Month: December 2017

Dear Readers,

Have you heard this expression before? It means, putting yourself in a position where you have to do what you have promised to do, and there is no turning back.

There is a story about some Irish lads who were walking about in a road and they needed to get across a wall, so knowing that was what was needed, they lacked ample motivation so they threw their hats over the wall and climbed over the wall to get them.

In this case, it’s not a hat, it’s a 3.1 mile race that is being held in February.

The Break a Leg, 5K being put on by the Paramount, it’s a for a good cause and it will be a fun course. There is a hill on the route, but hey what’s a walk/run without a challenge.

It costs 50.00 (so it costs money, so I have to be invested in the process to get there)

I have told a bunch of people about it (that would be you, gentle readers) so I have to do it. No backing down, and no chickening out.

I have definitely done 5K’s before, so it may not seem like a big deal, AND it is.

Since the birth of my daughter, Vivienne, I have really struggled to get back on track with my health and fitness and I have been chronicling the journey, day by day as I work out. Tomorrow is Day 40, since I started working out a year ago. (see I am writing about it, so I have to get up and do it, even if I am cold, even if I am tired, I am accountable to each and every one of you, reading this. (this picture is what it looks like after you run)

I walk and I run and I swim, all leading to a marathon, eventually.

For now, baby steps to a 5K, again. Truth time? I am a little frustrated about that.

Back in 2015, I did actually walk/run a 10 mile race.

 

https://jenniferhastonsays.com/2015/04/01/its-not-hard-after-its-done-she-says-10-miles-later/

But, there is absolutely no shame in starting over, and starting strong.

(This is a picture of my first ever 5K) almost 3 years ago)

I have a great set of friends who are working on their own fitness and weight goals and without sharing about their life too much, they both recently had some setbacks and I hope that when they read this, it helps them realize that it happens to each and every one of us, and the most important part of falling down that 10th time is getting back up the 11th, 12th, and 13th, time.

Get back up, we all want to see you kick bahookie!

Think About It!!!!!

Dear Readers,

I have long had a healthy respect for plans, spending over 2 years planning for our wedding is just one in a long list of examples of my fondness for preparation.

I have to say nothing prepared me for the amount of plans that will go to absolute chaos from 0-90 like being a parent.

Case in point- Our family was planning to spend weekend with his grandparents and enjoy Christmas.  Sounds great, right?

Well, it started out well, but quickly descended into chaos at about 9 o’clock Friday night.

Normally the little one’s bedtime. Now I have to confess, we are spoiled rotten with this, because typically we put her down and say good night and off she drifts to sleep.

There are exceptions which I have talked about on this blog, but in general we are lucky in this regard especially given all the struggles I have heard other parents talk about and I think this is something that is constantly in flux so at any minute she could decide that she is done with bedtime at 9 and decide to stay up till 4 a.m. which is precisely what happened on Friday night.

Tried and true tricks, things that have worked since she was born, all FAILED to soothe her to slumber. She was not upset, just awake and full of energy.

I will admit this sounds very calm and collected but that was not the picture. I was really frustrated that NOTHING I was doing was working. I was thinking to myself, “I am her mother, can I really not comfort her?” Not a happy place to be, and I actually started to feel myself getting really upset and then it hit me. This isn’t about me. IT IS ABOUT HER.

After I had that realization, I calmed down a lot and went back to troubleshooting the current issue.

No matter what we did, nothing would convince her to go to sleep until finally she just wore herself out.  Relieved and more than a little exhausted, my husband and I passed out ourselves and woke up later and were in total agreement, we were going home so she could  (hopefully) sleep in her own bed and try to get back to “normal”.

The grandparents were extremely understanding and recounted their own tales of sleepless nights.

I found it an excellent opportunity to embrace the lack of comfort that planning brought me in that moment of looking at her and realizing no way is she going to sleep.

So, I have two choices.

1. I can gnash my teeth and be super pissed that she foiled my “plan” to follow a schedule.
2. I can embrace the dance of life, the frustrating, the happy, hard, the easy, and go with it.

By the way, these pictures would not have been taken if our plans had not changed. 

 

It’s an excellent metaphor for life, you don’t need a kid to embrace chaos, you just need other people who do not have a copy of your blueprint to deviate and challenge your plan.

What will you choose?

Think About It.

 

Dear Readers,

I love my daughter, I love my husband AND I need a break from time to time.

I NEED a conversation that isn’t modeling behavior and appropriate language for a 14 month old. I need to read a book that isn’t cardboard and I NEED to watch a show minus a letter of the day and a number of the day.

I need a conversation that has years of inside jokes and shared reality as a woman, a director, a friend, and sister of the heart and mind. I need to remember who I am when I am not wearing my Mom hat.

 

 

I can’t remember if my friend Rachel came up with this term or if it was me. I will go ahead and give her credit, as she is very smart and likely did come up with it.

Parenting Bingo. (you heard it here first) 🙂

Parenting Bingo- refers to the checkerboard of schedules one has to consult before “finding time” that is not already promised, to work, to school, to spouses or to sleep or to exercise! Sometimes it takes a few go rounds before you find it, but if you persevere, you will !

I definitely have to work harder to keep my energy up in the face of parenthood and all the ensuing responsibilities. So this means I need examine what I am doing that doesn’t work for my long-term goals. I want to be healthy and have energy to live my life.

I have been sleeping more (but only because I stay up too late watching things that I have watched over and over again) which puts a burden on my husband to watch our child while I catch up on sleep (and then he also takes care of her while I am work so that wasn’t very fair of me) which was making me feel tired all the time, and I was trying to figure out why.

When I really looked at it and was honest with myself, I realized I am not doing anything to help feeling tired all the time. I have been eating a lot of junk and not exercising, a surefire way to put on weight and get depressed so I am working on that.

Last Thursday, I gave up soda, yes my beloved Pepsi is now a thing of the past. I want to try it and see if it helps give me energy so I am committing to giving it up for 30 days, and then see how I feel. I am also committing to working out once a week and with the combination of those things, I should have more energy, it’s a formula I have tried in the past and lost about 20 pounds, just by changing what I am drinking.

It’s an experiment, and it’s one thing I can do to try to give myself more energy. I will report back and let you know how it’s going.

The other thing I can do is say NO to things I don’t want to do. I can put more boundaries around my time so I don’t agree in the moment, and THEN take a look at all my responsibilities and commitments and then realize, I have to take that back now.

I hate going back on my word or cancelling plans and I really try hard not to do it.

There are going to be times it’s unavoidable but for the most part, if I say I will be there, you can take it to the bank that I will be.

So what has this to do with you, Gentle Reader? Simple.

Do you need to schedule a little sanity? Are you in a busy season that seems to have no end date? Look to the future and say, okay, on this day I am going to take a spa day or go to a movie by yourself (book a date with yourself and KEEP IT) treat it like a real commitment because it IS! Have that to look forward to and that will help you through your current busy patch.

Think About It