Staying Positive

Since my move to the USA I've already faced several challenges. I flew out shortly after some surgery and as a result getting ready to travel and the journey itself was a lot to conquer. Since I arrived, submitting the correct paperwork to live here, open bank accounts and pass driving tests have each come with their own set of challenges. Then just as I thought I was getting on top of it all, I ended up having more surgery last week.

However despite the hurdles I'm feeling really optimistic about everything. I've successfully negotiated the challenges that came my way, despite what sometimes felt like a one step forward two step back approach! We successfully arranged the most awesome wedding in just one week. Plus I've coped well with this most recent surgery and keeping my focus on resting and healing.

"Life's problems wouldn't be called hurdles 

if there wasn't a way to get over them"

~Unknown

Most importantly I never forget that I have a lot to be thankful for. I'm so happy to be here with Paul and he has been so supportive through everything. I've constantly reminded myself the last few months that although the health issue is uncomfortable, sometimes painful and just not very nice, there are also worse things in life. I found a specialist here who is confident that this operation may cure the cause of the problems I've been having and that keeps me feeling optimistic. Although I'm out of action right now, over the next few weeks/months I'm hoping to heal well and get back to being me. I have a wonderful family here and in England and I have lots of adventures to look forward to!

Oh, and how can I forget to mention little Kiki... nursing her mum back to health one cuddle at a time. I'm thankful for this bundle of brat every single day!

Don't forget....

"To play it safe is not to play."

~Robert Altman

 

 

Note to self...

Risk the Unusual

If you are not willing to risk the unusual, 

you will have to settle for the ordinary.

~Jim Rohn

Lost

I haven't been blogging much recently and to be honest I feel like I lost my creativity. I ended up working extremely long working hours and basically any left over time in the day was taken up eating and sleeping. My work life balance became totally unbalanced! I'm pleased to say though that now I can shift my priorities back again and make time, amongst other things, to write. However once I get out of the habit of writing I find it hard to know what to talk about. Hopefully the creative side of me will wake up and give me some good stuff to share with you but for now you've got this... a post about nothing really. It's just me saying 'hi, I'm back'.

When we get too caught up in the busyness of the world, we lose connection with one another-and ourselves.

Jack Kornfield

Change...

Bluebells.... At Last!

For the last 20 years my mum has been telling me we should go to a bluebell wood when the bluebells are flowering. We never seemed to have time when I was at school, then I moved away for a few years and we just never seemed to be in the right place together at the right time of year. Before I knew it she'd be showing me a photo in the newspaper that someone had sent showing the bluebells, telling me that we'd missed them again. This year, we managed it at last!

I can't believe it's taken us 20 years to make a 10 minute drive to Hagg Wood! It really was a beautiful place for a wander with the dogs while admiring the carpet of bluebells around us.

"The most simple things can 

bring the most happiness"

Izabella Scorupco

Change...

"Change is not a process for the impatient"

Barbara Reinhold

Note to self:

I've had one of those weekends where I've let my feelings get hurt by friends. I found this quote and though I'm more upset than angry, I think the same principle applies... 

“For every minute you are angry you lose sixty seconds of happiness.”

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

Paul is here and every minute I spend sad is another minute that would better be spent enjoying something together. So now to let it go; No more hurt feelings.

Back to enjoying quality time with my fiancé <3 p="">

Living In The Moment

Yesterday I had a great day with a reminder of how good it feels to live in the moment. Paul and I packed a book each, a can of coke and some biscuits (essential supplies of course) and went to the ruins of St Mary's Abbey in the centre of York.

We found a quiet lettle spot and just spent time together watching the world go by and reading. For the first time in ages I felt totally content. Not in a rush to go somewhere, no plans, no list of things that I needed to get done.

Just to be there, enjoying the moment, content and happy.

"To be alive is to totally and openly participate 

in the simplicity and elegance of here and now."

Donald Altman

Accept Yourself

'When you know yourself, you are empowered.

When you accept yourself, you are invincible.'

~Tina Lifford

Finding Balance with Yoga

As you may know from my earlier post, I've decided not to run the Windermere marathon this year. Recently it seemed like every minute of every day has been taken up with work and generally doing things that need to be done in the house while mum hasn't been well, and somehow into all of that I was trying to shoehorn 6+ hours of training a week.

Source

This week it all finally got too much. I got sick for the first time in ages and it put me out of action for a few days. To be totally honest it has done me the world of good! I took a day off both jobs and spent THE ENTIRE day on the sofa, no TV, just a lovely quiet day with my puppies and my kindle (and a box of chocolates). I've realised I need to find the balance in my life... and this is where yoga comes in.

Source - Pinterest

I started yoga last year when I was in Texas on my rest days from running in an attempt to gain more flexibility and overall strength. I started again a few weeks ago when I thought I was going to run the marathon as I needed to keep stretching and strengthening to keep injury free. But now it's finding a new place in my life other than just a support for running and the more I do the more I enjoy it.

Source Yoga Paws

To start with I got into the habit of doing a little bit every day and I knew it I found myself standing at my mat almost every evening. Yoga is great as there are so many variations of practice to suit how you feel and how much time you have. Sometimes it's just a 15 minute stretch and relaxation and other times I try something more challenging during the day such as a cardio or core routine. I'm enjoying the physical challenge of stretching and body weight training (ouch core work) and hope that over time I'll improve my practice. One of the other elements of yoga that I'm finding beneficial is that it's about being present and focussed. It encourages you to forget about everything else that's going on and focus on my body, breath and movement.

The most important pieces of equipment you need for doing yoga are your body and your mind.

Rodney Yee

Not this time...

This week I made the difficult decision not to run the Windermere marathon in May. Even though it's a couple of months away I don't feel able to put in the training that I want to due to work commitments and injury.

I'm sure I could squeeze in the training runs but at the expense of time to rest which I know from experience is equally important in the training plan. I've also been struggling with IT band problems, and while I was keeping them at bay (just), I haven't been confidently running more than 8 miles before I start to get some pain. I'm aware that I should be running 14 miles on Saturdays as well as several 5-8 milers during the week and to be confident on race day I know I have to have put the miles in now.

Racing is the fun part; it's the reward of all the hard work.

-Kara Goucher

So taking into consideration all things as they are at the moment I had to be honest and admit this isn't the race for me. Despite the fact that I'll be envious of all the runners, I still plan to travel to Windermere for the marathon to support my training buddy Lou and all the other runners too. This race I can enjoy being a supporter. There will be more races for me in the future, and hopefully another marathon along the line when I'm healthy and able to commit, so that I arrive at the start line confident in my training.

Time To Relax?

Urgent vs Important

This last three weeks have been non stop craziness for me. I'd love to say it's been too much play and no work but in reality it's been work, work, work with a little bit more work on top. I think I'm through the worst of it now, which shows by the fact that I have the time to write a blog post and catch up on some reading (yey!). I also opened my notebook at this quote which I wrote down a while ago....

''Most of us spend too much time on what is urgent and not enough time on what is important''

Stephen R.Covey

Now that I'm managing to create a bit of time for myself I think it's about time I step back, reassess and figure out what is important. 

Self-Confidence

 



 

Never get so busy...

Every wall....

Missing Someone

Challenge Yourself