CONGRATS!!!!!

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A VERY BIG CONGRATS TO THE 1st WINNER, VICKY, of REVIN UP!!!! 
Stay Tuned.  I've got a new raffle in the works.  HAPPY READING VICKY!
CHEERS TO REVIN UP.

Summertime Blues

The days are getting shorter.  The flowers are looking heat defeated.  And I have to start getting up again at 5am!!  Yup, it's the close of the summer.  As they say all great things must come to an end.                                     And GREAT it was.....
                                                  *lots of licks of ice cream
                                                  *late nights trying to finish a good book
                                                  *many books read
                                                  *sand between the toes
                                                  *iced coffee at 3:00
                                                  *kids laughter in the pool
                                                  *burgers on the grill
                                                  *Williamsburg, VA
                                                  *cook-outs
                                                  *sleeping in (dogs have the life.)
                                                  *the Saco River
                                                  *puppy kisses
                                                  *crepes w/ a pal
                                                  *and playing like a kid!  (thanks Derek!)
The SUMMER OF 49 was FUNTASTIC! 

REVIN UP!!!!  CHEERS!!!!!!


 

Under Pressure

 

4 Months minus 2 Days.... I will be 5 0!!  And running with Raven in Miami.
Before I started this blog I was dreading turning 50 now I'm dreading running the 8 miles.  Actually dreading is too harsh.  Resistant, that's better.

I am resisting the training.  Maybe procrastinating is even a better word.  In my life I am a really proficient procrastinator.  Always have been. I guess I work better under pressure.  I seem to always get what needs to be done, done.  But the journey to get there is not very smooth.  I kick and scream and dread. 

I guess 4 months - 2 days will work.

I can jog 1 mile it's the next 7 that freak me out!
Imagine Raven has not missed his 8 mile run since 1974!

How does one motivate oneself????? 
(please leave me a comment with ways you motivate yourself.  I need all the help I can get.)

                                            "A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step." 
                                                                                      ~Lao-Tzu

I now sit on the edge of my bed lacing up my sneakers.
 Out the door I shall go....one sneaker at a time. 

Cheers to REVIN UP!

Life minus Perfection = JOY

 

I think when you take PERFECTION out of your life equation it makes life way more fun. 
That, my friends, is exactly what I experienced recently when I tried the rope swing while floating down the Saco, River in NH. The rope was high up for a non-adventurer like myself.  The water wasn't as deep as I would have liked either.  Seemed a good height for breaking a bone.  To be honest I was going to pass and not jump.  The group I was with (the adults) seemed non-interested so I figured I was all good.  But a group of raucous ladies came about.  I'm all about having a good time and these ladies had it going on!  I quickly made friends and challenged them to a jump.  I figured they wouldn't climb out of their tubes.  Two brave ladies took me up on the challenge.  They climbed up the side of the banking like pros and at each turn they grabbed a hold of the rope swing like it was a giant piece of spaghetti.  They both landed in the water like graceful swans.  "Oh NO!  My Turn."  My heart was pounding.  Backing out was not an option.  I can proudly say in my 49 years my word is true.  GULP!  It helped as the big caravan of women chanted my name along with my family.  I made sure to preface I would not be as graceful.  I plodded up the side of the hill like a bull.  I grabbed hold of the rope which was a lot heavier than my 2 new friends made it look.  GULP.  I held on.  As I gathered my courage my head had many a thought...don't get hurt, hold on tight,  remember to let go, and God I hope I don't look foolish.  But with-in an instant with all the cheering, my heart beating and my body shaking I said to myself, "Who cares, Kim!  Just JUMP!"  And I did.  And it wasn't pretty but oh my was it FUN!!!!! When I came up out of the water to all the cheers it was pure JOY! 

REVIN UP may not be perfect but it sure can be a blast!!! 

Totally Rad

 
The 80's.  Like totally cool.  Remember when the hair was big, the oversized neon sweatshirt hanging off one shoulder, over a pair of stirrup pants with leg warmers.  And let us not forget acid washed jeans, shoulder pads, MTV,  boom boxes, Atari, self made tapes for your Walkman.  Playing music like, Whitney Houston, Madonna, Journey, Def Leopard, The Boss.  Watching movies, Top Gun, ET, The Goonies, and my 2 favorites....Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club!  AHHHH, I've been walking down memory lane this past week.  Wishing the calendar read 1987.  The summer I was a graduate entering the "real" world.  Ohhhh, looking back at that young big eyed girl.  Full of lots of dreams but no direction.  The road was ahead but I had no idea which way to go.  (at that age who really does???)
       I've come up with 3 things I would tell my young self at that time....
            1.  Go for IT!  BUT have a PLAN! What ever you dream write it down and make a plan.  Then GET BUSY & DO IT!
            2.  SAVE $$$$$$!  You do not need those shoes or that sweater.  Put them back and get yourself to the bank!
            3. LOVE & LAUGH!  Do not worry about what others may think or say.  LOVE who you are.  You are worthy.  You are enough.  Now GO and LOVE all of LIFE.  LAUGH a lot!  Do not be so serious.  Giggle often.  Belly Laugh lots.  Surround yourself with what and who makes you happy and brings you joy.
               footnote.....You'll be fine- just chill.  You're not a dweeb-you're really gnarly & rad.
                                 And life has been WICKED TUBULAR!

 

Work in Progress

I ate a BIG MAC, 2 HONEY DIPPED DONUTS, & 12 CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES!  One day of eating like a maniac turns all of my excuses on.... I'm tired.  I'll skip the jog today.  I won't go to kickboxing class.  I just blew it anyway.  Before you know it a week goes by.  Then two and three.  I step on the scale....UP 5 pounds!  Now the guilt comes raining down like a powerful summer storm.  The shame follows quickly behind, with anger biting at my heels.  At this point I feel like I'm back to square one.  Frustrated and upset because I let myself down.  I swore I would never do this again.  But wait, it is time to regroup. No need to blame myself, beat myself up, or get discouraged.  I wouldn't treat a friend this way.  I'd support her.  So now I give myself the support I need.  I pick myself up.  Brush the crumbs off my face and begin again.  I dig deep for that kick ass attitude.   I must find it and use it!!  It's still there!!!  I must gather up all that angst about myself...I'm fat, I'm ugly, I'm old, I'm not good enough.  I must use the negative to fuel MY positive.  I AM getting healthy in MIND, BODY, & SPIRIT.  I AM ENOUGH!  SO today I laced up my sneakers and went back out the door.  I'm on the journey of REVIN UP!  It's a work in progress.  We are all a work in progress.

How's your REVIN UP journey?  Please leave comments below.  I'd love to hear about your journey. 

GRACE

GRACE....simple elegance of refinement of movement.  Courteous goodwill.

As I ponder turning the BIG 5 0 there is one word that keeps coming to mind.  GRACE.  It's an item in my personality kit, if you will, that I feel I lack. 
Do those who have grace flip off the driver that cuts you off?  Does someone that has grace swear the F-word while explaining the loss of a Red Sox game?  I wonder!
When I think of GRACE I see a butterfly.  To me they are so graceful in flight.  They land softly on a  flower to gather the nectar.  With each flap of a wing their elegance is pure beauty. 
But GRACE is not just movement.  It's goodwill, generosity, and kindness.  I'd like to think I try each day to be kind.  To all humans and creatures alike.  I'm also working on inner kindness.  I think sometime we forget to give GRACE to ourselves.  That it's not selfish to say "No" to others when you may need rest.  It's okay to go to bed early.  It's okay to put yourself first. 
Thankfully I have time to practice earning GRACE to fill my kit.  It's something I think I'll be working on for years to come. (the Red Sox can really get me mad.)
Cheers to REVIN UP!


*winner of my first raffle was Vicki!!!  Congrats.  I'll be in touch.  Stay tuned for my next raffle.