Time to finish up the year! If you missed last week and want to make Sure you didn’t miss any posts this year, you can find Part 1 of wrapping up the year HERE. And now for Part 2… Continue reading
instrument
The Shame of the Backslide…
Today I am writing about something that may seem only tangentially related to my themes for the year, but it actually ties into several of them. I want to talk a little bit about battling with feelings of shame when you backslide in one area or another, especially living in a culture that is obsessed with productivity and progress. It can feel so discouraging to experience a regression of any sort, and no one really wants to talk about that stuff, which is why I feel like it is really important to talk about my own struggles with the backslides I have had this year. Continue reading
My Favorite Instruments for Intentional Productivity
THIS POST CONTAINS SOME AFFILIATE LINKS, SO IF YOU BUY A PRODUCT THROUGH THAT LINK, I GET A SMALL PERCENTAGE. HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT BEEN PAID OR RECEIVED ANY COMPENSATION TO WRITE THIS POST AND THE VIEWS IN IT ARE 100% MINE.
I’ve been thinking a lot about instruments– I was going to write a little about the instruments I’ve used during my training but, honestly, I’m a little over writing about running at the moment. Then I realized I have several favorite instruments for intentional productivity that I’d just love to share about and that have helped me during training but aren’t directly related to running. So I’m sharing them here. Keep in mind: they’re only instruments though- they need you to play them or they are not worth much. I could have the greatest tool for productivity in the world, but if I let it sit in the box waiting for the perfect time to use it or waiting for me to become perfect at using it.. that tool (aka instrument) would not be worth much. So here are the instruments I use on a daily or weekly basis to be sure I’m not just spinning my wheels but actually moving toward my big picture goals. Continue reading
What I love about ME
It is SO HARD to take a compliment and even harder to compliment myself. I had made a note in my drafts folder for this blog YEARS ago of a challenge that was popular at the time to name 5 things you like about yourself, something that was a challenge because it seemed extra hard or uncomfortable for women especially. Well, after almost this exact same prompt coming up in a recent MOPS (Mothers of Pre-Schoolers) meeting, I’ve finally dusted off this old post idea… and upgraded it from like to love. I challenge you to share with me some things YOU really love about yourself too… Continue reading
Dear Treadmill: An Open Letter to my Favorite Instrument of Torture
Dear Treadmill,
I suppose I should start by apologizing for all the names I’ve called you so far this summer: the classic “dreadmill” title and the inside joke “trashmill” with my race twin, or the oh so straightforward “Satan’s Spawn” because I know calling you those names doesn’t help either of us, and probably makes me psych myself out about using you even more. But man, it sometimes feels like you really truly deserve it. Continue reading
The Warm Up: It’s not Sexy but I am Finding it is Necessary
Over the past month or so, while I’m between official “training seasons” and just trying to maintain a base level of fitness and stamina, one of the habits I have been working on is warming up and cooling down before and after each workout. I will admit that adding the cool down came pretty naturally to me. I can immediately feel the difference between when I bring my heart rate down gradually vs. coming to a dead stop. I also happen to really enjoy stretching and giving myself the excuse to do a post-run or post-strength stretch feels marvelous. It is also a time when my brain is riding high on endorphins and I can decompress and think about the work I just did. The warm up though? That is a totally different story… Continue reading
You Can’t Harmonize Alone…
If you read my intro posts for the year, you know that one of my themes is Instrument and that refers not only to our familial undertaking of becoming a more musical household, but also to the prayer that inspired me to have instrument as my word of the year– Lord, Make me an Instrument of your Peace. Continue reading
March Recap and April Goals
March is done! Whenever Spring break falls always feels like a weirdly long and short month all at once. Maybe it’s the residual trauma of marking when the world shut down? Maybe it’s just the stage we are in with early school age kids? Here’s how my March went and what I’m focusing on for April: Continue reading
Modifications Are Sexy!
For a long time I thought modifications were like cheating. I am a very follow the rules type of personality and I want to do things right because #recoveringperfectionist and this is probably part of why I prefer baking to cooking. Comfort with modifying recipes and improvising with what you have is prized in good cooking. Following the rules in baking so that all the science of baking works out is more my speed. I have come to change my mind about boundaries though. If it weren’t for finding the freedom to modify, I think there are a lot of things I would never attempt at all. Continue reading
Before you can even start: On Tuning your Instrument…
OK, you may think this post doesn’t apply to you if you don’t play an instrument… of that this post is a giant CAPTAIN OBVIOUS moment if you have played for years… but just stick with me because there’s a bigger point, ok? Continue reading
Alphabet Resolutions 