Epiphany - Blog 12 Days of Christmas

So this is the post where I am supposed to look back over the past 12 days and discuss what I may have learned or: a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience.

I can't say I have found the meaning of life, or had any insight into reality.  I can say that I have once again enjoyed sitting down at the end of the day and reflecting on what was and then trying to put it into something remotely interesting to others.

What I can say is that in the space of 12 days I have regained my running mojo and even pushed out a 16.5km run today without feeling like it was a chore.  It was hard but it was enjoyable.  On the home stretch I even enjoyed the bush on either side of the road for the birds that were singing, the lagoon that I ran past, and the view from the top of the hill overlooking the beach.  I made peace with being in the right place - this beautiful place I live and love.

I felt that again after a splash in the surf with my family as I was sitting in the hot midday sun looking out over the ocean watching two dolphins swim past and a sailing boat in the distance.  And up front, an 8 year old girl and her dad sharing so many laughs and moments in the surf - their bond warms my heart!!

In the afternoon, walking along the river, out on the boardwalk - secretly trying not to be too annoyed by the tourists - but instead lap up seeing my locals and saying hello.  Having a short conversation with my daughters friends mother.  Over hearing some visitors from Sydney saying how it was nice that everyone here says "hello" unlike in Sydney.  My home, my community, my friends, my people!

There will always be hard times, tough times - but happiness can't be all the time as then we wouldn't appreciate it as much!

Being awesome is something to strive for in all aspects of your life and something I will be striving for in 2015.

Expecting miracles, celebrating achievements, being creative, enjoying moments of laziness, being alert and waking up, being healthy and celebrating being here and now, and making the most of open doors - this is what 2015 will be for me!!

Until #blogjune......

Double post Friday #blogjune #19 #20

Ok so I've been slack again but we had a plumbing malfunction in the house last night so blogging was not high on the agenda.  And tonight I'm writing this on my tablet which limits me a bit.  Anyway, moving on....

Yesterday's mantra: Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.
Today's mantra:  A fit life is a marathon not a sprint.

Ok yesterday I really put myself out of my comfort zone.  I headed out for my run at 5.30am with my stop watch in hand.  I did a warm up and headed for the beach.  I love running on the beach.

Anyway, once I got on the beach the fun began, starting with a 1 minute effort (faster pace then normal) then 1 minute recovery running at normal pace.  I did this 4 times.  I then upped it to 2 minutes effort and 1 minute recovery and did this 3 times.  By this time I was almost at third headland - about 6k up the beach andni has to start heading home.

Note to self, when playing games like fartleks (running term for what I described above) remember you have to run back.  And the further out you run, the further you have to run home.  It was a killer.  But I did it!  Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.

The 2nd mantra I'm going to refer back to my transformation journey over the last 12 months, well 15 months.  I have made small changes to my lifestyle and have lost 15kg.  I did not lose 12kg in 12 weeks or make huge sacrifices.  And the weight has stayed off.  The point I'm trying to make, is that a fit life is a marathon not a sprint.  A fit life is a lifestyle change, not a quick fix.  This is permanent,  not something I will stop once I reach a certain point.  I am a work in progress, and like learning, it is lifelong.

I won't quit until I'm the person I want to be #blogjune #5

I think I may be not quitting for a long time - today's mantra: I won't quit until I'm the person I want to be.

I'm not sure what person I want to be.  Yes I want to be fit and healthy but I also want to be a great mum, wife and librarian - and maybe athlete!!

I have been discussing my difficulty in learning to love myself a bit over the last few days with various people.  Most agree that they also are not at the point of loving themselves.  Why are we so hard on ourselves?

It should be about being the best person you can be and work towards being all the things I mentioned before - because I don't think you ever reach the point of being who you want to be because we are all a work in progress.  Perhaps in our final days we will accept that if we have tried to be the best we can be, then we were the person we wanted to be.

This discussion is probably more suited after having a few drinks - it's too deep for my mind at the moment and I'm sure I could take it to some interesting places after a couple of glasses of bubbles.  Perhaps I will revisit this post after my half-marathon on Sunday when I am sitting back with some bubbles, listening to some good tunes, soaking up my achievements and spending time with my loving family.  Perhaps then I will be the person I want to be!!!

Are you still not quitting?  Or are you the person you want to be?