Little Things

Two seemingly little things just happened as I was just leaving the gym:

1. a little girl and her mom were walking up the steps in front of me and the little girl was singing a song about how much she loves her mommy and loves to love her mommy.  The mom said, that's the best song I have ever heard.  I agreed.
2. as I was filling my water bottle one of my Jam instructors came up to me and enthusiastically complimented me.  I left there feeling so accomplished and proud.  

The little things matter.  Kids, tell your parents you love them.  Parents tell your kids how much that means.  Teachers, encourage your students.  Students, keep pressing on. 

Encouraged.

Changed

As I was leaving the gym this morning I thought to myself, "if you would have told me a couple of years ago that one of the best things about taking Fridays as my vacation days was going to be getting to take my favorite class (Les Mills Body Jam) at the gym an extra time each week... well that wouldn't have even been in my realm of thinking.  If you would have even suggested that running in local 5K races would have become a hobby for me ...  I don't think I even would have known what the length of a 5K was, to be honest.  (math...or gym were never my strong subjects)

What has happened?  I have changed.  This is not something that I could have done myself.  To me, it's nothing short of a miracle.  You have to understand (and many readers here know)... I have been out of shape my entire life.  Between genetics, loving to eat, being waaaay laid back, and my struggles with Ulcerative Colitis and Thyroid Disease... it was so hard, maybe more emotionally than physically.

I have changed.  God has changed me.  I can say that with my whole heart.  Thank you God for changing my mind... from one who says I can't to one who says I am going to challenge myself to do that.   You know what,  this is yet another proof to me that my God answers prayer.  If I looked back through my journals, I know that there were time after time that I prayed and asked God for help with my health, with my weight, with my motivation, with my confidence.   He does answer, and I'm so thankful.


I am registered to run the OBX Half Marathon with my good friend Melody Strayer this November.  I have my training calendar all ready to go (it kicks in in August) and until then I'll be trying to add miles to my typical 3-4 mile runs each week layered in with the classes that I take at the gym and of course dancing as much as I can.  I know that I will be counting on God to help me stretch my endurance, increase my motivation and literally change my body as I go through this process. 

I appreciate your prayers and encouragement along the way, too.  

(I post all of my runs on RunKeeper and Dailymile.com and share them on Facebook, ad nauseum, perhaps to some... but it's my way of keeping myself honest with how much/how far/how fast I'm running.)