Trash

Trash

Sometimes life is trash. Grief, loss, pain, disappointment and blocked goals abound throughout our time on earth. We’ve all dealt with some level of them and all will deal with more before our time here is done. If you have read this blog for any amount of time, you’ve journeyed through my valley alongside me.…

Game-ifying Adulthood

Game-ifying Adulthood

Yes, I made up a new word. No, I’m not sorry. Yes, it is required for this situation. Yes, you can use it too! Adulthood has been remarkably hard the past few years, for me, and likely for many of you as well. I have felt the relentless waves of stress, trauma, loneliness, and fatigue…

Grit with Grace

Rhythms in life feel familiar and welcomed. Newness awaits. 2017 was the year of Wonder(Full). It was intended to be full of wonder, full of busyness, and wonderful. And it lived up to its name.   In 2017, I ran a marathon, got published, taught a course, completed a year of doctoral work, survived a…

Winner!

November is over. December is here! While most people’s focus is turned toward Christmas, mine is captured reflecting on the accomplishments of November. I completed the National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) — admittedly with some modifications. Instead of writing 50,000 words of a novel in November, I kept track of all the words I wrote…

You Are Seen

Mother’s Day is complicated and full of contradictory emotions. There is the joy and celebration of new moms, proud grandparents and generations brought together. Tiny snuggles. Milestones recorded. Love abounding. I celebrate with you. There is the disappointment of strained relationships between parents and children. Poor communication. Regrets and resentment impacting relationships. I forgive with you.…

Race Day!

I’m trying for a personal goal at my half marathon this morning. As this posts, I’m in the starting chute, stretched and ready to go. Often along the course, there will be little motivational posters set up to give the runners a boost. Here are some of my favorites: 1. Blisters are just Braille for awesome.…

Olympic Perseverance

Human interest stories outrank medal counts. At least in my mind. I want to know the back story. The How and the Why of the athletes much more than I want to know the What. In my mind, the color of the medal pales in comparison to the sacrifices, tears, successes and years of training…

The Best Laid Plans…

… often go awry. Here’s my running update: Knees in pain: 1 Hips in pain: 1 New shoes purchased: 2 (with orthotics) Knee braces worn: 3 Running partners: 0 Two weeks out from the Disney Princess Half Marathon and things are not looking great. My scoliosis combined with increasing from 5K distance to half marathon…

The Running Dream

Car accident. Amputation. Stump. Prosthetist. Cerebral Palsy. Disability. Perseverance. Success. That’s a ten word summary of the best book I’ve read in the recent past. The Running Dream chronicles the story of Jessica, a bright young sprinter who loses her right leg below the knee after a catastrophic car accident. Jessica reluctantly enters the world…