| Thursday, November 21, 2013 |
| Thursday Thankful Thoughts... |
I had this huge Thanksgiving post all written out with pictures of food that I plan to make along with links to recipes (if you need recipes that are gluten free and dairy free you can read about mine here, here and here). However, that just doesn't feel like the message I want to put out there this holiday season. If I'm being honest, which I tend to like to be, this hasn't been the easiest year for our family or for a lot of my friends and family either. I feel like this holiday season, for me, I need to really focus on the good in my life and really be thankful for all that I have in it right at this moment. Life is constantly evolving and while I do think that bad is good for us sometimes (it keeps us grounded and slightly humble), I am incredibly thankful for my amazing family, for our health, for my unbelievably caring friends, the roof over my head that my husband works so hard to keep there, the nourishment I get daily and the work that I'm fortunate enough to have right now. These are what I'm focusing on this year.
Life...it's gotten busy. I've changed. I know, it's weird, but we all change. I guess the bigger part is the acceptance part of any changes in your life. I'm accepting it and embracing it these days or at least that's what I'm telling myself.
So, what's changed? Work is a big one for me. I started teaching small group fitness classes at my local community center. I LOVE it! I'm finally teaching my style workouts and I'm having so much fun! I teach a boot camp at 5:45am twice a week, a beginner yoga fusion (barre moves, breathing, stretching...it's all my favorites in one!) twice a week and a senior fitness class once a week. All of this is on top of my personal training clients that start daily at 5am, my recipe development work, my fitness nutrition clients, my own workouts and well, my family. I'm busier than I've ever been before and I love it on so many levels. Sadly, blogging has taken a back seat for a little while in order for me to focus on these other things and well, make a little money to help out around here. I keep up with my peeps by instagram, Facebook and twitter though, so I don't feel completely out of the loop. Actually, lately, I really am enjoying those outlets of social media. Instagram is my favorite though. I love how positive it is along with a perfect mix of life, food and fitness. Perfect for catching up with everyone.
The other big change for me...I've fallen in love with running. Yeah, and Tony caught the bug too, so we've been having fun getting out in this amazing weather running together. Never in a million years would I have ever thought this would happen. I think I always put too much pressure on myself when it came to running. It's one of those workouts that I can do that completely takes me to a different place. I'm not a good planned runner though. I don't run two days in a row and I don't have certain distances that I will go regularly. I'm not really training for anything other than just getting out there and being free! I still have a hard time calling myself a runner, which is weird to most people. I don't feel like I was made to run. I think there are so many other amazing people that were seriously made to run. Actually, I think Tony was made to run even though he hated it just like me. I'm just enjoying the me time these days and taking it where it takes me…
That being said, Tony and I decided to do something a little different this year for Thanksgiving. We signed up for a half marathon Thanksgiving morning! This will be my first and Tony's second. I can honestly say, I'm not afraid of the distance part, but the cold weather has me a little freaked out. I will get over that…probably shortly after I start running in the 20 degree weather (YIKES)! We went back and forth on whether we were going to do the Atlanta Thanksgiving Half and eventually decided not to due to cost and well, it's not exactly convenient to get to on a day that I actually do want to spend with my kids. Then I came across the Tryptophan Half Marathon that's literally 20 minutes from my house, there was a huge discount code announced and I was really excited when I saw that the proceeds go to The Children's Health Care of Atlanta (a hospital that we have sadly had to use for Max when he was 9 weeks old). So, we are signed up and ready to go! We also have friends that are coming into town to run with us which will make things even more exciting! I'm really excited about doing something different this year. I really need the change of focus for a minute on Thanksgiving and this really is going to help me with that.
All of this is to say that this year, I'm going to really focus on the positives in my life this holiday season. 2013 has not been the best of years for us in so many ways. Sure things could have been worse and well, they have been in the past, but things could have certainly been better. This year has been about learning to accept the bad times in our lives and grow through them rather than allow them do defeat us.
For those of you out there that are sad or lonely this time of year, please know that you are not alone. My heart always goes out to those that suffer, but especially during the holidays. For those of you that are fortunate enough to enjoy feasts with family and friends, please take a moment and really appreciate that moment. Those are precious moments and memories that should be cherished.
I hope you all have an amazing Thanksgiving!Labels: about me |
posted by Sarena Shasteen - The Non-Dairy Queen @ 3:32 PM  |
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