RUN GIRL! (or walk)

With the desires to be an overall more awesome me, I've taken up running. Sort of. The GOAL is to become a runner.

I began this journey with the intent to prepare for The Mississippi Bues Marathon next year. I even bought shoes and everything. (see figure 1) Got the hubs and in-laws on board and guess what I did?!

NOTHING.

A WHOLE LOT OF NOTHING.

I think I walked the neighborhood (~1.5 miles)  twice  in two weeks. lol

Figure I (don't you love how I "artistically" angled the shoes for added drama? lol)

After a month of inactivity with $120 shoes collecting dust in the closet, I figured it was high time to re-evaluate what I was doing and find another way.

Enter the Jackson chapter of Black Girls Run! :applause from the studio audience:. I had been eyeing the national website for some time. Just really unsure how to motivate myself without a local buddy. Lucky for me, they finally got some dedicated ladies to spearhead a group out here.

Yesterday was my first :ahem: run with them. Boy howdy am I out of shape! But 3.5 miles in 50 minutes isn't too big of an embarassment when the last time I did any constant athletic activity was at age 15 [I was the WORST softball player ever! But that story is for another time, kids.]. My Godsister set a realistic goal of finishing the Color Me Rad 5K (March 23...and we already paid for it so there's no getting out of it) in 40 minutes. I can cut my time by 10 minutes (and maybe more if I acutally ran!) in month, right? Of course!!! Which me luck peoples.


Hugs and not drugs

Gayle

This picture is LIFE!

Where in the world is hubs??... I have NO idea!! LOL

LUCY, you gots some 'splainin' to do!

I greatly detest my inability to stick to a plan. I was playing around on the internets when I "remembered" i had a neglected blog. Shame on me. SHAME!

I could blame the fact that in Feburary (despite not mentioning it) we found out that I was expecting. [sidenote: I have the most AWESOME baby boy that has graced the face of the earth!!]

I could blame the fact that I ultimately decided not to persue a career in medicine and now I face the perils of not knowing what career best suits me.

I could blame the fact that my world made a very SHARP and abrupt turn and I'm just now getting myself back together.

I could blame a lot of things.

But I won't.

I'll just say that I am a slacker. =)

But I'll continue to try to change.

And y'all can continue to try to support me.

Does this post mean I'm back? ...Who knows? ...Maybe. One could only dream. Somewhere my psyche is saying yes, but I won't get my 0.00000001 folllower(s) excited for nothing.


Love, peace, and hair grease
 Gayle

10 Things Grown Women Shouldn't Do

I found this article to be very funny and very honest. SO....I decided to share. Feel free to apply to your life. For the full read to include here elaborations [mine are here in orange] check out the original post here.

#1 Stop comparing yourself to other women.

 I think we all are guilty of this at some point in life. Which is fine. It's natural to do a little scientific analysis of your surrounds and "rank" where you compare. As social animals, this is something we do best. HOWEVER, when you begin to make major life decisions or (worse yet) belittle yourself, you need to evaluate some things. You will never be "her". That's why you are you. So instead of trying to be a better "her", be a better you. Since no one else can be you, you're winning already!!

#2 Stop thinking of comebacks way after the fact.

 What's the point? It's not like you can use them since the argument is OVER. Besides, holding grudges (which basically what you're doing) benefits NO ONE, and actually takes away from you since you're spending time worrying about things that don't matter.   

#3 Stop denying yourself the pleasure of your company.

As an only child, I can attest to the awesomeness of being alone. And I know those of you with more crowded environments feel the same. Sometimes we need to turn off all the distractions and just sit in our own heads. Or read. Or (my personal fav) sleep. Just take some time out for yourself to be by yourself. You'll thank you later.

#4 Stop making excuses for why something won’t work.

Either it is, or it isn't. No matter which, it still has to be dealt with. So if an outcome isn't in your favor, develop a solution to fix it, change plans, or just leave it alone. 'Cause you know what they say about excuses...

#5 Stop putting yourself so far down the list that you have to flip the paper over to find your name. 

This goes back to #3...kinda. We are often so bogged down in LIFE that we don't realize we're overwhelmed until we wake up in a hospital bed with an IV drip. Take the time to treat yourself. It's an important part of preparing for success. You wouldn't expect your car to run without gas, so why would you? 

 #6 Stop getting overly frustrated when you are faced with things you can control – and the things you can’t.

Take everything one step at a time. And if you have to, 1/2 step at a time. Frustrations (and the resulting lack of action) will only decrease your progress exponentially. 

 #7 Stop holding grudges from more than three months ago.

#2!!! 

#8 Stop taking your health for granted.


TOP 3 THREATS TO WOMEN'S HEALTH:
     1) Heart Disease
     2) Cancer
     3) Stroke

These are very much preventable. ....just saying.

 #9 Stop being afraid to be you.

  And make sure you're being the YOU that you are when no one is around. You cannot expect anyone to like you if you don't like yourself. You can't like yourself if the person you parade around isn't the real you. We are all misfits but that's what makes us all wonderful in our own way. Think of this way: if we were all the same, the world would be BEYOND boring. Do you want that world? So let the real you out!!

#10 Stop being scared.

There is nothing wrong with being afraid/fearful of something, but you have to overcome it. There is so much life has to offer and #1 we only have one life to live, #2 reminiscing with regrets SUCKS, and #3 you can never reach your full potential if you're afraid to step out of your comfort zone.  


XOXO
Gayle 

Just a little motivation

Don’t get held down by one dream. Dreams are flexible, they adapt to different circumstances. Dreams are something that you control, that you can build. If one dream looks impossible, twist it sideways and see what you come up with. There is a way around any roadblock – whether you have to go around it, over it or even under it.

 

Tara Jefferson

Quilled Paper Anatomical Cross Sections!!

I have heard of Lisa Nilsson and her awesome quilled paper work, but nothing could prepare me for this!! My right and left brains are adequately satisfied.

 I am in geek art HEAVEN!!!

[Source]

XOXO
Gayle

My sincerest apologies to my beloved

OH BLOG!
How I have neglected thee!
There is so much same upon my bosom!!
I must return to you!
(...eventually)

So yeah, I've been absent. Very absent. Someone might have even put out an APB. If the did, the internet police surely moves slowly. lol But anyway, I'm just doing school and trying to get myself together. I will return to the blog (and my workout plan). ....eventually. lol

But on a good note, I have found a natural guru that I am determine to emulate (somewhat) to the best of my abilities. And once I gather the gumption to e-mail her, I'll get started on my path to healthier living by holistic means. (yeah, I alter my health goals quite often, but I think I may work to keep at this)

If you have a minute, check her out!

[Source]

XOXO
Gayle