I saw a commercial about some lung problem, asthma, COPD or chest cold, I don't remember which one. They showed a elephant standing on a woman's chest. The image made me think of those days when you are feeling down, how everything is a challenge to do, well today is one of those days. I feel like I am carrying an elephant on my back.
Not a pig on my back, that gives the connotation of fun (piggy back)
Not a monkey, that gives the connotation of an overwhelming problem or drug use (monkey on your back) but I think an elephant is the perfect description for today, I feel weighted down. Luckily I will recover after a good nights sleep, this is not the kind of down day that leads to a spiraling depression, just an off day.
Everyone is entitled to a tough day, tears, moping, sitting in front of a tv and throwing your own pity party, so to all of you feeling it with me, raise your proverbial glass and toast with me to the elephant on our back.
And to all you animal rights groups (no elephants were harmed in the making of this blog)
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Saturday, October 13, 2012
Just a spoon full of compassion makes the world go around
I think when God was handing out characteristics, I got an extra dose of compassion. I am able to look at the unlovable an invisible of our society and that is where my heart starts beating. I just finished watching Pit Bulls and Parolee's. Before now, I had never had the pleasure of watching this show. The concept is that Tia, the owner takes the most misunderstood people and animals in our society and pairs them up to run a pit bull sanctuary. Cool concept. I don't work with dogs or felons but since both of those populations have probably had abuse in their past, I get the concept. I work with children who have been victims of childhood abuse, I see what happens to children when the most horrible acts have been their existence. So I understand that violent reactions come from trauma that has been stuffed down for years. This week I went to a training on Trauma Informed Care (TIC). This is a relatively new way of thinking about people who have had trauma in their history and how it effects every moment of every day. Although probably not clinically trained as a therapist, the owner and star of this tv program showed more TIC naturally than people who have gone to many years of school to be a professional in the field of psychology. She showed unconditional positive regard for the people and dogs in her world. Well done Tia, I would stand beside you and work with you any day.
The greatest thing I took away from the TIC training was that the children I work with are doing their very best, every moment of every day. I will never know the triggers that suck them into a world of memories of the atrocious things that have happened to them. When they act out, I need to do a better job of identifying what might be the underlying cause of the attack. This is a lesson that most people will never get. They don't want to get.
I think of a lady at my grocery store who asks me for money every time I shop, year after year she stands out there in the evening asking for money to pay for her motel. I have never once thought that she is doing the very best she can. Maybe she grew up living motel to motel. Perhaps she was raised by a dad who stood on the side of the road with a cardboard sign asking for money, maybe her mom told her every day of her life that she was stupid and worthless and that she would never amount to anything. Perhaps if I considered that she was doing the absolute best that she could then my opinion would change. I am going to challenge myself to look at the world through TIC eyes and see if I can swing wider my compassionate heart.
I have chosen to devote my life to working with abused children, I invest my time with mentally ill, I have written to prisoners, donated my time Habitat for Humanity, gone on mission trips, written to soldiers, volunteered at an animal shelter. My life is full of things that most people consider "charitable". I know people who pull out their checkbook and write a check to help "fill in the blank" cause but would never put out a hand to actually work with them. I dont know why God gave me a heftier dose of compassion but I am glad He did. The reason we are on this earth is to connect with others, be the change we want to see.
The greatest thing I took away from the TIC training was that the children I work with are doing their very best, every moment of every day. I will never know the triggers that suck them into a world of memories of the atrocious things that have happened to them. When they act out, I need to do a better job of identifying what might be the underlying cause of the attack. This is a lesson that most people will never get. They don't want to get.
I think of a lady at my grocery store who asks me for money every time I shop, year after year she stands out there in the evening asking for money to pay for her motel. I have never once thought that she is doing the very best she can. Maybe she grew up living motel to motel. Perhaps she was raised by a dad who stood on the side of the road with a cardboard sign asking for money, maybe her mom told her every day of her life that she was stupid and worthless and that she would never amount to anything. Perhaps if I considered that she was doing the absolute best that she could then my opinion would change. I am going to challenge myself to look at the world through TIC eyes and see if I can swing wider my compassionate heart.
I have chosen to devote my life to working with abused children, I invest my time with mentally ill, I have written to prisoners, donated my time Habitat for Humanity, gone on mission trips, written to soldiers, volunteered at an animal shelter. My life is full of things that most people consider "charitable". I know people who pull out their checkbook and write a check to help "fill in the blank" cause but would never put out a hand to actually work with them. I dont know why God gave me a heftier dose of compassion but I am glad He did. The reason we are on this earth is to connect with others, be the change we want to see.
Sunday, October 7, 2012
50's birthday party
When your friend turns 60 and wants to have a party, you spring into action and host a 50's style party like no other.
Saturday, September 22, 2012
Running away
I have been an avid blog checker and fact finder about running. I found an article called When will running get fun. Disappointingly it said, when you can run for 30 minutes straight. Near impossibility considering my run today was more accurately described as a brisk walk. Of the 5 miles we walked, barely 1 of that was actually spent running.
I was happy that I accomplished more than what would qualify as a 5K. It took 1 and 1/2 hours to complete but still, 5 miles is 5 miles!
I have been feeling a pain in my ankle area, it feels like my foot wants to drop down instead of hold up. I have said this for the past 3 weeks and today was worse than any other, I came home and said to my husband, it really feels like my foot doesn't want to hold up. He said, then stop running on it. Great idea, I will take up hand stand running. As I lay in my bed groaning, I googled foot drop for runners. Much to my surprise, it exists. It is an actual condition. So much for those people who are runners, I have been saying this for 3 weeks and nobody told me it was a real thing. Apparently, disc problems in your lower back can cause it. Great, I haven't had one problem with my bad back while I was running and now I find out that the one pain that I do have is caused by my bad back. GRRRRRRH.
Well I will see if I can continue, there was a gnarly looking brace that some runners wear. I guess if I got that then I would look like a true runner, someone who has done this long enough to get a real runners injury.
I was happy that I accomplished more than what would qualify as a 5K. It took 1 and 1/2 hours to complete but still, 5 miles is 5 miles!
I have been feeling a pain in my ankle area, it feels like my foot wants to drop down instead of hold up. I have said this for the past 3 weeks and today was worse than any other, I came home and said to my husband, it really feels like my foot doesn't want to hold up. He said, then stop running on it. Great idea, I will take up hand stand running. As I lay in my bed groaning, I googled foot drop for runners. Much to my surprise, it exists. It is an actual condition. So much for those people who are runners, I have been saying this for 3 weeks and nobody told me it was a real thing. Apparently, disc problems in your lower back can cause it. Great, I haven't had one problem with my bad back while I was running and now I find out that the one pain that I do have is caused by my bad back. GRRRRRRH.
Well I will see if I can continue, there was a gnarly looking brace that some runners wear. I guess if I got that then I would look like a true runner, someone who has done this long enough to get a real runners injury.
Monday, September 17, 2012
High school football game
Friday night I went to a high school football game. Now when I was in high school I attended every single football game both home and away games, why you ask? Not because I was such a vivid fan, but I was in the band. We played in the stands and marched during half time. Now that I am 20 years removed from high school the experience was different.
It cost 8 dollars to get in, wow inflation doesn't miss anything. You were not allowed to bring anything food or drink related in the stadium, capitalism at its finest as I paid $4 for candy and water. The crowd was the same, parents supporting their students and students avoiding their parents. Roving packs of teenagers all wearing the same things trying desperately to stand out from the crowd. We took a seat on the concrete bleachers and watched the band play the pregame song. I was thrilled! GO BAND I wanted to shout. The band made their way up to the bleachers and the game started, The cheer leaders came out, all long hair, tan skin and short form fitting uniforms. I remember cheer uniforms being the pleated skirts and covering more, these had almost spagetti straps and cut outs on the top and the skirt was a mini skirt. Looking down the line at the perky bouncing cheerleaders I wondered if there was a weight requirement and if they had to have long hair. They announced the football home team and the boys ran through the giant paper to start the game. I noticed a difference, when I was in school the football players ran through a giant paper, tearing it as they burst forth. These kids, ran through a banner made of material that had velcro holding it so when they pushed through it ripped neatly down the middle and was rolled up to use at the next game. There was also a fog machine that made it look like a rock show.
The game was the same, a bit of a blow out but the same. My eyes drifted from the players to the cheerleaders to the band. As an adult I can now see the inter-connectedness of high school football games. The band is clearly the low end of the totem pole but they provide the music that the cheerleaders dance too. The cheerleaders dance to keep the football players interested and the football players play to win the game! The band is only there to support the football team so it is the circle of life.
It cost 8 dollars to get in, wow inflation doesn't miss anything. You were not allowed to bring anything food or drink related in the stadium, capitalism at its finest as I paid $4 for candy and water. The crowd was the same, parents supporting their students and students avoiding their parents. Roving packs of teenagers all wearing the same things trying desperately to stand out from the crowd. We took a seat on the concrete bleachers and watched the band play the pregame song. I was thrilled! GO BAND I wanted to shout. The band made their way up to the bleachers and the game started, The cheer leaders came out, all long hair, tan skin and short form fitting uniforms. I remember cheer uniforms being the pleated skirts and covering more, these had almost spagetti straps and cut outs on the top and the skirt was a mini skirt. Looking down the line at the perky bouncing cheerleaders I wondered if there was a weight requirement and if they had to have long hair. They announced the football home team and the boys ran through the giant paper to start the game. I noticed a difference, when I was in school the football players ran through a giant paper, tearing it as they burst forth. These kids, ran through a banner made of material that had velcro holding it so when they pushed through it ripped neatly down the middle and was rolled up to use at the next game. There was also a fog machine that made it look like a rock show.
The game was the same, a bit of a blow out but the same. My eyes drifted from the players to the cheerleaders to the band. As an adult I can now see the inter-connectedness of high school football games. The band is clearly the low end of the totem pole but they provide the music that the cheerleaders dance too. The cheerleaders dance to keep the football players interested and the football players play to win the game! The band is only there to support the football team so it is the circle of life.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Post the stats
Well let me start with the stats.
Running time has gone from 1 mile in 20 minutes down to 4 miles in an hour. (For those of you who have math issues, that is 15 minute mile) Yea!
Secondly, lets not gloss over the fact that I run/walked 4 miles in a row!
Thirdly, I have lost 7 pounds and my J-Lo booty is starting to slim down.
Lastly, I had my first runners injury, well not really an injury, but my ankle was swollen and tender from the 4 miles. I did take a Motrin to help with the pain so I guess it qualifies as an injury. The interesting thing is that I said, "doesn't matter, I don't run again until Tuesday so it should be fine by then" I really am getting the runners bug, I even asked a runner for advice on finding my breath.
Here is what I have noticed, women tend to run in packs, makes sense, we go to the bathroom in packs so why not run in packs. Women tend to care what they look like running, hair smoothed back in a pony tail, top and pants are matching, lycra over the jiggly parts, while men don't mind running alone and even though they have a beer gut, they are proudly running down the trail shirtless. I didn't see one woman running in just a sports bra and shorts, even the model type marathon runner women were covered up. What is that about?
I am beginning to think that running is expensive. The shoes, the outfits, the runners pack, all the specialty items for long distance running. Being a couch potato was much less expensive.
People are telling me their runners stories, a man who ran a marathon with no training, a lady who just qualified for the iron man. I looked it up, the iron man is running a marathon, swimming 2.4 miles and biking 117 miles. What the heck! Are these stories meant to inspire? Cause they don't. Even the lady who told me she ran a 5K on her 50th birthday doesn't inspire me. Where are the people who just say Wow, good job, you go girl, that is amazing, I know you can do it. That is what I need!
Running time has gone from 1 mile in 20 minutes down to 4 miles in an hour. (For those of you who have math issues, that is 15 minute mile) Yea!
Secondly, lets not gloss over the fact that I run/walked 4 miles in a row!
Thirdly, I have lost 7 pounds and my J-Lo booty is starting to slim down.
Lastly, I had my first runners injury, well not really an injury, but my ankle was swollen and tender from the 4 miles. I did take a Motrin to help with the pain so I guess it qualifies as an injury. The interesting thing is that I said, "doesn't matter, I don't run again until Tuesday so it should be fine by then" I really am getting the runners bug, I even asked a runner for advice on finding my breath.
Here is what I have noticed, women tend to run in packs, makes sense, we go to the bathroom in packs so why not run in packs. Women tend to care what they look like running, hair smoothed back in a pony tail, top and pants are matching, lycra over the jiggly parts, while men don't mind running alone and even though they have a beer gut, they are proudly running down the trail shirtless. I didn't see one woman running in just a sports bra and shorts, even the model type marathon runner women were covered up. What is that about?
I am beginning to think that running is expensive. The shoes, the outfits, the runners pack, all the specialty items for long distance running. Being a couch potato was much less expensive.
People are telling me their runners stories, a man who ran a marathon with no training, a lady who just qualified for the iron man. I looked it up, the iron man is running a marathon, swimming 2.4 miles and biking 117 miles. What the heck! Are these stories meant to inspire? Cause they don't. Even the lady who told me she ran a 5K on her 50th birthday doesn't inspire me. Where are the people who just say Wow, good job, you go girl, that is amazing, I know you can do it. That is what I need!
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
I think I am catching the running bug
What is happening to me? I am starting to like the running. I like pushing myself to beat the previous time, to push a bit further.
I am up from my 20 minute mile to an 18 minute mile and a half. (yes I hear you avid runners snickering in the background) well forget you nay sayers, I am proud of my progress.
I am up from my 20 minute mile to an 18 minute mile and a half. (yes I hear you avid runners snickering in the background) well forget you nay sayers, I am proud of my progress.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)