For Me and Mine

I was awake before 6am today. It's Saturday morning. It's just not right.

I'm not sure what woke me. Maybe it was the sun peaking through the curtains, or the dog that was barking down the street (really neighbours? Why is you dog out barking that early in the day?), I'm not sure. I do know what kept me from snuggling back down in the blankets: my brain.

It's been a busy couple of weeks. For the second time in 6 months, I have started a new job. Not only is it a new job, once again I am learning a whole new skillset. I used to joke that I had been out of school for so long that my brain had atrophied. While it may be running a little more sluggishly than when I was a younger version of me, I am happy to say things seem to be firing on all cylinders.

For the past two weeks I've been soaking up all the information I can from the woman I am taking over from. She is very, very good at this job. I go solo on Monday, and I have some very big shoes to fill.

The job itself is very interesting. Event planning, light bookkeeping, receptionist duties......and a thousand things I can't even remember right now. I foresee a lot of post-it reminders in my future to keep track of everything.

I am trying to keep my casual position at the bank as well.....pretty sure that's not going to work out for long. I spoke to my manager before I even started looking for a part-time job,so my change in availability wasn't a total surprise. Unfortunately, I'm just not as available as they need me to be now.

As I have said a number of times, I really like working at the bank. The reality is though, there isn't an actual position for me there. Six months of never knowing when or if I was going to be working has been a bit of a roller coaster (time and money wise).

More than that, this new position will open doors for me in the future...or get my foot in the door at the very least. As my Fabulous Running Buddy had said to me on a number of occasions, all I needed was someone to take a chance on me.  It's an opportunity I just could not turn down.

I hope there are no hard feelings, but, in the end, I had to do what's best for me and mine.

Next post: Training & Races.....

In the Spirit of Saying "Yes"

Or.....alternately:

What I'm Doing the Weekend 

of my 

20th High School Reunion

I couldn't decide on a title for this, and was unwilling to give one up.

Where was I?

Right, time to fill you in on the other news I've been keeping close to my chest.

My Fabulous Running Buddy is trying to break me  encouraging to step outside my comfort zone once more.

We have registered to participate in a Spartan Sprint race.  Not only have we committed to running this crazy race, it's the same weekend as the Color Me Rad we've been looking forward to since last summer. Back to back race days.  All of this falls on the weekend of my 20th High School Reunion (which I wrote about not going to here ).

So, while old classmates are sipping cool drinks and reminiscing about days gone by, looks like I will be:

*getting colour bombed
* crawling through mud

*attempting to climb over and under any number of obstacles

*bruising and bumping this old body

*making some new memories with my friends

I'm positive that no matter what, folks will be having a good weekend,wherever they may be.

Life is Every Day

So often, we hear of someone passing away because of cancer.

Too often.

I can't think of anyone that hasn't had cancer touch their lives in some way. ( To my real life people, I am hugging you all right now).

Recently, a woman in our community lost her hard-fought battle with cancer.

We weren't friends.  I knew of her through mutual friends, the military community, and our local running community.

I remember her as a friendly, supportive person at our local races. Alway a smile, and an encouraging word for us slow-poke novice racers.

I vividly remember when we ran the Half Marathon race, summer of 2012. It was hot, smoke in the air from  grass fires. I was still running out to the turn-around point, and she was running back. She smiled at me, gave me a thumbs-up, and said "No one told me we had to run back up these hills too."

I knew who she was, this wonder-woman running despite her struggles. I admired her greatly. Her words, and her grin lent my legs a bit of strength.....and I grinned right back.

This woman fought so hard for life every damn day.

Too often we get caught up in our own head space. Worries, daily stress and dissatisfaction can pile up. Comparing what we don't have (either real or perceived) to what others seem to have can really suck the colour out of the world.

I am guilty of this ALL THE TIME.

Where am I going with this you might be wondering (or maybe you'd just rather I got to the point.)

I am going to say yes to more. Rather than let "what is not" rule my thoughts, I will do my very best to let "what is, what will, and what can be" stand a little higher on my list.
.....think Jim Carrey in "Yes Man", without the witty repartee and physical comedy

Not every day will be shiny. Bad days happen, but to remember that they are a blip, not the baseline, is what's important.


P.S. We have friends that are dealing with a cancer battle of their own right now. We think of them often. Him,as he fights the disease, and her as she battles with her formidable will and enormous love for him. Send some positive thoughts their way if you could.