Simple

When life gets complicated, get simple.

Live it…

Be fully present in each precious moment – Brian Biro

Just before I headed out to the west coast to see my daughter, a co-worker sent me a text that said, “Live it….be ever so present in each precious moment”. I truly did breathe it all in and we did jam a lot into a few days.

Photos are a wonderful way to continue to live it….a week ago today, we were in Whistler and we were definitely ever so present….

I appreciate that I have strayed from my usual posts of late….back to regularly programmed photos soon!

 

Missing the little things…

Right now, one of my very favourite people is away, and I miss him a whole bunch. My son, Kyle, is spending the fall as a visiting scientist at Harvard and I really miss him and the little things….like how he checks in and asks how my day is going….how we chat about everything and nothing….sharing a meal…..

This is a great opportunity for him and, like his sister who lives across the country from us, I am happy he has found the life he is meant to live. Just wish there really were a way to be teleported!

In honour of my favourite scientist who happens to study ants….

Ants and peonies – a usual pair

Joy is not in things…

Joy is not in things, it is in us – Richard Wagner

Joy

You can’t stay in your corner of the forest….

You can’t stay in your corner of the Forest waiting for others to come to you. You have to go to them sometimes. – Winnie the Pooh

My birthday weekend was spent leaving my corner of the forest and “going to the others”. So worth it!

Queen Elizabeth Park, Vancouver

Lost…..

Raindrops keep falling….

I have not posted in almost a week not because I’ve been lost….rather because I treated myself and hubby to a trip to see our daughter. This involved travelling pretty much across the country and back in 3 days. Worth every tired moment.

Until I can regroup, there’s a shot the captures both the weather here and there – wet!

 

Happiness is like a butterfly…

Happiness is like a butterfly; the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder – Thoreau

There is an offshoot to exercise – that wonderful thing called endorphins. Theory is, they will kick in after you complete the task at hand. The last couple of races, those endorphins have had some difficulty showing up at the right time.

That being said, a few days out, after a few long soaks in the tub, a massage and time to reflect, I’m pretty darn happy. Perhaps because I didn’t chase it, but I turned my attention to THE FINISH.

 

…we are challenged…

When we are no longer able to change a situation – we are challenged to change ourselves. – Viktor Frankl

I usually agree with the quotes I choose to use. I do not agree with this one, at least not today.

I am learning that changing myself to suit a situation sometimes means allowing someone to go unchallenged on their path, a path that is simply not acceptable to me. So, I choose not to change. I choose to challenge.

So, perhaps when we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to find a new strategy.

Gain a new perspective.

 

The miracle isn’t that you finished…

“The miracle isn’t that you finished. The miracle is that you had the courage to start.” – adapted from John Bingham

I saw this quote today, hand printed on a sign, leaning up against an old chair, right at the top of a hill. The hardest hill of my half marathon trek today. Halfway up the hill, two ladies were dressed in crazy outfits, playing music and dancing away. They also had a sign, “It’s a hill. Get over it”

This was the hardest half marathon walk of the five I have done. I really, really (really) wanted to do a personal best and my first half pace put me right on track. And then, around kilometre 11, the wheels started to fall off the bus. I had pushed so hard in that first half, I believe, that I was not going to be able to keep it up. I did the first 10 km in 1 hour 24 minutes. That’s a pace of 8 minutes 24 seconds. To runners, that sounds easy breezy. And probably for many walkers.

My pace in the second half was 9 minutes 24 seconds. Oops. Was it the hills? The lack of enough food before I started? Who knows?

I do know this. I have never trained harder and felt better before a race. And when things were going good – and there were times in the second half when things were going good – I was very happy.

So, although like the flower below, I’m a bit worse for wear tonight, I’m a happy half marathoner!

How I feel tonight…..

Night before….

Spending time tonight “carbing up”….race day tomorrow!

As I head into my fifth half marathon walking race, I am feeling confident as I have never prepared as well as this year. Specifically the cross training with cycling. It also is, as my hubby pointed out today, possibly my last walking race as I move to cycling as my main activity.

I am a person who needs goals to get me out the door and exercising – and I’m thrilled that race day has arrived.

The weather report is for rain and unseasonably warm weather, with winds apparently at our backs.  The course is gorgeous and the fall colours are amazing. Time to hydrate and get a good night’s sleep.

Ready to race!