If your memory is anything like mine (good but short) you might want to hit the link below and reread the original post.

Great idea?

So here is the scoop.  I did not meet my deadline of Feb 1st mainly because of the winter weather.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Honestly a little good ole procrastination and just plain fear also entered the deal.

Now my middle name lately could be “fearless” as I have swung on the trapeze and  rappelled off a 4 story building  and would love to do a tandem sky dive

SO why did falling off my bike make me shake in my boots?

Lets see..the trapeze had…

• a HUGE safety net
• a guided harness

The rappelling adventure had ..

• a helmet
• a safety harness
• some really cute National Guardsman helping me (always a plus)
• No net!!

The rappelling was a spontaneous adventure and my gray matter had no time to process what I was actually doing.

Somehow, somewhere, someone is going to ask me …

“So if you saw someone jump off a 4 story building, would you do it too???

“Why yes I would and here are the photos to prove it!”

Almost ready to jump

"Jumping off a 4 story building"

Despite all this my fear was a hungry bear and it got busy feasting on:

• Childhood memories of painful scabby knees and lost battles with the sidewalk

• My husbands voice telling me “Your gonna breaka u face” ( thanks Paul)

• All those friends with their wonderful bloody bike pedal disaster stories they delighted in telling!

I  reminded myself of the quote by Helen Keller:

” Life is either a great adventure or nothing”

Pushing the fear aside I started with one pedal, graduated to two…and I DID it without falling.  AND I did it just in time for my Sprint tri in June!

Bike pedal succes

That is not quite the end of the story.  Spurred on by my success and getting a little cocky I fancied myself the master of the bike pedals.

Off I went  a few weeks later exploring a new bike path and down I went when I took a sharp turn and lost my balance.

And the pavement won!

At age 53 I sported a very scabby knee and a slightly bruised ego.

My scabby knee made for some interesting conversations especially since I took great pleasure in wearing Scooby Doo band-aids!

So I didn’t “break a my face” and I LOVE my bike pedals!

I know I have some more learning ahead of me, a few falls and maybe a scabby knee or two.

Still…I am so stinking proud of myself I may have to borrow Ava Grace’s  “I’m Kind of a Big Deal” shirt!

So my friends, face your fears, take a risk, fall down, get up, and do it again the next day…its all about the “trying”

Let me know what you’re up to so I can cheer you on!

Put her in this tank top and the package is complete!

I just laughed when I saw her sporting this affirmation of who she is and what she is about.  We all think she is a big deal with or without the t-shirt !!     Wouldn’t it be great if we all had the self confidence to sport a shirt like this???

Why not?  Aren’t we all kind of a big deal??  No “kind of” about it.

When was the last time you gave yourself credit for anything and everything??

I am constantly amazed by the people I know and the people I meet who overcome incredible obstacles, follow their dreams despite all the naysayers, and just keep plugging away!!  They are a BIG DEAL and deserve lots of credit.

BUT so do you!!

We are great at giving ourselves credit for the big things.  What about the little everyday things??

Give yourself credit for taking out the garbage.  Take it from someone who left old shrimp in the kitchen garbage while away for a week-end.   I thought we would never get the smell out of the house!

So your assignment for today is to pretend you are wearing Ava’s tank top!   You ARE a BIG DEAL.  Start making a list of things you do and give yourself credit for them..give yourself an “ata boy or ata girl”  Keep the list going and look at it when the sun isn’t shining in your heart.

I’ll start…I am a BIG DEAL because  … I ate healthy this morning, I vacuumed up the dog hair, I wrote my blog ,  I  laughed, I replaced the toilet paper without yelling at someone and I was patient with myself!!

And lastly copy this quote and put it on your frig to remind yourself  how really wonderful you are!

“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It’s not just in some of us; it’s in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.  M. Williamsom

Make it a really BIG DEAL day!!!  Smiles,

5:15 every week-day morning found me rolling out my bed and out the door.

In the winter I appreciated the dark mornings that camouflaged my ratty, “grab what is warm” attire.  In the summer I appreciated sunglasses and hats to hide tracings of yesterdays mascara and my wild woman hair.

Most of all I appreciated what got me out of bed and moving my body, my walking partner Francy.

Just knowing she was waiting was enough to get me up and going.  We walked , griped, rejoiced and laughed for 2 miles every morning for over  10 years.

We agreed that what was “said on the walk stayed on the walk ” so no subject was taboo and there was a sense of trust and freedom with what we shared with each other.

Francy was walking long before I joined her. I initially started walking with her as a way to fit in some physical activity in my way too busy life, however those two miles became much more than exercise.

It was an incredible way to start the day sharing, laughing, griping. We celebrated family milestones and even became grandparents for the first time in the same year. Later 2 of our grandchildren would be born on the same day!

People who routinely drove past us on their way to work either thought we were crazy or admired our dedication.

It really became a morning ritual that filled me in every way. I think it did for Francy as well

When I moved I have to say that this was one of things I missed most. It will remain one of those special times in my life that always makes me smile.

I hope you have a daily ritual or habit  that fills you in every way.

I found this photo I had taken early one morning and put this quote with it as a gift to Francy ( made one for myself as well) I think it sums up our walks pretty well.

Bless yourself with a walk this week..and take a friend along. Great things will come your way!

“An early morning walk is a blessing for the whole day”  Thoreau

Since April  16, 2007  , whenever I need a push I remember to get out there and do it for those who can’t.

On April 16,  2007 a  familiar place to our family and most of Virginia experienced a horrific tragedy when a student at VA Tech took the lives of 32 innocent people.

Our oldest daughter graduated from Tech. Our second daughter had been there in 2006 in the same dorm.

My heart ached for those families.  I desperately wanted to do something for them.  I wanted them to know that their loved ones would not be forgotten.

So I prayed and I ran.

I dedicated a run to each one of those who lost their life that day.  Before each run I read their biography posted by the family. I looked at their photos.  They were intelligent, fun, energetic people.  They had amazing futures ahead of them.  Many were adventuresome, and athletic.  Community leaders and contributors.   They had so much to give to us and the world and in an unbelievable moment of violence it was taken away.

So I ran because they could not.

Those runs gave me immense peace and deep gratitude for the simple things I often missed while putting one foot in front of the other.   I ran with purpose and prayer to honor their lives.

That week in April was one of grief and happiness for our family.

On Friday April 20th everyone was encouraged to wear Virginia Tech colors to honor those who lost their lives on April 16th.

It was also the day we welcomed our 4th grandchild into our family.  Her name had been picked out months before but it held special meaning that day.

Bella Angelina    Beautiful Angel

I thought of all the beautiful angels we honored that day wearing maroon and orange.  It was everywhere.

Newborn babies, new hope.

Dedicate your next workout to someone who can’t.

You will find new purpose in each stride, each push of the pedal, each swim stroke.  Do it because you can.