Caring for Others

Caring for Others

Posted by Unknown

I truly love these commercials. Have you seen one recently?

My soap box for the day.....and lesson learned.

My soap box for the day.....and lesson learned.

Posted by Unknown

When in Rome....do what the Romans do. Isn't that the old adage. This last weekend my discouraging thoughts took me exactly to that place. Not particularly to Rome (much to my disappointment) but to just do what everybody else does and nothing more. For example....I deciding that the majority of people are selfish and think only of themselves. Why can't I do that and be happy too? Why do I have to be concerned about other people? Why am I sacrificing and nobody else seems to be? So.....I went to Rome so to speak and acted purely for myself. I didn't put my cart back in the cart return at the grocery store.
This selfish act put me on a spiral of self pity and I'm sure that is the reason you start to notice the rude and selfish behavior of others in the first place. You become offended, your needs weren't met, or to be frank....they didn't notice what you had done for them. You want the same treatment that you dish out to others. The golden rule so to speak.


For about 30 hours my thoughts were bitter, they were focused on myself and what else I could do to let the world know that I was joining the crowd. It consumed me and I have to admit I didn't like it. I was actually plotting my selfish behavior and how it would hurt other people. How they would notice that I wasn't thinking of them anymore and how any niceties that once existed would long be forgotten.


But I was quickly reminded thank goodness, that is not what life is about. The truth is...that if everybody walked their cart to the cart return it would be an easier life for everybody. Easier for the next car who parked, easier for the car owner risking a runaway in the wind, easier for the store clerk who collects the carts, easier for the store owner who might have to be another, and easier for me who burns more calories and feels good about her standing in the community by being a responsible citizen and grocery shopper.


We all do make a difference and truly we cannot stop doing what we know to be right just because the world around us doesn't seem to care. The world might not notice us as an individual but the affects may ripple far beyond our vision or understanding. It's good for the soul, it's good for other people, and the world is a better place because of the good we may choose to do. While I'm still probably 98% selfish I can work on increasing that 2%. When I do, my troubles will disappear and I can work on Rome becoming the place that I want it to be. A shallow and meaningful lesson for the day.......at least for this grocery shopper.

Motivating Monday

Motivating Monday

Posted by Unknown

November is Here! Meaning fall is in full swing. A time to get out and rake, enjoy rainstorms vs. snow, and pull out all those winter sweaters. My goal is to start my resolutions before January and don't get discouraged that winter is coming. To fight back the candy and cookie season by being positive and hopeful about the future. I read this story and it made me laugh. A good story with a good moral. Just remember when life gets you down there is always a way out.

A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule 'braying' - or - whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving. Instead, he called his neighbors together and told them what had happened...and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbors continued shoveling and the dirt hit his back...a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back...HE SHOULD SHAKE IT OFF AND STEP UP! This he did, blow after blow.

"Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up!" he repeated to encourage himself. No matter how painful the blows, or distressing the situation seemed the old mule fought "panic" and just kept right on SHAKING IT OFF AND STEPPING UP!
You're right! It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, STEPPED TRIUMPHANTLY OVER THE WALL OF THAT WELL!

What seemed like it would bury him, actually blessed him...all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.

- Author Unknown

Posted by Unknown

So I have a friend (whose name I will keep anonymous (she lives in Colorado, is running 5.5 miles five times a week, hangs her khaki pants with perfect pleats by the ankles in her closet, and has a good friend named Diego)) and she is one her path to the perfect physique. I'll just call her 'Elaine' to protect her identity to the fullest. She recently asked me how I stay motivated. I scoffed......That is the last word I would describe myself. I'm dreading my early morning run two weeks from now let alone this morning.

One of my favorite catalogs to receive in the mail is Athleta. I'm not sure how I even received the catalog in the first place but truly I do enjoy it and it makes me feel like I belong to a group of motivated and in shape women out there. There is this one model in the magazine named Monica Carlson who is featured in it so much you commit her picture to memory. This last summer while watching American Gladiators (did I just admit that to the entire world) I noticed that she was now a Gladiator and had won the previous years competition. No wonder she is so muscular and fit. She works out 24/7..........and did I mention she has two kids.

Anyway the catalog Athleta has a blog and below is the link to it. I enjoyed some of the articles and thought I'd share. It motivated me to actually find and commit to two 5 or 10K races during the winter season. Yes they cost money but so does a gym membership! Find a friend and sign up for a run or a walk. Get out and enjoy the energy races provide. It's not about winning but rather just being out there and doing. Or like my other friend says......it's all about the tee shirt. So Elaine...this is my goal for the week. No sugar, no chocolate and no cheating. Can you make it one week with me? I take it day by day but certainly I do like the results that follow. Here is the link to the blog

http://www.athleta.net/chi/

I also enjoyed the article titled run like a mother by Kristina Pinto. Maybe it was just the title :)

Exercise, Exercise, Exercise

Exercise, Exercise, Exercise

Posted by Unknown

I'm on my last ten pounds of weight loss. Yes, I'm still working on the 70 Pounds that I gained during pregnancy. I'm starting to be thin again and I feel so much better. I can actually get into my jeans on, though truthfully my pockets are more on my hips than on my big watoosee. It's taken longer and its so much harder than I imagined. But as I approach I say to myself those famous last words. I will never let myself get out of shape again.

Since my triathlon I admit that I'm probably in shape. Just wanting to loose more and tighten up my body. I'm getting tired and bored with the monotonous run I do. Since my schedule is limited I can't mix it up more than I am currently doing. As the weather gets a little colder I realize my motivation has to stay. Maybe a race in early spring or even some light races through the winter months. In Bend, they have the turkey trot and jingle bell runs but they are only 5ks....oh..and I don't live there anymore. Mapmyrun.com is supposed to be motivating but....that's not working out for me either. I need an extra push.

In college my friend Tara used to meet me at 6:00am to go swimming everyday. Some days I'd think she wasn't coming but she always showed up. She was the motivation I needed to get myself out on cold tired days. I depended on her and she depended on me.

Any thoughts? I'm not into the Gym thing. Unless it's a yoga or spin class. I need a boost

Nottingham Family Reunion

Nottingham Family Reunion

Posted by Unknown

We made the front page of the Vail Daily with our family reunion. We were celebrating the house that my great grandfather built it 1908. Though my direct line doesn't own the house now, it is still in the Nottingham Family and we are able to celebrate the heritage of what is now a large extended family. There are wild and colorful stories of the folks back in the day and I realize that Family History can be interesting when you take a look at where you came from and who you are.

It makes me think about what I'm leaving behind for my descendants. Am I leaving a proud heritage rich with history or rather boring journals that are empty on content. The world has changed and though very few people homestead land anymore, we can do things that make ourselves and future generations proud. We just need to get to work. Set our goals and go for it. Whether we want to participate on the community level and be involved or we want to be the best at something...we just need to do. To go and do and to quit procrastinating. The world marches on (at a very fast pace I might add) and we will find ourselves left with only regrets if we don't get to work. Now I'm not saying that organizing your bill drawer will be something that future generations are proud of but it will free time to do what will make a difference in this world. To do the things you have always wanted to do.

What an editorial for a Monday Morning. I hope you understood what I was trying to say otherwise I'm ahead of the game on empty content :)

Another week.....hopefully another pound.

Another week.....hopefully another pound.

Posted by Unknown

Today is the last two days of my detox....Yes I'm cleansing again. I won't stop until I've last every pounds from my pregnancy. It's exciting to see the scale drop numbers despite the fact that I don't know where It's coming off from. I think with this last five pounds was pure back fat. I forgot to measure to know how many inches exactly I'm losing but the love handles are diminishing. Of course my derriere is still the same dimensions (my jeans tell me that) but little by little I'll lose every pound of that 65+ I gained. I'm a little behind the 1 year for getting your body back mantra, but it's never too late. It's amazing how good I feel.

Someone just told me this......Nothing tastes as good as thin feels. A motivational tool I'm sure but I definitely feel better...mind, body and soul.

(my brain quit working this morning and I couldn't figure out how to spell derriere. The only way I could think of was diary air. I was so discouraged and thinking that couldn't possibly be the origination of the word. I felt like I lost my mind. But then again......dairy air is relating to the buttocks of a cow.....more motivation for my monday and my long term goals)

Monday Monday

Monday Monday

Posted by Unknown

Where does the time fly!! Recently I've been into to-do lists. I make a to-do list everyday. It's not very organized or neat and has been on the back of a napkin a couple of times but I feel so very productive crossing things off. It also keeps me on task like never before. It's not on my computer so I carry it around with me all day. Someone suggested at the end of the day that it actually becomes a ta-da list with all the things you accomplished.

The problem is....My lists are so long I have never gotten (my mom would say that is not a word) through of the things. I just keep adding more all throughout the day. However I still love to cross things off. It's exhilarating. Even if it's the simplest task like activate a new debit card. Whatever it is....it's productivity for me.

Video on the day.

Video on the day.

Posted by Unknown

There is tons of these videos about the "worlds strongest man". They are pretty much the same video but with different music. This video is worth watching if you haven't seen it. In preparing for my triathlon how could I not be inspired by this. How could I complain about anything anymore.

This is a longer version from the Today show but it gives a little background to the story. Hope you enjoy.....it might even bring a tear to your eye.

Rudy Garcia - Motivation athlete

Rudy Garcia - Motivation athlete

Posted by Unknown

I first learned about Rudy when I was in High School. From a young age he has overcome amazing obstacles. He grew up 20 miles from my home and I think of him when things get touch. Could I stay so positive if I were in the same situation? Following is a little about his life.

Rudy lives by a simple motto: A Brave Heart is a Powerful Weapon. He was born with rare, multiple birth defects – a combination of crippling Pterygium Syndrome, a clubfoot, webbed fingers on both hands, and a cleft lip and palate. His legs would not straighten from the knee and he was forced to crawl or push himself in a wheelchair. While other kids played outside, Rudy sat and suffered. He was an eager little boy trapped in an imperfect body.

At age five, after 15 operations, he told his parents he wanted to move on; he would rather be a double amputee than continue to put up with what his life had become. He had both legs removed above the knee … and he's never looked back.

The loss of his legs marked the beginning of his life. When Rudy was eight years old, he told the world he would swim in the 2004 Paralympic Games. He was true to his word and brought home the Gold in the 200 Meter IM, while shattering the world record for his class.

Rudy continues to swim as a member of the U.S. Paralympic Elite Team. He’s completed numerous triathlons individually, and won several prestigious awards, including the Arete Courage in Sports Award and the Casey Martin Award from Nike. Through his example, Rudy has helped CAF raise more than $6 million to ensure his challenged peers have the same opportunities he did.

Rudy is now a motivational speaker and truly is one of my heroes. He is happy, strives to meet his goals, and doesn't let the inconvenience of having no legs get him down. I used to keep his picture in my college apartment for inspiration and still think of him often. I love the thought that we can find our heroes just around the corner. Look for heroes in your life to inspire you.

More about Rudy......

Motivating Monday

Motivating Monday

Posted by Unknown

In college I became motivated to do everything I was putting off or things that scared me and that I had procrastinated doing. Things that might have been easy to someone else were very hard for me to get the courage or motivation to do. I decided that I would change my attitude in my life and do one thing that scared me everyday. It started with talking to a professor about an internship. The next was signing up for a counseling session for a problem I had. Another was calling a friend to apologize.

I had made the goal to do one thing everyday. My list of things to do had become so overwhelming I couldn't deal with the everyday usual tasks without having anxiety about the things I'd put off. As I did this I became empowered. I loved it. As my list became smaller and smaller I looked for things to do that I might have always wanted to do but weren't priorities. I accomplished tasks ahead of schedule and felt like I could conquer the world.

With today being Monday and college being years ago, I thought I would start with something to motivate me again. My goal for today is to try to do one thing I've been putting off or that scares me today. The ultimate goal is to take away some of the stress or cobwebs lingering in my brain. If you have nothing that you've been putting off maybe you can do a random act of service. It's my Monday challenge.

OH....and you're welcome to share the results. Become empowered today and take control of your life. (and yes that's an affirmation :)