The Adventure of the Life’s Surprises and the Girl in the Red Bug

I was watching Morning Joe, on MSNBC, the other morning and the question was posed, “What about life has surprised you?” This got me thinking...what has surprised me...my response? What hasn’t surprised me!? A vague, general response no doubt. So, here are some things that have surprised me, specifically, about life.

Surprise 1 - Age is just a number? I can remember getting so frustrated, at times, with my Nan, when I was in my teens and 20’s. She dressed hip and happening, drove a snappy sports car and she loved hanging out with me and my friends (horror, especially for a teenager!). What has surprised my at 47, I GET IT!!! She didn’t feel in her mind, or heart, the age she was. Although, my body has aged, certain parts have shifted, or in some sad instances are actually drifting...my mind, my heart, my spirit are still that of that teenager I once was. I don’t feel 47, and honestly, I don’t even know what that means!! How is one supposed to feel or act at 47?

Surprise 2 - You do get better with age? Along this crazy journey we call life, I believe I am getting better with age. I am more accepting of who I am and my likes and dislikes.  I am very clear on who and what is important to me and that is where I chose to spend my time and energy. My view...if it doesn’t add value to my life, or those lives around me, why put energy there?

Surprise 3 - You can find a passion at any age? I am happy to say that I have found a new passion, running. Who would have thought?!? I love going for runs; I love participating in runs; I love having a cupcake after my runs (oh wait! That shouldn’t be here!) Truly, the spirit and energy at the runs is infectious, it makes me want to keep training, keep participating in runs, and keep getting better.

Surprise 4 - Life CAN turn on a dime? I always knew this to be a true statement, but until I actually experienced it. I don’t think I understood how true the statement really is. Of course, I had a bit of life’s experiences under my belt; a divorce, my grandparents passing less than a year apart from each other, moving, being down-sized at jobs;  but those life’s events were anticipated like a slow burn that you know will ignite, regardless of how hard your try to distinguish it. The anticipation of something doesn’t make it any less painful, but if we are honest with ourselves, it’s typically not a huge surprise. So, when did I learn that life can turn on a dime? When my dad passed away. He and I had talked the week before, he had told of falling and not being able to get up. Of course, we joked about it in our typical sarcastic, make fun of you kind of fashion. The following weekend, was when he was admitted to the emergency room. Even knowing that he was in the emergency room, I really didn’t think it was a huge deal - two days later, my dad was gone. Surprise! Life CAN (and does) turn on a dime!

Surprise 5 - Everything in life is a surprise! If you are a Type A,  or a bit of a control-freak like me, that surprise made you break out in a cold sweat. We want to control and plan everything...and when what we plan doesn’t come to fruition, it can lead to...well, let’s just say problems. But, I learned many years ago, God’s plan for me is greater and trumps all my plans. All that time of me trying to fit the square peg, in the round hole - wasted time and energy. Every little detailed plan I had about what I thought my life was going to be, is not even close to what my life is today. And...I am ok, actually, better than ok with that. I am blessed and thankful for this crazy journey called life! I love the surprises...the good, the bad, and yes, even sometimes the ugly! Embrace the surprises!

Until the next time...the Girl in the Red Bug

The Adventure of the God Run and the Girl in the Red Bug

In one of my previous blogs, I touched on how blessed I felt participating in the Midnight Madness Run on New Year’s Eve. Then I was just reading a Facebook entry from, Gibson’s Daily Running Quotes, which said how critical it is for us to record moments of inspiration when we are running; such as finishing our first runs, etc. This reminded me that I wanted to blog about some of the blessings I have encountered when I have been on my runs lately.

I realize there are many things bigger in life than me trying to become a runner. But it is something I have literally wanted to do my ENTIRE life, but have always struggled with and have basically given up on each time I have tried to conquer. Last year, with the help of my sister, I finally started to see progress. I was up to four miles of running, without stopping. Granted, I won’t be making the Olympic team with my speed, but I was finishing each run - which was so exciting to me. But, as the hot months got here, I stopped running consistently. When I started back up this fall, the struggle and frustration were back, in full force.

So, I continued going to runs, but hadn’t been pleased with my performances at all. So, part of Operation 2012 was to start the year out differently, which I did by participating in the Midnight Madness 5k. I had a bit of a drive to the 5k, so I decided to use my time wisely...I prayed. Yes, prayed. I fully lifted my drive to and from the run and the run itself up in prayer, the entire drive - which was about 45 minutes to an hour. Then throughout the run, I continued praying for strength and endurance to complete the run. As the steps were completed, I would then praise God for the strength and endurance. It was an experience that is difficult to explain in words, and as I am reading what I am writing, it sounds slightly odd - perhaps a little “out there” even. But, I tell you it worked!!1 As I was finishing the last portion of my run, I could feel that I was going to finish the run and I became so excited that I began to pick up my pace - I was THRILLED! And...none of it was me, I know that is was all God.

Not only did I start my new year out differently as I wanted, I also had something reinforced to me; God wants all our “stuff.” He wants the major things, but He also wants the minor things. He wants to be with us through all things. The runs since the Midnight Madness are still speckled with struggle and frustration, but I find the ones that I fully, and truly, turn over to God are speckled with strength, endurance and of joy. If I use my run times to converse with God, to praise and thank him, the run takes on a whole new meaning. I pray that each of you find something that you want to do, and share it with God, and see what happens! It will be spectacular!

Until the next time....The Girl in the Red Bug

The Adventure of Operation 2012 and the Girl in the Red Bug

The end of one year has passed and we are already half way through the first month of the new year...and I am already thinking, “where has this month gone?” It truly is amazing how quickly the days go by and how caught up in day-to-day life we can get.

My fear for this year, is that it could potentially become a repeat of last year...or what I refer to as the lost year. As my years on earth tick-tock away, I become more and more aware of the lost years, the lost moments, the lost chances of creating lasting memories for myself and those that are important to me.

So, my cure for the lost year, was to start out 2012 differently from years past. I am typically a stay at home person on New Year’s Eve and am slightly embarrassed to say, that normally I am asleep on New Year’s Eve, by 10pm. But this year I wanted to do try something different, that included being awake past 10pm. So my remedy was to complete a 5k. The run started at 10:30 pm so it gave runners and walkers ample time to complete the course and be back to ring in the new year, with other participants and a bowl of chili, cornbread and some music. What a great way, to start the new year! I ended up going to the run by myself...another first for me. And, I completed the entire run with no walking, not necessarily a first, but it has been a while since I had done that, so I was super excited and felt extremely blessed (which I will write about in a later blog).

Back to my resolution of not having another lost year...I wrote in December, some goals I have for this year. Not necessarily resolutions, but adventures for 2012. I had listed a few, but really wanted to sit and thoughtfully think of things I wanted to spend my time on this year. A friend at work shared her goals for 2012 and the theme of “12” that she is using in conjunction with her goals, then I was watching my new favorite TV show and one of the co-hosts said how they don’t make resolutions they refer to it as “Operation Year,” the year is whatever year it is. I loved both ideas so much, that I wanted to incorporate into my adventures for the year. With that being said....here is 

Operation 2012

The Year of Doing Things Differently

Try 12 new recipes

Complete 12 runs, including one run outside of the state of AZ

Read six books

Go on six hikes

Take a photography class

Lose 12 lbs

Participate in a Bible Study

Attend church, at least twice a month

Finish a quilt

Become a couponer, yes with a snazzy binder and everything!

Take 12 pictures a month 

Take a cooking class

I am looking forward to the adventure of 2012 and creating memories.

Until the next time...The Girl in the Red Bug

The Adventure of Finding Christmas Spirit and the Girl in the Red Bug

I have always found the holidays, all holidays, a contradiction in terms; but more specifically I find Christmas, and what I actually observe and feel about Christmas, to be a huge contradiction in terms. I find myself, more often than not, addicted to the melancholy during the holidays. Christmas to me is a mixture of  joy, laced with sadness, and a pinch of longing for something different, perhaps something more. It’s a time of year, where I assess all the blessings and gifts that I have in my life, while having the things that I deem lacking in my life polarized and intensified.

I hear people say, “Remember for the reason for the season,” “It’s not about the gifts,” and various other cliches, that are used to describe, “The most wonderful time of the year.” Don’t get me wrong, I love the concept of Christmas. I have longed for, for most of my life, the It’s a Wonderful Life, Little House on the Prairie, Walton’s kind of Christmas; a type of Christmas that I am sure only exists in a Hallmark, made for TV movie.

So, how does one get around the melancholy of Christmas, the disappointment of hearing a bell ring and knowing that it’s only a bell ringing, not another angel getting its wings? For me, I have to seek out, or in some instances create, moments that lead to joy. Joy really is all around me if I look for it. Joy can be making a batch of caramel corn with your sister, having dinner with your family, receiving a batch salsa from a friend; joy takes on many forms and is something that is individual and unique to each of us. Joy to me, is the small things in life that create something more grand. It isn’t one day out of the year where people are expected to “provide good will towards men,” it’s the everyday random acts that I find joyful. Jf it has to be labeled and only acted on one day of the year, is it truly Christmas spirit?

I pray that for the coming year, that each of us experiences the true joy of Christmas on a daily basis. That we will take time out to remember that Jesus is the reason for the season, each and every day, not just on December 25. 

Until the next time...The Girl in the Red Bug

The Adventure of the Amazing Posse and the Girl in the Red Bug

I have been really missing my posse lately, my “besties,” my girls ~ the ones who know me, know me and love me in spite of me. What’s a girl to do without her posse? With age, increasing responsibilities and decreasing time, relationships of all sorts can be challenging to maintain. Challenging...but yet completely worth it. They are a life support, so to speak. That connection with the ones that know you like no other, the ones you laugh with, the ones you cry with, and the ones - who at 46 years old you can still pile onto bed with, on a girls weekend, and talk into the night, just as you did when you were teenagers. 

This got me thinking, what can I do to bridge the gap of time differences, geographic locations, family and work responsibilities? You know, the basic day-to-day life that gets in the way of relationships, in general.

Until Daylight Savings Time, my friend Karen and I would talk in the early morning, on our commutes to work. She is in California and I am in Arizona and it worked out perfectly. I would get my coffee, get on the phone, and the commute didn’t seem so long.  It felt like I was sitting and having coffee with one of my most treasured friends. Since the time change, our chats have been more sporadic and I miss my early morning talks. What a wonderful way to start my day. It’s challenging to get that dedicated time to talk and connect, without interruption, or rushing to the next thing on our To Do List. 

So, back to my "what I can I do to bridge the gap?” Be more organized! Yes, it is true...organization is the key to everything! I want to set specific time aside to set-up a call with my friends. Instead of just calling when it is convenient for me, or on the fly, establish a consistent day and time to talk - just as I would if we were in the same state and we were going to lunch, or coffee. Make a date, so-to-speak!  Also, I don’t want to limit my connections just to telephone conversations, I want to be better about sending notecards throughout the year - you know that good old-fashioned, handwritten correspondence (this will also help out our US Postal Service!). What is better than getting a note in the mail from someone!? 

What are your thoughts on bridging the gap? How do you, or will you, connect with those that are important to you?

Truly giving of ourselves and connecting with others is one of the greatest gifts we not only give ourselves, but others as well. So who do you want to give your first gift to? Take a moment to connect with someone.

Until then...The Girl in the Red Bug

The Adventure of the Lost Year and the Girl in the Red Bug

Today, I was going through photographs so that I can put together my yearly Christmas card. I started doing a “Favorite Things” type of Christmas card last year, kind of my own Oprah moment (without the free audience give aways, of course!). I realized, as I was going through my photos, I did not have as many "adventures" this year as I had hoped I would. I did A LOT of working this year and although I love my job and am blessed to be working for a company I like, with people that I truly enjoy and have a deep respect for, I have realized that my work/life balance was off this year. Of course, when you begin a new job, I think that is to be expected. 

But, as I was going through the photos of the year, I began to think of the adventures that I want to have in 2012, the places I want to go, and most importantly the memories that I want to create and chronicle. We only get one chance to go through this life and I want to create and capture moments that are important to me and that I can share with others. I want the adventures that I have, to show who I am and what I am all about.

What will be on your “Adventure List” for 2012? Have you started thinking about it? A couple of things come to mind for me, off the top of my head:

Go to church more

Participate in a Bible study 

Complete the Midnight Madness 5K - on December 31

Be able to run six miles, without stopping

Complete two runs, in states other than AZ

Get together with my besties, I miss my girls

Have a great trip with my family

This is just the beginning of my list. I will continue to add to it and republish. I’d love to hear what “adventures” you are planning for 2012. 

Until then....The Girl in Red Bug

The Adventure of the Personal Trainer and the Girl in the Red Bug

My newest adventure is working out twice a week with a personal trainer. I have been on this adventure about three weeks now! What an experience. I workout, relatively consistently, and have even worked out with a personal trainer previously, but I can honestly say it is/was NOTHING like I am doing now! Wow!

Some of the things I have learned in my adventure so far....you don't have to go to a gym to workout and get in shape. Our workouts are at a local park. A few tools are needed to complete the workout; some handheld weights, an exercise band, and a yoga mat! That is pretty much it!

Although, I workout at the gym, and am trying to get back into my running, it is nothing like having some one to drive and push you through an hour workout. I will admit that there have been a couple of moments that I have reached the point of wanting to shed a tear or two, but the strong words of encouragement and having someone investing in you, pulled me through.

Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, I have learned that seeing the results of my workouts makes every "Mountain Climber" and "Suicide" that I do, worth it (ok, ok....I tell myself that through every workout!). But, in three weeks, I have lost an overall of eight inches and I am able to do things, physically, that I was not able to do three weeks ago - I am happy. I can't wait to see what happens in the next month of so!

I would love to hear what adventures you are having!

Until the next adventure.....The Girl in the Red Bug!