The Third Day of Spring

I’m lost in my 13 inch MacBook Pro screen. I now have nine tabs open, if you must know. Looking away to gain perspective, clarity, and observe so that I can live in this moment, I notice the blonde hair and blue eyes are normal here. The mismatched chairs and tables. The dead of winter outside the window, simply waiting to change colors and grow into new life and provide that necessary breath of fresh air. The smells of roasting coffee beans sends me to a familiar but unidentified memory. 

We are three-fourths of the way through March. My calculations tell me I’ve been a resident of Sioux Falls, South Dakota for seven months. Seven months today. Or yesterday, or something like that. The season is changing. Hello, spring. We might have fired Punxsutawney Phil, but we are still anxiously awaiting your arrival. With the new season, brings new life outside and in.

Bring on my first spring in South Dakota. I am ready. I am also ready to share the swirling thoughts that cloud my brain. Apologies for the, “I’m going to start blogging again” post, which I might consequently forget about until June when summer officially begins.

Until then, did you know that Sioux Falls is the eighth coldest city in the United States? [Sorry friends, I couldn't help myself.] At least that’s what they tell me.

That’s my view from here.

It Is Impossible To Live Without Failing at Something.

These words have been instrumentally inspiring to me in the last few days. No need fail by default.

Whatever that something is for you, go out and do it.

Look forward.

Be where you are. Not where you think you are supposed to be.

It’s tempting to fall into the trap of comparing yourself to others. Whether it’s the achievement of a classmate/co-worker/friend or the desire move on to the next step of your life, it seems that someone we know is always more successful than we. As we close out April, remember to look forward. Resist the temptation to look side-to-side as those around you. And most of all, don’t look back to feel regret. Look back only to learn. Be where you are. Look forward.

Faith is…

Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase. [Martin Luther King, Jr.]

I don’t know about you guys, but Mondays can be really tough. Tough like a-smack-in-the-face-from-reality-tough. The weekend just ended. Maybe all you can see is clouds from your office window, if in fact you are lucky enough to have one of those. Possibly you just received a rejection letter for a job application, a grant proposal or you butt heads with a co-worker. Regardless, keep your head up. Don’t sweat the small stuff. And don’t be afraid to take leaps of faith (see above).

Two and a Half Miles of Thoughts

Last weekend wasn’t a good one. I could list all of the reasons why; however, I have better reasons to be happy and thankful. Including:

• I am too blessed to feel stressed.
• I am healthy enough to run off my challenges.

So that’s what I did. iPod in hand, I run to leave my troubles behind me. Though I sent this tweet when I arrived back at my house, I felt refreshed and rejuvenated.

I returned from my run feeling thoroughly confused with thoughts clear as day. I grabbed a pen and my journal to quickly write down my ideas before I lost them. And thus, my two-and-a-half miles of thoughts.

Whether it’s a relationship, a financial situation or even a stranger on the street, I am too blessed with many positive influences in my life to let those aspects bring me down. Yes, each situation can negatively affect my outlook on life. Sometimes that happens. We are allowed to be sad. What is important is how we deal with those situations that matters. Our actions define us.

Quit the negative. Eliminate it from your life.

Be honest to yourself what that negativity in your life is.

What is “the stuff” lying between you and your dreams?

What steps do you need to take to feel at peace with this stuff? Recall how you dealt with a stressful circumstance. What steps did you take to reach resolve? Evaluate what worked. Evaluate what didn’t work.

Prepare yourself to face what is in front of you. Only you can do it. Only you can change it. You are only as prepared as you think you are. 

Remember the three little words to guarantee failure: I will try. As our green friend Yoda reminds us: Do or do not, there is no try. Decide whether you will let the phrase, “I will try,” be big or little words in your life. For more about this, Emily Levenson’s newsletter.

And thus, my two-and-a-half miles of thoughts.

[I am currently training to run a marathon relay for PULSE. Please consider supporting my run by supporting PULSE.]