Skip to main content

New Years Eve Reflection



Today is the last day of 2011. I put on my gear and out the door I went. It was nice to spend a little time with mother nature on the C & O at Harpers Ferry reflecting on accomplishments and dreams. 
 

I tuned into NPR as I drove to the trail today and heard that Australia's theme for 2012 is “Time to Dream. “How appropriate I thought. The "Land Down Under" made me think about how many dreams people defer or refuse to even contemplate.  Now is the time. At this moment, this second, we must dare to dream.  We all think that there is a perfect moment to do something (including myself), but there isn’t.  We think we must be the fastest, smartest, richest, thinnest and more superlatives someone, somewhere thinks is important.  Dare to do one thing differently in 2012. Is it meatless Mondays?  Do it!  Is it walking/running for 30 mins without stopping?  Go for it!  Nothing beats a fail, but a Try!  I know this may sound like a cliché.  But if I have learned anything in life and continue to learn over and over is; life is about “showing up.” You may not know what the hell you are doing, but just “show up.” 

As soon as others see you are interested in a hobby or topic, they will be more than happy to help or support you, but YOU must “show up.”  This year, I hope to do my first ultra marathon.  I am not sure if I can do it. I have done many marathons, but ultras are an entirely new world.  I admitted this to a 65 yr old man on my first trail run and guess what he said, ” Just show up and you will be fine.”  I know I may not finish, but I believe I have the courage to start. There may be setbacks and the journey may take longer than expected, but if I just focus on the goal I am off on the right foot (as they say).  Life is about the journey rather than the destination. I am excited about what awaits.  What are you going to start this year?

 One of my favorite quotations
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light not our darkness that frightens us. We ask ourselves 'who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?'


It's not just in some of us; its in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Marianne Williamson~Author
FYI:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marianne_Williamson


Thank you 2011


Enjoy the journey:)

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Fear, Feedback and Fuel

On Sunday, I started the Chicago Triathlon.  It was one of the largest in the United States.  The goal was to complete 1500m in Lake Michigan cycle 24.5 miles and run 6.2 miles in Chicago. I completed this race last year. It was both challenging and fun. This year the outcome was not what I had planned. I started the race surrounded by wonderful people, Some I knew while others were strangers. We all started the race together. Rough waters awaited. Lake Michigan looked menacing.  She churned and tossed us from the moment we entered the water. Here I am at the first bouy. My plan was slow and steady since I was not familiar with this type of water. So I swam. I remembered saying to myself, "Slow is fast". I focused on each stroke and thought of little else. I saw a friend swim by me. It made me feel great as I turned to the straightaway toward the finish. I could see the finish through my Rx goggles. I swam and swam. As I sighted for the tall buildings in the distanc

Grit- Road to Chicago Olympic Triathlon

Definition  Grit in psychology is a positive, non-cognitive trait based on an individual's passion for a particular long-term goal or end state, coupled with a powerful motivation to achieve their respective objective. This perseverance of effort promotes the overcoming of obstacles or challenges that lie within a gritty individual's path to accomplishment, and serves as a driving force in achievement realization. Commonly associated concepts within the field of psychology include "perseverance", "hardiness", "resilience", "ambition", "need for achievement" and "conscientiousness".  This is who I am. Stacy the Grit.  Yes, I could spend a lot of time talking to you about my finish time and what I could improve upon yadda yadda yadda but anyone who reads my blog knows that I rarely focus on the outcome.  I focus on the process. I focus on how did I arrive at a specific point and time. I focus on the jour

Bend or Break- RagnarDC

 So a running buddy called me a week before a 200 mile relay race from Flintstone, MD to Washington, DC. Her team needed one more runner to replace a person who could not attend due to a life event. I said, "Sure, I can do this."  I tend to be a "Yes" girl.  I like to say "Yes" more than "No." So there I sat in my pajamas not knowing what adventure awaited me. Six days after the call, I met the team for dinner and headed up to a hotel close to the course start. I must say I was nervous. I did not feel prepared. I observed how calm my teammates were and internally I was hoping to not let them down. See, I was Leg one of a 200 mile race. Leg 1-Rocky Gap Trail. 0500 There I was at the start. Pumped and ready. It was pitch dark when the race started. My 0500 wave started and off I went. I had a map of the course and followed the directions as best as I could. Before I knew it I was under a canopy of trees. It was dark. No, it was p