The game has changed

Have you ever had an "ah-ha" moment?  One where the answer is so blatantly staring you in the face that it essentially thumps you over the head?  No lightbulb, just a good smack upside the head. 

I had one yesterday and it was a doozie!

I was having one of those days, not just a Monday where you are playing catch-up from the weekend, it was a day of hellish proportions.  More work than I could possibly do in the span of a normal work day, pressure and deadlines looming overhead, and more problems than I've had to deal with before.  It was so crazy busy that lunch was spent in front of my computer and consisted of a protein bar, banana and V-8.

I left work feeling stressed, strung out and anxious.  I was in a witchy mood and had a nasty attitude.  I needed to decompress and fast!  Normally I would go home and pour myself a glass of wine and relax, while ranting and raving about my day to friends.

This time it was different, this time the last thing I wanted to do was drink a glass of wine and relax on the couch.  I've been sitting all day and I couldn't even stand sitting in my car during the rush hour traffic to get home.  I needed to move, I needed to break out of this funk...I needed to run.  Now to fill you in on some background, I take lunch time runs especially during the winter when there is daylight and it helps me to decompress from the stress during the day.  I would feel refreshed and much less stressed the rest of the day.  I wanted to take one during my lunch on Monday, but with the pile of work I had, that just wasn't an option.

So when I got home, I could not get my running clothes on fast enough.  I paused for a couple of minutes to give my hubby a hug and kiss, but then I was throwing my running shoes on and walking out the door.  (Sorry I didn't take a picture, I was decked out in purple, black and white, I looked pretty badass actually.)  I couldn't wait to get moving and I got down the street and started running.  The breathing fell into place, the pace was good and I was pushing it, turning all that stress into my running energy.  And I was flying!  I attacked the hills and pushed myself to go farther than I thought I was going to.

I finished the run and felt a million times better.  I left all that bad stuff and stress out on the road and was spent when I got home.  I took a nice hot shower and put on my pro compression socks to help my calves recover from my cathartic run.

This day was a game changer for me.  I have officially crossed a bridge.  Or turned a corner, or whatever you call it.  My body no longer wants to engage in my old habits to decompress, it wants to sort out my stress and stomp it by running it out.  Release any anxiety and lose myself in the footsteps on the road.  I couldn't be happier with this revelation and know that this is a much healthier way to deal with issues and stress in life.  I was more relaxed the rest of the evening and I woke up feeling better and in a good mood (regardless of the lack of sleep I'd gotten last night).  I'm thrilled with this turn of events and really can't wait to spend more time on the road.  This is a happy hour I could definitely get used to! :)

Momentum Monday: Believe in Yourself

Believe in yourself. 

Three simple little words.  Little in size, huge in implication and implementation.

In short, easier said than done.

The world around us, much like the athletic world, is highly competitive.  You need to prove your worth by what you can provide, show, prove.  Proof.  Powerful word, huh?  Proof of your strength.  Proof of your work.  Proof of your accomplishments.  Proof of your worth by actions that have created something that is great and organically your own.

So how do you get to that stature?  How do you get to that point, that pinnacle?  Drive is a large aspect, you have to want it, to go after it, to crave it, to hunger for that chase that will get you to where you need to be.  That fire in your belly (and I'm not talking about heartburn) that reminds you there is something greater out there you are striving for, to accomplish, to be.

But is that all?  Is that it?  I have the want, the crave, the hunger, that fire in my belly to get what I want.  Yet I fail at achieving that pinnacle I so long for.  What else could I be missing?  Then I stumbled up on this and decided to make this today's Momentum Monday, I think we all need this now and again:

Belief.

People who succeed believe in themselves, believe that they can do what they set out to do and that nothing will deter them from getting to that coveted point they strive for.  They don't care what anyone else is doing or if others don't believe that they can do it.  Their own belief in themselves and their goal is enough to sustain them and fuel that fire.

Then why don't we believe in ourselves?  Why don't I believe in myself?  I'm guessing it is easier to listen to all the negative feedback and comments you get and hold them as truths.  We hold onto those truths that we can't be who or what we want to be, like it's an old familiar blanket keeping us warm with disdain.  We need to shed that blanket, we need to stop letting those old beliefs have power, we need to stop getting in our own ways and let ourselves believe that we can do better, we can be better and we can acheive what we want. 

Because I believe.  Because you believe.  Because we believe, in ourselves.

Great News!

I'm an Ambassador!

Not just for one group of amazing people, but TWO!

I got my first email on Monday from Girls Gone Sporty. They opened up an Ambassadorship on a yearly basis to people who are positive and enthusiastic about living a healthy and "sporty" lifestyle.  Positivity is a contagious thing and I love everything they stand for, so I couldn't wait to get my application in.  The on Monday, I got my acceptance email with all the information about being a Flagship Ambassador for Girls Gone Sporty. (badge to follow)

I'm more than thrilled to be involved with this organization and I know that with the help of all the Ambassadors, this positivity will only grow!

Then on Tuesday I got another fantastic email.

You got it!  I'm also a newly minted Ambassador for Fit Approach.  Watch out now, I'm sweating pink!  This is another organization that is positive and encouraging for athletes of all types, shapes and sizes.  I've seen their presence grow more and more over the past few months and I couldn't WAIT to put in my application to request to be among some fantastic people spreading the #sweatpink word!  Then on Tuesday I got the email saying that I'm a new Ambassador and I literally jumped for joy in my office cubical.  Yup...I was excited...and I'm still excited!

I have been chosen to be a representative for two amazing organizations that, among other things, instills positivity about being active and healthy.  What is not to love about that?

So going forward you will be seeing posts that may pertain to these two organizations or tweets with #sweatpink and #girlsgonesporty.  I'm not just a groupie, I'm now an Ambassador!