Wherever There Is

An ode to personal growth, making tough choices, and speaking my truth. Wherever there is – as we have no idea where life will take us, why, or who it’s surrounded by.

3rd grade!

Belief first, correction later. I saw this on a post and it hit me like a ton of bricks. How often do I correct mini before I believe what she is saying? Guilty. We probably all do this – we fact check others before acknowledging they have a right to their opinion and, more importantly, a right to their feelings. The post went on to say our children need us to sit in the discomfort with them, to know we care about their feelings, PRIOR to reasoning with them. How many people know anxiety is not reasonable? Hands high. I don’t need someone to say my thoughts are not realistic, I’m well aware they’re not!, what I need is reassurance I will be ok.

Along the lines of being ok – middle of last week, I very nearly lost my life. Ok ok, so I’m dramatic. As I’ve stated before, the final year of my dissertation is comprised of 15 week semesters. Last week was Wk 14. Until it wasn’t. I received an email stating Friday, 16 August was the due date for both Wk 14 and 15. WHICH MEANT…I was required to submit my manuscript more than a week before I intended.

One week. Just one week. Sounds minimal, right? If you don’t keep meticulous planning calendars and structure your entire existence around writing a 600+ page manuscript, then sure, it’s probably minimal. Not for me! So, I cried. I got frustrated. A little angry, too, perhaps. Then I cancelled all my plans and got busy. Suffice to say, in 3 days, I completed a manuscript worthy of expedited submission and now we wait. 14 weeks, 296 pages, 69.3K words. Easy, right?!

The good news is I get an unexpected break. And I purchased a pair of shoes as a reward. Short of the submission being classified as an official failure, I’m in good shape for the shape I’m in.

Correction: Hahaha I jest. I made another miscalculation and I don’t have a week break. It appears Wk 14 and 15 are jammed together (aka were due Friday) because the next course starts the following Monday. i.e., today. Wonderful. Lovely.

“There” is wherever life takes you and I’m just along for the ride, it seems.

Wk 14/15: added 16 pages

P.S. this is the final iteration of the chart. It served its purpose and now I feel like it’s more of a chore/unneeded pressure to include it. Thanks for playing along. Surely I can find something else to entertain you. Maybe I should be monitoring my stress levels more?

________________

I ask you –

Are you a corrector or a listener?

How surprised would you have been?

Tell me about your most recent unexpected event!

(The post Wherever There Is first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)

Running and stuff

Getting closer to 20 mile weeks is such a blessing in my life.

Running: I’m loving the Altra’s and Flux shoes – my toes appear to be splayed appropriately and gasp I’ve had minimal pain. Definitely see the value in stopping running altogether for 6 weeks even if that stupid boot irritated me. I’m still taking maximum doses of Vitamin D to support bone health, can’t hurt.

For a long weekend, I made it to my favorite running place, the lake loop. Just kidding! This section was reserved for sharing how I got in a fabulous speed session around my go-to lake spot, but the weather was not cooperative. It went from 60° one day to 50° the next with a 30° wind chill. Alas, no run at all was accomplished. However, it will…soon!

Stuff: There’s 2 kinds of meetings I like: 1) meetings at coffee shops or ones that somehow include the expectation there will be coffee and 2) meetings I have coined the “Walk & Talk”, preferably when it’s gorgeous outside. Clearly, I just like coffee, and walking.

Other stuff: Mini continuously tries to give me makeup tutorials. I think she’s telling me something. Then, she steals my eyeliner which I have this massive rule about not sharing makeup. Alas, I have since purchased her own eyeliner. Again.

________________________

I ask you –

How’s training for anything or nothing going?

Is your weather typical for February? The trees have started blooming from the unseasonably warm weather. Spring will be rough.

Tell me your preferred meeting venue!

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

(Some More) Favorite Things

Many of you know of my struggle with foot pain due to what has been attributed to bunions. In the quest to find supportive every day shoes that somewhat keep the pain to a minimum, I found Flux Footwear. Now I own 3 pairs: hot pink, black, and solid white. Huge fan! At first, I was a little uncomfortable about purchasing a pair of white shoes; however, so far, no catastrophes!

Also, I’ve developed a love for matte nail polish. Typically I do my own nails because my splurge is the pedicure. What I thought would look hideous turned out to be a favorite. As mini is a nail biter – and I also was as a child – keeping my nails painted aka protected is essential for their growth. Mini’s issue is she bites the paint right off of them. It’s a source of discontent but I have faith she’ll grow out of it. Probably.

Lastly, Gerber Daisies. Favorite flower. Just as many (including me) hold fast to traditions like black-eyed peas and cabbage on New Year’s Day, I also have my very own traditions. Although I can’t think of any at this moment. Nonetheless, here’s my newest: starting each new year with fresh flowers and what better flower than my absolute favorite?! I can’t stay up until midnight but I can wake up to a beautiful bouquet.

I know I had several other favorites to add to this post, but right now I can’t recall them. Another post for another day, surely.

__________________

I ask you –

What is your favorite shoe brand?

Any nail painters? Nail biters?

Tell me of your favorite flower or plant!

(The post (Some More) Favorite Things first appeared here at Running on Fumes.)