The last time I was here, I was feeling very lost. I had no idea who I was or which way to go ... I still struggle with this, but I think I'm making progress.
One of the best decisions I've ever made was to walk in my first 5K. It was a Weight Watchers event, and it also seemed like a good way to see how far I've come while making strides toward better overall health. I have to say, I never do things on my own. Never. I don't like going somewhere and not knowing anyone there, going to a restaurant and eating alone, etc. I can finally go shopping by myself, but that's about it. And try as I might to get someone to walk with me at the 5K, I just couldn't. I guess no one thought walking 3 miles on a weekend morning sounded like fun! Hey, I wasn't sure I wanted to do it, either! But in the spirit of seeking mental strength and challenging my old patterns, I "made" myself do it! It was harder than I thought it would be, but still something I finished without too too much difficulty. I think my time was something like 57 minutes? Not great, but I did it. I was proud of myself for all sorts of reasons.
On the day of the race, one of the organizers spoke about training for another competition over the summer, something I had never even considered doing before. I wasn't even sure it sounded like fun, or even if it sounded like something I wanted to do. But the intriguing part was how he phrased it. You start with 30 minutes on a Saturday morning, and work your way up, and by October, you can run or walk a half marathon!
What? I thought. Not ME, though! I really didn't think I was capable of doing it, even with the training. And what if I didn't have the time? What if I had made the financial commitment of training, and then I couldn't follow through? I had many doubts. But he made it sound like almost anyone can do it. I was fascinated . . .
So, here I am, and it's October. What did I do all summer? I trained for a half marathon! Yep! Me, one of the least athletic people you will ever meet, and I'm getting ready to participate in my first serious race. I've even kept up with the training, for the most part. The people involved in it are fantastic beyond words! So much encouragement, wisdom, and technical knowledge that even a non-athlete like me can believe in myself. I'm amazed, seriously! And it's done wonders for my lagging self-esteem, and made me realize I can commit to things if they mean enough to me, even if I have to ask for help from my husband to make it possible. It's coming up at the end of the month!
It also felt great to get back into photography and crochet again. I have barely used my camera since I bought it, mostly because I am stuck in a routine that doesn't involve much self-expression. But I made myself walk to the park, take photos, and embellish them with Adobe Lightroom. Wonderful software, and I wish I could keep it beyond the 20 day trial. I love it! Hopefully someday it'll show up under the Christmas tree! :) So I got to use those creative muscles again, and again, it felt great! I think I got some good stuff from that experience. I'll probably post some here when I get a chance.
Guess that's it. I could write a novel on what's been on my mind, but that would be for the insomniacs out there. It would lull you to sleep most definitely! More good stuff to come, I hope!
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