To Share or Not to Share…

This past weekend, I attended my local WordCamp, a conference geared towards learning more about WordPress. As a beginner, this was so helpful! I learned about Plugins, which I knew nothing about and was too scared to explore for fear of messing up my site. A session about steps for maintaining your site was super helpful! I learned about data analysis, which was fascinating although non-applicable to me and my personal blog. Since starting on the Summit Learning Platform, I have become a huge data junkie! WordCamp’s session on data stories informed me that I don’t know what I don’t know. There are plugins that allow you to see whether readers are viewing your site from a mobile or desktop device. Going further, you can see which mobile device readers are using to access your site, which would prove useful if you are a higher end company looking to attract customers with enough spending cash to afford the iPhone X. The information was fascinating and understandably helpful to people using their sites to generate sales.

After leaving the sessions, I looked at what comparably little data my personal blog provides. While doing this, I decided to set up a Facebook page for my blog. Posts automatically update to the Facebook page. (Can I brag that I got it to work first try? Maybe that just says how easy WordPress is to use.) I’ve been writing for about three months and haven’t really told anyone I’m doing so. I haven’t publicized my writing at all, fearful that I didn’t really have something new to say or contribute. That same nervousness prevents me from calling myself a “runner” also makes me hesitant to call myself a “writer.”

As months go by, writing has become a priority. Like spending time with Mike and Liam, working out, and reading, writing is something I make sure to include in my schedule. At the beginning of each week, I schedule my workouts; I am now doing the same for writing. Writing forces me to examine the most important things that are taking up space in my mind. Sorting them out helps my anxiety. I’ve written several things that never see the “Publish” button. Just the motion of typing out thoughts is cathartic.

I am left wondering how follow bloggers made the decision to share their work. Was it the intention all along? Did they invite a few people here and there along the way? Does knowing friends and family are reading sensor what they write? I have mine set up to share with people I know when I am ready. I’m assuming the universe will let me know when the time is right.

Why I Practice Yoga

The idea of yoga always fascinated me. I loved the yogi vibe, their lithe bodies, and their simplicity. I first purchased a Pilates video and didn’t mind completing it, but didn’t feel passionate of accomplished in regards to taking them. Eventually, I felt comfortable enough to go to a Pilates class at my gym, surprised and impressed that I was able to keep up with the rest of the class. After sharing with a friend that I had always wanted to try yoga, we decided to attend one at our gym together.

The only thing I remember about that class is that my normally baggy gym clothes were not conducive to yoga; I spent most of the class trying to keep my oversized Eagles T-shirt from falling up during downward dog. I couldn’t get my mind to shut down during Shavasana and laid there waiting to feel something zen.

As weeks went by, yoga became a class I attended regularly and looked forward to. I enjoyed the challenge and found myself to be good at it. Yes, I saw progress in my weights classes, but there is a much greater sense of accomplishment the first time you’re able to master a pose that has previously alluded you than there will ever be when you go up a weight set in class. (“Look, I’m using the blue weights instead of the orange ones” isn’t nearly as cool as mastering camel or crow for the first time!)

I am competitive by nature. However, my competitiveness is subtle. You won’t know we are competing, but I assure you that we are in my mind! I am not tiny. My figure is average, but not what I would consider athletic. Years of retail, waitressing, and teaching gave me muscular legs, but that’s about it. In spite of my figure, I am really good at yoga. It is rewarding that I am never the smallest person in the class, but I can keep up and sometimes exceed other in the class. Once, I took a class filled with women wearing Lululemon sports bras and leggings. I was totally overwhelmed by them (my issue, not theirs). While fully aware that this goes against everything yoga teaches, it made me feel better to discover that I was just as flexible and talented in my practice.

Most weeks, I am able to attend two yoga classes: a higher and a lower level class. Tuesday’s class is challenging. I love being sweaty and winded when I leave. Saturday morning’s class is low-key and relaxed. We complain if we are made to stand up. During both classes, we laugh, get sidetracked, and engage in inappropriate conversation. Learning the importance of breathing has greatly helped my weightlifting.

Yoga reminds me to take time for myself and that doing so isn’t selfish. It makes me a better wife, mother, friend, and teacher.

Yoga reminds me that I need to recharge and challenge my mind as well as my body.

Yoga reminds me that it is okay to topple, fall, and not be able to do things. If they are important to me, I will keep trying and achieve them. (Hello headstand and mermaid.)

Yoga reminds me that I am a work in progress and that habits must be maintained to stay sharp.

Six Reasons Yesterday’s Run Was Great (And Three Reasons it Was Terrible)

For the first time in over a week, I made it out for a run on the Boulevard. Last week, I was still recovering from Boldrdash and only made it two miles. Every step strained my hamstrings. But I was there and committed to two miles.

Because my Mindfulness class talks a lot about perspective and active seeing, I intentionally chose to find twice as many positives as negatives.

Six Reasons it Was Great:

The weather was perfect! It wasn’t too warm or cool. It was cloudy enough that I didn’t need my sunglasses.
It is a beautiful time of year! We’re at the sweet spot of New England between summer and fall. Flowers are still blooming, but the leaves are starting to change color.
I met my preset goal. I wanted to pace in the 12’s. 12:59 pace is in the 12’s!
I felt so much better after! Yesterday’s session gave me much-needed time to think and clear my head.
Three miles no longer feels like a daunting task. I can do it pretty easily. There were a few times that my legs tired, but I easily convinced myself that I could keep going.
I am able to run. This may seem overly simple, but too many people are physically unable to run or walk for various reasons. I am thankful that my body is healthy enough to allow me to run and workout.

Three Reasons is Was Terrible

Allergies. This is a big one. Most of my adult life consists of a vicious cycle of me taking allergy meds until they work, assuming I no longer need them and not taking them, then suffering a few days later. My eyes may have loved the summer/fall beauty, but my sinuses were not impressed.
I’m still not as fast as I’d like to be. I made a lot of progress early on. I’m not sure why I’m not getting any faster. I think it may be a mental block; I slow down too quickly. I need to find an app to track intervals that is also Spotify friendly.
I still can’t make it much further than three miles. When I start BRG, the goal was to run a 5K. I’ve done that many times now. At the beginning of each run, I make myself promise to get over the three-mile hump, then stop when I reach that distance. I have a four-mile race coming up; I want to run that distance a few times before doing it in a crowd.

Keystone Habits and Making Time

This semester, I have the fortune to teach an elective about mindfulness. The skills are so important; I am struggling with these ideas in my forties. During the first month, we are learning about how the brain reacts to stress and researching the idea that we can retrain our brain to adapt differently to stress and anxiety triggers. In addition to ideas and theory, I’m providing concrete things students can do to improve their mindset. We are exploring keystone habits. Keystone habits are changes that spill over into other aspects of your life. For example, when I work out, I tend to eat healthier. When I’m not exercising, my healthy eating habits go away as well. My students and I decided to start with two simple keystone habits: drinking a glass of water as soon as we wake up and making our bed each morning. Research shows that people who make their beds each morning are happier than people who don’t. It takes less than two minutes and provides a sense of completion before leaving the house. I already make my bed, but have begun drinking a cold glass of water each morning. I’m interested to see how it helps.

I’ve mentioned my excitement over being back into the school routine a few times. I love being busy! I thrive on it! In all of my bustle, I always give thanks to my husband. It’s not that I need his permission to be busy, but it definitely changes our routine at home. I also try to make sure that everything that needs to be done that around the house is completed. On Mondays, Liam and I got to the gym for his Ninja Skills class and my Strength Training class. On Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings, I go to yoga. My try to run twice a week (this week, I will only get out once).

Sometimes I feel guilty that I am out a few times a week and away from my family. Mike has never given me an ounce of grief about it. Last semester, I joined BRG and took a class on change management at Bryant University. Some weeks, I was out four nights a week. Mike didn’t flinch, only promised me that we would get through it. There is no way I could invest this time without his help and support. I know I am fortunate.

What does Mike get in return for being solo a few hours a week? Since I make sure as much as I can before we switch Liam duty in the evening, he doesn’t have to do a lot around the house. More importantly, he gets a wife whose head is mentally clear. I am able to run out thoughts and frustrations. I am able to challenge myself through yoga and laugh with the best group of friends a girl could wish for. My son gets to see Mama being healthy and taking care of herself; this transfers onto him. He wants to eat healthily and drink more water. Liam watches me run and complete races and set goals for myself. He does the same, wanting to cross cannonball alley at Ninja Class and feeling the exhilaration of meeting a goal! I love that being active is something we do together. I hope that this leads to a lifetime of health for Liam!