I came home from work and took a nap. I graded papers and now it is bed time. I miss feeling energized. I miss feeling in control. I miss feeling my muscles stretch and contract with movement. I want to feel the fresh air deep in my lungs – even if I am gasping for air.


Reality is the leading cause of stress amongst those in touch with it (Lily Tomlin)

Once again I sit here writing about energy, control, and feeling great. Yes, I know for weeks I have posted about being in control. It is all up to me.

It is up to me? Well, this me is down to 40 days to prepare for the Little Rock Half Marathon.

The number forty is used by God to represent a period of testing or judgment (the length of time necessary to accomplish some major part of Gods plan in his dealings with various portions of mankind). The 40 days of rain in the days of the flood were the judgments of God. The 40 day periods of fasting, testing, and communing with God that were faced by Moses and Jesus were a form of God's judgments.

Ok – Tomorrow starts my 40 days. Can I be dedicated? Can I find the strength? Can I find the motivation?

Conscience is the inner voice that warns us somebody may be looking (H.L. Mencken).

The Ramblings Of A Not So Dedicated Runner

The ramblings of a not so dedicated runner – overslept today. I thought I would get at the least 20 minutes on the treadmill before work this morning – that did not happen. So, why not? I am the only person who has the ability to control my schedule and my behavior.


I found a saying the other day - “For many people, one of the most frustrating aspects of life is not being able to understand other people's behavior.” For me, one of the most frustrating aspects of life is not understanding my own behavior.

Why do I procrastinate – I am not lazy. I just get side tracked. Or do I? Maybe I am overwhelmed. Even as I try to contemplate my life and my actions or inactions the phone is ringing with issues from work.

Wow - Simplifying your life is not easy.

How do you prioritize? According to Stephen Covey “You have to decide what your highest priorities are and have the courage - pleasantly, smilingly, nonapologetically - to say 'no' to other things. And the way to do that is by having a bigger 'yes' burning inside. The enemy of the 'best' is often the 'good.' ~

I was flipping through a magazine (Women’s Health) earlier today that said – 38% of women break their resolutions in a month or less. The biggest reason for not sticking with a resolution is a lack of motivation.

Ok – so I have completed all the research. I have downloaded Covey to the Nook . I have stroked the inner fire – I have found my bigger yes ~

I am focused, I am focused, I am focused – keep reading – watch me simplify (and run).

Unfulfilled Potential

Well – I did it, a short run on the treadmill. The shins hurt but everything else felt great. I am living by my new rule – if it is important I have time for it.

Pope John Paul XXIII said “Consult not your fears but your hopes and dreams. Think not about frustrations, but about your unfulfilled potential. Concern yourself not with what you tired and failed in, but with what it is still possible for you to do.”

What is still possible for me – running a half-marathon in March? My goal is to complete 13.1 – I do not have to be fast - I just have to finish.

I have unfulfilled potential and this is the year to fulfill it.
Living Simply – with my best friend!

Order of Priorities

A lazy Sunday for me – slept late and would have slept later except our boys felt the need to wake us up. Nothing like being woke up by two 27 (yes I said 27 not 7) year-old boys jumping on the end of the bed. Felt a little like old times.
Do you ever wonder why when something is important to you – you cannot find the motivation to get started. I say I do not run because of time issues but I do not think I am being honest with myself. I love running when I do it. I love the way I feel during and after a run. I know that others cannot run for me –

Robert McKain says “set priorities for your goals. A major part of successful living lies in the ability to put first things first. Indeed, the reason most major goals are not achieved is that we spend our time doing second things first.”

Joyce Meyer believes that “wisdom is choosing to do now what we will be happy with later:” That is not always easy because it may require us to sacrifice something we could easily have today for something better we can have tomorrow. For me the things I have today are sleep, time with my husband, or completing work.

There is no point in saying I do not have time for something, because I make time for whatever is important to me. If I am not doing something I can assume it is not a priority for me.

Why do I want running to be important for me? The benefits out-weigh the negatives. How do I make it a priority – Just do it. It is not hard. Keep it simple

 The four-legged children reading my blog

~ Clowie, MeMe, Clinnie and Paco Joe ~

Simply Enjoy the Journey

Ok – you know something is wrong when you do not know what day of the week it is – today I had to ask someone if today was Tuesday or Wednesday. I guess it could be worst. I did not have to ask what my name is!

I am reading a new book – 100 Ways to Simplify Your Life by Joyce Myers. Ms. Myers states “Those who want to enjoy life must learn to enjoy the journey, which is filled with waiting. Eventually, we reach our destination only to begin again on a new journey to another place; therefore to never enjoy the journey is to never enjoy life.”

So does it matter if today is Tuesday or Wednesday? Not really, what matters is I can look back on today and say I did a good job. I can rest tonight knowing that those I love know how much they mean to me. I can feel comfortable knowing that tomorrow is a new day and a new opportunity to simply live this life full of blessing that I have been given.

Connie

Countdown Started

57 Days to Little Rock - Wow. It is time to seriously work on adding mileage. My Goal is to finish - follow me as I spend the next 57 days keeping it simple focusing on my goal.

Converstaion and Genes Ensure I Am Me

Sunday morning – a hot cup of coffee and computer in hand I am sitting at the kitchen table reflecting on the last couple of days with my family. Focusing on my word – "simple". I realize that relationships are anything but simple. Five adult children, my father, and my sister make a dynamic group.
Dynamics in any group are not simple. We can control only ourselves – we can guide our own thoughts but we have zero control over others – even our own offspring.

 Sometimes I have wondered if I was adopted or found under a cabbage leaf - I have very little in common with my family. But this weekend, I did realize that I share the same genes as my mother and grandmother.

I routinely call a child by the wrong name – example If I am wanting to talk to Jax, I call each child’s name till I get to the correct one – Jeffery, Justin, Chad, Jer Jer, (finally) Jax. – is this a sign of dementia? I do not think so – my grandmother and my mother both called roll till they got the right name.

“It is a wise mother who gives her child roots and wings” Chinese Proverb

 

Running for a future – my athletic genes come from my Dad.

He asked as if surprised - you run? my reply - I try to run. 

His next question - why? my reply - to keep me healthy. 

His next question - how far do you run?  my reply - 2 to 5 miles.

His next question - you are running in a race? my reply - I am focusing on completing a race.

His next question - why?  my reply - because I want to.

His reply - simply shaking his head as if to say "I do not understand".

Some forms of conversation never change ~

So – I am off to run, grade a few papers, and scrapbook memories from this weekend. (Notice I put me first – not work).
Keeping it Simple ~

Wow – where has today gone? It is 11 PM and I am just finishing discussion questions with my students. Of course watching the HOGS play the Sugar Bowl I am sure has had an impact on my time management skills.

Football is really a simple game – move the ball down the field and stop the other team from moving the ball down the field in the other direction.

Again today – the best laid plans of mice and men have been derailed. I find myself not completing everything I want to do. Maybe I want to do too much?
I am off work (no hospital) for 5 days – I have some time to re-evaluate my “to-do-list”. Maybe I will think about my “to-do-list” while trout fishing tomorrow – Not.

Check back tomorrow for the fishing report.

Spring River: Mammoth Springs, AR.

Nothing Simple About Today

Well today did not go simply - I overslept. I did not get a morning run. I did not get to follow my timeline at work to accomplish a few overdue tasks. I forgot I had a clinic board meeting tonight – ran (not literally) to that, then home to chat for two hours with students. Wow – are you tired yet, I am.

So – who created this mess? Me. Who can fix this mess? Me.

How – more organization? More self-control?

Tomorrow is a new day – I am going to try self-control. Alarm set – husband agrees to use size 15 foot to help me out of bed.  Follow me tomorrow to see how self-control equals simplicity.

Simple with Purpose

Today started off, to a late start, with a calmness and organization that is often missing in my mornings. Two quick miles on the treadmill completed, followed by coffee in my study. It is funny how my word “simple” added to this morning.

Before Christmas, I was feeling overwhelmed every time I walked in to my study. Why – the room had become the “catch-all” space. I spent one afternoon throwing out stuff – mostly papers. It is amazing how much I print to read or file because I want to be able to put my hands on it latter. Magazines were another complication.

Also having a plan this morning helped me stay focused on how to spend my time. See I often let obligations dictate my time. Work (full-time nurse admin and part-time nurse faculty), and volunteer (full-time charitable clinic admin and humane society advocate) activities overwhelm my life at times causing chaos.

I have a plan – a simple plan: Run early (I owe this to me), work hard (I owe this to the organization), schedule activities (it is my time – use it wisely).

Eleanor Roosevelt once said “I could not at any age be content to take my place in a corner by the fireside and simply look on" – neither can I. I can however not run chaotically into the day – but instead move deliberately and with purpose.

Sounds simple – let’s see what next week holds.

What does 2011 hold for me? Simplicity?

My word is simple ~ as in simplify your life. The original plan was simple – the plan begins at birth – we breath in and out. No one tells us to breath, we do not have to purchase something, we do not have to collect anything, and we simply breathe. So 2011 is my year of simple. What made me think of choosing a word for 2011.

I follow Katie Orse’s blog . Katie is choosing a single word for 2011, in keeping with my thoughts on needing to simplify my life I have been using the word simple in my goals even before thinking I need a single word for 2011. Here are the running goals for 2011 posted on RunnersWorld.com before reading Katie’s blog :
The Little Rock Half-Marathon
Run 700 Miles
Simplify My Life

So what other goals are will guide my simple life in 2011:
Listen more
Enjoy the simple things in life (family, friends, health and faith)

Ok – so follow me in 2011 and see how simple works in the hectic life I have created.
Happy New Year
~ Connie ~