Do Yourself A Favor

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Get a massage.

Treat yourself. Or better yet, go regularly if can. Just go. Right after work tomorrow or while the kids are at school. Stop in at some little shop and get rubbed out.

I can’t even tell you how much better you will feel. And if you are a regular, you know what I mean.

At the end of your hour, ask for another 10 minutes for your hands and forearms. Forget your feet. Do you know how much stress you literally hold in your hands and forearms? Personally, I think I hold more tension in those areas than my shoulders, back or hips. Not that I don’t have knots in my shoulders and back with people’s names on them, but from typing, writing, carrying bags and such every single day, it’s alarming how tight those little muscles become. That last 10 minutes can really help you release so much tension. As I type now, I feel like my hands are lighter, faster and more flexible.

Spend some time on you tomorrow. You will be a happier person, have a better day, and probably a great sleep. 🙂

It’s Official – I’m in! Times Two!

Comments 7 Standard

Today is the day I knew I would qualify for the 2015 TCS NYC Marathon. Nine races and a volunteer opportunity through the NYRR since January, and I’m in. Ah!

But then life threw us a little curve ball … but a good one.

Yes I am now officially qualified for the 2015 marathon, but I’m not sure if I will be here. Brett’s new job is taking us to Singapore next year, making me unsure if will be able to make it back to NY in November, soooooo – what do with all these races I’ve been doing? Use them as training runs! That’s right – an email I got the other day made me realize I should marathon THIS year. I received an email that there were still charity spots available for 2014 so I have decided to fundraise with Fred’s Team for Cancer Research at Memorial Sloan-Kettering. Yes I’m fundraising – which I’m horrible at, but I’m going to raise the $3,400 I said I would, even if I have to chase people down the street! – and run the 2014 marathon!

Screenshot 2014-06-14 11.05.11

I must be freaking crazy? Ya, I guess I am. But this is something I said I would NEVER do, just a year ago. You see how hard work and a strong mindset changes you to want to do awesome things?! If you think you will never do something because of whatever excuse you have – you are short-changing yourself. Do it! Stop making excuses and do something big, drastic, crazy and insane. You can do it!

So obviously, my campaigning starts now, with you. Please click my Fred’s Team link above or the picture below to donate to my charity on the Fred’s Team page.

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Whether we know each other or not, we all know people who have been affected by cancer. Those of us who run do it for these reasons. We want our miles to go to something big and worthwhile. So I choose cancer research.

I look forward to seeing your donations on my page. Thank you!

mskcc.convio.net Can't wait to be one of these people!

mskcc.convio.net
Can’t wait to be one of these people!

 

Levels of Productivity or Productiveness or Whatever You Want to Call It

Comments 2 Standard

I’m not speaking of productivity on the business or work realm, that’s a whole other bag of words. Here I am speaking of personal time productivity, productiveness or whatever.

How do you measure your personal productivity time? By how many things you get done at home? How many errands you can run in one trip? How many meals you can prep for the week on a weekend? If you can get the kids/spouse to all the planned events on time? Hmmmmm, is this an effective way to measure your time and well-being?

Well, recently I’ve equated having a productive weekend with running in some sort of race event. So this weekend was the first in a while that I didn’t register for any running events since I have a double-header next weekend. I kind of felt like I would have a pretty unproductive couple of days. My mind is trained to think that unplanned time will be unproductive and that only days with schedules will be the productive ones (damn job!). And also lately, I’ve even had the nerve to feel that my own running time is not as productive unless it’s tied to a race or challenge! Egad! No bueno.

So I started searching for words related to productivity and came upon this wordle that captures what productivity looks like to me, generally. It’s a great little snapshot of important words – however most of these I tie to work.

Yes, all of these words are meaningful to me, but I am stepping back from the constant physical movement of being productive into a quest for a productive mindset.

That may mean that if I need to sleep, read, or watch TV, that’s what I need to do to get my mind into a place of contentment – my new productivity! Maybe I merely sit on a bench and watch people walk by, or simply get an iced coffee from a coffee shop I’ve never been to in order to reach the place of a mental regeneration/cleanse/contentment/renewal. I think this may one of those keys to happiness.

I don’t want to equate productivity only with physical accomplishments (as I must for 10 months of the year), but a mindset instead. This is often the mental work I need to do over summers – a repair from the grueling school year.

Oh, and I found another cute piggie picture on Animal Planet. I think that’s productive too.

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Courtesy Animal Planet

Take My Advice…

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…don’t tell me that being a teacher is the hardest job. I already know. Say something valuable instead like maybe… “thank you”.

Why am I bringing this up? Because yesterday I was reading an article and enjoying a beer – minding my own business, when some dude asked me if I was studying to be a teacher.

I responded that I was already a teacher and was reading a comparative study.

So then he said: “Being a teacher is the hardest job”. (Duh.)

I gave him the constipated look my students give me when they have no idea what I’m talking about.

He left.

Just say thank you.

WW #22

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To Study… Or Not To Study?

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Thoughts of a doctorate have been dancing in my head.

Conversations have been had.

Opportunity is knocking.

What to do, what to do?

Piggie Obsession

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How can you not be obsessed? Much of my twitter feed is pictures of cute little animals. They are so freaking adorable!

IMG_5814 IMG_5901 IMG_6238 IMG_6334Happy Sunday! It’s June!

 

#tbt21 – ’80’s Toys

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A field trip to Liberty Science Center today sent me back in time. To the ’80’s. Why? Because of the Rubiks Cube exhibit!

Many...

Many…

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…many…

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… many cubes.

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Luxurious cube – diamonds, rubies, emeralds and sapphires!

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Wall of cubes

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This kid could maneuver that cube with one hand!

So of course I went in search of some of my favorite toys of the ’80’s!

Etch-a-Sketch was a nice linear drawing tool. I think the shaking was the most fun.

Rubiks Cube was a good challenge, could get one side the same color but that’s about it.

Definitely loved my view finder. My favorite was Disney’s Fantasia.

Simon Says I was pretty good at. Maybe that’s why my number memory is so strong…

retro-specs.deviantart.com

retro-specs.deviantart.com

I kind of miss my Snoopy Snow Cone machine.

followpics.co

followpics.co

I had one CareBear. And that’s all I wanted was the one. The yellow one.

Ah! This calculator! I used to use this and my moving adding machine when I played office.

Loved, loved, loved my Strawberry Shortcakes. Still love the smell. Yes, the ones at my mom and dad’s still smell.

I was obsessed with Cabbage Patch Kids. In fact, my first one looked like the boy on the bottom left except with light hair. His name was Oscar Florian. And I had one had that looked like the girl on the top left. Her name was Delta (something…). I guess I shouldn’t even say were or was… since I still have them. They are at my mom’s too.

nameberry.com

nameberry.com

And finally, my favorite Barbie. Peaches & Cream. Joc and I would set up all the Barbie furniture and then be done with it. The setting up was the funnest part (yes, I say funnest).

nurseglory.com

nurseglory.com

What were your faves?