New Chapter

Tomorrow I will meet my future staff. I am beyond grateful for this opportunity. As scary as change can be, I know this is the right choice for me. I am creating my next chapter instead of allowing others to create it for me. I am in a place in my life where I have the ability to live the life I want, and to be content. I am showing my kids what it takes to persevere through the most difficult times and still be true to yourself; maintain your values and morals and choose the life you want to live. I am creating my own path and beginning my next chapter. It’s an amazing feeling. ❤️

Peace ✌🏼

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Don’t be Afraid of Change

So….I have some fantastic yet terrifying news…I was just offered the assistant principal position at an elementary school, and I want to throw up. This is what I have worked my ass off for but the reality scares the crap out of me. I know I can do this but damn, change is hard. Change is inevitable; it helps you grow but it’s also terrifying. I love my job, my coworkers but I also know this is the right path for me. It’s the perfect time for me to reinvent aspects of my life and to begin my next chapter. So here’s to change…

Peace ✌🏼

F#%kin’ Tacos

Tacos and cookies and everything else that’s delicious yet not good for us. Your food choices; It can make or break your health and fitness goals. Let’s be honest, who eats healthy every single day??? I wish I could 🙋🏻‍♀️ but I can’t. Why? I love tacos and cookies and everything else that’s delicious. I do eat well…better than many but sometimes…I just have to have a f#%kin’ taco. The key is moderation. I’m not going to eat 10 tacos or a box of cookies but I will make better choices. If I know I’m going to have desert, I will skip the bad carbs at dinner and eat more protein and veggies. That way I won’t feel bad for my choices. I don’t like to call them cheat meals because then I feel like I’m doing something bad. Too many times, food is tied to so much emotional garbage and it’s due to how we view it and ourselves. Just stop…life is too short to shame ourselves. If you want that cookie, eat it. Just don’t eat the entire box and add some more protein/veggies to your meal first. I find that I tend to stick to better eating when I allow myself to do this because I don’t feel guilty. Planning my meals helps a lot but allow yourself to have some flexibility. It’s a lifestyle not a diet. I choose to eat well and exercise because it makes me feel good. Seriously…how can one say no to Taco Tuesday?!? They are so damn good!

Peace ✌🏼

Baby Steps

I have been going bonkers not exercising, so I put on my brace (the boot would have been too heavy) and did some work on the floor with resistance bands. I was only able to do part of the 80 Day Obsession (AAA) program because the rest was standing. So I did “Girl” push-ups and crunches, oblique crunches, and Spider-Man pushups (modified). Baby steps…but happy I’m finally doing something and my foot isn’t throbbing. Yay!

Peace ✌🏼

Happy Birthday to Me 🎂

It’s been a while so I decided to write on my birthday. It’s my last year before I turn 50. 😳 How the hell did I get this old?? I don’t feel it at all!

48 was a crazy year! A lot has happened this past year…I mean A LOT! I graduated with my masters- YAY!!! By far one of the hardest things I have ever done in my life. Needless to say, I’m done with school for a LONG TIME!!! Which is ironic…hard to do when you’re a teacher but I’ll stick with being in front of the class for a while.

There has been a lot of ups and downs this year but the biggest thing I have learned throughout it all is my health needs to be a priority; both physically and emotionally. I was diagnosed with anxiety; which really didn’t surprise me. I was overwhelmed with everything and what do I do when I become overwhelmed? I withdraw and I avoid; it was my coping mechanism. Not the best way to deal with things but it was a way to protect myself; protect myself from being hurt, from being overwhelmed, from letting my feelings consume me. My thoughts and fears were overwhelming at times…I didn’t know how to handle it so I withdrew…from everything and everyone. I also lashed out at the people closest to me; not proud of that, at all. I will figure out how to apologize to those I have upset or hurt through all of this. It’s not me, it’s not who I am and I hate that I have hurt them. I also learned I tend to absorb other people’s stress, especially from those closest to me! It caused more havoc with my emotions. I was a hot mess.

I am working on a being a better version of myself. I am seeing a therapist, exercising regularly, eating healthy, sleeping…well I try but I still need to work on that one. 🙄 This new exercise program I am doing is seriously crushing my abs, ass and arms. I love it! It uses weights, resistance bands, and slides for an intense whole body workout. It’s awesome! I am a work in progress!!!! Progress not perfection! I forgot how much I love exercising; it keeps me grounded!

ha ha that cracked me up because we all do it! Like I said…I am a work in progress! Not bad for a 49 year old…I will keep plugging along!

Quiet-it’s new to me. And I don’t mean outside noise level; the quiet that comes when your mind isn’t racing every minute you’re awake. I am working on being present. A concept so difficult to do when your brain won’t slow down. I’ve been in this state for so long, it was so hard to be present. It’s difficult to explain-It’s hard to slow down because you don’t want your mind to race. You hate the feeling because it consumes you. So I tried not to stop. I would continue to take on more and more so I would be constantly busy. I know when I did stop, I would fall asleep; partly because it’s exhausting having my mind race all the time and partly because I didn’t want to think. Ahhh…horrible cycle. One that I didn’t know I was in and definitely didn’t know how to stop it. I’m slowly figuring it out and so much more…thankfully! I’m learning balance; the balance I need within myself. My family and friends have been my rock and I am forever grateful for their love and support.❤️

I have a lot of things planned this year that I am really looking forward to-a couple concerts (Bon Jovi and Pearl Jam at Wrigley-I. Can’t. Wait. I am seriously giddy about seeing PJ), a few vacations, and of course, seeing a cubs game or two! So 49 is looking to be pretty damn good!!

Cheers 🍻

Indianapolis Marathon….

Well, I really have mixed emotions today. Today is the Indianapolis Marathon. The marathon I should be running…instead I am at home. I am pissed that I wasn’t able to run it, but I know it was the smartest thing to do right now. I want to wish everyone who is running today the best of luck! My boyfriend is running in Indy right now…I am so proud of him. I am in awe of his determination! Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to be there with him but I am cheering him on from home.  xo

I changed the title of my blog to Reaching My Goal…I know I have many races I want to enter in my future, but my ultimate goal is to be healthy! So that’s what I will focus on…

So for today…I will try to not beat myself up too much (notice I said too much). I have other goals I am chasing…SMART Goals.

Until Next Time…Good Luck Indy Marathon Racers!!! You Rock!

“May the road rise up to meet you. May the wind be always at your back.”
-Irish Proverb

Smart Goals

Motivation…

I am a goal orientated person. If I can figure out what I want to accomplish, I usually can figure out how to do it. When something prevents me from achieving my goals…that’s where I have a hard time. I lose my motivation…my drive. That’s where I am at now!

I was hurt and that blew my goal of a full. Now I’ve lost my motivation…my drive. I need to get that back…somehow.

I saw the poster above on FB. It just made sense to me. It is the kick in the ass I needed to get working on my goals. The line that says make S.M.A.R.T Goals is so very true. Making a goal that is impossible to accomplish only makes you feel horrible about yourself; frustrated. It’s difficult to really think about your own limitations. No one wants to think that something, whether it be money, time or physical limitations, could get in the way of achieving your goal. So when it does, it’s hard to accept. We have to learn to forgive ourselves; to know our limitations; to have the ability to push ourselves not to the point of breaking, but to the point of going just beyond where we thought we could we achieve….figuring out our smart goal! It’s a difficult thing to master. One would think by now, at 45, it should be figured out. Apparently not. I guess the saying you never stop learning holds true in this case. I am still learning…still evolving.

My Smart Goal for now is to get back into running; to get back into some kind of routine. I know I will feel better about my self both physically and mentally. I am also going to join a gym. I think adding variety to my workouts will be key to staying motivated over the winter. I still have my big goal of participating in a tri next year, but that’s next year. Small smart goals lead up to big smart goals, right?

I wanted to share that poster with you. Partly because I thought it was fucking awesome…but mostly I hope it helps someone else find their motivation; the kick in the ass they need to get back on track to achieving a goal…a Smart Goal.

Until next time…So long