The Adventures of Facebook Memories and the Girl in the Red Bug

 Who else feels the bittersweetness of Facebook memories? 

Yes, part of my day consists of looking back on Facebook memories. Some memories make me shake my head and say WTF? Some memories make me think, “damn girl, you need to get a life (those are mostly related to the Real Housewives postings), and some memories bring me to tears. 

Seeing sweet, funny posts from family members and friends no longer with us; words of encouragement from them; and precious photos that randomly pop-up, make my heart ache, all while smiling with love. Bittersweet, friends, but, memories are like that, aren’t they and we should cherish each one and feel all the feels.

So today, as I head into my day, creating more memories, that are yet to be seen which emotion they will invoke from my future self, I will look at today’s memories and smile (and, maybe wipe away a tear or two). 

Hoping you are creating all types of memories today, cherishing each moment, and feeling all the feels. 

Until the next time,

The Girl in the Red Bug

The Adventures of Home and the Girl in the Red Bug

Home..what is home? Is it a building with with four walls? Is it a city or town, where we reside, or perhaps have resided in our past? I venture to guess, the word “home” means different things for different people.

For me, “home” has always been a feeling. A feeling of belonging, of community, and fellowship; good, bad, or indifferent. 

I contribute my feeling of home, to my upbringing in a small community.

I have found, over the last several years, I long for that sense of “home.” That feeling of a Friday night football game, with the whole town running up and down the sideline supporting their team, the restaurant where you walk in and you are kindly greeted by someone who actually knows who you are. The knowing and caring of your neighbors. A day of hard work well rewarded.

It’s ironic, for many years, all I wanted was autonomy. I found myself fighting the very core of my upbringing. I refused to go back to my hometown, for many years, for varying reasons. But, as we have gone through, notably, the craziest year in most of our lives, I have found the need to go “home.” To drive by the homes of my childhood, to feel the feels of times and moments gone by.  To see the porch, where Santa left my first red bike, to see the window of my bedroom that housed a beautiful canopy bed, that I no doubt didn’t value and appreciate then, as I do now. To remember the yard with a beautiful, bountiful garden; to look at the place where we all came together to make the ugliest Homecoming float, ever. To see where my sense of safety came from, in what sometimes felt like a scary, lonely, chaotic world. I long to surround myself with the feelings of what make-up home to me; to wrap myself up in a “big hug” of home.

I encourage each of you to feel your "home," and then take time to wrap yourself in your big hug of it.

Wishing you the biggest hug of home..until the next time.

The Girl in the Red Bug

The Adventures of Learning Again

This weekend, I woke up, again with low-energy, major body stiffness, and feeling like my body was so inflamed, that I could hardly move. Sadly, this has been my daily feeling, for quite sometime. My movements are labored and everything seems to be a chore. 

I got on the scale ...and, YIKES I wanted to cry. But,I have spent a lot of time crying over my weight gain; and, low and behold, that has not helped me shed one pound or feel any better. I have cried more than one tear, about how I thought I had turned the corner on my issues with food, and really having a solid commitment to my running, and, to my overall health and wellness. But, here I sit, back at square one; most days feeling like an utter failure and wondering what the hell happened? How did I let my health and wellness take a backseat, once again!? Although the number on the scale can be pretty depressing, it is truly just a reflection  of my actions (or lack there of). Or, maybe more of a reflection of the priorities in my life.

Even though I still struggle with breaking out of old patterns, the upside, I know it’s possible - I have done it and know the benefits of it, not only from a physical perspective, but, more importantly from an emotional and spiritual perspective.

Today is a new day! What are you doing to make a difference for yourself?

New Adventures...OH MY!

As I shared in my last post, lots of big life adventures in the last three years! Some have been super exciting, some scary, some so very stressful, and one in particular has been the sweetest, most surprising adventure to date.

Actually, when it all comes down to it, meeting the love of your life, in phase two of your life, can be all the types of adventures listed above, but most of all, it has been a beautiful, unexpected adventure.

For anyone that did not read my introduction to the blog, Part Two...ish, here is the update on my sweetest adventure to date.

As many of you know, I was single for years. And, I mean YEARS friends. Although I was a self-proclaimed “hopeful romantic,” in all honesty, I felt that having a life partner probably wasn’t in the cards for me.

But, then here comes this guy...ok, well it was more like sign-up for Tinder; swipe left, swipe right, turn around three times, click your heels and viola, you have a match. (I mean doesn’t everyone meet that way nowadays!) But, seriously here comes this guy and wowzer!

Michael is a musician, artist, dad, grandpa, meditator, yoga guy in training, and half marathoner. I have been told he is quite easy on the eyes and I have to admit, I don’t disagree.

But more importantly than all of those things, is that we have become true partners in life. We will be coming up on two years together soon and it has been a beautiful adventure. An adventure of getting to know each other and creating a very conscious and intentional life. 

Life is definitely an adventure, and even a sweeter adventure when you have someone to share it with.

I would love to hear some of your life's adventures! Please leave a comment if you have stopped by.

Until the next time, 

The Girl in the Red Bug

The Return of the Adventures of the Girl in the Red Bug

It’s been a little over three years, since my last post as the Girl in the Red Bug. 

I retired the blog when I traded in my beloved Red Bug for a red Jeep. The Adventures of the Girl in the Red Jeep just didn’t have the same vibe or inspiration for me.

I tried creating a couple of other blogs; Half Crazy Kelly and Part Two...ish, but neither really seemed to take off. My heart always belonged with The Adventures of the Girl in the Red Bug.

So, I am back...Red Bug driving girl, ready to share my adventures.

I have had some pretty significant life adventures since my last post of May 2016; a move from Arizona back to California, a new job, and meeting the love of my life, in the second half of my life (more to come on that adventure!). 

I’m happy to be back to ~ Red Bug driving, adventure loving girl. I’m looking forward to sharing new adventures as I continue on this amazing adventure called life.

Until the next time,

The Girl in the Red Bug

The Adventure of the Transformation and the Girl in the Red Bug

Transformation

NOUN

a thorough or dramatic change in form or appearance

Transformations come in many shapes and forms (pun somewhat intended). They can be in, as the definition states, in form or appearance, but transformation can also occur in the heart, in the soul, in the very depth of your being. 

Often times, transformation can start out as one thing and somehow before you know it can, well.....transform into something else. This is what happened to me.

I have dabbled in running now, for years. I would start, not be consistent, stop, and start all over again. I registered and participated in 5ks, 10ks, and YES even a half marathon..half way train...or not train at all, then get frustrated, and pissed off, wondering why I struggled through the whole run. As I have written about previously, last year I experienced some wonderful highs; but with the highs came some of the lowest of lows. I struggled with the lows as I haven’t struggled before; those low moments really kicked my ass, but then...in came running. Running became my saving grace; my safe place.

As I began to run through my sadness and struggles, or as I like to put it, “run my crazy off or out, transformation began. With each run, I cried a little less, I smiled a little more. I began to look at food not as an emotional comfort to rid me of my heartache, but as something that nourished my body for running. I began to organize my days around my running calendar. Transformation occurred in so many areas of my life, with just the simple act beginning to, and more importantly, dedicating myself to consistent running. Slowly, with each pound of the pavement, I was becoming the runner I had always wanted to be.

An added benefit of my emotional transformation, was in my physical appearance. I have struggled my whole adult life with my weight. I have tried every weight loss program, with no success. I have worked out with personal trainers, done boot camp...you name it, I have tried it, short of wiring my jaw shut..nothing worked. But, as I began to focus on healing my heart,  as I began focusing more on the run and properly fueling my body, transformation happened. I quit the body shaming and started to value and appreciate my body for its physical accomplishments. I began to love myself, just a little more.

Now, I would love to say that running has completely vanquished all my sadness and struggles, that the tears I cry now are only happy tears, that each run is better than the last run, and that I am a size 2, but we do live in reality after all...I have learned transformation is a slow process. Transformation is a marathon, not a sprint - it takes work, dedication, patience and self-love; somedays, it is two steps forward and then five steps back. Transformation can lift you high and then kind of stomp you into the ground, she is kind of a fickle bitch that way....but, transformation is completely worth it. I look at where I started, see where I am now and realize I am proud of my transformation. It excites me, and motivates me, to continue with the journey. I want my transformation to be thorough and dramatic, I want it to be who I am...part of my definition.

Below are some of transformation photos. The picture on the left, was taken at the 12ks of Christmas in 2014, the second photo is the 12ks of Christmas in 2015, and the third photo was taken in April 2016, at the Hollywood Half Marathon Expo (my second half marathon this year).

What are some ways you want to, or have transformed, yourself? Share your journey!

Until the next time,

The Girl in the Red Bug

The Adventure of Priorities and the Girl in the Red Bug

Have you ever felt that you are less than a priority in someone’s life? I think if we are all honest, we have all had our “George Bailey” moment, at one time or another (excuse the It’s a Wonderful Life reference after Christmas has already passed). I know I certainly have! You know, those people that are kind enough to detail the list of where you fall in the priorities, or the ones that give you every excuse as to why you cannot possibly be a priority in their lives. I am assuming these people are trying to be kind in providing this level of information and not the a-hole that it appears they are, but it is truly hard to tell! 

I think when it all comes down to it, most of use want to feel important to others; like we matter, are a priority. But, how many of us lack that, or how many of us, perhaps, allow it ~ we willingly let others put us at the bottom of the list? Even further, how many of us put ourselves at the bottom of our own priority list? WHAT??!! Put ourselves at the bottom of our own priority list??? I would venture to say many of us do. 

So, if we are willing to put ourselves at the bottom of our own list of priorities, why do we think, or expect, someone else to rank us higher in their list? Now, when I say this I don’t mean we all need to become self-centered or narcissistic; but, if we consistently don’t put ourselves as a priority, we cannot expect others to.

Each of us should love and value ourselves enough to know that we should be a priority, not only to others, but more importantly to ourselves. I would encourage each of you to take a moment to reflect...when was the last time you made yourself a priority? If you have not done it recently (or for some, ever) make your fabulous, incredible selves a priority...you are worth it and deserve it!

What is one thing you can do to make yourself a priority to yourself?

Until the next time,

The Girl in the Red Bug