Be Alert. Be Present. Have Faith. The Best is yet to come!

Today is the last Sunday of 2014.  I have plans to meet with some friends who are moving to NY, but it is important to me to set a time to meet after church because that is where I want to be to prepare myself for the incoming year, while reflecting on the year I will leave behind. I'm so glad my request for a later meeting was accommodated.  Missing church was not an option. 

Min. Rob delivered today's sermon.  He always speaks with such passion while using bible references versus along with real-time analogies to drive the content of his message home.  He's really good at that!  This is by no way stating other preachers lack this skill.  Min. Rob's sermon hit home with me on many levels.  The last half of 2014 was quite exciting, stressful, and active all at the same time for me.  Stressful because I've not worked since August.  Exciting because of the possibilities of what's to come in 2015. Active because I've met some new trails along with some new fit friends this past summer. I'm hopeful for all things the New Year will bring. 

I am Alert.  I am Present.  I have Faith!  The Best is yet to come!!

Nike Women's Marathon 2014: My finale

On October 19, 2014 mom and I completed the 11th Nike Women's Marathon.  This year will be my final half marathon, for sure.  I'll stick to shorter distance events and/or be the cheerleader!

Every year, I suggest we get a hotel room and stay in the city, yet we never do.  Instead, I awake at the butt-early crack of dawn to pick up mom and make the drive across the bay to 5th and Mission St. garage. We make our way to the start line and wait....usually about 45 minutes before the start.  I don't recall the mornings being terribly cold, but with the closeness of the crowd and the electrifying energy, it's not that difficult to stay 'warm'.   This year the course was changed and I was not a fan.  And from what chatter I caught along the way, I was not alone in thinking.  The course starts in front of Tiffany's on Post, down to Montgomery and eventually along Embarcadero.  For the vistors to San Francisco, this portion of the course is the start of the MONEY views of San Francisco!  Unfortunately, this year with the course change, there was no view of the Bay Bridge, Alcatraz, and it was so foggy that the Golden Gate Bridge was barely visible.  Besides of the lack of views, the course started on rolling hills. BOO!!

 As always, mom waits for me at the finish line.  We grab our bags.  Once we have our bags, I eat my turkey sandwich. chips, banana, drink a chocolate mile, and water en route to the bus.  The last few years, I've packed two so mom would have her own snack and I wouldn't have to share mine!  It's been fun.  This has been our annual event.  We've created some fun traditions around this event.  With this being my last marathon, I guess we'll have to create a tradition around an annual 5k event.  Mom will let me know which event it will be, I'm sure.

Thanks, mom!     

Rainbows Captured!

Last week, my therapist challenged me to take note of the rainbows I 'found' and be prepared to report back to her for our next appointment, which was today.  As I sat to reflect over the past week, I was amazed of all the rainbows I had captured. Well, maybe not totally amazed, but I was more amazed at the sense of awareness I had about all of the good that is truly around me.  Even during the midst of the storm there comes a calm that can allow for one to see clearly despite the uncertainty of life.  I marveled at my hefty week of rainbows.  The list truly made me smile and I couldn't wait to share.

Weathering the storm, while you're in the storm

The holiday season is upon us.  The trees are up, lights are illuminated, Santa and wreaths are all around. For many, the holiday season is truly, 'The Most Wonderful Time of the Year'  but for some, it's an awful time of the year.  The reasons vary and coping methods are different. 

I can't recall when the holiday season became a not so happy time for me, but in the last few years, I've been able to acknowledge to myself, out loud, that I'm not truly a fan of the season.  This season, I'm finding it to be even more difficult because for the first time in my life, I have been unemployed for longer than 30 days.

I'm thankful to God that I'm not hungry, homeless, or naked.  I'm thankful to God that I have all that I need and some of my wants met on a regular basis.  I'm thankful to God that I have family and friends to be as supportive as I allow them to be to me.  But sometimes, more is needed.  And for me, a job is definitely what I need!   

Alameda County provides a myriad of services for the unemployed.  One of the services provided is stress counseling.  I'm not new to therapy and welcomed the opportunity to utilize this service.  I've been seeing my counselor for three weeks now and it's been a great experience.  I enjoy sharing my thoughts and fears to someone without judgement. She's providing me with some great coping tools to help me through this transitional period in my life. 

During today's session, I stated that despite my current situation of unemployment, I still look for a rainbow each day in order to remind myself how blessed I truly am.  Terra, my therapist, loved the idea and has given me the challenge to make note of my rainbows for the week so we can discuss them in our next session.  I have accepted her challenge.  Completing this blog entry is actually a rainbow.  I started it last week, but couldn't get my thoughts together to finish.  In thinking of my challenge, I recalled photos taken while in Hawaii to celebrate my 40th birthday.  My family and friends had been on the windward side of the island hanging at a beach where the locals go.  On our way home, it started to rain a bit.  After the rain along with the sun a rainbow usually follows.  I'm so glad I was able to capture this picture.
 
Capturing rainbows is how I will weather my storm, while I'm in the storm.  

                                                             Rainbows over Hawaii

What is your PR?

I've been a marathon walker for more than 10 years now. And I've got some 'bling' to prove it, too!  Social Media wasn't utilized much when I first began or maybe I was simply not an active participant in the social media process.  In any case, I wasn't around the phrase, 'I hope I PR' as often as I hear the phrase, today.  What is PR?  In a nutshell, a PR is short for Personal Record with the goal of completing your race faster than the race prior. Essentially, you're creating a competition with yourself for the races that have been scheduled.  In speaking with my marathon friends, PR's vary based upon the race course (i.e. relatively flat, hilly, etc.).

For me, with each event I register for, my PR is always the same....FINISH and NOT BE LAST!!

Does not setting a PR goal make me less of a competitor? Does it beg the question of why do the event if you don't set a PR goal? Does not running a marathon, but walking a marathon change the 'type' of marathoner I am?  What does not having a PR goal mean??  Do tell.

At the end of the day, completing marathons is an opportunity to stay active.  By training for them, I'm working on becoming a healthier more fit me.     

The Other Side of The Desk

 A former co-worker shared the poem, 'The Other Side of the Desk' with me many years ago when we worked at the California Child Care Resource & Referral Network.  With so much time being passed since I've worked at CCCR&RN, I've not forgotten it. In fact, it's been called to my top of mind considering my current life change. 

I've been unemployed for almost 2 months now.  I've applied to numerous positions and received some thanks, but no thanks emails.  For many of the positions I've applied to, I haven't heard a peep.  So frustrating!  I've talked to several recruiters for positions I'm not interested in and I've talked to agency recruiters who appear to have an interest in my background and experience, but ultimately, I have learned that the recruiters have  poor follow up skills and I begin to chase them.  The most frustrating part is that I used to be a recruiter, so I understand how busy the desk is, but I also know the importance of following up with candidates.  As a recruiter, you're told to stay close to the money.  Meaning, work with the clients and candidates that you're close to filling the position so that the commission is earned.  I get it, I swear I do!  However, while the candidate is not currently close to the money, at some point, that candidate will be and they may no longer have an interest in working for you, the recruiter.  

In addition to working with recruiters, I've been dealing with county and government agencies to ensure I am fully utilizing all resources that are available to me as a newly unemployed citizen.  I'm not a regular to these services and have a lot of questions.  I've encountered good and bad representatives along the way.  The nice ones, I try to reach out to get answers to all of my questions hoping they won't refer me to the representative I should really be speaking with. 

All while keeping it together, being polite and kind to the recruiters, county, and state agency representatives, I can't help but think, 'Does this person know how it feels to be in need of help from others?'  

In my heart of hearts, I hope they do and/or don't find themselves on 'The Other Side of the Desk'.

Have you ever thought just a wee little bit
of how it would seem to be a misfit,
And how you would feel if you had
to sit on the other side of the desk?
Have you ever looked at the man who seemed a bum,
as he sat before you, nervous -- dumb --
And thought of the courage it took him
to come to the other side of the desk?
Have you thought of his dreams that went astray,
of the hard, real facts of his every day,
Of the things in his life that make him stay
on the other side of the desk?
Did you make him feel that he was full of greed,
make him ashamed of his race or his creed,
Or did you reach out to him in his need
to the other side of the desk?
May God give us wisdom and lots of it, and much compassion
and plenty of grit,
So that we may be kinder to those who sit
on - the - other - side - of - the - desk.

Author-Unknown

The Struggle....Is REAL!

I have many challenging days motivating myself to hit the pavement.  Today was definitely not an exception.   The funny thing is I decided to make my walk a bit more challenging by adding 4lb weights.

As I began my walk, I immediately felt like I did not want to be out there and wanted to turn around to get back into my bed.  I took a few more steps.  Got hot so I had to take my jacket off.  Took a few more steps.  Thought about turning around.  I took a few more steps to sit on the bench. Understand,  I pass this bench each time I walk Lake Chabot, but never have I sat down.  Today, I sat down for a minute, never reading the dedication on the bench until I was ready to resume my walk.  A man approached me and commented that he too was tired and wanted to take a rest. He stated he had recently 'gotten on track' and had been struggling a bit, too.  I shared the same sentiment.  I was wearing a Nike Women's Marathon Finishers shirt to which the man congratulated me.  He also tipped his hat for the accomplishment.  I wished the man a good finish to his walk and to stay on the track and he the same for me.  When I turned to see the dedication, I thought how fitting.  I really wanted to go home, yet I know the importance of health and fitness in my life.  I think that man chatting with me was God's way of telling me to keep going and not go home.

I don't know who the Schultz family is, but I thank them.  Their words were very fitting for me and the man.

What a difference a year makes!

Top Pics: 2014 Birthday

                                                                  Bottom Pics: 2013 Birthday

I've had an enjoyable birthday celebration.  In fact, I've had a great year and these last 2.5 months have been great!  I've been off work catching up with friends, which really means eating out and drinking a lot of adult beverages.

While I have been going out on my hikes with my 510Hikers and walking on my own, my recent slack off has finally caught up to me.  So much so, I can visibly see that I have picked up weight from birthday 2013 to current year.  I'm not dissing myself, but I'm merely stating a fact that I can not hide, nor deny the weight I've gained.  Pictures don't lie, especially in the face!  Not only that, my clothes aren't fitting these comfortable these days, either!  

With each new year, one is always called upon to reflect and make changes for the upcoming year.  Eating right and working out is always a priority in my life.  Not because I look better, but I also feel better about myself, working out keeps me sane, and relieves stress.  I have to get on track with a quickness!!  You see, I have an event scheduled for next summer and I plan on wearing a two-piece bikini.

I.AM.NOT.KIDDING!! 

There were some smokin hot suits out this season and next season, I plan on rockin one or two of them on the beach!!

Y'all betta get ready!!

Monif C, 'Aquatic Goddess'

Swim Suits For All, 'Nala'

Forever 21, 'Fatkini Leopard Print'

  

Happy Birthday!

 Today, God has blessed me to see another birthday.  I am truly thankful and set out last March to celebrate in a way that I've always wanted for many years.  I was finally going to cross an item off of my bucket list- Celebrate my birthday at the happiest place on earth!

I shared my plan with my mom, best friend, sister, and a few friends. I wasn't necessarily extending an invitation.  I was however, sharing my plans. Anyone who was interested could get on board.

I am so glad I chose to enjoy my 44th year of life at Disneyland and California Disney Adventure.  I've had the time of my life with two of the best people in my life, my mom and best friend.  Happy Birthday to me! Keep making wishes and making them come true!

510 Hikers

I've recently joined a hiking group.  I was prompted to do so after seeing a friends photo on his Facebook page. The group completed a hike a Lake Chabot.  That is in my hood!  I only wish I would have known in order to attend. I frequent Lake Chabot,  but I will only go so far before turning around because the sounds of nature get the best of me.  After seeing the pictures from the hike, I invited myself to the gourp and I'm glad I did.

To date, I've gone on three hikes with the group. All have been challenging for a variety of reasons.  For starters, the terrain is not what I'm used to, the elevation is quite steep, and I'm simply not strong enough (yet) to keep up.  Joining the group has been rewarding, too.  I have gained some new cheerleaders to keep me encouraged as I continue to focus on my fitness goals, I've met some new folks with great stories, and this is another opopportunity to see all of the beauty the bay area has to offer.

If you haven't explored a hiking trail, get out and do so!

Check out a few of my pics!

Mt. Tamalpais, Mill Valley, CA

Mission Peak, Fremont, CA

Healthy Checks: Take Control of your own care!

As reported in 2011, a lump on my thyroid was discovered.  Since then, I have had 3 fine needle aspirations, biopsies, and an ultrasound.  The last exam being the ultrasound.   You see, from my annual physical exam in 2013-April/May, I noticed my neck area was looking rather large. I felt my thyroid and the lump that is there felt larger and seemed to be more visible to me.  I didn't immediately react, but just noticed it with each view of myself in the mirror.  After a few weeks, I finally make an appointment with my doctor to further discuss. After her exexamination,  she said it didn't seem to have grown based upon measurement,  but I disagreed given it looked like I have an atom's apple growing.  I wanted her to be clear,' I am a full-fledge woman and don't want to be a man!' I shouldn't have a visible lump in my neck/throat area! I insisted that I see a specialist to make sure all is well.

I see an Ears, Nose, Throat doctor, Dr. Kim who determines the lump feels rather large to the touch and wants me to get an ultrasound and then a guided fine needle aspiration. Dr. Kim wanted to know the exact areas she took samples for the biopsy.  After this painful procedure all is well.  There is no major concern and this something I will have to monitor.   Because the lump on my thyroid is kind of big, swallowing is a bit challenging,  but not enough to warrant surgery.

I have an excellent rapport with my primary care doctor. She provides great care and can usually calm my nerves when I'm freaked about something.  However,  I am glad I didn't easily accept her diagnosis that the lump is fine, but that I actually checked it out.   At tbe end of the day, I knew something wasn't right and I am glad I took action for confirmation.

Happy Mother's Day!

This weekend was all about mom, for sure! We spend a lot of time together anyway,  but this weekend was extra fun.  Suffice it to say, I am exhausted. Happy Mother's Day mom. I am so glad God chose me to be your daughter.

Rockwall Winery-Mother Trucker

SF Noir Wine Event- BGR Ladies

SF Noir Wine Event

After a beautiful church service

Mother's Day Brunch prepared by my little sister. 

Oakland Running Festival: part IV

Today was the 5th Anniversary of the Oakland Running Festival,  but my 4th time completing this event.  Each year the organizers get better and better. This event is picking up steam on the fun factor, too.  They've always offered a relay team to complete 13.1 and next year, I want in on a team!  They also added a 'we run Oakland' medal, which is the completion of the 5k and the half marathon. Leave it to my mom to take things to the next level, by completing both events.  I walked the 5k with my sister, Pam and friend, Lourdes.  We had a nice chat along the way.  After the walk, I went to church and was truly lifted. I'm so glad I did both events today.

Off track, again...

This maintaining a healthy lifestyle is no joke! I usually stay consistent for about a month or so and than I am off track. Depending upon what got me off track determines how long I stay there.  Lately, it's been the usual culprit.  Work!

I've made a small commitment to myself by working out for sure on my remote day and I've been doing well. Now I need to commit to 2-3 more days of doing the same. I keep gear and sneakers in the car so I have no excuse.  I think my next step is to add shower gear in to my bag in the event my workout takes place during my lunch break.  After all, I do have a gym facility at work.

Here's to new commitments!

Happy Birthday mom!

My marathon inspiration! Happy Birthday to the best woman on earth.

Lake Chabot

The beauty of lake Chabot; no matter which trail you choose, you're always welcomed back. Today, I chose a hill trail. Not only for the challenge, but because I could feel closer to the sky. Thus, closer to God.

Happy New Year!

I got my 2014 off to a great start! For the first time, I rang in the new year in church.  It was an awesome experience and not at all what I had expected it to be.  The Pastor and ministers were very casual in their dress and didn't have on their robes.  There was an opportunity for the congregation to share their testimony of how they made it through the year.  The stories shared were very moving. I didn't share a testimony, but if you read this blog, you can read all about how I've made it! 

In the morning, I visited a new gym, The Inner Athlete to meet the trainer whose 30 day challenge I joined.  I definately want to sign up because staying fit is an on going goal of mine.  It's imperative that I continue to commit to living a healthy lifestyle.

Here's to getting spiritually and physically fit in the New Year!