Breathing Space & More...

Last wkend, I ran my first 5K.  It came after a month and a half of training and a lot of days when I thought "how will I ever be able to keep going?" I have never considered myself to be a runner.  In fact, "I'm not a runner" would be one of those statements that I have used to define myself for a long time. So, when I pulled up to the registration table and received my t-shirt and number, I had to think again.  Could I change my statement now?  Am I a runner?  Is this something that I will continue?  Do I belong in this crowd and is running one of my things? I set this 5K goal for myself a while ago (even as I told myself I wasn't a runner).  Maybe it was a way to push my body and see how it would perform.  Maybe it was just another way to fill time.  Maybe I envied the group who could start their Sat. morning by running the local 5K.  Whatever led me to do it, it was another goal and I am pretty good at pushing myself when I set a goal. Now that

This past week, I finished a long overdue project.  I sorted and tossed two file cabinets full of old paperwork.  It was a big job that had been lurking in the basement, haunting me. I started weeding through it one day when I had a hour or so.  The short timeframe was a great way to get started.  It created an urgency that kept me from hemming and hawing over whether to throw or keep. I had to get realistic. With every piece of paper, every file, I asked myself if this was something unique and irreplaceable or whether it could be found in another resource if I ever needed it.  The answer to almost all of it was that it wasn't unique and yes I could find something similar if I needed it in the future.  So, after a couple of days of work, I ended up creating a full recycling bin of paperwork that left my house on Friday! As with any project in this house, one thing leads to another and soon I had moved onto other files, other piles, other stacks of unfinished business.  Pile

Today I received an email with a link to an online class, "The Science of Happiness."   It is an eight week course on positive psychology.    It sounds amazing and it's free and it has great guest speakers and it's on a topic that I love to learn about and did I mention that it's free??? I got excited. I just finished going through a book with three months of weekly tasks.  Homework that would help me listen to my creative side.  The book was done last week, so why not? Here's why... I have come to the realization that I use knowledge as a distraction to the actual living of life.  I love knowledge!  I love learning about human behavior.  I love reflecting and thinking.  I love having something to work on and being held accountable. So... the idea of this class is something that feels safe. Instead of taking a risk and signing up for a painting or dance class, I would have an excuse.  And isn't it good to "work on yourself?" But there are

"Envision your dreams down through your hands and out into the world." -The Book of Awakening This morning the routine of school began again.  It was a beautiful morning.  An exciting morning without a lot of rush or fuss.   Families gathered.  A beautiful poem was shared to kick off a year of new beginnings.  Two kids followed their teacher in to school with heads held high.   I left the school feeling freedom and excitement.  I felt open and ready.  I came home to begin my new year.   I sat down and pulled out my daily reading and read about a grandmother telling her grandson to envision his dreams down through his hands and out into the world.  The words were meant for this day.  A day to set a course of action and growth.  A day to take the dreams that were uncovered and see them move in the world.     Last year was a time to reflect, learn, dig deep, uncover, wait, take small steps, keep my eyes open, listen, feel, release.  It was a time of work.