Tag: journeys

dare to be different

Changes for Chick 2

2chicksandapen

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In a recent post, KT shared her thoughts about change. In fact, if you look closely, change and growth is a theme in many of the things KT writes. She embraces change as a part of life, welcomes it as a path to new challenges and achievements, even seeks and manufactures it to keep herself growing. It is a quality I admire (especially since I do not share it.)

In yet another of the 867 ways that the 2 Chicks are opposites (that we have discovered so far), change is something that makes me very nervous.  I worry about it, try to avoid it, pretend it’s not there, and usually resist it with every bit of my being.  What’s sad is that, even at age 44, I act as if change is avoidable – like I can do something to stop it. I’ve wasted a lot of precious energy trying to keep change at arm’s length. So what’s been happening lately is surprising.

Although I haven’t announced it widely, big changes have been happening in my family. There have been job shifts, school shifts, routine shifts, goal shifts.  Some of these were invited, some were forced upon us by circumstance.  We are all still trying to find our footing as things continue to change and develop.

By way of example, I changed my job (on purpose!) this year.  This is HUGE for me, as someone who avoids change.  But, I needed to make this happen for several reasons, so I set a goal, did the work, and one of the several positions I applied for panned out. (Not surprisingly, it was KT who helped me through the process of getting it done. She is truly a #goalgetter and generously shares her approach!)  Although I still have the same job title, it is a completely different community and school dynamic.  I am trying to keep up, but it is a lot to take in.

Then there are the “domino effect” differences.  The biggest of these is trying to fit in my workouts after school. I can’t attend CrossFit classes at 5:30 am anymore, which has been an adjustment.  I miss my morning gym friends and the stress relief that starting the day with a good sweat brings.  But, I’m getting there at other times as often as I can and making it work. And there are all kinds of other changes that came from my job shift as well.

I’ve been watching the way the changes throughout my family have been playing out.  Even on a good day, with good support, change can be taxing for some.  As I encourage everyone to be patient and take care of themselves while taking each day as it comes, I try to remember to do all those things myself as well.

It can be hard, though.  If I scroll through facebook or instagram, it seems like everyone is always happy, always on vacation, always upgrading their houses, always successful, always champions.  I know my kids see this, too.  It’s rare that people post the hard stuff, the mundane, the oil changes, doing dishes, folding laundry, managing illness, aches, and pains, doing paperwork, struggling with homework, waiting in line, dealing with boring commutes, enduring frustrating people and all the other the day-to-day junk that can take up most of our time.  Of course, we all have those things, but we often keep them behind the scenes (myself included). We may share them with friends, but not always on a big platform. It’s easy to be sucked in to thinking we are the only ones with work or troubles or time we wish could be better spent.

We also rarely see all the work that goes in to transformation.  Instead, we see the end result, the success, not the sweat, the sacrifice, the tears, the drills, the hours of practice, the falls, the U-turns, the frustration, the days when it didn’t seem like anything good was going to come of all the effort.  When you just see the result, it always seems easier than it actually was.

As I was sitting on the back porch writing and thinking about this, trying to make some sense of it for today, a butterfly floated by, blissful as can be on the breeze.  I thought about all the change that butterfly had been through in life.  And so much of that change is done out of view, in the muck and mush and ugly, miraculous work of transformation.

We get no view, there is no applause for this process of change.  The caterpillar goes into hiding, on some internal cue, all along doing the mysterious, innate work it was meant to do.  When it comes time, it emerges, dries its wings, unfolds those beauties, and takes flight.

For me, Sunday is a day of errands and preparation.  Shopping for the food, cleaning the house, packing the lunches, doing the workout, folding the laundry.  Maybe not what many would see as an instagrammable day, but one that sets me up for a week with less stress so I can focus on pushing myself further on the path in my work while also supporting my family and friends in theirs.

It’s also a day of writing and thinking and reconnecting with my vision of my future, and the next steps it will take for me to get there. I’ve carved out that time, so I still take a personal step toward who I am becoming.  No one else can make that time for me (another lesson from my friend KT!)  I have to do it, even if it is just a couple of hours. Other things will go undone, and I’ve learned to be ok with that (but I haven’t always been that way!)

Unlike the butterfly, I’m giving you an inside glimpse into one messy Sunday afternoon moment of my transformation. It may not be pretty. There are groceries all over the counters, floors that need mopping, emails that need answering, kids that need encouraging.  Today and every day, there are loose ends and mushy parts.  There are red herrings and rabbit trails. There are things I will sharpen or learn to do better as I practice and continue to evolve.

Through all of it, I know I am changing.  It may not be a straight path and it may not be quick, but I am inching forward overall.

And at the end of this path is my launch pad, where I’ll suddenly, inevitably, unfold these beauties, and take flight.

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#2CHX #inspireothers #change #transformation #butterfly #goalgetter #Sunday #mealprep #Crossfit #embracechange

 

 

perspective

Dreams vs. Reality

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Most people have ideas of some sort that float around in their headspace at any given time. Sometimes those ideas turn into daydreams or even dream sequences at night.

A racing mind can be a blessing for some and a curse for others. When a person can harness their dreams and turn them into reality, the magic happens. It often equates to what many refer to as success. Although everyone’s definition of success is slightly different, I will highlight a few scenarios:

One may dream of a healthier lifestyle and put a plan of action together to work hard and live fit resulting in their ultimate success. No matter how long the journey takes the person is chipping away at the success they dreamed about.

A kid may dream of making their first high school sports team as a freshman, or they may want to go from a nobody to a somebody on the social side of school. Watch a child. They are resilient. They will chip away little by little and they are not afraid to try new methods to achieve success. Their minds are searching for solutions and they are soaking up knowledge by the second. As adults we can learn so much by channeling our inner child. The curiosity, the fearlessness, the desires of a child are amazing to watch, not to mention most kids can be doggedly persistent. Kids are born sales professionals. What happens when you become an adult? Do you lose all those traits or are they just hidden in your dreams?

Another may dream about getting a new job. It may be a job that is more challenging, a bigger pay rate, closer to home, among other reasons. Once the dream shifts to reality a plan is formulated: find targeted employers, update the resume, invest in a personal coach, buy the killer interview clothes and practice to seal the deal. It may take one interview but more often than not it will take more than one. Still, working the plan makes the dream become a reality and there will be many learning opportunities along the way that may spark new dreams.

For those living the military life, a new dream may take the form of aspirations to become an officer and lead troops in combat or maybe even become an officer who flies fighter jets. Whatever the dream is, hard work is involved to make the dream a reality. The chipper list associated with these dreams may include prerequisites such as a college degree, a minimum age requirement, a vision or health standard, a proficiency rating on charting or maps, among others.

Dreams, aspirations, and goals all lead somewhere but there is a common denominator in all of the ones that lead to success: there is a vision that turns into a plan which translates into reality. The plan, if designed well and properly executed, leads to completion or success.

If you are a person who struggles with making dreams turn into reality, start small and practice. Rome wasn’t built in a day and time surely passes by the minute. If you never try to forge ahead you will always float in the same space of dreamland and that is an empty and lonely space for many.

Start with a small journal and jot down your dreams and ideas. Take one and form a plan of action, then see where your dream takes you. Sounds simple, right?

Simplicity is key and there is no better time to start than now. Dreams can never become reality if you never take action to make your dreams your reality. Be you, for you. Write your own destiny today and in the future.

Duplicating success is easy once you understand the basics. Dream big. Challenge yourself and get out of your comfort zone. Exiting that area of comfort is part of the WOW factor.

Become majestic in your own way.

-KT

 

#KT #2CHX #fearless #dreambig #success #ideas #tapyourtalent #goals

perspective

3:33 am

2chicksandapen

Yes, it is 3:33 am as I look at my phone. Why am I on my phone at this hour?

If I wake up in the middle of the night, I check my phone. As random as it sounds, I check for many reasons. For starters, I have an adult child who travels and sometimes there is a late night text from him. It feels good to let him know I’m there even if it’s just a simple one word answer.

Next, there is a friend who battles insomnia so again, just a quick reply does wonders when they are battling so much more than me at this hour. There is also the teen child who doesn’t seem to have a normal sleep pattern currently that I need to check on to make sure all is as good as it can be.

And then there is the unknown: when somebody may need something. An undefined emergency of some sort.

What does that mean? Well, tonight an online acquaintance, a female friend I don’t see everyday, a connection in my life, shared a brutally honest post about her pain and struggles. I felt a calling to offer hope through positive action at that moment without hesitation. Fortunately I wasn’t the only one there for her but then I thought to myself: not everyone has that same network, do they? I may be the only one to hear that voice.

Offering hope is simple. It’s free. It’s not hard to do. It’s just being there for somebody. Showing support in the darkest of times. Uncomfortable? Maybe, but starting these conversations is uncomfortable for most.

We never know when somebody is in a dark space and they can’t see their way out. We need to be avid listeners. We might need to hear the words or read the words one speaks more carefully. Never ignore a cry for help! In today’s digital age, a cry for help doesn’t always come in person or by phone call. A cry may be a post on social media, a comment hidden in a group text, a scar on one’s body, or other visual signs you might find easier to ignore than to inquire about.

Remember, you may be the only person who hears the cry. How you respond may help a person come out of the darkness or may just let them see enough light to fight another day. However, inaction may be tragic.

I watched a video recently about how everyone will ask how somebody is doing if they haven’t posted online for days but nobody notices when someone is struggling in plain sight. Interesting but true. Keep your antennas up and offer hope to anyone who may need it.

Timing is crucial. If you see a sign, don’t hesitate. Being nice can never be frowned upon but living with guilt of inaction can add years of regret to your life.

Being positive and friendly is definitely free but it might be the one thing that can truly benefit a person in need.

Be kind today. Do a good deed. Make conversation with somebody you normally wouldn’t talk to today. Honor my friend in spirit. Be a warrior for her.

We all have the ability to inspire others. If you inspired somebody today, drop us a note so we can celebrate with you. We have the power to impact many through this blog and we want to make an impact on you!

xoxoxoxo to all the warriors who read this blog today, tomorrow and the many days ahead.

balance

Bye Bye Summer

2chicksandapen

Last week was a busy one. Ending summer vacation is usually one week that is crazy for me and many others like me. It’s filled with back-to-school Open Houses, school supply shopping, all tied in with my work juggling act, among the regular chaos of my week.

How do I balance it all? I just do. It is what is expected in my Mom role. Just get it done and hit the restart button the next day. There is no award waiting for me when the kids successfully make it back to school and become well-adjusted, but there is gratification in knowing I did all I could to set them up for success.

My youngest is starting a new school and that comes with new adventures, schedules, teachers, friends, experiences, and so much more. But for a teenager it can also come with stress, anxiety, fear, and a host of other feelings as she wonders how she will fit into her new surroundings.

For now I am focusing on the positives and using this change as a teaching moment to show her how to attract and find good solid friends. The friends who will be by your side when you need them versus those who judge you for being new, dressing differently, or not being the most popular kid on day one.

Will it work? I don’t know but I am going with my gut and encouraging her to be her and let the rest fall in place.

When one can learn to adapt to new environments, new challenges, and be true to herself she will feel empowered to tackle the unknown and be fearless as she grows older.

Fingers crossed as the weekend rolls into the weekdays with new routines, new people, and the shock of being back-to-school for her.

Meanwhile I will be doing a party dance as I get my routine back, my space, my focus and everything else that goes out the window during summer break.

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#byebyesummer #hello7thgrade #2chx #mompower #chicksthatwrite #buildingabadass #stronggirls #fearlessmessage

fitness and nutrition, friendship

Every Peach Has A Story…

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My Peach(tree) story began in Atlanta, GA in 1997. I wasn’t a runner but a friend asked me to run the Peachtree. What was the Peachtree? Well it is only the biggest 10k Road Race on the planet. So I did it. No training, just did it. The internet wasn’t so big back then so I don’t even know how long it took me to complete the race. All I know is I conquered the challenge and moved on. I was a one run wonder.

1998 was a new year with new adventures and the Peachtree hype faded in a blink of an eye. I wasn’t a runner, I didn’t grow up in Atlanta and I just didn’t have a fit circle of friends who ran the Peachtree each year. Over the next 20 years, I climbed the corporate ladder, I had a few kids, I raised a child with health issues, and I worked hard at being a mommy and a wife yet something was missing. What was missing? ME time. I learned to prioritize and put everyone around me first, before me! I see this happens to many women (not men) but women. I had tried to lose weight in those years, I tried to live an active lifestyle, I tried and tried but I never made me a priority so failure was always around the corner. How could I be the best version of me and show my kids how to be fearless?

I had to reinvent myself. Some would judge me, some would defriend me, and others would support me. I guess this is where you really find out who your true friends are.  As I make changes in my life, I find myself seeking out new adventures. And with new adventures come new friends. I would meet new friends with similar interest and goals. I had always told my kids and employees that you become what you surround yourself with. And it’s true: spend all your time around negative people, you will be negative. Spend all your time around lazy people, you will be lazy. Spend all your working hours with those comfortable in dead end jobs, you will find yourself right there with them. This isn’t what I wanted in my future. So I changed my scenery. Slowly but surely. Out with the old, in with the new.

Fast forward to December 2015. I found a gal pal who was willing to work out with me consistently at 5:30am at a gym in between our homes. Why so early? We had to go before the kids had to get on the bus so we didn’t take any time away from our husband (hmmm) and then before we had to work (yes we had full-time jobs in addition to being full-time mommies). We pushed each other, we relied on each for accountability and we got in 1-2 hours of gym time 3-5 days a week. This was huge for us. But we were both moms just relying on the internet or friends for workout advice. We met people at the gym that marveled at our consistency and progress but we eventually hit a plateau. We considered kick boxing, a personal trainer, a boot camp but nothing jumped out at us or gave us a spark to change. We finally saw a Facebook ad for Crossfit at a local box for women only in a trial boot camp. We said let’s give it a shot. It was whimsical. We were not in the worst shape when we got there but we certainly were not near the cream of the crop either! And we said holy cow what if we never worked out before we came here? We would have died! Seriously.

For about 6-8 weeks we did core work, we ran, we crawled, we walked, we sweated and we lost our pride over and over and over again. We even learned a new vocabulary. A snatch, an immature squat, a Russian baby maker, and so many more. What started as 30 women got to less than 10 by the end of the time commitment. We were still lifting weights (not really) with a PVC pipe. Is that even a thing? Oh now what to do now? Well we could spend a good amount of discretionary income for the monthly membership and see how we fair. Let’s check in to see what the others are going to do as we liked some of the friends we made. 4 of us opted to stay and give it a go. We were nervous entering the regular class with the “big boys” who all seemed to be friends but we sucked it up and went 3 days a week. We got stronger. At the end of month 1, one of the girls dropped off so we were down to 3 but a new boot camp started and we met the ONLY girl in that boot camp, Sarah. She was just like us before. She really was just like us so we took her under our wings and the new foursome became the best of buds. We again sweat, ran, crumbled but we never quit. We never QUIT. We chipped away at each workout and we cheered for each other along the way. We all had good days and we all had our share of bad days. We scaled the workouts to our abilities and in time we earned our spot in the morning class. Shoutout to my WOD Goddesses below. These friends left the box for the beach this past fall to celebrate life. I remember one guy saying we (the guys) don’t acknowledge you (the girls) until you have been here 6 months. That’s when we know you are committed and are going to stick around. Did he seriously say that? How offensive! I guess when I look back, he did me a favor. He pissed me off so bad that I had to show him that was like flies on shit and I was sticking around and I would make sure the other girls stuck around too just to prove a point. HA to that one guy, SUCK IT! I/we are still here 2 years later at the same box and we are crushing it in our own way every time we come into that box. PR-PR-PR, some might say PR as in personal record but I say PRRRRR as in lady ROAR. Slay all day after you get your WOD in at 630am with the PURE DIVAS. Here we are with our friend #burchie who motivates us each and every week at the box and here at the race.As I reflect, we not only stayed but we conquered our fears and we slimmed down in the process while gaining confidence, friendships, and offering inspirations to others who thought they couldn’t do it. NO matter your shape, your size or your athletic ability, YOU can tackle anything YOU put your mind to. Weight loss, professional aspirations, workout goals, family goals, etc. The playing field may be different but the process is still the same. Commitment, goal setting, and achievement are all common denominators.  Check out the pre-race fun we had in 2017. So what does this all have to do with my PEACH story? EVERYTHING! My Peach story was revived in 2017 when a group from my Crossfit box started talking about running the Peachtree. I did the math and 2017 would be 20 years from the last time I completed the race. HOLY COW! I have to do it. I was feeling pretty good after being at Crossfit for a year and had dropped a good amount of weight, so why not? I got a few of my gal pals to jump in and do it together. There were about five of us who took part in it together. Each of us conquering our own set of challenges to get there and get it done. It was great. We planned for 2018 to keep the momentum going.2017-2018. One year of fitness. Can you see the difference? I can feel the difference. In my energy, in my clothes and in my mind.Now here we are in July of 2018. Life has been full of ups, downs, adventures and memories but through it all our gal pals at the gym have been together pulling for each other. This year there were almost 10 of us attempting to connect for the race and many “others” we knew who would be there racing as well. As I reflect on 2018, I see where I hit the 20 year milestone that has now started the annual event log for my fitness journey. This will be an event that I can continue to attend as long as my body will allow. I will strive to conquer the race and improve my race time each year. From mile 1 to 6.Because age is just a number and I am like a fine wine, aging to perfection. At almost 50 years old, I am now focusing on me. ME! I am committed to eating healthy, working out, and plan to enjoy all that goes along with living a healthy lifestyle. While others turn into couch potatoes at 50, I am working towards FAB at FIFTY. I am proud of my accomplishments thus far and I am excited for what is on the road ahead. I am sure there will be bumps along the way but hopefully this blog post will be one way to hold myself accountable and possibly inspire others who can’t see the finish line in their journey at the current moment. DO YOU, FOR YOU. It’s not to let late to start writing your amazing story!Go find your Peach story and live it. I am a Georgia Peach and live life to the fullest each day. I keep the negators away and find ways to smile each day even if it is at my own expense. Be thankful. Inspire others. Improve communities. #MiniMadness=doublefun#KTV #2CHX #Crossfit #Fitventures #PeachtreeRoadRace #GetMoving #AuthorsBlogToo