RELENTLESS FORWARD COMMOTION

Adventure may hurt you, but monotony will kill you.

Relentless Forward Motion.

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It only seems appropriate that I dedicate an entire post to unplugging from the internet, only to find myself with blog post time and inspiration.  Go figure.

Thanks to my kids, there has been no overlooking the fact that there are only 5 days left until Christmas.  But until I just now walked past a calendar, it seemed to have escaped my mind that there are less than two weeks left in this year.

When did that happen?

A year ago today, I clearly had no idea what I was in store for. Heck, as I sit here today, a thousand miles away from where I was this time last year,  I still have a hard time wrapping my mind around all that happened.  The last 354 days feel like decades that went by in an instant.

In 2011, I became a Marathon Maniac, an ACSM certified Health Fitness Specialist, a New Hampshire resident, and a single mom.

I battled my last semester of undergraduate classes, guys with pugil sticks, and unexpected heartache.

I was honored to be a part of an amazing triathlon team, and even if the opportunity seemed to strike at the wrong time in my life, I will forever have a new little triathlon family added to my heart.

I raced at the happiest place on earth, twice, with some amazing people and opportunities beyond my wildest runDisney loving dreams.

I rode aero for the first time. I ran trails for the first time. I swam with gators for the first time (maybe).

I ran a lot. I loved a lot. I hurt a lot, and I lost a lot.

…but I gained a lot too.

I have learned that sometimes, no matter how much it hurts, you have to stand up for yourself.  You have to trust in your heart,  have faith, and know that while the eventual outcome is still a big, fat, scary mystery, in the end everything will be OK.

I learned who my true friends are. I learned I have an amazing family that would do anything for me.

But mostly, I’ve learned a lot about myself.  The good AND the bad.  And the bad is never any fun to face, and incredibly humbling to admit.  But once you do it, it can change your life.

As the old year ends and new year nears, now is the time everyone starts to make plans. Resolutions.  Goals.  And for 2012, I have just one.

Live.

Live my life to the fullest every day. Enjoy every second of my life.  Do not look back. Do not wallow or fret. No envy or pity.  Know that everyday that I face brings adventure if only I will seek it, thus I will meet it head on with a smile on my face.   Just LIVE.  For so far in my life,  not much has gone the way I have planned it, but somehow it still always seems to turn out OK.  And while the immediate rough times are certainly not over,  I am still truly and wildly blessed, and I have faith that while I might not be where I had hoped right now, I am on a greater path to end up where I am meant to be.   I will never take this beautiful life for granted.

To my family, my friends, and those of you whom I’ve never met, but have reached out and held me up when I needed anyway: thank you.  I’m so thankful to have you in my life 🙂

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  2. Great Post Heather! You’ve had a busy year, made some hard decisions but in the end I commend you for doing what’s best for you and your family. It has taken amazing courage that hope has provided inspiration to many.

    Next year will be full of more fun surprises and I hope you’re ready. Hold on it’s going to be an exciting ride!

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  4. Amazing post Heather…hugs up to NH for you! Two years ago I lived through a nightmare that I too thought would surely break me. Strength is what gets you through the other side…Courage is what it takes to take a stand. I am honored to follow your journey on this new path and inspired by your determination to live life to the fullest! I pray for a very happy new year to you and your family!

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  6. Great post Heather. It is so easy to miss how lucky each of us are. You did a great job capturing that. I hope you have a great 2012. Maybe I will see you at a local race in 2012.

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  15. That’s so much to go through and I think a lot of people would use all those changes as a reason to STOP working out or taking as good care of themselves, but you have kept plugging away like a true wonder woman! Your stories have inspired me to finally buckle down and get certified (exam in a month) and truly go after what I want. Keep up all the hard work!

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  22. Hi Heather!
    I love your blog! I just started reading some running blogs and created my own. I am in Week Ten of my first marathon training. Thank you for your inspiration!
    Julie

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  24. Great post Heather! You are truly inspirational and since I began reading your blog, you have inspired me to accomplish big things in all aspects of my life. Keep it up and keep shining girl!

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