Would you make a deal with the Devil?

Have you ever been lucky enough to have a book kick you in the gut and give you a major life lesson.  I recently had that experience when I read, "If Cats Disappeared from the World." (by, Genki Kawamura) I will tell you right now I am a dog person.  Cats, I can take or leave them.  So I have no idea what made me purchase this book.  Well, actually it was the title.  I thought, what could be the big deal if cats did disappear?  I know my Nana disliked cats very much.  She was afraid of them.  And my dad too, he had no fondness for these creatures.  Well I got more than I bargained for.  This book was less about cats and so much more about life.   In a nutshell the main character is told he has a small amount of time left to live.  Enter the Devil.  They make a deal.  Now the main character must choose one thing he loves to disappear from the world to prolong his life.  Are you blown away yet?  I was!  It made me think of all the things I love.  What would I make disappear to prolong my life.  I could never make dogs disappear...or could I?  In the end I closed the book realizing it's not what I'd make disappear but it is how I need to live my life now.  Live my life fully and completely.  To take nothing for granted.  And give gratitude for each and everything I hold dear.  This way when the time comes for me to leave the earth, enter the Devil, I can smile at him and say I'm all set.  No deal. 

Cheers to Revin Up! 

A Lesson Learned

  I realized today as I waited to go into the grocery store, in a line, 6 feet apart, wearing a mask, in the rain, behind 10 others, that I miss my freedoms.
 
My freedom to simply walk into a store to buy items that I may need or just simply want. 
My freedom to walk on the trails of an Audubon Society in my town. 
My freedom to see my kids attend school. 
My freedom to eat at a restaurant. 
My freedom to go to work.

 Going to the store to buy toilet paper and when it's not there on the shelf I freak out.
 Going outside to walk at a park, on a trail, or at the beach.  Signs are posted, CLOSED.  Ropes stop my entrance. 
Going to school is now sitting at a desk in their bedrooms.  No socializing with friends.  No contact with teachers. 
Going to a restaurant is null & void.
Going to work. Not a chance.

Now I think about all the people in other parts of the globe that do not have the luxury of going into a store to purchase their needs when they need it. Never mind a pair of shoes just because they want to update the latest style. Or walk anywhere they choose, attend school of their choice, eat out some place, and safely go to work.

Waiting in line I thought how many times have I complained that a store is not meeting my needs.  That the beach have too many people. Hearing my kids complain they had to go to school.  Belly aching that the restaurant I like made my food too cold and on Mondays dreading the idea of getting up early and going off to work.

Those are freedoms that I took for granted each and every day!
 
Imagine.

I try to learn from everything that I experience.  The lesson for me with this stay at home order is that I am blessed to live in the greatest country on the planet with all of our freedoms.  I can not wait to go shopping, take a walk on a trail or beach, watch my kids go into school, go out for dinner, and get back to work.

God Bless America.
God Bless the World.
We need it.

This Roller Coaster Ride....Covid 19

Get me off of this thing!!!!

Scared, not scared.  Scared, not scared. 
This is me.  Changes hour to hour.  Minute by minute. 

No control.  That's my issue.  And that is what scares me.  Having NO CONTROL.
We have to put our faith in others.  In hopes that they do the right thing. 

It's a BIG world out there but this Covid-19 nightmare has made it seem very small.

I've been trying to reflect on the things I DO have control over...

• Washing my hands.  Telling my kids to wash their hands.
• Cleaning and disinfecting my home.
• Going out only to get groceries or necessities. (coming home to scrub myself like I'm a surgeon)
• Eating food that fuels my body, mind, and spirit.  Drinking more water than alcohol. (it's been tempting)
• Getting outside to walk.  Breathing in and out.  Taking in the sounds of the earth coming back to life.
• Doing yard work in March. 
• Lots of reading and writing.  (No excuses)
• Being with family. (the boys are forced to be with mom & dad.  AHHHH!)
• Sitting around the house and looking and feeling at all my blessings.

This too shall pass.  And before long life will get back to normal.  My hope is I'll remember this ride...the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Stay healthy.  Stay happy.
Revin UP to kick Covid-19 in the butt!

Hello, work in progress....AGAIN

Why does one give up on oneself? 

 I've been asking myself this question for the past few months.     
                                       I gave up on me. 
I stopped writing.  I was frozen by the thought of putting pen to paper or finger tip to key board.  
I even said to myself I'm giving up.  No more writing.
But a soft, little push came my way. It was simple yet profound.  And here I sit and type.

The answer to my question, I think, but I'm still pondering is I continue to be a work in progress.  We all are.  But if you are like me, you may be impatient.  I'm impatient for the book to get written.  You may make excuses, like me saying  "I have no time".  Or you may take the simple way out and say, "It's not meant to be.  I'm giving up."  I did just that.  Until that gentle push. 

I forgot that a work in progress takes time.  It takes dedication.  It takes commitment.  And it takes a lot of sweat and tears.

I am happy to report that this typing feels good.  I also just worked on another chapter in the book I am writing.  And that felt great too. 

I must remember that hard work will pay off.  Just keep on keeping on, again & again & again. 

Revin Up for 50 more!  I'm back and I feel ready!!  AGAIN!!

Happy New Year! 
WOW, Imagine~ the year is 2020.

What shall we do with it?

I plan on not wasting a day, a minute, a moment.

I will honor each day with gratitude.
I will laugh often.
I will exercise body and mind.
I will say "I love you."
I will be kind.
I will take nothing for granted.
I will pray.
I will read.
I will write.
I will hug.
I will embrace life.
I will give at least 80%, always.
I will not quit.
I will be happy.

CHEERS to your 2020!
REVIN UP for 50 MORE!!!

Running with Raven


I'm now 50 + 3 days.  Revin Up for 50...I DID IT!!!
I ran with the inspiring Mr. Raven.  I completed 8 miles in Miami.  It took me 3 hours.  The first 4 miles were great.  I felt strong.  By mile 6 my legs started to burn.  Mile 7 I was getting tired.  Mile 8 my knees were killing me.  Raven runs every day with spinal stenosis.  Now that is pain.  So my discomfort was nothing compared to his.  I pushed on and made it!  I now will be known to Raven and all other Raven runners as 12 mice.

I must be honest the hours before this run (which takes place every day at 4:30pm at the 5th St. life guard station) were TERRIBLE.  I was a total wreck from the moment I woke up.  I wear a fit bit and the heart monitor registered in the high 80s all thru the day.  I felt sick.  Light headed.  I was grumpy and full of negativity.  I kept yelling at myself, "Why did I do this?!"  "Why do I put myself thru unnecessary shit like this?!"  "I'm not a runner!!"  "I'll never complete this and I came all this way!!!"  These thoughts over powered me hour by hour.  I wanted to cry.  I wanted to quit before I even started.           But 4:30 arrived and somehow my feet actually made it over to the life guard stand.  I looked over and walking toward me was Raven. With my stomach doing flips and my heart beating out of my chest Raven gave me knuckles and off we went.  Two other runners joined us for 4 miles. At mile 5 another runner.  She stayed with us a few miles then it was just Raven and I.  We talked easily.  He told me some amazing stories.  We also talked baseball.  During the run Raven (unbeknownst to him) helped me believe in myself.  He made me realize that I could do this.  My body is strong.  My mind is too.  I just need to push and not stop.  (This lesson I will add to my daily living.)
Raven is amazing and a beautiful human being.  With his passion and wild dedication to running he has touched so many people.  I feel so blessed to have been able to share a run with this special, wonderful person.

At the end of the run, with my new nickname & aching knees I had a huge smile on my face.  I'm 50 and I DID IT!

Now I am REVIN UP for 50 MORE!!!!
CHEERS!!



ALMOST THERE...

Ok folks...I'm almost at 8!  Took me 2 hours.  My knees hurt.
I don't think I will be able to fit in any more long runs before the 12th so that's it. 
Big GULP! 
I emailed Raven that he will see me on the 12th.  He replied that he was happy I am keeping my word.
 I look forward to meeting him and jogging along side the man that moved me to kick the age 50s butt! 
I'm nervous and excited.  Stay Tuned!

REVIN UP TO RUN with RAVEN!!