Running is kind of a thing right now. Have you noticed? Maybe it's just me, but I can't help but feel just a little bit guilty as I log on to Facebook while eating ice cream only to see about half of my friends posting pictures with a race number pinned to their shirt and a huge smile plastered across their face. My attitude about this at first was "whatever" and "how annoying". I thought of the usual excuses to make myself feel better about not getting off my butt to run (or even to exercise for that matter). I am too tired, I am too busy, I work full time and have a kid, I am too fat... you get the point.
In reality, a still small voice in the back of my head has been saying, "Kara, you can do that too". I ignored that voice pretty intensely. Until it got louder, and louder and LOUDER, until finally this past weekend I learned that it was true.
On Saturday I participated in my first 5k run/walk. I signed up as a walker along with my sister-in-law because I thought it was something we could do together to bring us closer and deepen our relationship. I signed up back in June, so I've known for a while this day would be here. I was committed to only walking because, again, there were all the excuses that were so conveniently available for me to use. But here's what happened:
While yes, I mainly walked, the walking was just that: walking. It was enjoyable and refreshing and I felt like I was just taking a walk around the block with my sister-in-law. The part that invigorated me was the competitiveness that grew in me as we got closer to the finish line. So much so that I started to run. I ran past two groups of people and past the finish line just because I knew I could. And you know what? I didn't die!
So can I check "running" off my Year 33 list? Not quite. I need to run a WHOLE race in order to give satisfaction to that requirement. So this is me saying, I'm going to try. I'm going to make an effort to do something that's completely out of my comfort zone. I'm going to put aside the excuses and I'm going to chose to not care how much my butt and belly jiggle when I move. I'm going to invest in my future health and I'm going to allow that still small voice to become a driving force in this endeavor.
The next race I will sign up for is the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure on September 28. I will RUN this race. I can't believe I'm saying that.
I reaaaallllyyyy hope I don't change my mind...
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
The List
I admit it. I am a list maker. A maker of many, many lists. I make lists of things I should make lists of. In fact, my very last post on this very blog was a list!
I love lists. They really help me to navigate life. They allow me to remember, they call me to action, and they give me the satisfaction of looking at all that I accomplished. Yesterday, as I sat down to do my morning quiet time, I made another very important list. Monday's alarm clock ring awoke me to the first day back to work after a week off. I felt refreshed, renewed, and ready to look at life differently. I made a list.
This list is one I won't be making check marks on. This list will never, ever be completed. It is a list of things I need to do on a daily basis. Things I struggle with remembering to do, ways I can use my gifts to give glory to God. It's a good list.
1. PRAY - How often I go through the day saying "Lord, please help me..." but how often do I just sit and let my soul LISTEN to God?
2. Read Scripture - a struggle for me, yet a necessity. I struggle with the thought of "I've read it all already." What a stupid, stupid thought!
3. Encourage my husband - I forget that even though he's not as emotional a creature as me, he still needs me to come alongside him and remind him of everything that's good and right... in a TRULY encouraging way.
4. Write
5. Take a photograph
6. Give a compliment - how many times through the day do I find myself comparing myself to others? It's completely ridiculous. We are each a very tiny part of something much, much bigger. I need to call out how each person is special, because we all are!
7. Do something with music - The way I see it, God doesn't give you the gift of music and want you to do nothing with it. It's an extremely powerful means of communication - sometimes more so than the written or spoken word.
There are probably many other things I could add to this list, but then it'd get a little overwhelming and I'd give up. This is my forever list. Once I master it, then maybe I'll think about adding to it... when I'm like 88.
I love lists. They really help me to navigate life. They allow me to remember, they call me to action, and they give me the satisfaction of looking at all that I accomplished. Yesterday, as I sat down to do my morning quiet time, I made another very important list. Monday's alarm clock ring awoke me to the first day back to work after a week off. I felt refreshed, renewed, and ready to look at life differently. I made a list.
This list is one I won't be making check marks on. This list will never, ever be completed. It is a list of things I need to do on a daily basis. Things I struggle with remembering to do, ways I can use my gifts to give glory to God. It's a good list.
1. PRAY - How often I go through the day saying "Lord, please help me..." but how often do I just sit and let my soul LISTEN to God?
2. Read Scripture - a struggle for me, yet a necessity. I struggle with the thought of "I've read it all already." What a stupid, stupid thought!
3. Encourage my husband - I forget that even though he's not as emotional a creature as me, he still needs me to come alongside him and remind him of everything that's good and right... in a TRULY encouraging way.
4. Write
5. Take a photograph
6. Give a compliment - how many times through the day do I find myself comparing myself to others? It's completely ridiculous. We are each a very tiny part of something much, much bigger. I need to call out how each person is special, because we all are!
7. Do something with music - The way I see it, God doesn't give you the gift of music and want you to do nothing with it. It's an extremely powerful means of communication - sometimes more so than the written or spoken word.
There are probably many other things I could add to this list, but then it'd get a little overwhelming and I'd give up. This is my forever list. Once I master it, then maybe I'll think about adding to it... when I'm like 88.
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