A 7th Birthday & 6 Miles

I'm bringing the BLOG back out, because some things are blog-worthy and too lengthy for my Facebook Page. I'm grateful for all the new friends aka Likers on my Page, most recently some incredible and inspiring runners. 

Today is a very special day, and so it tomorrow. But let's stick to the now. 

Seven years ago today my oldest niece Zoey was born, and she has brought beauty, joy, comfort and laughter to our family. Through her I've gotten to know a tiny bit of motherhood. She's the reason I could easily and quickly decide to have a hysterectomy after my first cancer diagnosis (endometrial) in early 2008. She and my other nieces and nephews fill up my heart and helps me to see the beauty and wonder in life. I'm so grateful for her- and all of my Peeps- and for my sisters who allow this Auntie Mommy to hold this honorable title. 

This is me with newborn baby Zoey- 2006.

This is her a couple days ago with her sister and brother playing Tea Party. 

Seven years old. It blows my mind. 

Happy Birthday, my SweetPea!! 

I love to pieces, and am so proud of the lovely young lady you are blooming into. 

It's truly my honor and joy to be a part of your world.

 She always says 'this is my world, Aunt Connie.

 And indeed it is.

 I hope that belief, that deep knowing without question, stays with her forever. 

Create your own beautiful world, Z, using your own colors and style! 

I took a couple of weeks off from my Jeff Galloway 10K Training, but made a come back this week. I had stalled in the middle of Week 8. Six miles seemed really hard and there was always a decent reason I couldn't get it done. Then I went on vacation in the mountains of New England. And came home sick. I put it off, but this week I knew the time had come to face those 6 miles. 

I owe this push in motivation and inspiration to all the runners pages I've recently found on Facebook and a couple of (tenaciously awesome) running friends. I prepared all week- hydrating, eating veggies and protein, not drinking alcohol, getting good sleep. 

I got up early, took my thyroid med, went back to sleep for a few minutes then drug myself out of bed- with the help of a text from one of those tenaciously awesome friends- and ate breakfast. I probably need to eat more and give myself more time to digest in the future, I'm learning as I go. I had 2 slices of thin raisin toast with butter and low sodium sausage patty and a big glass of water. I remembered sunscreen and my hat. I put on my purple Road ID in case I melted into the sidewalk. Grabbed a bag of gummies and filled up my water bottle. I was determined, excited and ready to get it done. 

It was 76 and 87% humidity at 8:15 am in Memphis. But there was a decent cool breeze, and thunderstorms coming in later today (unfortunately for Z's pool party). Beat the rain, that's what I told myself when I started. 

I used to drive to a nearby park with a 8/10 mile loop. When I first started running last August I could barely make it around once. Today I ran 2.5 miles TO the park, then around the loop once and back home. 

Amazing! Astounding! Mind blowing! 

This body that has been through abuse as a child, several major pelvic/abdominal surgeries and carries the extra weight of those pains on the outside CAN RUN 6 MILES. I'm learning that despite the extra weight on my body, running- and succeeding in any goals- is much more about what I THINK in my mind. 

I told myself all week that I'll be running 6 miles today. I can do THIS. I'm a runner! I gained strength from other runners, thanks to Facebook. I believed I could do it. And then I did it. 

The first 2.5  miles were really good. I ate my gummies and took a couple extra minutes to walk about mile 3. That boosted me up until about mile 5. I could feel a big blister forming on my inner bottom right heel. My thighs were cramping a little. I was starting to get chills off and on, just for a few seconds. I commended myself for what I was doing, then showed my body love and respect by walking for about 3/4 of a mile. Then I ran 30 seconds and walked 90 seconds for the rest of the way- until the very end. Somewhere in there my interval timer died. It was really handy that my Coach taught me to count every other step, so I could still keep loose track of time. 

When RunKeeper said 1 hour 45 minutes at 5.85 miles I started running and didn't stop until it said 6 miles. I was soaking wet, sore in more ways than one and ELATED that I finished in 1:47!! I had figured it would take me 2 hours and I was perfectly okay with that since it's my first time and I haven't been running consistently for a couple weeks. 

I RAN 6 MILES TODAY!

 For the first time, and I'm doing it again next week. 

I'm so grateful to be able to run, to be an Aunt, for the breath in my lungs, and the Love that I live in. 

Tomorrow is a Cancer anniversary for me.... but that's tomorrow. Today I celebrate 'my' 7 year old's birthday and pray it doesn't get stormed out. 

The First Zen Method Training begins....

Greetings from sunny Arizona! I'm basking in the glorious energy of these beautiful mountains. And also in the Light from my new friend and now teacher, Angella Hamiliton.  We met, briefly, in Washington D.C. last July at the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance's conference. She was there to teach the conference attendees a form of Tai Chi that she developed called Zen Method. You can read all about Zen Method by clicking on the tab on the top right hand side of this blog's homepage.

I loved Zen Method and was drawn into, and felt instantly friended by Angella. I knew she was a Soul sister right awa. Some time passed and life got busy. Then she emailed me in September and asked if I would be interested in going through her certification process to teach Zen Method myself.

It's a long time dream come true, I just didn't really know that my dream of teaching fitness and wellness would take this turn. I've been waiting and working on getting my body to what I thought was an acceptable place first. Divine synchronicity sees it differently.

Zen Method Tai Chi is part of a deep healing that I've longed for since my first diagnosis, but didn't know it in a human level. My Spirit knew, though. So I'm going to become a certified teacher of Zen Method Tai Chi and gift the teaching of these mind body healing connection flowing movements to cancer Survivors. And to their caregivers and friends and beyond, but first on my heart and mind are Survivors. I'll be doing that while I'm healing and gaining health and releasing my extra weight.

One of the things I love most about Zen Method is that anyone can do this- truly. Any size, any ability level, sitting down in a hair, or sitting partly up in bed. And I will be demonstrating that as I'll be a teacher of a larger variety at first. I've let got of feelings of unworthiness because of my size, and have choosen to not let that negativity keep me from offering this to Survivors.

So, the timing was right for Angella and I to get started this weekend. Divine synchronicity brought everything together. So I am here in beautiful energizing Phoenix to start my training.

And start we have! After lunch at the delicious Herb Box in Old Town Scottsdale and a relatively quick stop at Lucy's (for a teal shirt for me to wear when the professional photographer meets up with us on Saturday), we got started. First was an introduction to the book part- fascinating and resonating information that is bringing this all together in my mind. (It's catching up to my Spirit.) Then we did Zen Method Tai Chi poolside under a lemon tree. Gentle flowing movements that brought deep healing- already. Amazing.

I'm beyond grateful that Angella chose me, and can't wait to be ready to gather my first 'in training' class soon. 

I will be creating a Facebook fan page soon so you (and hopefully many others!) can follow my journey to becoming a Teacher of Zen Method. I'm still working on a title... and still welcoming any suggestions.