Ok…so it’s been exactly 3 weeks since the marathon…it seems like an eternity ago. I haven’t run a single time since the marathon but I think my “recovery” period is officially over…the legs are finally getting antsy. I have been going to the gym trying to maintain my cardio level by working on the cycling & elliptical machines. I have also been trying to work on the abs but that’s not going too well - though I must admit it is mainly due to laziness on my part.
The running “break” came at a good time - the holidays. We’ve had family visiting, friends visiting, holiday parties to attend, shopping, shopping, and more shopping, Punxsk8erdude’s birthday, and my birthday of course which seems to be ongoing - no, I’m not complaining. I love this time of year! As a matter of fact, we’re getting the house ready for the New Year’s Fete (my personal favorite)…and yes, that means more family & friends. We’ll be celebrating the usual way…we don’t keep up with all the traditions but we still do incorporate a few…my personal favorite is the grape thing…oh yeah, and don’t forget your red underwear!
Sally & Lumpy, you’ll just have to come down one of these New Years….
HAPPY NEW YEAR’S!!! May it be absolutely fantabulous!
I don’t know if you guys have heard about this movie, but it’s supposed to beyond great and inspiring. Apparently they’re going to do a 1 day only (January 24, 2008) showing of the move in select theatres nationwide. Check out the website for more information about whether or not it will be showing in your neck of the woods: CLICK HERE.
I also found another website with information about other “running” movies that are currently in production and it also mentions the Spirit of the Marathon. I also lists previously released movies - all with a running theme. Check it out: http://www.runningmovies.com/production.htm
My list of movies to watch just got way longer…I had not idea there were that many!!! Where will I find the time!
Thank you for the beautiful post, Banana. I get it, I just have a lot of STUFF to reconcile that has never been reconciled. I will be AWOL/incognito/gone/seeking therapy for a while. There is a lot of stuff that you all do not know that has defined who I am. Actually, it made it impossible to escape. I thought I had gotten away and that all that stuff was being worked through and that I was on the road to health. I am sorry to be sketchy, I am sorry I have been hurtful, but I cannot be any more specific right now because I have a lot to work through and I have a lot to understand before I can be even remotely close to sane. I am sorry for the pain I have caused, but believe me, there is a wealth of pain that has never been addressed that is here that needs to be resolved. Sorry for the vagueness. I want us all to be well. Me, especially. I’m tired of not feeling well. I’m tired of knowing that I am a bad person. I am tired of wishing I were dead. I have spent the greater part of my life wishing that I were dead without having the courage to kill myself. So, I am going to get help. I want to live, but I don’t know how. I’ll post again when I have some ground under my feet.
10. PROMOTE THE HELL OUT OF YOURSELF
Before he became Superman, Karnazes was the Clark Kent of the PR world: a humdrum marketing executive at a pharmaceutical company. But in the past three years, he’s published a memoir, nabbed a sponsorship from the North Face, appeared on Late Show With David Letterman, and gotten himself on the cover of a handful of magazines. The book and the North Face contract generate enough money to support his family, and the high profile translates into maximum motivation: Failure is scarier when the family income is on the line.
It has taken a ridiculously long time for me to produce this post. And I have a feeling it will be anticlimactic now that I’m ready. But when I think about it, that could be a nice change!
Turns out to be quite simple, really. Completing the marathon made me feel like I can do anything. Not in an overconfident, cocky way… Going into the race, I thought I’d be strong enough, mentally and physically. I was pretty sure I could make the right decision when the tough one came along. But now I know with a degree of certainty I’ve never felt before that I can do anything. I just have to want it badly enough and be willing to work hard enough to get it.
Sometimes feelings build up inside and they come out in an explosive manner. That is okay because we are all human and we have the right to feel and express ourselves. A few weeks ago I went to a training/conference in Orlando. As most of you know, I work at a domestic violence and sexual assault center. We received a grant to include more extensive prevention work as part of our services, and this training provided some feedback on how to go about this prevention business. One of the main things that the facilitators focused on (one female and one male) was the inclusion of men in our work. There was much discussion on this topic. How could men possibly understand what women go through? The truth of the matter is that men don’t understand because they will never experience life as a woman. And that’s okay. The important thing is that if we accept good men as our allies, we can accomplish so much more. Men may not understand what it is like to be a woman, but they can understand the concept of respect, unity, and equality. Men can teach other men-and boys-how to treat women, just human beings in general, with respect. There are many kinds of feminists and each one contributes to the movement in her own way. While men might not be as vocal in the movement and while many may not quite understand the impact of their male privilege, many do their part by teaching their sons to be good human beings. They encourage their education, travel, engaged them in stimulating conversation about the world and do such basic things with their sons such as spending a Saturday afternoon together. These basic actions are helping women by creating caring, respectful men for our future. Women have a right to be angry, no doubt about that. We have been oppressed since the first caveman dragged the first cavewoman across the ground by the hair. As someone who has been victimized, I am angry too, and I have chosen a path in my life to help women. We can teach women self-defense. We can teach them how to be careful when they walk in a parking lot. We can remind them to lock their windows and doors when they are home. But why? What is the point because nobody is teaching men not to rape. Nobody is teaching them not to hit. We need to work together.
Sometimes things that don’t mean a thing to one person mean the world to another. Let’s not forget why we are here. Despite our differences, we are a family and if we can’t get past this hurdle, then we are not the strong group of people I thought we were. We are not only letting ourselves down, but also the many youth who are looking up to us.
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” Mahatma Ghandi
“Whenever you are confronted with an opponent, conquer him with love.” Mahatma Ghandi
“The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” Mahatma Ghandi
I was simply hoping the weather would cooperate, because I knew she’d do fine with a little push from the weather gods.
I am so proud. Toots broke ALL barriers. She looked really concentrated and as if she were working really hard, but in a good frame of mind. It was great to experience someone else breaking through a dream.
Nicely done, mon amie. Je lève la verre à toi. Que les meilleurs ET les pires marathons t’arrivent. Comme il faut. Des milliers de bisous….
