Faith + Motivation

For the love of running….

January 8, 2019January 8, 2019
by admin

Staying fit can be a love and hate relationship for me. Turning 40 left many agonizing thoughts running through my mind. Should I go run? Should I just have a cup of coffee instead? Do I need to focus more on arms and abs? Nah, I hate arms and abs! Hmmmm… I might could get my arms and abs with yoga today? Oh, yeah…should I focus on yoga more often? These are a few questions I struggle with. Well then I tend to only have just a limited amount of time each day, if I even get that time. So, I retreat back to my love of running. It’s easy! I see progress! I can breathe! When I have extra time, I do add in the yoga which does support shaping my arms, abs and flexibility for continued running.

Someone once said, “Life will only change when you become more committed to your dreams than your comfort zone”. I’ve learned that I only get the results I want when I step out my comfort zone by pushing through. I lace up even when I don’t feel like I can. I choose to water over diet soda. I choose to not eat the cookies no matter how amazing they smell. I choose to bake or grill instead of frying foods (which is sooooo difficult living in the south). These are just a few things that aren’t very easy to do; HOWEVER, I try remember to tell myself “The past is your lesson. The present is your gift. The future is your motivation.” -Anonymous.

The idea if turning 40 never bothered me, but it did make me change my thought process and reflect on what my dreams for fitness really is as I grow older. I also remind myself that 1 year = 365 days of opportunities. Do I always step out of my comfort zone? No, I do stay close to home by hitting the pavement. Do I always have motivation to lace up and run? No, I do make goals that I am intentional about keeping. Whether I meet them or not, I work to be more consistent than I used to be. Letting go of my old sense of fitness to embrace a new sense of fitness. “Letting go isn’t about having the courage to release the past; it’s about having the wisdom to embrace the present.” -Dr. Steve Mavaboli

-Em

“Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire” -Anonymous

Inspiration and Self Help

Blessings…

January 8, 2019January 8, 2019
by admin

Laura Story sings…”What if your blessing come through raindrops? What if you healing comes through tears? What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You’re near? What if your trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise?”

Oh, this song has so many meanings within my heart! Throughout my life, I have had to deal with losing many loved ones. Loss, I thought was going to be a constant rotation throughout my life weeks at a time. There were many feelings that came along with this reality of loss. I made poor choices of how to deal with these feelings which are less than stellar to talk about. I grew and as I grow now, I understand more that, as CS Lewis put it, “Life with God is not immunity from difficulties, but peace in difficulties”.

The owl coffee cup, in the picture above, is a reminder of my aunt. She collected so many owls. I mean millions upon millions. One day I was window shopping and came across this beauty! I was in one of those “where do I go from here” moods. We didn’t have the money for me to spend on it, but I couldn’t just leave it there. I felt it was a “God wink” where my aunt was telling me to “let it be” of whatever was going on that was weighing on me. See, she didn’t have any children, so us, her nieces and nephews, were treated as if we were her own. Me being the oldest, I had about nine years alone with her before the youngsters were born. Yes, I was quite spoiled! Owls have become something I notice and cherish. This cup reminds me of my blessings and gives me great peace. What are your blessings you have collected over the years?

-Em

“He will be our peace.” -Micah 5:5

Inspiration and Self Help

New Goals or Old Goals?

January 8, 2019January 8, 2019
by admin

The New Year always brings along the idea of setting goals. Last year, I decided to set my running/walking goal. YEP, I chose to run 1,000 miles in 2018. Well to much sadness, did NOT meet my goal. HOWEVER (the word I use when I want to put a little sunshine on a cloudy consequence), I was more consistent and intentional about running/walking. I finished the year with 877 miles either run or walked. I do have to say I was quite proud and not discourage. “New Month. New Mindset. New Focus. New Intentions. New Results.” – Anonymous

Now since it is 2019, I have the same goal! With lessons learned of how and what I will need to do to meet this goal of 1,000 miles in 2019, I have set weekly and daily goals. Someone once said, “Don’t wait until you reach your goal to be proud of yourself. Be proud of each step you take toward reaching that goal”. This is a mindset in which I will also change this year in order to reach the ending goal of 1,000 miles.

I know some of you are thinking…. Em you are crazy to even want to run/walk that many miles PERIOD! Ha! However, my crazy goals are mine and I am praying hard and working hard to crush them! What are your goals for the 2019 year?

-Em

“Set Goals. Say Prayers. Work Hard.” – Al Carraway

“Where God guides, He provides.” – Isaiah 58:66

Inspiration and Self Help

Cup half empty or half full?

January 8, 2019January 8, 2019
by admin

Even though my cup is chipped, I am grateful my cup is refillable! Sooooooo I am jumping into 2019 GRATEFUL! I am grateful that I have learned that my cup doesn’t have to continue to run dry. Somebody once said “You can’t pour from an empty cup. Make sure you are filling your cup first so you have something to pour into others.” When I make the time to talk to God and build the relationship expected of me with him, I am beaming of joy knowing He knows. God knows my needs, my heart, my goals, my failures, my hurts, my disappointments, my joys, my accomplishments, my thoughts, my prayers. He refills my cup for me. He has my back. He guides my choices. He puts those I need at each moment in my path for wisdom, guidance or even a listening ear. “When you take the time to refill your cup and replenish your spirit, you make the world a better place.” – Nanea Hoffman. Being a Director, or as my students call me Principal, Mom, Wife, Friend, Sister, Daughter, Boss, Runner, Yoga lover, Ph. D Student, I tend to always have my plate way too full. However, 2018 has taught me that “It is not selfish to refill your own cup so that you can pour into others. It’s not just a luxury. It is essential.” -Anonymous. It is okay to be and just breathe. These words have guided me into 2019 with the motivation to take the essential time needed with God spiritually, mentally, and physically motivated in order to keep my cup being refilled, so I can fulfill the mission set before me…. loving others by giving joy. What is your prayer and motivation for 2019?

-Em

“My cup runneth over.” – Psalm 23:5

“Always be joyful. Never stop praying.” -1 Thessalonians 5:16-17

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For the love of running….

Blessings…

New Goals or Old Goals?

Cup half empty or half full?