Get in the Game.

Timing is everything.  Last week, I had my first encounter with a life coach.  I was nervous.  Talking to a life coach is like going to counseling, without the option of blaming your parents or your husband for your personal hangups.  It was paid for by a leadership program that I'm participating in, so we only had 30 minutes.  In this scenario, the past and the present become irrelevant.  It's all about the future.

She encouraged me to write down where I want to be professionally and personally in 20 years and work my way back to 2012.  That kind of freedom to shape the future is completely liberating.  I've always known that I want to do more than practice law.  This exercise helped me to articulate my goals and begin to think through my current situation through the eyes of my future self.  Thanks life coach- for the first time in months, I am back in the game.

Just Do It.

Have you ever heard of Angela Burgin Logan?  She was interviewed today on the Tom Joyner Morning Show about her new movie, "Breathe."  The most fascinating part of her story is the fact that she and her husband spent their life savings to create a film depicting her actual near-death experience with preeclampsia and cardiomyopathy during pregnancy.  She took this horrible experience and made it her life's work to share her story with others.  I think that is an incredible example of excellence in action.  You can find her blog here. The trailer for the movie is here.  Ms. Logan, I salute you and can't wait to see your film.

Carrying the Load.

Hello Dear Readers,
Stress sucks.  But you already knew that. The last few months of my life have been full of it.  So much so that I found myself sitting in my office close to tears the other day just listening to Anna Nalick's melancholy masterpiece, "Breathe," and literally trying to follow her instructions. Innn and outtt. Innnn and outtt.   Marriage. Children. Health. Workload.  Finances. Life is suffocating sometimes.  Just... breathe.  I found myself in the lyric:

'Cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable
And life's like an hourglass, glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button, girl.
So cradle your head in your hands
And breathe... just breathe,
Oh breathe, just breathe

There I sat- fighting back the tears.  After a few unwelcome interruptions from phone calls, emails, text messages and an illtimed question from my secretary, I took my burdens on the road.  To the bathroom.  You know you're stressed when you find yourself standing in a stall at work at least twice a day doing breathing exercises.  If your workplace is anything like mine, standing in the bathroom taking deep breaths can be is deeply unpleasant. At times like this,  I am thankful for seasonal allergies.  I can cry in the bathroom and then blame pollen for the red eyes.  But that's not the point of this post. 

Like I said, stress sucks.  Extreme stress can be crushing.  But perspective can make the difference between a breakdown and a breakthrough (forgive that last Oprahism-  I'm tired and need to bring this post home before I go to bed).  I found a quote that was a turning point for me.  Somewhere on some inspirational website I stumbled upon while searching the Internet, I found it: According to random sources, the great Lena Horne once said, "It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it."  Thanks Lena--Well said (if she actually said it) .  Just looking at stress this way has helped tremendously. Stress will always be present, but  we can't just breathe our way through it.  At some point, we have to shift the weight of it all from our own shoulders and trust God to bear the load as he instructs us in Psalm 55:22 and 1 Peter 5:7.  So much easier said than done.  

This is an ongoing process for me.  I'll keep you posted.

Two Strides Forward, Coldstone Back.

Today I went running for the second day in a row!  Then we took the kids to Coldstone and I ordered this salted caramel--Reese's cup--graham cracker--hot fudge--workout eraser.  What started as a simple trip to McDonalds for vanilla cones turned into a detour to Coldstone for the fancy stuff.   DELICIOUS. I've already got my running shoes ready for tomorrow.

Hello!

Hello Dear Readers! This is my first post from my new iPad. I continue to break the cardinal rule of blogging-write!! I am fast approaching another point of transition in my life and I hope to tell you more soon. Really.