of days, but I'm back to 20-25 miles a week. That's my happy place. Mike and Amanda's 2nd Annual Day-Before-Thanksgiving Turkey Trot is coming up on Wednesday! Last year on the day before Thanksgiving, we ran 11 miles together. This year, the plan is 15. Because we have two young boys at home, we hardly EVER get to run together. So, with babysitter locked and loaded, we are set to enjoy over a couple of hours together with the pavement, or really, the gravel, as we'll mostly likely run on the Prairie Trail. It will be chilly, but so nice to have that time together in nature before the hub bub of the holiday at our house. We are both signed up for the Rock and Roll Half in Nashville in April and I just reserved my spot on a team with my Moms Run This Town group for Madison to Chicago Ragnar in June 2015!!! Those two races are bucket list races and I am SO excited to be able to do them in such close succession. More info about my races with The Running Depot will be coming in the coming weeks!
Work Life
Work is also going well, but concert season is very quickly approaching. While I'm not really necessarily worried about how my students will ultimately perform, there is just a LOT that goes into preparing for a concert and having it all go smoothly. So that weighing over my head and then the time away while I attend my colleagues' concerts and my own boys concerts. I didn't even mention my own performing commitments for the holidays. Its just a lot...A LOT. And by the time the concerts are over and we get back from winter break, the second quarter is just about over and trying to get that quarter's second set of assessments taken care of after we've had a couple of weeks off is...ya know what, I'm really not complaining. I mean, I know it seems like I'm complaining, but really it's fine. It will all get taken care of and it will get taken care of well. Because, well, because that's how I roll.
Just two words...
That's hard
No!!! That's NOT what I'd say to younger Amanda.
But just TWO words?!? Very challenging. There's so much I'd tell middle school aged or high schooler Amanda.
It gets better?
Darn, that's three words
Stay strong?
No. I wouldn't have bought that. Too cliché.
You're beautiful? You're worthwhile? You're amazing?
While I believe this all now, nope, naw and mmm, whatever.
Have faith?
Maybe...But what does that really mean? is what younger Amanda would have thought.
Being young is hard. But ya know what? So is being older. So is being a real adult who works and pays bills. And being a parent? Ppsshh! Being a parent is the hardest thing I've ever gotten myself into. EVERY single thing in life that I've thought was hard pales in comparison to having to being responsible for feeding, loving, disciplining, teaching and bringing up my kids. So man, this seems depressing. It's not quite the angle I was going for when I started writing. But that's OK.
How about this...
Love life
Amidst the feeling like you just can't do it. Whatever IT is for you at the moment
Within the craziness of your busy schedule
Even when you're bickering with your loved ones
No matter if you are on your last leg
Or if you're the happiest you've ever been
Or if you are waiting for something better to come along
Love life
Because it is a gift
You can't exchange it, return it and it is a limited time offer.
Don't wait until you're not busy or stressed or until this last crazy week is over.
Embrace your life and live it. Love where you are at this moment.
Have an incredible Thanksgiving, friends! I'm thankful for every one of you (all 5 of you that read this! HA!) Let's share the wealth of knowledge among us. What are you Thankful for? AND What two words would YOU say to your younger self?
No!!! That's NOT what I'd say to younger Amanda.
But just TWO words?!? Very challenging. There's so much I'd tell middle school aged or high schooler Amanda.
It gets better?
Darn, that's three words
Stay strong?
No. I wouldn't have bought that. Too cliché.
You're beautiful? You're worthwhile? You're amazing?
While I believe this all now, nope, naw and mmm, whatever.
Have faith?
Maybe...But what does that really mean? is what younger Amanda would have thought.
Being young is hard. But ya know what? So is being older. So is being a real adult who works and pays bills. And being a parent? Ppsshh! Being a parent is the hardest thing I've ever gotten myself into. EVERY single thing in life that I've thought was hard pales in comparison to having to being responsible for feeding, loving, disciplining, teaching and bringing up my kids. So man, this seems depressing. It's not quite the angle I was going for when I started writing. But that's OK.
How about this...
Love life
Amidst the feeling like you just can't do it. Whatever IT is for you at the moment
Within the craziness of your busy schedule
Even when you're bickering with your loved ones
No matter if you are on your last leg
Or if you're the happiest you've ever been
Or if you are waiting for something better to come along
Love life
Because it is a gift
You can't exchange it, return it and it is a limited time offer.
Don't wait until you're not busy or stressed or until this last crazy week is over.
Embrace your life and live it. Love where you are at this moment.
Have an incredible Thanksgiving, friends! I'm thankful for every one of you (all 5 of you that read this! HA!) Let's share the wealth of knowledge among us. What are you Thankful for? AND What two words would YOU say to your younger self?