It has taken me a while to understand what this word means. It is one of those words that you hear your whole life and take for granted its existance. Faith is said to be 'complete confidence in a person or plan'. I find it fitting, because as I was growing up and in school I believed in plans. I also had a lot of faith in people and in their intentions. I also believed that people were exactly what they appeared to be. I didn't understand pretenses for a long time. As a result of that as a kid I believed that all anger or happiness directed at me was a direct result of something that I did or did not do and sometimes even now I have to remind myself to beaware of false emotions and actions of others and to really keep the faith.
Fast forward a few years. I am twenty five years old, and I am still in college. I am working part time in customer service and it is one of those jobs where I am constantly looking for the good in people. I don't want this blog to be where I go to vent ( although I just might from time to time...) so I will try to make this short. I had a customer who was difficult yesterday. She called to state a problem and to yell. I tried to help her fix it and she hung up. We repeated this song and dance for a while and are still playing at this game again today. However there was man who was waiting for me and listening to my end of the conversation and as I hung up he asked if I needed a hug. Aww! :) ( I said, "No, I'm okayish") He told me not to worry about it. That there are people who are unhappy and need to make others feel like everything else is that person's fault. He was so genuinely nice. ( He also gave me a five dollar tip and told me to buy a drink. I did- a cold can of theraputic-cure-all-Dr. Pepper.) This man gave me faith yesterday. He gave me faith in people and in myself. I am going to try to remember that this year. I am going to remember him and not the woman on the other end of the phone. I am going to look for the good people at work this year and commemorate them on this blog.
I am also moving forward this year. Mentally, physically and emotionally. I am going to graduate from college. I am also going to build on the steps I took last year to run and train to become a better runner. 2009 was just about the action itself. Now it is about how can tone my running. I am also going to serioulsy enter training for a full marathon. ( Disney World 2011 here I come baby!) I am going to appreciate more fully my ability to run and my ability to live. Here are few of my 2010 goals:
1. Graduate
2. Train for Walt Disney World Marathon 2011
3. Run four half marathons
4. Do two trail races
5. Do one snow shoe race
6. Take a self defense class
7. Take a CCW class
9. Start a garden this year ( build a raised bed for it)
10. Start a compost bin
11. Do Pedal to the Point ( in August)
12. Visit Yellowstone
13. Read eight nonfiction books ( not for classes)
14. Find children’s books to read ( in Spanish and German)
15. Listen to 11 new artists
16. Find a piano to play
18. Cook 30 new recipes
19. Become a morning person
23. Participate in a sprint triathlon
24. Take scuba diving lessons
26. Apply to Graduate school or have a meeting with a counselor
31. Average 30 miles a week ( running)
32. Do one swim workout a week
33. Cover 1000 miles on the bike this year
34. Be on time to classes and don’t miss one class!
We'll see how it goes. I am definately going to give these goals my best and I am going to appreciate the gift of time this year and take advantage of it. This year is about a more motivated me,so I will end this post and start this new year off with a quote that I hope to constantly remember and put into action.
Our Greatest Fear
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won't feel insecure around you.
We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others."
—Marianne Williamson
I hope that we will all have a fabulous and faithful 2010!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Friday, October 30, 2009
Ode to my ipod
Alas it has been six days since I last listened to my ipod. I had it with me on my last tempo run which went so well and was in large part due to Whitesnake, The Rolling Stones and Lenny Kravitz. Just itching to get out and run again, Saturday was supposed to be my long run of the week. I was all ready for it, but decided I had put off too many errands and would just make some quick stops before I got to the track. Fall is really my time for "spring cleaning" and there was still leftover clothing in my closet that needed to be taken to the D.I.
I placed my ipod and headphones in the left pocket of my jacket and headed out. Went to the D.I and then to the grocery store. I drove to the track only to find out there was a game in the stadium next to the track and they were charging for parking.Grr. Discouraged but not defeated I decided to just make the route up as I went (something I never do as I am addicted to knowing my exact milage and have yet to purchase a Garmin) Getting out of my car and doing my stretches on the sidewalk I reached for my music to Start Me Up .Headphones. Checked again. Nothing. Checked other pocket. Nothing again. Just my headphones were all that was in my left pocket. I retraced the ten steps back to my car. No ipod. irritated but not panicking I drove back to the store and retraced all steps I had taken in the store. Went out to the parking lot scouring the ground for anything black and silver. Nothing. At this point I was positive that it had to have been turned in to customer service. Nope nada. I thought that I must have dropped it in my garage as I got in my car this morning. I returned home and went through my garage and cleaned out my car. I was slightly less irritated at this point that I was missing my workout and just hoping to find my ipod before work. No such luck.
I mulled over where my ipod could be for hours. I was pretty sure it couldn't be at the D.I, because it had been in my pocket and my clothing donation was on the passenger seat. I went in anyway two days later desperately craving my music fix to accompany my exercise high. They said that an ipod had been brought in the day I donated clothes! I was so elated, the salesperson who was helping me asked a few more people and they reported that it had been sold. MAJOR BUMMER! I dejectedly left my name and number in case they could track down who bought it and see if they would return it. I drove to the track before I could talk myself out of it. It was snowing and starting to come down fast, but there was just the light puffy stuff floating around. I contemplated bagging my workout to go indulge in some hazelnut hotchocolate when the ANGEL of a salesperson called me back saying they had contacted the woman who bought the ipod and she would return it in the morning! I was almost speachless and freaking amazed that the saleslady had bothered to call and that the customer was willing to give it back. I ran through the snow Storm happy and giddy about the awesomeness that is humanity!
The next morning I wrote an extremely gushy, happy thank you note for the customer and bought two boxes of cookies to give to my Angel and the wonderful customer returning my ipod. Upon reaching the store I spotted one of the salesmen from the day before, he was so happy I was getting my ipod back and said that the woman had left it about an hour before. I gave him the cookies and he returned with ipod in hand. Oh Heavenly Day, Happinesss. Elation... oh no, oh crap, oh $#%@! I stood there not knowing what to say, feeling so stupid that these poor people had taken so much time out of their day and were so happy for me and now I had to ruin the moment with... "I Apologize but thats not my ipod! AHH! Crazy! What are the odds that they would get a black nano donated on the exact day that I visit the DI and consequently loose mine at some point within about ninety minutes! Crazy just crazy. I left feeling so stupid and now comtemplating Cryin' becuase I just offically lost my ipod. The ipod that I had had for three years. The ipod that had introduced me to Boston when I had loaded my brothers songs on to it before leaving for a semester in China. The ipod that had accompanied me All Summer Long as I trained for my second half marathon this year. The ipod that had Taken me away on training runs and allowed me to Dream during my first half marathon this last April.
I've come to terms with the fact that the ipod is not coming back and I will have to buy a new one, but I know that I can't stop loving you ipod and I hope that your path Collides with a music lover (who may just happen to plug you, sweet ipod, into their computer and realize that it says my name and then find me here!)
However I am pretty sure it is time to say goodbye. So here is my shout out to you dear ipod. You gave me More than a feeling. You gave me Peace of mind when I needed it most. You helped me run faster. You helped me to say I feel Wonderful tonight after I completed runs I initially didn't want to do. But you taught me more than running. You taught me not to quit, constanly taunting oh yeah Give me one reason why you need to blow off this run- I'm ready to go. You taught me what it means for a run to Hurt so good. You never complained or were late to workouts, your only comment was Here I go again. I am sure there were days when I felt like a Beast of Burden to you but you were always there to start me up.
Thank you ipod. Thank you for STANDing BY ME!
Your ever grateful,
American Woman!
( If you happen to live in Logan, Utah and found a black nano ipod on or after the twenty fourth of October, please let me know in the comments, Thank you!)
I placed my ipod and headphones in the left pocket of my jacket and headed out. Went to the D.I and then to the grocery store. I drove to the track only to find out there was a game in the stadium next to the track and they were charging for parking.Grr. Discouraged but not defeated I decided to just make the route up as I went (something I never do as I am addicted to knowing my exact milage and have yet to purchase a Garmin) Getting out of my car and doing my stretches on the sidewalk I reached for my music to Start Me Up .Headphones. Checked again. Nothing. Checked other pocket. Nothing again. Just my headphones were all that was in my left pocket. I retraced the ten steps back to my car. No ipod. irritated but not panicking I drove back to the store and retraced all steps I had taken in the store. Went out to the parking lot scouring the ground for anything black and silver. Nothing. At this point I was positive that it had to have been turned in to customer service. Nope nada. I thought that I must have dropped it in my garage as I got in my car this morning. I returned home and went through my garage and cleaned out my car. I was slightly less irritated at this point that I was missing my workout and just hoping to find my ipod before work. No such luck.
I mulled over where my ipod could be for hours. I was pretty sure it couldn't be at the D.I, because it had been in my pocket and my clothing donation was on the passenger seat. I went in anyway two days later desperately craving my music fix to accompany my exercise high. They said that an ipod had been brought in the day I donated clothes! I was so elated, the salesperson who was helping me asked a few more people and they reported that it had been sold. MAJOR BUMMER! I dejectedly left my name and number in case they could track down who bought it and see if they would return it. I drove to the track before I could talk myself out of it. It was snowing and starting to come down fast, but there was just the light puffy stuff floating around. I contemplated bagging my workout to go indulge in some hazelnut hotchocolate when the ANGEL of a salesperson called me back saying they had contacted the woman who bought the ipod and she would return it in the morning! I was almost speachless and freaking amazed that the saleslady had bothered to call and that the customer was willing to give it back. I ran through the snow Storm happy and giddy about the awesomeness that is humanity!
The next morning I wrote an extremely gushy, happy thank you note for the customer and bought two boxes of cookies to give to my Angel and the wonderful customer returning my ipod. Upon reaching the store I spotted one of the salesmen from the day before, he was so happy I was getting my ipod back and said that the woman had left it about an hour before. I gave him the cookies and he returned with ipod in hand. Oh Heavenly Day, Happinesss. Elation... oh no, oh crap, oh $#%@! I stood there not knowing what to say, feeling so stupid that these poor people had taken so much time out of their day and were so happy for me and now I had to ruin the moment with... "I Apologize but thats not my ipod! AHH! Crazy! What are the odds that they would get a black nano donated on the exact day that I visit the DI and consequently loose mine at some point within about ninety minutes! Crazy just crazy. I left feeling so stupid and now comtemplating Cryin' becuase I just offically lost my ipod. The ipod that I had had for three years. The ipod that had introduced me to Boston when I had loaded my brothers songs on to it before leaving for a semester in China. The ipod that had accompanied me All Summer Long as I trained for my second half marathon this year. The ipod that had Taken me away on training runs and allowed me to Dream during my first half marathon this last April.
I've come to terms with the fact that the ipod is not coming back and I will have to buy a new one, but I know that I can't stop loving you ipod and I hope that your path Collides with a music lover (who may just happen to plug you, sweet ipod, into their computer and realize that it says my name and then find me here!)
However I am pretty sure it is time to say goodbye. So here is my shout out to you dear ipod. You gave me More than a feeling. You gave me Peace of mind when I needed it most. You helped me run faster. You helped me to say I feel Wonderful tonight after I completed runs I initially didn't want to do. But you taught me more than running. You taught me not to quit, constanly taunting oh yeah Give me one reason why you need to blow off this run- I'm ready to go. You taught me what it means for a run to Hurt so good. You never complained or were late to workouts, your only comment was Here I go again. I am sure there were days when I felt like a Beast of Burden to you but you were always there to start me up.
Thank you ipod. Thank you for STANDing BY ME!
Your ever grateful,
American Woman!
( If you happen to live in Logan, Utah and found a black nano ipod on or after the twenty fourth of October, please let me know in the comments, Thank you!)
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