July Recap!

A recent commander’s call resulted in the following phrase: Rise to expectations, fall to discipline. I saw many head-nods in the crowd, but I didn’t exactly understand what the phrase meant. It sounded pretty catchy. Indeed, I went looking.

Turns out, some Greek dude named Archilochus stated, “We don’t rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training”. Same, same. Essentially, our daily behaviors are more meaningful to producing change than a one-off situation or experience.

Which is the perfect segue for this post! Ta-da!

If only you could understand how many times I change post titles, words, captions, and questions, this might not be surprising. Why, thank you, Word Press, for acknowledging my skills!

According to Strava, I missed 2 days in July, but I don’t recall the circumstances surrounding it. I swear I didn’t miss any days. Oh well.

In other news, and I know I touched on it before, but I had a helluva 5-week training cycle!

I was able to update my benchmarks for all 4 lifts. Amazing what discipline does in 9 months. But I also must give credit where credit is due. The creatine makes a huge difference. The fog has lifted, my strength performance has improved (as evidenced by the PRs), and, overall, I feel like me. Sure, the words don’t always come to me, but I’m learning to give myself some much-needed grace.

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I ask you –

How was your July?

(The post July Recap! first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Choices

On the cusp of vacation, I remind myself to set clear boundaries regarding my time away. Work: true emergencies only, don’t forget you have a mandatory 2-hr teams call. Home: ehhh, Parts has it. Fun: enjoy every second!

The (partial) team!

Which leads me to a topic I know I’ve previously discussed on RoF. Two words: decision fatigue.

I don’t know the average number of decisions one makes a day, but I bet I outpace the average. By at least a hundred. As a leader, it’s expected and applauded to make decisions. I got it. Oftentimes, however, that role bleeds over into every other part of my life. And it’s tiring. I would still give the same percentage to my job even if I wasn’t being paid, but there is a level of expectation to relax while away from work, to simplify, to rest.

Perhaps I should approve a yes moratorium during vacation to combat the decision fatigue I will inevitably feel obligated to address. I’ll just say yes to everything. What do you want to eat? What time are we…? Do you want to stop here? How many minutes until…? When are we leaving? Where are we going? Have you…? Should we…?

Yes. The answer is yes. Does it truly answer a fraction of the questions? Meh. But the answer is yes! It never fails that at least a dozen instances will arise where I just remind everyone I, too, am on vacation and would really love to enjoy myself.

No more questions, please. Just yes.

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I ask you –

Is the most exhausting part of your day the decision-making?

(The post Choices first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Hey, what a great idea!

Whoever decided to save the consumer some money is a genius, in my opinion. I don’t need another bottle or vessel or container. I just need a refill! I’m already purchasing expensive shampoo, I don’t require another of the brand’s probably excessively marked up plastic. Just unscrew the cap, turn it over, and pour!

It’s taken 10 years but Mini finally stopped biting her nails. There hasn’t been a lot I could say to help, console, or threaten as I was nearly her exact age when I stopped biting mine. So we continue to celebrate with polish! Best idea!

On the horizon: my little area of Texas will be a recipient of the great Texas Blue Bell tour! Two days of giveaways, free ice cream, and fun activities. I can’t wait!

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I ask you –

I’m obviously in the immediate weeks leading to vacation so these posts are just not the epitome of my word breadth. I’ll try to do better.

(The post Hey, what a great idea! first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Girl, yes, you do

A compilation of the random things I tell myself and what I’d tell many women navigating life –

Girl, you don’t need another eye cream. You need a consistent sleep routine.

Girl, you don’t need excuses. You need actions.

Girl, you don’t need to use AI. You need to use 4 functioning brain cells.

Girl, you don’t need to date someone in the church. You were told to bring someone to church! If you read this and think these shoes fit you, they probably do. Put them on, march yourself outside, and start looking.

Girl, you don’t need any more energy drinks and you sure don’t need to check your blood pressure while drinking it. You need water!

Girl, you don’t need another cookie…wait, yes, you do!

P.S. do not try the newest Blue Bell flavor, chocolate lava cake. I want it all for myself!

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I ask you –

Anything to add to this compilation?

Have you tried the new ice cream flavor?!

(The post Girl, yes, you do first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Dance and its related sacrifices

It’s Mini’s world. I just live in it. Apparently.

Finally, the culmination of months of dance, dance practices, rehearsals, fall recital, costume changes, new shoes, and lost accessories – henceforth, the recital! This is the first year Mini hasn’t been galivanting across the U.S. on her summer travels so she actually had time to participate in the final 4 weeks leading up to the big summer recital. I didn’t know how much work went into the final weeks. Somehow we also managed a volleyball camp in here, too, which is shocking. And ambitious.

My biggest complaint…only complaint…is I missed the mud volleyball tournament because, apparently, our city chose the short stick (for 2 years in a row?!) to host Independence Day festivities the weekend prior to the holiday. I’m irked. This same weekend coincided with recital so decisions were made. I chose volleyball and I was vetoed. So here I am in a dress instead of a swimsuit covered in mud. What a sacrifice.

So what’s next? A 6-week break, then we do it again! I can’t recall at the moment but I do believe Mini is doing musical theater and ballet next semester? I don’t know.

This is fun, right?!

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I ask you –

When does your community host July 4th festivities?

Does it overlap nearby cities?

(The post Dance and its related sacrifices first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Please take a moment

To acknowledge I have no idea what I’m doing.
To offer thanks I didn’t kill anyone with terrible canning safety techniques. See above.

To admire my newest WordPress achievement. Although I publish all posts at the same time of the day.

To really read my emails (oh, boss). Please marvel at the profound analysis I selflessly provided you. Because “good copy” just isn’t the response I was hoping for.

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I ask you –

Name something you’d like your friends/family/coworkers to take a moment for!

(The post Please take a moment first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

May Recap

I’m both thankful and surprised this month flew by. I thought it would never end.

From traversing over 2,000 miles in just a few days to executing 2 large-scale work events (only 1 of which I actively had anything to do with) to fighting to keep what little budget we have to completing my services course practicum a week before the deadline – May was a lot. May it only come around once a year.

Unfortunately, the day before Mother’s Day, I failed to log any type of workout session so my streak ended there. The goal had been to log an activity for 365 days. I guess 364 will do. That day was busy – we had a community event, followed by graduation photos, then some other stuff I can’t recall. The workout just didn’t happen.

courtesy of Strava

I’ve also been struggling with some hip/lower back pain. A lifelong injury. Although I prehab, rehab, stretch, modify, eat right, drink enough water, limit sugar, and do all the things – still it persists. But the show must go on.

Surely I’m missing a huge part of this recap but, again, I’m mostly thankful May is over. For me, June is the first indicator of summer – with pool days, sunscreen, vacation plans, books by the dozen, lazy mornings, and all the iced coffee I can drink. We’ll see how it shakes out.

P.S. Today is Global Running Day so you know where I’ll be.

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I ask you –

Highlights of your May – please share!

(The post May Recap first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

More Commencement Shenanigans

The continuation of my previous post –

Iron Clad Coffee Roasters, Lynchburg, VA

Lynchburg, VA

Aroma House, Virginia

Night 1 dinner, courtesy of Publix

Please allow me to rave about this incredible restaurant in Salem, Virginia: Mac & Bob’s. It’s a local establishment with quite an interesting history. Our 3 dishes below were incredible. I hate that this place is in Virginia, or maybe I don’t?, because I would eat here weekly.

Calzone

Pizza

Chicken Alfredo

Unsurprisingly, mini can match me drink for a drink. Or coffee for a coffee rather. This girl enjoys it and pretty much knows what she likes. She did allow me to order for her once, and although I don’t think it was her favorite, she was gracious. Life is better with caffeine.

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I ask you –

How many states have you traveled to/through?

(The post More Commencement Shenanigans first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Commencement Fun

I have an insane amount of photos from graduation week/day/weekend prior.

Many of my photos from the Liberty University campus in Lynchburg, VA, are places I “spent” time at during my PhD program. Having not seen them in person until recently, I had a picture in my head. However, this could simply be the most beautiful campus I’ve ever seen.

We drank so much coffee driving to VA from TX. Not pictured: an additional 2 or so coffee shops in Virginia.

Tennessee

Virginia

It was an incredibly long drive with a very short day of ceremonies, but I would encourage anyone to walk the stage at whatever school one graduates from. It’s such an honor to be surrounded by others who probably experienced many of the same headaches and who also celebrated some of the same wins.

We survived a 2500+ mile round trip (in under 4 days) to arrive home to this surprise. Not entirely pictured: a ginormous key lime pie cheesecake. Might have eaten 3 pieces at once. Parts may give me the hardest time but her support is immeasurable.

Part’s handiwork

I’m saving the food and extra coffee photos for my next post. Standby.

Friends!

Spectacular view

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I ask you –

Even though I graduated in 2025, I waited a year to walk the stage. Hope you have much success in all your life’s endeavors!

(The post Commencement Fun first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Grow out loud

…and why I don’t.

My “Aunt Mary Catherine” flower

I am very aware my social media presence is a source of contention. But I have a few good reasons.

First, it’s unsafe. Constant posting is triangulated to where you work, what you do, who you interact with, how you spend your time, your associations, your family members, etc. And I resent the fact I can be triangulated using someone else’s social media. I didn’t ask for that. I didn’t agree to it.

Second, along the same lines as numero uno, it unfairly creates a profile of my family, notably family members without social media, especially those too young to engage in it. They should never be held to whatever standard I inadvertently created for them in a growing digital world. Employees, educators, and acquaintances have access to them. And it can be used against them. Just no.

Third, growth happens in private. Behind closed doors. Recognition of growth is admirable, celebrated. I’m all for it! But not at the expense of what quietly achieving my goals is worth to me. So I’ll share the nuggets, the brief glimpses, but the big reveal comes when I’m ready, comfortable with the outcome. Not as a response to what I “should” post.

Not posting has nothing to do with shame, or hiding. For me, it’s all about protection of my peace, my family, and my growth. Conversation with others happens when electronic devices are silenced, the focus shifts, and real connection is made. It’s a hard lesson – to be willing to escape societal norms but I’m finally starting to understand it’s where real peace lies.

And wherever there is peace is where I want to be.

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I ask you –

How often do you post on social media?

Do you inadvertently (or intentionally) post family members?

(The post Grow out loud first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)