Thumbs up when you realize that you don’t have to have everything because you have what you need and you have peace even when around you is not perfect. Or it could be high fives in the air even when you worry because you care, you love; and celebrate when fear strengthens your faith and makes you hopeful about the future. If alone time means becoming clear headed, and finding joy in the present, I will take it all the time.
This is yesterday’s three mile walk powered by Chicken Nuggets :)
“… whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8
What do you think about when you run? I think a lot of my childhood. Most of it is sad. Thankfully, I did not end up to be an angry person. I have forgiven. I have chosen peace. My life is blessed, I am content.
Maybe I cannot totally forget because it affected my self esteem growing up, but as I got older I realized its positive impact. It strengthened me. It lightened my perspective in life. It guided me in decision making.
My faith has a lot to do with who I am, what I become and what I hope to be while living.
It could have been hard to love, to do what is right and to conquer all the good things that God laid out for me if I didn’t know how much I am loved. He loves me first.
These reckoning resulted after a good run and I posted these thoughts in my running community which probably is not the place to share, and with no intention to preach.
When running allows me to have peace, meditate, to be grateful, to realize how many times I rose above hardships, renewed with a positive spirit which benefits not only myself but also the people around me, I think it is worth the share.
Without judgment, I love to hear people’s stories, their outlook in life, the battles they’ve won or lost, how they overcome and what brings them joy.
Running is meditation. A time to connect with myself. To discover. To praise. A privilege in its simplest form to enjoy my life, my alone time.
If you manage to read this whole post let me tell you that your life matters and you are loved.
God bless you! I hope you have a great weekend. Enjoy your life.
Carpe Diem!
Chelle
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.Philippians 4:8
Post 3 Mile walk, showing a happy face being able to get out. I did grocery shopping then walked nearby.
Some days I just want to stay in the house, I would just sit around with my phone, cook a little or reheat left overs for my loved ones, sweep the floor because it makes the house look new, drink tea/hot cocoa, lay on the couch more and watch Netflix.
That day, I made it outside and it was good.
Joining a challenge like A Mile A Day is motivating.
It takes a lot of discipline to consistently keep ourselves in the right direction, and challenges, which I do monthly for myself, are really helpful. It keeps me accountable. It does not have to be intense exercises. Walking or running at slow pace teaches me patience.
A lot of time I am a just-get-it-done person, but I need to teach myself to slow down which is a mental challenge that actually is good for the body, take one day at a time, to be humble and accepting on days when I can only do a little.
Sometimes little things are all I need to have a great day.
He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.Isaiah 30:29
I started this year to run 4 miles, 5 days a week, that’s the plan. But working at night makes it impossible. Some days I am too tired to do anything. So when I have a few nights off I go for a long run.
Today, I want to test how my body is going to feel when I run the longest distance. My legs started to cramp at 15 miles. I walked and ran, got in my car for a drink, sat, ate some banana, squatted a little and finished at 21 miles. I wanted to finish 26 miles because I am off tonight, I can sleep well but I had to pick the kiddo in school.
Anyway, this is my first long run and it taught me patience, tested my commitment, made me ponder on what distance I would rather run, and made me realize how crazy I become to love running. I thought I was done with fitness after a total hysterectomy but no, this is just the beginning. It was the best decision I ever made. I don’t have pain every post workout/run. I don’t miss the monthly heavy bleeding and passing out anywhere due to debilitating pain.
I thank the Lord for what I can enjoy right now. I hope you feel the same when you hit the ground, when you get to spend time on yourself, when you get to refresh your mind before coming home to your loved ones. It is not selfish to take care and enjoy ourselves. Please do. “You cannot pour an empty cup.” Carpe Diem! Run safe and God bless you. – Chelle 😊❤️
I posted this on a runner’s group in case you wonder what I meant about “hit the ground”.
Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, Romans 5:3-4
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9
I woke up with hot flashes. If you are experiencing this, you know how it feels. Within ten minutes of Yoga, I was sweating like I was running in the heat. It was making me cranky, I could have just given up. But the goal was to get it done for 20 minutes so I did. Right after that, the kid came home from school and will be going back there for music practice.
I cooked lunch, I mean heat up left overs, fixed up some. We had to eat early dinner because of how busy it is going to be later. When I say fixing leftovers, a bowl of ground sausage, a bowl of rice, eggs mixed together in a pan and add some vegetables. I am not always in the mood to cook. Even when there’s food to cook it can be stressful to think of what exactly to make for dinner.
Anyway, I planned my run to be done while she was in her music practice. That way I don’t have to waste gas driving back and forth.
I ran around her school, the university ground and beyond for 10k. It was very cold with drizzles but it actually felt good to run with this weather. Finished up and waited for the little one to be done.
I can say that my day/afternoon/evening went, pretty good (I worked last night and woke up at 2pm).
Rested, showered and the husband came home with pizza so we all sat at the dinner table, ate and chatted again.
I hope you all have a good day too. God bless! -Chelle
There were no sets of goals on my run today. It did not matter how far or how fast I would be pounding the ground.
I had to be up early in the morning to drop our kid in school. It was dark out so I told my husband that after dropping our kid off, I will be running at the park close by, not on the trail or somewhere else.
Well, when we got out of the house, it was light and right away I knew where my heart and feet would like to go.
The run did not challenge me due to being distracted. I paused a lot taking pictures and videos. I even had to stop by somewhere to sit down a little bit longer to soak in the beautiful view.
This is the time when I feel so lucky I don’t work everyday, I get a lot of time to myself and am able to do whatever I wanna do.
I am a very simple human being and the simple things around me make me happy.
I have not checked my watch and still don’t know how far and fast I run. All I know is that, it was a great morning run with a lot of beautiful distractions. I can’t get enough photos.
My hands were cold even with gloves on but I was comfortable. I had so much fun.
Let me share some images so I can take you where I was.
I hope yins have a wonderful weekend. God bless you daily! Carpe Diem! ❤️ Chelle ❤️
FIRST 10K FUN RUN EXPERIENCE Happy weekend everyone! I just got home from my first 10k and I think I like it. I said I think because I am used to 5k. I survived even with nervousness and fear that my headache episode may start to kick in. It did not and I did alright, finished the race at 56.30 minutes. This was faster than my regular 10k run alone. The goal was not to compete or to be faster, but when I noticed that I was the last runner, I managed to run a little faster. I was 4th from the last. If I did not mention any discomfort during the race it is because I did not have any. As soon as I got home, I made breakfast for my loved ones, and had my salty seaweed soup and egg omelet. I have read that something salty helps prevent headaches after a long run. I really hope that I won’t get any severe headaches later. It can be debilitating and discouraging. There’s a lot to do here at home, yardwork, so I should be getting ready and helping the husband out. I hope you ladies have a wonderful weekend. Keep moving whatever it is that you like to sweat or to declutter your mind. God bless you. – Chelle 🙂
9.2.2022 First 10k Fun Run
“We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul, a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,” Hebrews 6:19
Jotting Down Grace 