My 2012 Theme

Yesterday I read a post from Your Kick Ass Life which discussed having a theme for the New Year rather then creating a New Year Resolution.   I was quickly taken back.  Deep down I love goals, yet I swore off New Year's Resolutions many years ago.

I'm one of those goal oriented people (this can be a great asset when you don't have to rely on your will power).  I have a great knack at being able to make goals, break them into bite size pieces, persisting until they are accomplished.  However, I have found that New Years Resolutions usually work for about a week!  After which time, this self defeating cycle starts to happen.  I become too hard on myself; I create even harder, more unrealistic resolution, which again only last for a week as well.  This self defeating cycle continues, until finally the summer arrives and I feel like I can escape the clenching grasps of my failed New Years Resolutions.   After too many failed Resolutions, I decided to break the cycle - I swore off New Year's Resolutions. 

Now an alternate idea is presented to me - a theme for the coming year.  I love it.  It's a way that allows for the universal flow to happen, a way to keep open the needs of my emotional and psychological being while also satisfying my physical mind (who is really good at being keenly aware of potential possibilities (doors) that I may not have been aware of before).

I cleared my mind of all ego satisfying ideas, and allowed my emotional and psychological sides to speak up.  From a far corner of my mind came a clear echoing word.  It reverberated around my mind like a small child who's been ignored and needs my attentions now.  It's.....

****CREATE****

How could I ignore this?  I couldn't.

After the word 'Create' came echoing into my mind, I read a post from a true inspiration, a living legacy, and one who I have the honor of knowing - Amir Jackson creator of Nurture the Creative Mind.  If you don't know him, you should. 

Amir has an amazing talent of creating works of art with words.  Amir wrote, "My theme for 2012. Here is to creating magic, designing possibilities, and building a legacy. The moment it is conceived it is real. The moment it is believed it can be realized."

I'd like to borrow (steal) the last two sentences and add this to my theme: 

Create; because once it's been conceived - it's real. Once it's believed - it's realized.

So, I will Create.



Jane? Who? Me? Runner?

So today's form of athletic 'inspiration' came from Active.com's facebook page: "You must begin to think of yourself as ... the person you want to be." - David Viscott.

I read this as on a December day that feels more like March.  Yet, unlike March, there's no wind to bring down the temp.  The sun is hidden behind a cooling veil of clouds, which helps keep the temperature a perfect running 49 degrees.  Mother Nature has lined up everything for the perfect running day. 

I walked outside to get the mail, mentally tallying everything that will make today the best day back to running (after some healing time for a tendon flair).  While I walk out to the mailbox, my zealous mind has already created the perfect run: I've already ran 6 miles along a tree lined single track trail.  My dogs following.  I could feel their fur rub against my calf, their tongues lopping to the side, their eyes focused ahead anticipating the next turn of the trail.  It was perfect!  As I walk back from the mailbox, I had convinced myself that this mental trail run surely did happen.  I was so close, close to the elusive "Runner's High". 

Oh, that Runner's High is magnificent! I turn into Super Woman.  I become everything my mind says I am.  I'm invincible, I can leap over buildings (or logs) in a single bound, I run faster then Paula Radcliffe, (a 2:15 marathoner).  No mountain can make me huff as I run up it.   The runner's high is like the musician Muse; elusive, coming and going, just out of reach, sometimes allowing me to catch it - just for a moment - never staying long enough. 

I leap up the front steps, still grasping for the coat tails of Jane (that's what I'll call her - Jane, my Runner's High).  When suddenly I feel the churning reminder of an ankle not yet ready for running.  I stop at the top of the stairs (which is only 3 steps), and watch Jane - as she keeps running, taunting me, haunting me until the day I can catch her.

So here I sit, waiting for Pilate's to start, mourning the loss of my perfect December run and my elusive Jane.  Wondering if this still makes me a runner?    

My ankle had been feeling great, or so I thought...

Having Some Kick-Ass Focus

My light bulb of life ideas

So I've been spending my 2 week siesta from work answering some life questions from Life Coach Andrea Owen of Your Kick-Ass Life.  Andrea sends me daily emails to help me discover the answers to my life passion, why I'm not aren't pursuing them, and what I can do to get over my fear and truly have a Kick-Ass Life. 

Part of what I needed to do was to really narrow and focus my life into smaller bite size meaningful bits.  As a general rule,  I'm full of grandiose save-the-world ideas.  How realistic and meaningful are they when they are so grand?  With such grand ideas, the carrying out of them  becomes such a chore, which is not so great at all. 

I've taken some time, narrowed down and focused my passions a bit.  Andrea teaches that if you want it, you also have to write it, picture it, be open to the forces of the universe, and be willing to make choices presented to you that will make people think you're crazy. 

To kick my Kick-Ass life into gear, I have listed my list of Big Ideas (also know as a bucket list - or items that I'd like to do before I die) here. 

If you want to kick start Your Kick-Ass life, you too can sign up for her free "21 Tips and Tools for a Kick-Ass Life: No bullshi*t Included" just like I did.  To sign up click here, and then register on the middle right side of her website.

Here's to having a Kick-Ass Life
Christel

UPS Delivery Going Where?

From Florida to Kentucky then Salt Lake then
backtracking across the nation
to Maryland then Kentucky - where next?

After finally getting through to someone who can speak understandable English at UPS's help center.  I finally convince the gal that I need to have someone find out where my Christmas shipment is.  [UPS wanted me to contact the seller, and have them initiate an investigation (come to find out the sender, David and Goliath, is out for the holidays until Jan 3rd)]. 

After initiating the investigation (called a tracker).  It's pretty funny how suddenly my shipment is immediately found arriving in Baltimore MD - which is thousands of miles in the wrong direction!

Today, the day after Christmas, and my Christmas present for my daughter is now in Louisville, KY, with an expected delivery day of Dec 29th.  I'm still a bit confused as to how my package left Salt Lake (which is 50 miles from my house) and ends up backtracking across the nation to Louisville..

Where will it go next?.....

UPS Christmas Delivery

My UPS package that has been sitting in the SLC airport for 4 days.  I call UPS support,wait for over 6 minutes just to be connected to someone that I can barely understand them due to their accent.  During part of the conversation, I'm placed on hold twice, then they gal comes back and tell me that my package has been sitting at the airport for 4 days (REALLY? Like I didn't already know this).  She then says (I think) that she needs to transfer me to the tracking dept.  While in transfer, my call is dropped.  I'm  now back on hold!

Me Pilates and a Graceful Zebra?

Today I bravely woke up early - arguing the entire time with my inner sleep diva (who is rather bitchy and usually wins)- so I can attended Pilates.  I come barreling into class; eyes half shut, feet barely shuffling along the ground, shocking my entire system into either hiding in a corner or shutting down into fetal position.  At one point I realize I wouldn't even be able to pass a DUI test, let alone have enough coordination to step, slide, walk forward backward, with a lung, kick, and god forbid any kind of grace.  I looked about as graceful as a zebra stuck in the mud - to be fair to the zebras, they are way more grace then me.

After 45 minutes of my 60 min class, I start to wake up.  I find myself wanting to push harder. But wouldn't you know, I've left my friend coordination back in bed (lucky bugger).  I fight my way through the rest of class, humbly remembering why I choose to participate (to lift my booty), thank the teacher (I'm not sure why, cause I know my legs are gonna hurt, and I'm going to be using her name in vain later today) and shuffle in pain back home.

12 Miles Takes Me Where??

February 2011 running schedule

I quickly glance at my running schedule hanging up and notice what surely must be an error.  It reads, 'Ogden Full -12 miles'.  I blink, rub my eyes and read it again, 'Ogden Full - 12 miles'.  Let me give you a second to try as well, cause I know you didn't read that right either.  Now go ahead blink, rub your eyes, 'Ogden Full - 12 miles'.  Still the same?   It must be right then if we are both reading, 'Ogden Full - 12 miles.  Somehow I've got to figure out a way to use my own two feet and run (mingled with some needed walking) farther then some of you have to drive to and from work each day! 

Have you ever had to map out 12 miles?  Let me tell you it's not easy.  I first thought I'd take a nice scenic familiar motivational trail run. After looking outside, I decided I really wasn't wanting to run in heavy mud covered shoes for that long of a distance.  I then thought maybe I can run to my daughter's tumbling gym. Nope, not long enough - short 5 miles. 



I think Ally's eyes are going to bug out of her head! 
 10 miles down, 2 to go.



Frustrated with the idea of having to drive all over just to figure out a good 12 mile course, I decide to try out this nifty little website called 'map my run'.  I go online and start mapping several different courses, all ending up too short.  How can this be? I immediately decide that this website must be wrong, and hop in my trusty car and 'map' out a 12 mile loop run.  As I pull into my garage, I had to humbly admit that 'map my run' website really was correct, and 12 miles is further then I thought.  Do you know, I mean really know how far 12 miles can feel while driving in a car?  How about running 12 miles?  Let me take a moment and tell you how far 12 miles feels like when you are running it.  



Green!  Signs of spring along my run



To run twelve miles (mind you this is at 'Christel' pace) feels like you have been gone long enough to be able to come home to fresh baked bread from scratch.  You have enough time for the careful mixing, gently kneading, slow rising of the dough, and then the final baking of the dough (mmmm, that'd be a great treat to come home to).  I even think my tree buds, daffodils, hyacinths, and lilacs came into bloom while I was out running.   The weeds have grown so tall, I think there is a small village living in there.  My daughter also grew like a weed, up almost an inch!  (Note to self - place a large boulder on her head so she'll stop growing up. If this works, I'll let you know!)  



I sometimes think about what I miss while I'm out running, yet this is nothing compared to what individuals who are battling cancer miss each and every day as they sit through their next round of chemo; curl up around the bucket as the waves of nausea overtake them time and time again; weakly lay in bed stroking their child's hand as they try to be part of their life, listening intently to the daily tale of childhood fun - wishing they were stronger so they could have played too;  looking into their families' eyes as they assemble around the bed in preparation of their last goodbye - ultimately missing out on the life that could have been.  

Following our prints back home

This my dear friends is what moves me to keep placing one foot in front, to stay up late updating my running/fundraising website for those who have and continue to support me, as well as encourage everyone I know to support me in my desire to help find a cure for leukemia and all it's cancer relatives. 

I choose this - to miss out on a little bit of life in hopes of giving another their life back.   Take a minute to show as well as tell your family and friends that you love them; hold their hand, give a hug and kiss, lend an ear, a helping hand, your wheel barrow, scare those monsters out of the closet, and kiss that scraped knee better - Do these willingly, because you are able.  What do you choose?

Thank you so much to:
• Kristine Smout - Monetary Donation - A Dedicated, Trustwothy, Caring Friend
If you'd like to help me fight Leukemia and Lymphoma, please visit my fundraiser web page where your online donation is 100% tax deductible and totally safe and secure: http://pages.teamintraining.org/dm/ogden11/cgrangehic

Good Karma
Christel

I Hope No One Saw Me!

This is what I looked like running
(Elaine from Seinfeld dancing):

Have you ever watched someone on the dance floor that's just so bad you can't help but watch?

You know the one, their arms flailing around knocking out who ever dares to get close, their feet polarized from the other, knees bending at degrees that seem humanly impossible, their face twisted like they smelled a rotten egg, yet a gleam of pride and excitement shines from their eyes. As you watch, you can’t help but stare at such a site. You hope your eyes don't make contact with them, and heaven forbid if they actually know you (of course you won't know them, especially someone who dances like that). Well, that my dear friends was me on my long run this past weekend, almost 8 miles worth of eye gawking embarrassment.



 Bird prints in the snow



It was one of those runs where I couldn't get in the flow. My elbows swinging too high or too low; my feet striking the virgin snow in chaos; my breath like a wind storm, unpredictable and random; my heart rate soared and dived like a kite trying to take off, up and down as it rides the wind current until it finally slams down into the ground breaking it's fragile frame. I finished the run exhausted, leaned on my car to keep myself vertical. I was so excited about trying a new running route, out west along the Willard Bay dyke. Somewhere I’ve never gone surrounded by nature’s beauty; 4” of freshly fallen snow, huge chunks of ice breaking along the water’s edge, wild birds soaring over head. Even with this inspiring scenery, I still couldn’t finish with any degree of rhythm. I humbly opened the car door, slumped into the driver’s seat, and quickly drove away from the scene hoping no one would recognize me - the lone flailing runner and her two dogs (I think they were even laughing at me!).



The LONG road back



This week, I'd like to thank the following individuals for helping me raise funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society:

Please visit my fundraising website at: http://pages.teamintraining.org/dm/ogden11/cgrangehic

 Monetary Donations:

• Leon Grange (my Dad) - Gallant, hardworking, brilliant, century cyclist, and delirious example to live life to it's fullest and succeed at these self imposed challenges
• Paul Murdock - Dedicated, gentle, dynamic teacher
• Scott Jones - Accepting, industrious, generous family member
• Adrienne Holiday - Energetic, courageous, empathetic friend



Only prints in the snow
dog and human

 Scentsy Party Supporters:

• Corinne Barrientos - My gentle, versatile, loving Scentsy consultant, she is the reason for this fundraiser party.
• Heather Georgi - Calm, Level headed, caring teacher
• Jennette Madsen - Generous, patient, mindful teacher
• Wendy Fredrickson - Creative, talented, friendly neighbor
• Marcell Kearney - Committed, humorous, care taking co-worker
• Misty Biesinger - Efficient, tender, resourceful friend
• Heidi Dale - Humble, spirited, outdoor loving teacher

I'm still in need of donations in order to reach my goal of $1,500.  If you'd like to make a 100% tax deductible donation to help me reach my goal, please follow the link below to my completely safe Team in Training Leukemia and Lymphoma Society fundraising page. http://pages.teamintraining.org/dm/ogden11/cgrangehic

Sea horse ice chunk
on the shore of Willard Bay

Thank you to all those who continue to encourage, inquire, and inspire me. I am truly honored to be surrounded by so many great individuals.

Good Karma
Christel