Mount Kilimanjaro

I wrote this past week of choosing to live in hope - the attached link below is one of the reasons I live in hope.

Young people of today don't just talk about accomplishing things for themselves and for others, they DO accomplish things for themselves and for others - check it out - one of these hikers is Sarah in the midst of  a climbing team from the NIKE Corporation on a Kilimanjaro jaunt - check it out:)

 

The Big 5K

Today was a special day for me.  Those of you who know me well will probably already have read it on Facebook or through a personal email or maybe you just heard me blabbing all around town as though I was the ONLY person who had ever entered and run a 5K race.  Yep, I entered and completed a YMCA 5K fun run event this a.m.  I've been training for it since late spring and when the race was canceled about 6 weeks ago, I was very disappointed..... and frankly, sort of lost my oomph for the idea.  When the race was suddenly rescheduled for June 26, I once again opted in, but I admittedly was internally a little less enthusiastic than I was on my first registration.  I didn't really talk about it much with anyone and actually only told my spouse a couple of days ago that "it" was on for this Saturday.

As he was driving me to the event this a.m. he commented that I seemed rather cool about the event and that didn't I have just a little butterfly or two in my tummy - a butterfly or two?! I thought the whole West Coast Monarch migration had landed inside my belly!  So, signing in, getting my number, looking over the other participants like I knew they were looking over me..........the butterflies did increase!  One or two young women arrived who had on very, very short shorts and not an OUNCE of body fat on them - I looked away quickly!  A few very heavy competitors,  and several kids 10-12 years old, some 20 and 30 year olds and maybe someone in the crowd was in their 40's - "Oh my - what was I thinking?"

"Get behind me loud voices in my head - I can, I will do this" and then we began.  "Go, run," shouted the starter (low tech starter) - and then insistently again, RUN!......"as though I wasn't:)?"  I had to smile to myself and said, "RUN!"  I thought better of that in a short time.....  was definitely at the back of the pack, and then I felt the shy, young man, about 6'3", sort of tiptoe around me as if to say, "I'm sorry, I must pass you:)"  Another smile from me.  The next thought came about 1/2 kilometer or less, I thought, "Oh, just turn around and go back; no way, I came to start and to finish this event!"  There were more hills than I expected, I walked fast plenty of feet, yards, whatever and I knew I was last but I'll tell you right now there was no way, knowing that I was last that I wasn't going to finish.......even when I had to stop and tie my shoe!  Dang it!  I thought briefly about running with it untied but it was worrying me so that I figured a short stop was better than a giant spill - I'm not totally without brains!

Enough details - yes, I managed to pick up the run to the finish line, yes, there was a rooting section there and yes, I was hot, dusty and SO HAPPY!

All of this is to say - I don't think one has to go out for a 5K race or even anything athletic but finding something that you've never done before, practicing it, pursuing it, DECIDING you will do it, is a totally empowering feeling.  Thank you for letting me share it with you - and let me know if you're secretly working on a project or event of your own.  I'd love to join your cheering section!!!

Early a.m. date

5:30 - alarm clock rudely carries out its assigned task - it is pitch black outside!

5:35 - feet find the floor, brain aware of doggies in the room stretching and yawning, large lump in bed still dozing.

5:37 - toothbrush and paste in the mouth - the least I can do - I mean the very least! Drink of water.....

5:38 - 5:40 - underwear, teeshirt, yoga pants, shoes, socks - no need for lights or to look in the mirror - too ghastly anyway! Oh, check for teeshirt label - I hate to wear that thing wrong side out in front of other sleepy heads...not that they would notice.

5:41 - turn on car, thank goodness it's in its electric mode at start up, no noise! I'm certain the doggies are back in bed by now.

5:42 - on to the street, it's getting light but are the headlamps on? Stop, check it out, no - the oil change guy must have turned off the "automatic" button yesterday.

5:43 - oh, that's better, I can now see in front of the car, I'm beginning to wake up.

5:46 - YMCA parking lot - I'm beginning to breathe easier now as I'm joining those other crazy people who've crawled out in the dark to stretch and exercise their brains and bods!

5:47 - Drink of water, mat laid out, I begin to "connect with the breath" on my own, even without the instructor whispering those instructions gently into the microphone strapped on her head. The room is semi-dark with a thin line of lights and soft music playing.....Am I in India?

5:50 - Other beings are coming in the room, slapping out their mats and hoping we start out in a seated position.

5:55 - More breathing, mats slapping, throats clearing, noses being blown, audible groans of early morning wakening.

6:00 - We "begin." My body says, rather panicky... "Wait, wait - I thought we were just going to lie down here in this dark room for a while. I don't feel like moving, I thought 2 weeks off meant we were through with serious stretching and stuff!" My brain responds, "shut up and pay attention - we're supposed to be connecting with the breath - dang, where is that breath when we need it?!"

6:01 - "Is it over yet?"

6:15 - "Well, it's getting better now. Oh no, what does she mean Warrior 3, I've never heard of Warrior 3 - I thought there were only 2 Warrior positions!" Brain to body - "Shut up, go into Child's pose you baby! When you're ready, we'll catch up!" Body to brain, "Well, aren't you just too kind!! Oh, yeah well now here comes Pigeon, does she have to spring every unknown position known to yogie man on us this a.m.?"

6:30 - "Is it over?"

6:45 - "I'm feeling good now."

6:50 - "Final pose - total rest, ahhhhhhh."

6:55 - back in car - brain and bod awake and connected, lots of high fives and cheers. "We did it, we did it - now remember we cannot take off two weeks again....it's just too hard to recuperate:)"

7:00 - "Yeah, yeah, I'll see you on Thursday!"

Out of comfort zone.....

I don't know whether to be surprised, happy, or annoyed, for I've stepped, or I should say I was dragged into, once more leaving my comfort zone to attempt something new.

While in Honolulu and out for a relaxing afternoon sail and snorkel with family members and new friends, the skipper of our vessel decided that those of us least familiar with sailing should learn the thrill of this sport! I fully expected that he would honor the "cowering comfortably in the corner" position that I had assumed, that I would not be one of those called upon! Wrong!

On my feet, shaky, embarrassed, and somewhat just ticked off.....I soon found that the mystery of the wind in the sails was NOT such a mystery, that the boat would actually respond to my hands on the wheel and that my miserable deckhands (while snickering a bit) would also respond as I heartily (well, maybe not quite heartily) announced the actions I expected them to perform on my command! I could go on.....however,

The lesson is not lost on me that after all of these years of adamantly lobbying against the sport of sailing, that sport being one which my spouse finds totally alluring, I believe that I now could actually be persuaded to venture onto a LAKE, or a small body of water - a BAY - in order to learn more about sailing without the dread fears that I've harbored all of these years.

So, chalk it up to - the timing was right, I'm too stubborn for my own good/fun, I'm a show off, I can be intimidated into "service" or what - it was a grand day for me on a sailboat and I look forward to the next sailing event.

That being said, you might remember some time ago I posted words about that "comfort zone" thing....so how are you doing on stepping out of your comfort zone these days? Any good reports?

I'm now listing swimming and snorkeling in the ocean without my trusty life preserver, surfing, sailing, entering 3 art shows - being accepted into two.....let's hear some good reports for you steady readers!

Photo SEW Kanehoe, HI

Fear is a darkroom

"Fear is a darkroom where "negatives" are developed."

Having heard this memorable defining of fear at a Summer Solstice event, I've rolled it over in my mind for a couple of weeks now and come up with some self-guidelines to counteract the fear, the darkroom:

1. Don't spend too much time in there
2. Don't expect great results in the darkroom, especially if wearing a blindfold
3. Don't expect to find friends and family in there, they didn't want you to go there in the first place
4. Keep that door locked, if you must - peek in occasionally but then slam it shut
5. Remember how pleasant it can be outside of that room
6. While not dwelling on the fear aspect, there are so many other possibilities to entertain, to create, to accomplish
7. Fear - don't go there!


Manipulated photo - SS