A few hours to myself and clarity appears

A day off work, 12.5 miles and an amazing dinner later, I feel much better than when I woke to some upsetting news via email.

Apple in hand, stomach full and a fun night a head of me. Exams are done.. yet classes and assignments I am sure will still fill my days.

I can't believe how good a long run and a few hours to myself can make a difference. My head is clear and I am breathing easy.

5 days until Christmas! :-)

Christmas Tree Candles

You know when you have those moments that you know you will remember for the rest of your life...? I had one of those tonight.

Maybe it was the glass of red wine, maybe it was the half eaten chocolate turkey or maybe it was the scent of pine tree that the candle was exploding into my living room, but this feeling of relaxation came over me. This feeling of calmness.

I envisioned what it would be like and it looks beautiful to me. I envisioned what it would feel like and it feels warm to me. It's a peaceful feeling. I know it seems a bit ambiguous but that is just the way it is suppose to be.

It has felt good these past few days...it has been calming...soothing...and comforting. Immediate proof that it's all going to be okay.

I finally ran seven miles today... after a few days of laziness and pure isolation, I picked myself back up and ran it off. Nine tomorrow and a day of nothing but me.

The pine tree smell, AKA the Christmas tree smell (Thanks Mom) reminds me of home. Reminds me of snow covered pine trees and the muted lights that sit beneath the snow. A new way to spend the holiday this season... what better way than with a best friend. Holiday music has been sparse and Christmas cookies just seem uninviting in the kitchen... an invite to craft has been extended among Christmas parties and holiday celebrations that should commence next week.

2:24 reads the digital clock that sits in the upper right hand corner. I watched two episodes of an old favorite show tonight... that's right... I could have done homework, I could have studied more for my exam tomorrow... But how productive can someone really be at midnight? Needless to say I chose to watch some TV.

Contemplating a plane ticket home just to feel the cold air on my cheeks and breath in the cool, fresh air. The Christmas decorations will be gone and the holidays will be over... but sometimes the comfort of your own family is all you really need.

Deep breaths. I am tired. Work has been consistently slower and I continue to search for my pre-reqs. Time is closing in on me and I need these classes. 5 new programs to apply to and one that I am particularly excited about.

Barney lays across my stomach and begins to snore as my eyes drift between open and closed... Goodnight.

Dream on.

Where do you expect me to put it..?

I found this in my folder of drafts from a few weeks ago... I don't really know why I didn't post it. Maybe I felt as if it was incomplete... but for me right now, it is complete. Where do I place it?

"My love is like a raven with a broken wing," said the Italian that sat at my kitchen table. My heart went out to that love... that deep passionate love that burns deep inside my soul. I feel it. I feel it everyday and don't know where to place it on the shelf of life. Don't really know where to throw it at the indifferent tasks that take up my minutes. So I throw it at my schooling, I throw it at my little puppy that envelops my heart and I throw it at my time that I have for myself... it seems often obsolete and nonexistent but I know it is there.

A brief entry

Day off consists of sleeping in, awaking to french toast, laying on the couch and zoning out to Christmas Vacation while attempting to read Inequalities of Gender for sociology.

Movie is over, stomach is still full, chapter complete and lesson assignment ready to be handed in. Barney and I lounge.

Six miles on the road awaits me along with some much needed editing of the footage of our trip. No big plans but to study, sip on lattes and to stay warm. I thought California was suppose to be warm...? I had my winter hats shipped out just so my ears wouldn't fall off! Okay, so it is not that cold, but definitely colder than I expected.

Waiting to hear back on my acceptance into another round of classes before purchasing a ticket home... Laying out all my possibilities for nursing programs; the application process will begin at the turn of the new year.

Went through the slideshow of our pictures last night from our journey across the country. Although it happened and I obviously know it happened, I forget how amazing the trip was and how amazing it was to just get up and leave. It's liberating. It's nice to know that I can do that. That I can survive. The experience is something that warms me. I cannot wait to get on the road again or to explore a new culture/society, but right now this is where I am at.

I am spending my days at coffee shops, in front of computers, with my head in books, with my right wrist in pain from writing so much, with my shins hurting from my runs and with the hard pavement among my feet. I am spending my days traveling and seeing new faces among this city, getting use to the California way of life and dreaming of the next big thing. I am spending my days learning, growing and believing that it is only going to get better. That alone is exciting.

C'est la vie.

The Little Girl

Taking a moment to sit down between lesson assignments, dishes, running and mailing out another application for 3 new classes. Breathe. I might be over doing it... I haven't even thought about how I am going to pay for it all financially, especially when a turn of events occurs I will need an extra few thousand just for a first deposit.

I am being rational but also head strong. I know what I want and I guess that's more than I can say for other people. I want to be in this program next fall for the mere fact that I want my RN before I am 27... yikes 27 seems daunting. It will all fall into place.

Week 3 I think of training. It is going well. I most definitely need new shoes and the dreaded shin splints are making some runs a bit unfriendly. Hoping to buy them this weekend.

OH Happy Thanksgiving. I hope you take some time to recognize what you are thankful for. I am thankful for many things in life and I whisper them to myself when needed... I keep them close to my heart.

A friend told me that he keeps a picture of himself as a little boy and said that every time he looks at it he knows that he has to take care of this little boy. Although it is him 20 years ago, he still loves this little boy and knows that he needs to take care of him. I thought this was very insightful. Sometimes, actually very often, I forget to take care of myself. I forget to eat, I forget to breathe, I forget to ask myself what I want to do, what I want for dinner, what I want this day to include. I feel this mental image or an actual picture of me as a little girl will help me realize that this little girl needs to be taken care of everyday, needs to be loved everyday and I am the only one that can do that. I thought this idea was so insightful and so helpful. As my tears dropped into the cup of hot water with lemon, I realized that he is right, and although I am a woman, it is easier to realize that I still need to take care of myself as a woman or little girl... either way I need to take care of myself.

At home with the B... tearing apart a paper towel roll, snuggling on the couch and singing loudly. Back to work I go and then off to run... Try to stay focused on what is right in front of you. Don't let life pass you by by dwelling and allowing unhappiness to envelop you. There is good in everything and everyone. Get out of the house and see what you pass by each day.

Happy Thanksgiving... smile and try to be thankful for the things and people that are there.

Becoming level-headed

Sitting on the floor of my living room, surrounded by text books and realizing my stomach is in pain from hunger. I sit here reading through random blogs, and procrastinating as the sun sits upon the buildings that fill the space outside the sliding door.

In the midst of week two for training, I ponder the idea if running helps clear my head and thoughts? Was I a more level-headed person when I was training for my first marathon compared to when I was just running to stay in shape? Does following a running regime and sticking to it for self-satisfaction aid in the possibility of becoming more level-headed?

Yes, yes I think it does. I say this in relation to diligence. If we can't stick to something that we do for ourselves, how do we expect to accomplish anything?

Running makes everything easier. I know I have said this before, and was dumbfounded the first time someone had said it to me, but running becomes a way to release energy, stress, and bad air.

Running makes me more level-headed because it becomes the leveling factor of all other things in my life. Although challenging at times, it simplifies every step, every breath, and every beat of the heart.

To allow running to become a simplistic factor in your life, is to embrace the moments of silence when you run. It is not often that we are in a state of silence, mentally and physically, but for me, this often occurs when I run.

Running helps me become more level-headed because it is silencing. No one talks to me while I run down the street, and no one interrupts my swift movements, it is merely the road and I making our own soundtrack and competing in our own race. Take it as you want it.

Week 2:

11 miles completed

14 miles to go

Average pace 8:03

Run on.

Week One... CHECK!

The familiar grime of sweat and salt gathered upon my face, the voice in my head complained and my shin splints presented themselves in full force, but my first 8 mile run in this 18-week training period is complete and I feel rejuvenated.

A day of rain, led to a beautiful night. An inviting temperature to run the streets of San Francisco. I silenced my thoughts and listened to my breathing. I crept up on people and I was pleased with my quite, almost soundless footsteps. I soared through the streets.

This daunting 8 mile run became one familiar step after the other, my breathing calmed and I conquered the frequenting voice in my head grumbling of sore muscles.

I now sit on the couch, relaxed and content with a glass of wine and blanket thrown across my legs.

One week and 24 miles completed...

Run On.