living the dream

Lately, whenever people ask me how I'm doing or what's up, I reply with "living the dream." I find that this positively affects my attitude. Seriously. Attitude is everything. I have found that if I am not really feeling like I am living the dream, but I say so with a smile on my face, my outlook becomes a little rosier. I feel a little bit better. I begin to appreciate how I really am living the dream. I have a fabulous husband, wonderful family and friends, a great job, and a nice, warm home (with a nice, warm bed to match) to rest my body in at the end of a hectic day. What more could a girl ask for, really?

we're adults. when did that happen, and how can we make it stop?

I read somewhere recently that changes are rarely gradual. Often, you are not one thing in one moment, and then all of a sudden you are that thing in the next. Becoming a parent can be viewed this way. Yes, there are many months of pregnancy that you have to help prepare you for when a baby arrives, but realistically one moment there isn't a baby, the next there is. Bam. You're a parent (PS I am NOT pregnant; this is merely for illustrative purposes). And becoming an adult seems like it happens in a moment as well. One day you're living at home with your parents, the next you're not. Literally overnight you have your own place, your own bills, your own life to manage and for which to be responsible. Gradual change does not seem to be an option. For that reason, one of my favorite quotes is the title of this blog. It comes from Grey's Anatomy and was delivered by Ellen Pompeo playing Meredith Grey. It's fitting. There are days when I look around me and at my world and wonder, "How did I get here? How did this happen?" Yes, I can (and often do) reflect on the path I took to get me where I am, but really it appears to me that there was a day when I was a kid, and the next I was a married twenty-something with a mortgage and a college degree and a job. Blink and you miss it change is more accurate.

What do you think?

check your head

I must be addicted to endorphins. Seriously. And I need to get my head checked. Why, you ask? Because I just registered for the initial instructor training for yet another wonderful Les Mills program - BODYATTACK (as if BODYCOMBAT weren't intimidating enough, right?). What is BA? Check it out here.

BODYATTACK was the first group fitness class I ventured into in June 2008. It was the class that started my group fitness obsession. You may be wondering if I loved it so much, why wasn't it my first program for certification? Here's why - I ran out halfway through the first class and nearly puked. It was a smidge embarassing. If you checked out the typical class portion of the site, I ran out during the running track. After upper body conditioning, I was toast! I made it back during agility and lasted through the end of the class, but it was rough. Despite all that, I kept going back. Even though my ass felt literally kicked, I felt so good about myself for making it through the class. I had to take the lower intensity options for the first six-ish months I went to the class, but lately I have been able to hang with the high intensity throughout the class. Now I want to teach it. I think I'm "there" (wherever that is).

Countdown to initial training module = 38 days. Just over a month to get myself psyched up and ready to go. And add some new workout clothes to the wardrobe...

if only I had something profound to share

All has been quiet on the blogging front since November. The staycation was good, but by day 5 I was ready to go back to work (I was off for 10). It was a nice little retreat, but I wish I had done a better job taking advantage of the time to get things done at home. I think I waited too long to take a break from work and wound up being a vegetable all week. A happy veg, but a veg nonetheless much to my dear husband's chagrin.

Work got insanely busy while I was gone and did not let up until the end of the school semester. Helping to put together an event that draws upwards of 8,000 people is no easy feat, and I didn't even do the lion's share of the work. Thank God for volunteers! Did you go to the Holiday Festival and Parade in Queen Creek? You should have been there.

The holidays were good. Christmas was a lot of fun. Our family did a true white elephant exchange. I wound up with a pretty cool elephant statue (I have an African themed room in my house), but Steven got the creme de la creme - a VHS tape on the care and cleaning of bagpipes. Amazing.

The start of 2010 has been pretty uneventful. I continue to teach at the gym (taught 7 classes in the first week of the new year!). Central Christian Church is going through the Bible in a year and I've taken the challenge up for what I think is probably the third or fourth time in my life, but I will do it! Steven and I are reading through a great book by Willard Harley titled Love Busters. It's a follow up to His Needs, Her Needs, and I strongly suggest it for any married couple trying to keep the flames a-burning. Oh yeah, and work is still crazy busy.

I got sick last week with what I like to call "the funk." Just a head cold, but oh so annoying. I am battling valiantly and looking forward to when my sniffles cease. Meds have been helping. I am steering clear of Nyquil and Dayquil since they just make my brain foggy (no bueno), but the allergy medicine is helping to decongest. Victory!

One thing I have come to realize this year - sometimes, working on having a happy and fulfilling marriage can feel like trying to climb Mt. Everest without a freakin' sherpa. It doesn't feel that way always (just from time to time), but at least the sherpa returns at some point to keep leading the climb. Think about that one for a little bit.

I guess that's all for now. Before I digress completely into randomness, I'll sign off for now. Happy 2010 readers!