Day 27: A Book that Changed My Life

To be honest, reading changed my life more so that one book. And yet when pushed to decide I can come up with one novel and one non-fiction that had a profound impact on me.

Priscilla Warner's Learning to Breathe - taught me about being still, meditating and finding peace in the quiet moments. I seem to pick it up every year or so just to remind me of her journey. I've exchanged emails with her to thank her what she's taught me, and that was a wonderfully powerful experience too!

The other book that impacted me was a novel by Richard Russo - who's originally from a small town very close to where I grew up.

Bridge of Sighs by Richard Russo

Here's my favorite quote from the book - that still resonates today as I read it.

"The line of gray along the horizon is brighter now, and with the coming light I feel a certainty: that there is, despite our wild imaginings, only one life. The ghostly others, no matter how real they seem, no matter how badly we need them, are phantoms. The one life we're left with is sufficient to fill and refill our imperfect hearts with joy, and then to shatter them. And it never, ever lets up.

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And I'm back

Right now on the downslide to 2018 there are some things that need to change. I can feel them in my bones, in my heart and on my mind! This is going to be the year of me. Feeling, doing, loving better than I have before.... not wondering, resting and being cautious! This image is the inspiration I need. The critic is the inner critic. And i'm done listening to her. Here's what I know. I'm braver and stronger than I ever imagined. When someone says I can't do something I say, 'just watch me." So here goes. 2018 feeling better feeling stronger being curious being bold taking adventures taking time to do it right

Day 16: Six Word Memoir

"Thought about stopping, then ran harder." Day 16 for the Blogember challenge is a 6-word memoir. I could substitute 'ran' for 'tried' almost every day. Even if for just a brief moment I am paralyzed with fear, confusion, doubt - I press on. And that is the very best time …. knowing that I still have the power within me to continue to 'fight'. This can be a physical challenge, emotional challenge or just what appears to be a mountain of work to overcome…. whatever it is, if I choose to find a way through it, rather than around it - I'm successful. Happened again this week at work - and my husband reminded me last night. Why did you let it get you down for two days when you knew they best way to solve it was head-on, with a direct conversation? He's right. But I'm not successful with the conversation until I'm mentally prepared to have it. And yesterday I did. That's my mantra. For running, and for l...

Day 4: Freedom

Today's Blogember entry is to write about Freedom. Freedom is one of those words/emotions/concepts that has changed for me over the years. As I evolved and developed, so has how I view Freedom. Early on I thought of Freedom as rights that I have as a citizen, the right to choose and how lucky I am to live in a country where Freedom is afforded to me. Fast forward to today. Freedom to me still is resoundingly around my right to choose. And those choices are how I see myself, how I choose to present myself to the world. I have the freedom to make choices that resonate with my soul, and who I choose to be. Freedom is not being attached to all those nay-sayers who come into a life. With freedom from the dependency of other's approval comes independence and confidence. The ability to lean in to the life I have been given, carrying the lessons I've learned and the joy that sustains me. It is a purposeful life, one that encompasses freedom....

Run, Laugh, Eat, Repeat

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