wednesday words

This is a new day, one that I have lived before. I stay in the now and enjoy each and every moment. The past is over. Louise L. Hay

tuesdays thoughts

As it turns out, having three days off leaves time for a lot of thinking... here are a few ideas that I've been chewing on:

1. just do. sometimes all it takes is knowing your goals.
and maybe having a few strategies will help.

2. there is a constant in life.
that constant is change.
no two days are ever exactly the same.

3. my approach to food and eating has been a journey filled with lies.
it is time to break down those misconceptions.
eating is not just about flavor and feeling full.
and unfortunately, dessert is not mandatory to my well-being.

4. staying up until 4 in the morning reading, is glorious.




oh and mosquitoes suck.

I quit, because I am worth it. I am enough.

I quit.

Often we refrain from using those words. Quitting has been given a negative connotation, either it means you're giving up, or you're trying to give something up (like smoking). But sometimes we need to quit just to quit.

I quit. Not I am going to quit one day... or I am going to do my best to quit...

I can't fix what's broken by continuing to use the same tools.

Everyday is a revolution. A chance to do better. To be more grateful, appreciative, generous, loving, kind. To work harder, to focus better, procrastinate less, live more. Without a to-do list we'd be bored. So I quit trying to do what I've always done. I am going to move forward with using new strategies, new methods and a fresh approach.

just write.

I really do have greater intentions for this blog... as almost every blogger writes. It's just that I've crossed the line. I went from being recreationally crazy to officially nuts. I signed up for a full marathon. Now every move I make is in effort to run better. I eat it, I sleep it, I breath to run. It's amazing how time consuming and expensive this "cheap" hobby has turned out to be. Oh... was it four years ago... I decided "hey I think I'll run so I don't have to buy a gym membership" HA! A gym membership would've probably been cheaper... but perhaps not nearly as exciting as going nuts! So for now I will be running. I had a few ahh moments on yesterdays run, a little baby deer popped out of the woods just in front of me before seeing me, freaking out and running away. I had an inch worm hanging out on my shirt, not really sure how it got there. And well I ran for two hours. Almost a half marathon, which I'd say is a pretty big accomplishment, it's only the 3rd time I've ever gone that distance, yet it still just doesn't hold it's weight against the prospect of running for 5 hours (cringe) and I know that only runners really have any interest in reading about running and even then I find it's a pretty selfish, I mean, personal activity and while you don't mind giving someone props, odds are your goals and skill levels are a million miles (figurative miles that is) apart that I really don't have too many intentions about writing too much more about running. It's just something to do.

dear summer

dear summer,
you are going by far too quickly. i can't believe i missed the equinox and already the days are getting shorter as we head back towards winter (albeit there are still plenty of humid days ahead). my life is on track and my plate is full. i am plenty busy getting my ideas together to begin blogging for goodnight, raleigh as well as revolver. and now i am volunteering for sparkcon bazaar spark. i couldn't be more excited to finally be getting involved with the people i have been silently envying for so long. i have no idea where this road will take me. but it feels good to be on it. i feel that i have also found bikram hot yoga to be the missing piece in this equation of self, the glue that reignites my passion and pushes away my anxiety and insecurity. there aren't enough hours in the day so i am going to do the best i can to use the ones i've got.

sincerely,
jenn

Views from the top

These are some of the photos I took from the Empire State Building during my trip to Manhattan. We got VIP access to the top, a journey that I wouldn't have otherwise taken. Evidently there are 3.5 million people that visit each year. They line you up, pass you through security, take your photo in front of a green screen and then pass you up to the 80th floor. Once you make it to the 80th floor, you wait. The entire floor is dedicated to keeping you inline... one more elevator ride and you arrive at the observation area. It's certainly a bit congested, and quite a bit windier than down on the street level, the views are phenomenal, a bit surreal actually.

20 in 2010 update 2

solo goals
3. Learn more about the practice of yoga.
I went! I did it! I tried it! I loved it!!! I attended my first ever Bikram/hot body yoga class at open door studio and it rocked!
4. Post my artwork on Etsy.
I deviated slightly here... I set up a table at Traffic Jam instead... I might stick with that for a little while longer until I get some of the kinks worked out.
5. Begin training for a tri.
I've deviated here too... I am running. I'm not sure if I want to do the half marathon in >2 hours or run the full... we'll see!

group goals
2. Paint the living room, bathroom and office.
I spent all day cleaning them... we finally bought paint for the office... and we're still working on cleaning out the front room.
5. Plant a garden in my backyard.
The garden is in full bloom. Now I just need to spend more time weeding it.
6. Participate in a collaborative art project.
Sparkcon volunteer meeting monday.
group drawing the monday after.
Registered and ready to become a goodnight, Raleigh writer

things are coming along :)