Fit Friends

Since I left my job, I've really taken the time to get back on my fitness game.  I mean, I had NO EXCUSES!  I was off work.  Had all the time in the universe to pretty much do what I want to do, besides look for a job. 

Over the summer, I became involved with a few hiking groups and attended several Black Girls Run events.  I usually get out on my own, but I have really enjoyed the fellowship and getting to know my fit friends.  A few of us have even hang out outside of our fitness groups.  What a time to get out and enjoy some fun times!

An on time God....

Six months of unemployment status is quickly approaching and needless to say, I'm growing more concerned.  My job leads have all but dried up with no new leads on the horizon.  To top if off, I had been hearing from folks at my job club meetings that unemployment benefits expire after six months with no extensions.  Surely that couldn't be correct, I thought.  I've worked since I was a teenager and collected a total of $450 in unemployment money, EVER!  And besides, my claim expired 8/4/15.  That is what my continuing unemployment form stated.

I met up with my friend, Chris from church for a 'wisdom walk' around the church hood.  We would have the best conversations about Imani, work, what we want to do when we grow up, relationships, etc.  They truly were the best!  This day, a Thursday, I was really feeling the pressure of not having a job.  I said to Chris, 'If only I could find something as a transitional job that meets my salary expectations, I would be alright.  I simply want to work at this point and I'd be willing to take the significant pay cut if it would get me back to employed status.'  Chris reminded me to stay faihful and God will hear you.        

After hearing the comments about expiring unemployment, again at Job Club, I finally gave the office a call to confirm for myself.  Boy, was I glad I made the call and I was sent into immediate freak-out mode!  Truth would have it, my unemployment would be expiring mid-February.  Today is January 30th!!  I had a contigency plan in place, but I hadn't expectecd to use it so soon.

OnJanuary 31st, I'm getting ready to head into San Francisco to celebrate my friend's birthday finale.  My little brother calls me to ask if I'm still looking for work.  Before I could fully respond, he hands me over to his boss.  The manager of the operations at the company I left six months prior asked if I could help his team while they looked for someone to fill an open position.  It was a temporary position and the compensation was just what I needed. I accepted and began working, February 3rd!

I was elated.  I was thankful.  I was blessed. I honestly cried tears of joy and thanked God.  God heard the prayers I said aloud and the prayers of my heart.  He knew what I needed and He knew He wouldn't fail me.

God is so good!  And all the time, God is good!!   

Martin Luther King Jr. Day: A Day of Service

Today, many people honored the legacy and memory of  Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by participating in a Day of Service throughout their communities.  This year, I was able to participate in the activity with my Black Girls Run SF Bay Area ladies by supporting the Alameda County Food Bank (ACFB). 

We were shown a powerpoint presentation to gain an understanding of the food services ACFB provides to the community along with other services they offer.  We were given safety instructions and than we were sectioned off by groups and assigned our sorting tasks.  My group sorted and bagged pears.  There was a mix of BGR ladies and others in my sorting area, but we all quickly began to chat to learn what brought us to ACFB , where we worked, etc as the time quickly passed.   Each conversation flowed with ease.  Later in the morning, we were given an opportunity to tour the facility.  It was a warehouse filled with pallets of dry goods, shelves of food in a make-shift 'grocery store', a huge freezer and refrigerator, and trucks for staff to load food to make deliveries to the community agencies that are served.  I must say, it looked like Costco. I'm not sure what happened, but I found myself tearing up as I thought about my current situation of unemployment.  I thought about how blessed I am that while my situation is temporary, I am not in need that requires food assistance from ACFB.  I felt thankful.  I felt proud.  I felt humbled.  All the while thinking that if I were in need of food assistance, I could go to ACFB for help, with no questions asked.  On some level, I think I was reminded that things could be much worse for me, but they're not.

I'm so glad that I participated in this day of service.  I'm filled with such gratitude that I have great people in my life.  I'm glad that for 2.5 hours today, I was able to make a difference in my community and that a family will enjoy pears that I had a hand in packing.

Today was a good day!

For more information and to volunteer at The Alameda County Food Bank, visit:  http://www.accfb.org/
 

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