Category: Uncategorized

I don’t pretend to know the secrets, but I’d be thrilled to try to figure them out together!

Do you have questions?

• what Dust DO I buy?  how do I stay bright when the news is so dark?  i haven’t run in years, how do I even contemplate starting?

Do you have comments?

• you said you listened to country – where are the links woman?!

Did you find something beautiful today and want to share it with us?

Did you just want to reach out and say “Hi”?

Have you been struggling?

• i just can’t get on this plant train.  how the heck do i make kombucha?  i need some levity in this world, what book shall i read next?

THEN LET’S CONNECT!

I dare you to leave a comment you beast you.

I’ve been “off my game” for the past couple weeks.

Easily distracted by life’s little gremlins.

No, I’m not referring to my children.

I’m talking about the subtle creep of, let’s call it, “things that don’t help”.  I can’t think of a better term right now.   It’s hard to capture in one word.  It’s the opposite of stillness and love and peace and joy and spirit.

I’m not quite sure how it happened.  Perhaps it was the start of September and all the change in routine that follows.  The darker days of Fall.  Working a little too much.  Maybe, running a little too much.  Maybe, it was just the natural ebb to life’s flow.  I did also happen to be running very low on dusts this past month ….  LOL!

The creep is subtle and cunning.  It starts with an espresso instead of a quiet tea.  A flip through your phone instead of opening your book.  Getting tied up in email while your dog sits un-walked beside you.  Then before you know it, you are watching the news, ranting about this or that, and fuming over an article on Facebook.  Nasty!

It is so easy to fall prey to the creep.  Our world is very good at fueling it.  And if you get yourself in the right frame of mind, it is all you see.  But that’s when you know it’s got you and, good news my friends, that’s when you have an alternative.

Choose to see good.  Choose love.  Shake it off and let yourself fly instead.

This is not the same as throwing your hands in the air or burying your head in the sand.  This is not “soft” or “weak” or “flighty” or “naïve”.  This is brave and strong and it takes practice.  I am by no means the queen of this (In fact, I’ve oft been a loyal servant to the kingdom of creep.)  But, more and more, I am certain this is what needs to happen.  I don’t think we should all just merrily dust away in our kitchens, singing and soaking goji berries while not being aware of what is going on the world.  But there is indeed a balance.  We can choose to sit in our kitchens and rant about the inanity of our public officials, wring our hands at the latest article that warns of crisis, scoff at choices others around us make, and complain about this and that and everything.  Or we can choose to see that, holy fuck, there are people out there doing amazing things.  There are people risking their lives to better the environment.  There are organizations who are giving water to people, who are working to improve our soil, who are clearing the ocean of plastic, who are teaching communities how to help themselves.  There are artists who see love and beauty everywhere they look, even if they are “just” looking at YOU, and they have the most wonderful way of sharing it with the rest of us.  There are people who outwardly look like they have nothing, who look you in the eye, smile, and wish you well.   Hell, I thought I had a pretty frickin’ cool idea with the goal for my blog here, but you know what?  About 100 other people are probably already trying to do the same thing!!  A-MAZE-ING!!

If you are going to flip through your phone or turn on the TV – you be the boss.  Kindly dismiss what doesn’t serve you; delete, block, unfollow, whatever.  And then go search out something that does.  And after that, get outside, crank some music, lie on the floor and read, put on a candle and sit in silence, expose your kids to something new, give something of yourself to someone else, receive something from someone you don’t know.  Don’t you dare let the creep get you because it doesn’t serve you which doesn’t serve us.  If you can shake it off you will do so much more.  You will search and actually see the good and you will chase it.  You will find yourself helping this world far more and loving every fucking minute of it.

Bye, bye creep.

Hello, beautiful.

https://www.lovebutton.org/live-love-laugh/

Summer and I were made for each other.  I love the heat, the energy, the light and everything in between.  Also, it just seems like everyone is just a little bit happier when the sun is out.  We are out early in the morning strolling with our babies and dogs, we are sandy and dusty and a little bit sweaty walking around the grocery store looking for a cool drink and salty snack at the end of the day with beautiful, serene looks on our faces, and we care a little less about routine  and a little more about the moment.

This summer was a little slow off the start in the weather department, but it more than made up for it.  And what do you need when the sun is out? …. SHADES!!!  Duh.

I’ve found you some awesome ones!  Inexpensive, super cool, and one even gives back to the BEES!!  Yes, people, the bees!  Here you go:

https://knockaround.com

https://www.nectarsunglasses.com

 

Cool.  Let’s do it.

I’ve just recently started to dip my toe in full running nerd territory.  It’s addictive, so you may have to indulge me on this more than you like.  Sorry, not sorry.

This summer I decided to sign up for my first race approaching anything like an endurance race.  It was close to 29k, in single track trails, involved a river crossing, a little bit of climbing and a lot of elevation.  It was a blast.  I am 100% at my best in nature, LOVE IT!  Somewhere in the mix of signing up for this I also started listening to some ultra/iron/running podcasts and reading some of the guests’ books.  And thus here I am, at the entrance of full on nerd-dom.

There is something so attractive about seeing people work to their limits.  It doesn’t matter what that activity or work may be, I am so inspired by those who decide to excel at their craft and go for it.  From the cashier who knows every damn code, where to find exactly anything you might ask for and when such and such is in season and when it isn’t, to the beast of an Ironman athlete who can knock out a world class marathon after a 4k open water swim and gruelling 180km bike, props to you all.  You are taking no shortcuts and revelling in all the glory that follows.

There is also something about seeing people do unimaginable things that makes you believe you can do it too.  So, 3 only weeks out, I’ve decided to can the 1/2 marathon I’m signed up to do in October and try my hand at the full marathon.  This really clashes against my type-A find a training plan and stick to it at all costs usual approach.  But hey, there is only one way to find out right?

So what’s inspired me over these last few months?

Here’s the progression, enjoy the ride, there is certainly more to follow.

http://www.richroll.com/finding-ultra/

http://www.scottjurek.com/eat-run/

http://www.chrismcdougall.com/born-to-run/

https://www.amazon.com/Road-Top-Systematic-Approach-Training/dp/1880047349

https://www.jonathanbeverly.com/your-best-stride

https://www.runnersworld.com/injury-prevention-recovery/its-all-in-the-hips

http://marathontrainingacademy.com/running-form

http://marathontrainingacademy.com/running-makes-us-human

http://nicoledeboom.com/60-being-present-with-western-states-100-mile-winner-cat-bradley/

 

{photo cred: https://melissaleephotography.pixieset.com/2017finlaysonarm28k/?pid=1316922552&id=164&h=NDE5OTcwOTg2OA

thank you … I will purchase right now!}