I've started training to run my first 5K race -the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure here in Raleigh on June 14th. Last year I walked it with friends from Nursing Mothers of Raleigh. This year Lynn and I (and anyone else who wishes to join us) are going to run it together in honor of my sister Sarah. I've been training for 2 weeks so far. Today I ran 2.0 miles without stopping, which is 2/3 of the way to the 3.1 miles that equal 5K. I've never jogged before in my life. It takes 2 bras and new, high-stability running shoes with inserts to keep me properly aligned and pain-free while I run. So far I have not had any trouble with my knees being sore after running. In the past I have figured I couldn't run because of knee trouble I've had all my life, but I'm hoping this good trend continues and my past worries are unsubstantiated.
It feels great so far. I am not looking to beat a certain time in the race, just to run it entirely. I want to create a team to walk or run this race for Sarah. Any of you who read this blog and want to participate, please let me know. I'll look into starting up a team. If you are not able to participate, but wish to contribute financially to our team in support of breast cancer research, I'll keep you posted as to how to do that too.
I also challenge each of you to take your exercise level up one notch this spring, in whatever form you find is fun and/or convenient for you to do. Whenever I get to the edge of my physical limit, I just think of Sarah and other people I know and love who have been through and overcome major life challenges and I am inspired to go just a little further.
Monday, February 25, 2008
Friday, February 8, 2008
I'm proud of me.
Since I posted my thoughts on my blog earlier today, I have actually made a lot of progress in my house. I covered the van trunk floor with bags of clothing I had already set aside (but left in the guest room) to give away, plus two shopping bags of give away items set aside in the basement. But get this - to the items already set aside I added the following today:
my graduate school graduation gown and hood
my prom dress
my senior voice recital dress from college
a dress I wore to the Homecoming dance my sophomore year in college
my old lab coat
Christmas decorations that I never used, and decided not to repack with the Christmas stuff this year
3 pool floaties for infants
As I write this, I am having some regret about letting these things go. Maybe I should really hold on to that hood... (If you think I shouldn't let these things go, please do not tell me!) They are in the van and I am going to drop them off at Good Will when I'm in the area this afternoon.
The good news, I remind myself, is that in taking those things out of the closet, I freed up enough space to store 3 rubbermaid containers of seasonal clothes, my suitcase, and 2 other bags (both of which probably need to be released too, but I will save for another day). That freed up floor space in the guest room and the master bedroom. And that feels good.
When I had the Homecoming dress cleaned (almost 20 years ago!), they hung it on this special bust-form hanger. Together with the mass of plastic wrapped around it, this item alone freed up 5 inches of space in my closet!
my graduate school graduation gown and hood
my prom dress
my senior voice recital dress from college
a dress I wore to the Homecoming dance my sophomore year in college
my old lab coat
Christmas decorations that I never used, and decided not to repack with the Christmas stuff this year
3 pool floaties for infants
As I write this, I am having some regret about letting these things go. Maybe I should really hold on to that hood... (If you think I shouldn't let these things go, please do not tell me!) They are in the van and I am going to drop them off at Good Will when I'm in the area this afternoon.
The good news, I remind myself, is that in taking those things out of the closet, I freed up enough space to store 3 rubbermaid containers of seasonal clothes, my suitcase, and 2 other bags (both of which probably need to be released too, but I will save for another day). That freed up floor space in the guest room and the master bedroom. And that feels good.
When I had the Homecoming dress cleaned (almost 20 years ago!), they hung it on this special bust-form hanger. Together with the mass of plastic wrapped around it, this item alone freed up 5 inches of space in my closet!
New Habits Are Hard to Make
Today I am simply writing just so I can publish a posting on my blog. It has been a few weeks since I last did it. My typical reasoning for not writing is that I don't have anything funny to say. I like saying funny things, and I don't want my blog to make me look like too serious of a person. (Can anybody say perfectionist here?)
A few days ago I asked my mother to call me on it whenever she noticed my perfectionism rearing its ugly head in an inappropriate way. That is, when it stops me from getting clutter out of my house, or stops me from getting something done that I have been procrastinating on, or that prevents me from acting on dreams of mine, no matter how small they may be.
Perfectionism is a wonderful tool when it is used to help organize a meeting that I am running, or a project I'm putting together (as long as I can reach a stopping point). When I am accountable to someone else, I put my perfectionism skills to work to make sure I provide them with my best service/outcome/etc.
Here are some of the things I say to myself that reek of inappropriate perfectionism:
A few days ago I asked my mother to call me on it whenever she noticed my perfectionism rearing its ugly head in an inappropriate way. That is, when it stops me from getting clutter out of my house, or stops me from getting something done that I have been procrastinating on, or that prevents me from acting on dreams of mine, no matter how small they may be.
Perfectionism is a wonderful tool when it is used to help organize a meeting that I am running, or a project I'm putting together (as long as I can reach a stopping point). When I am accountable to someone else, I put my perfectionism skills to work to make sure I provide them with my best service/outcome/etc.
Here are some of the things I say to myself that reek of inappropriate perfectionism:
- I'm not going to write in my journal because I don't have the perfect journaling spot in my house.
- I'm not going to post something on my blog because I don't have anything funny to say.
- I can't clean my house properly because I don't have the right hard-wood floor cleaner-upper-machine.
- I can't take unwanted or unused items out of my house to give away because I don't have the space to sort and organize them first. (And I don't have the time to sort and organize them first.)
- I can't start writing thank you notes because there are so many and I don't want someone to feel neglected because they didn't get one in a timely manner when others did, and I don't have a block of uninterrupted time to write all of them at once.
- I can't exercise today because both of my kids are home from school and one is sick.
- We have to eat at a restaurant today because I don't have the ingredients for a traditional supper on hand. (And I don't have the time or energy to cook. - this I'm saying already at 8:50am about supper!)
I think I am making my point here. So any of you that read this and know me and have opportunity to communicate with me, please follow my mother's lead at my request. If you notice my perfectionistic tendencies interfering with my quality of life and/or the work I am capable of getting done, please point this out to me. I suggest you say something like, "Helen, remember what you asked us to help you with?..." That simple question should do the trick.
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