Can't or Won't?

It's late. I'm going to admit that I was staring at my closet for about 20 minutes before I opened my laptop and started typing. You see, tomorrow is the Fall fashion show at the Wauwatosa Women's Club (you should all join!), and I want to look nice. Duh, you say, but it's more the fact that I have to see my former Boot Camp coach, Sandi, than the fact that it's a fashion show.

I want to show her that thanks to all this working out, and a lot of her encouragement, I'm a whole size smaller than I was a year ago and I've stuck to it! And I don't mean, I'm a size smaller because I bought smaller pants and darn it, I'm going to make the zipper go up no matter what. I'm comfortably a size smaller and a whole lot healthier!

I think a lot of health is determining if you can't or won't do something about your lifestyle. Can't = impossible, and that's a load of hooey. As it says in the Bible, "I can do all things through Him who gives me strength." If you are choosing not to get off your couch, then you're saying "can't", and that's something you can change. However, if you're missing an arm and you say, "I can't do push-ups" that's legitimate. If you are refusing to do something, then that's a "won't", and you probably just need an attitude check.

Sandi, like me, hated the word "can't". She knew that if you just tried a little harder, you could! She once told me, "when you think you can't do any more, do 10 more". If people would just choose to at least walk for 30 minutes (10 minutes three times a day counts) or use a stretchy-band, they could do more than they even think is possible!

Fitness is achievable! If I can do it, you can do it! Heck, if I can learn all this crazy stuff, then there is hope that I'll find just the right outfit for tomorrow!

I don't remember where I read this quote, but I love it, and I'll leave you with it while I find an outfit to wear tomorrow:
"Impossible is nothing. Impossible is a big word used by small people. Nothing is impossible."

I spoke too soon...

OK, so I recently wrote about taking time and not getting sick.
Whoops!
The day after I wrote that, I got strep throat!
Facepalm.
Fortunately, at least it's a real infection where they can give you penicillin, and then you get better quickly unlike a virus where all they can tell you is "good luck". Fortunately, it has been over 48 hours, and now I am no longer contagious nor do I sound like Darth Vader!
Whoo hoo!
Sadly, I am still a bit congested. This means that I had to miss the race this morning, but thanks to my friend Kristi (*waves) I'll still get my race packet [free t-shirt]. Next year! I'll run it next year!
So, thanks to everyone who gave me home remedies, advice, and general well-wishes. I appreciate you all!
Love,
Jen

I'll rest when I'm dead

Dear sadly neglected blog readers,
Today you're going to learn a truth that you might already know, even if you may already be aware of it.
You see, back in high school when I foolishly refused to miss school unless I was contagious, bleeding, or broken, I jam-packed my days with classes, clubs, sports, homework, volunteering and even being in the spring musical my Senior year (insert your guffaws here). I was involved in so many things that my over-achiever-ness was hitting all-time highs. I had a very smart, very competitive class all striving for scholarships and outstanding GPA's. My motto at the time was, "I'll rest when I'm dead."
After my over-achiever self got herself a scholarship to college and charged ahead into the major of her choice and without ever wavering. I did it again. I was in clubs, on student government, played intramural sports, had three internships, traveled, held a job and helped organize the senior farewell reception. Oh yeah, and I remained grade-anal so I could wear the special tassels and get that shiny stamp on my diploma.
Fortunately, while this makes me sound like some crazed, teen-movie do-gooder (which I probably was), I got a full time, benefits-providing job within 3 months of graduation. Whoo hoo! Unfortunately, I didn't learn that it's OK to NOT pack your life full of activities and whatnot landing my 23-year-old butt on my parents' couch with mono. I went from running 5Ks to napping on the landing a measly nine steps up from the first floor. Let me point out that prior to this, I hadn't taken a nap since I had a 12-day hospital stay and 5 surgeries at the age of 10.
Lessons learned: humility, patience and napping.
One kicker here: I sometimes have to relearn those post-mono lessons. Take last week as an example. I managed to get a bazillion things done including being able to show up for the Halloween party dressed as Betty Crocker complete with three dessert options for the other ghouls.
Why am I telling you all this? First, because I apologize for not writing sooner and this is my explanation. Second, because it's my blog and I can. Third, because I have two races coming up this weekend and I want to tell you about them.
I can just imagine you intelligent reader thinking, "Woman, did you not learn anything from the previous paragraphs? Do we need to remind you about the stairs?" Well, I can tell you that I'm running on Saturday and walking on Sunday, so no worries that I'm trying to pull a two-fer.
The first is the Warrior 5K: This 5K and 2.5 mile walk, which serves as a fundraiser and community outreach for the WLC cross country teams. It begins at 10 a.m. at Greenfield Park.
The second is the Jingle Bell Run/Walk for Arthritis: This event kicks off at 8:30 a.m. at the Milwaukee County Zoo to benefit the 1.1 million people in Wisconsin who are affected by arthritis or one of it's 100 related diseases.
So, once again, I apologize for neglecting you, my readers, but I hope you'll forgive me and stay tuned for adventures in guitar lessons and my last races of the year!
Thanks