RunninGinger

So, my family has recently received a new addition to the family. His name is Henry James, and he is SOOO beautiful! I’ll be honest, I haven’t been around newborns in a Loooooong time and I wasn’t sure how to react. Truth is I have a difficult time adjusting to being surrounded by those I love when I know I have to leave again. This temporary transition thing is killing me, we’ve been moving from one place to the next, packing and unpacking, changing plans and figuring out which plans are correct. It gets complicated. So, the 3 days of family time were quite an experience for me. I hope I didn’t cast a cloud on the house like I always feel like I do…

Here is the beautiful boy-Pardon me, I’m not wearing makeup…I was running short on time! I wish I had taken more, but I wasn’t really thinking too much about my camera as I was enjoying the moment. I can only imagine how big he will be once I get home…I can’t wait to have him over for the weekend…Shhhh don’t tell my sister!He’s a pretty cool little guy! I can already tell he’s going to cause so many problems, he’s going to be an energetic one. I only know this because my sister and brother law are always in 8 locations at any one time (exagerration? maybe, good guess…YES!)

I love that he fits perfectly in my arms, and he only cries when he’s getting his diaper changed. Such a good baby! We’ve already said he’s going to be so spoiled…I mean, really, he is the FIRST BOY in our immediate family! Woot-woot! This is kinda an exciting time for the fam!

That’s all I got for now! I hope to get a few more chances to write here soon!

Wow, it’s been such a long time since I’ve written anything. I do have an alibi, though, I was in a remote area for over 3 weeks which kept me from posting anything or really doing what I wanted. I didn’t have cellphone service! I felt like I was living in the sticks…oh wait, I was! I’ve decided this is going to be a recap of my life for the past month or so because I know I need some self reflection, but I imagine some of you wouldn’t mind hearing what has been going on during this phase of mobilization.

I want to start first by thanking those of you who prepared me for what I am about to see and do, I haven’t left yet (I soon will) and I feel like all the advice I have been given provided me with a foundation for what to- and – not do. Luckily, I took the advice and reminded myself (when necessary) that it could be worse. It’s so true, maybe that’s a bad way to look at life but it’s always helpful for me. It always helps to have a different perspective, and it always helps to look through someone else’s eyes. So, thank you newfound friends, friends and otherwise strangers. I look forward to writing more, updating runninginger, and posting my workouts. I haven’t been fortunate enough to run like I’ve wanted, but I’ve made sure to get in some time…I do know that I’m happy to be a runner!

I’ve decided I’m not a fan of the state of Louisiana, I hope to never EVER go back. I don’t think I’ve missed home that much for a long time, and I knew I was in for a treat the moment I saw shrimp in an old rusty freezer/refrigerator type box that was filled with water and shrimp…GROSS! I wish I took a picture just as a souvenir, unfortunately I didn’t! I knew the three weeks that followed would be something I would never forget…so true!

I can appreciate living in crappy conditions, really! I mean, who gets excited about stepping into a clean porter pottie? Not too many, right? Or who gets REALLY excited when they can use a public restroom after using a porter for weeks on end…I know I DO! I love my friend’s faces when they see something that is gross, socially unacceptable or disgusting. In my mind all I can think revert to is the idea that it’s really NOT THAT BAD, but then again they don’t really know what bad is…or so I think. I feel like I’ve been able to toughin’ up, but maybe that’s just me!

Now, let me talk about the food/workout situation. Louisiana was probably every vegetarian and/or healthy eater’s worst nightmare! I have never seen food this awful, really! We had the same meal at least 4 nights out of the week and it was never good, I ended up eating whole fruits and bread…oh, I also ate oatmeal and lots and lots o’ PB! Holy-ish…Heinz makes PB, who would have thought? It’s tasty, but I love my Maranatha PB and I found a new-old PB (JIF Natural PB)…you should all check it out! For the price the Jif is amazing, it tastes like it’s super expensive. Yum num num

I have come to find that I like running with people, for the longest time I’ve been fearful of running with people because I never thought I was good enough. I enjoy the conversation, and I enjoy running at different speeds sometimes regardless if they run significantly slower than I am used to. I like helping people and encouraging people to run harder and faster, someone recently told me I inspired them…that made me feel really good. Thank you even if you’re not reading! Running is and has always has been on my mind. If I don’t do it I’m not the happiest girl on the block, but I’ve also learned that not doing it is okay too so long as I get back into the swing of things the next day or soon after.

I’ve come to learn a few things about myself, I truly believe that each day provides a new set of struggles. The struggles may not be big or really all that significant but each one begins a little differently and all of them require perseverance. Through perseverance comes strength and with strength comes determination. It’s good that I like a challenge from time to time, I’ve come to appreciate myself, my body, and strangers more than I ever thought possible within a month’s time. I have been dealt a lucky hand among the challenges I face today and in the coming days, I couldn’t ask for anything better.

I found myself alone shortly after I mobed. Not only did I find myself surrounded by a group of strangers, but I had selected my destiny for myself so complaining about it was of no use to me or anyone else. I grew a chip on my shoulder for a few days before I realized that I was of no help to anyone moping around like a girl who just heard bad news. I picked myself up and dusted myself off…that’s all it took. Now it sounds a lot easier written down than it really is or was but that’s what it comes down to. I had a friend from back in the day that told me I needed to let things go, he didn’t put it in as kind of words as those but he certainly got his point across. I should take a moment and let him no his advice has been useful-hmmm I’ll get on that! I keep telling myself to stay open minded and FLEXIBLE…ask me how I’m doing in a few months, things might change in terms of how much flexibility I can stand.

I will do my best to post what I can…stay tuned for updates and anything else I can muster! Take care, friends!

It’s been a rough almost two weeks, the days have run into eachother. Just the other day I was caught saying it was a different day, it was one of  those “no…yes…no” scenarios. Let’s just say it got a few laughs. There is nothing like trying to keep the workplace fun, right?

I love the idea of teamwork, it’s so important to make sure work environments, work-like projects, and time at work is well spent. Teamwork truly makes the workplace more exciting, I can’t tell you how many times I’ve thought about what it would have been like to be at work on any given day back at home. I think of them often, and to tell all of you the truth I miss them. I know they’re reading

One of the first days I met my team, we did a little hub workshop that broke the ice. Not only did we talk about our personal goals, expectations, and ourselves but we also spoke about what the idea teamwork meant. Often times we take for granted what makes our lives complete. I think what I have learned in the past year or so is how much the people in my life affect me. It’s better to get along than to quarrel with those you have to see day in and day out.

I like change, I tend to embrace it better than most. Of course there’s this fear I have of breaking routine but I’ve found that I tend to get over that rather quickly. There are things in our lives that we cannot control; however, if you are unhappy in the lifestyle you live there’s always the one underlying factor people are afraid to consider: change. I think it was Muhatma Gandhi that said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world”. Why can’t we all live like that? Why must we live in the shoes of someone else? Why wait?

I’ve made some personal choices in my life I wasn’t always sure of, we can’t expect to make all the right choices all the time. Sometimes we don’t consider those in our lives who become directly effected by our actions, but we must not wait around in the event a horrific accident occurs. We can’t predict the future. We make our futures, and I love that! Life is about living and learning, and loving what you’ve learned along the way.  Our experiences make us who we are, and often lead us to where we end up (eventually). Maybe I’ll try floating for a bit…how can I work that one?

I hope everyone has an empowering day, week, month or moment!

Is there anything you would like to change in the next year, five, or ten years for yourself?