As I sit here on the eve of a new year I think about all the people making resolutions…lose weight, quit smoking, no caffeine, be nicer, get a good job, work less, work harder, the list goes on.  And then I think about all the people in Feb (or sooner) giving up on those resolutions.  We’ve all done it, right?  We all do it, which is why I don’t make new years resolutions.

I totally respect those that come into the new year with resolutions, and I’m blown away by those that actually follow through…although come to think of it, I can’t recall ever meeting anyone who has.

As I’ve grown over the years I’ve learned the value of the present moment and how every moment is a brand new one and it’s okay to start over at any moment, so January 1 doesn’t really mean much to me other than it’s another moment!

So with that in mind, here’s my very simplistic intention for this moment, the next, the next and the next moment:  TO FEEL GOOD AND TO HAVE THOUGHTS THAT FEEL GOOD!  I truly believe that if in every moment I can feel good, then all will be well.  I will have anything and everything that I want and I will be living my dream life.  Period.  It’s that simple.

Now, I’m sure you’re wondering how I will feel good when something bad is happening and how feeling good will bring me anything and everything I want.  Let me explain — if something bad is happening it’s really just my perception of whether it’s good or bad, so if I can perceive it to be good, or at least see a bright side, then I’ll feel better.  Does that make sense??  AND, as you know I’m a HUGE believer in the Law of Attraction so the better I feel, the more things I’ll attract into my experience to feel good about, and I won’t be having “bad” things come into my life!

So there you have it.  My intention now, on Jan. 1, or any other day, any other moment is to feel good.  Wanna join me?

Happy New Year, Everyone!

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So yesterday I ran the last leg of the White Rock Marathon relay race…6.2 miles!  I must say I’m very proud of myself.  I trained a bit, but not as much as I would have liked to.  Yesterday was only the 2nd time that I’ve ever ran that far and the first time was on a treadmill!  So yes, I’m very proud of myself, but I’m also proud of ALL the runners, especially the marathoners…26.2 miles.  Wow.

Running is such a mental game.  For me, it’s goes something like this:

When I take my first several strides I wonder how the hell I’m even going to make it a half of a mile.  My body is trying to find a rhythm.  My breath is too.  And my mind?  haha “Let’s do this another day.  You’ve really got a lot to do.  You don’t need to run this race.  Please stop.  Please.”.  BUT I DON’T.  I keep moving.  I bring my awareness to my breath.  Ahhh, there it is.  I’m starting to hear a rhythm.  2 inhales through the nose, 1 exhale through the mouth.  (I don’t know if this is how I’m “suppose” to breath while I’m running, but this is what I do).  I keep moving.  Then I find the rhythm in my body, and I get a good pace going (I run a 10 minute mile).  Everything is going good, but then my mind wanders in…or maybe I should say my mind wonders what the hell I’m doing!  You mean I’ve only gone a mile?  What?  Ok, back to the breath.  I’ll enjoy my scenery.  But wait, my knee is starting to hurt.  I ignore it the best I can.  I tell myself to keep running, just don’t think about it.  Don’t think about anything, or wait, maybe I should think about something to get my mind off the running.  Okay, so what I am going to buy everyone on my Christmas list?  Okay, enough of that because my toe is numb.  Yep, I can’t feel my big toe.  That’s okay, just keep running.  You can do this.  Breathe.  2 miles.  That wasn’t so bad.  I can keep going.  I’m fine.  Just breath.  Enjoy the now.  Take this moment in completely (this is where I go into my yoga training), but damn this knee and toe (this is where I go out of my yoga training).  Should I stop?  Yes, I think I should.  No, nope.  I’m fine.  I can do this.

And then, out of nowhere I realize that I’m absolutely okay.  My body is amazing.  It’s almost like my legs and arms are just moving on their own.  You get to point (for me it’s about mile 3 or so) where it’s like you don’t even realize they’re moving.  They’ve been moving in that same motion for so long now, that it just happens.  You don’t have to make your legs move, they just are.  And I can feel that my heart rate is high, but I can hold a conversation.  My breath is great if I just keep my “2-1″ rhythm going.

AND THEN, it’s all mental!  Once your body and breath have acclimated the mind is the only thing left you have to deal with!  Now this is probably where wearing ear buds and listening to music would come in and be a great help, but I, 99% of the time, don’t listen to music while I run.  I know!  Crazy, right?  I just figure I’ll be thinking my crazy thoughts while the music is playing, so why not try to not think at all.  A moving meditation.  So this is what I do.  I meditate why running (at least I try…most of the time I run while pushing my 2 kids, so if they’re not talking to me, need a snack, want my iPhone, and not fighting with each other, I’m meditating!).

I go in and out of boredom a bit too, but I know that’s just my mind playing tricks on me.  I make it 6.2 miles, and I’m feeling good.  But ya know, I don’t think I have a desire to run anymore than that.  I’m good.

I’m in awe of the marathon runners.  Not only the physical strength, but the mental strength it takes to run 26.2 miles just blows my mind!

(Now if I can just get up from this chair with my sore thighs!)

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