the walk went really well today. i walked about a quarter mile of it and ran the rest. thank you again for helping me reach my goal. pictures to be posted shortly. i'm super touched by people's generosity, especially those i haven't seen in YEARS. it's amazing to know that no matter the amount of time that has lapsed, a commitment of friendship and love is shown through unconditional support. i normally hate bugging people or making them feel obligated in any way to financially contribute to a charity, but this is the one time of year i actually suck up my pride and do it, because really, it's for an amazing cause, and babies always have a special place in my heart, as does ali. i look at her and my heart immediately melts because she is one of strongest fighters i have ever met. she helps me remember that life has meaning and is full of love, even when it doesn't seem like you've been dealt a full deck of cards. i wish more people remembered that there are people around them that need love just as much as them and didn't always put their own needs first. i really pray to not keep comparing because i'm sure we're all where we are for a reason. let me continue to serve the needs of others and the joy will be sure to follow.
so i've finally confronted the notion that i can no longer hide behind my sweaters and my baggy sweatshirts. earlier this week, rather than being late for work, i threw on a fairly light long sleeve shirt and proceeded to have a literal melt down in the clinic. so yes, i need new teeshirts for one, but now i have an added incentive to get this ass into gear. today sucked with the pollen, but i did it anyway.
thought i would help my fellow inactive readers to get into gear too.
:wardrobe: believe it or not, this prevents a lot of people from working out because they don't think they have the right stuff (oh baby). and if anyone has been in sports authority or dicks sporting goods, they will know this stuff can get expensive. but it really doesn't have to be. for those that are starting out: teeshirt or in colder weather, a long sleeve tee. today i wore an aqua blue Tekgear long sleeve tee that wicks sweat away from the skin. i got this for like 10 bucks at tj max. it was kinda chilly earlier so i threw a blue zip up sweatshirt over. definitely didn't need it by the end. pants: sweats are fine, i like yoga pants b/c they hug my legs and don't irritate the skin. i had black danskin yoga pants and I LOVE THEM. danskin can be expensive, but i found these in the outlets for about 15. socks: you want them high enough that your achilles (back of the foot) has coverage so it doesn't rub against the back of your shoe. basic is fine, i highly recommend ones i found lately at walmart which are the fruit of the loom no show black sport socks with arch support (bag of six). shoes: this is definitely where you want to take the most time and money to invest in because you want to create like a love affair with them. first you need to determine your foot type: http://running.about.com/od/shoesapparelandgear/a/foottypes.htm and have a salesperson at a sporting goods store help you out. i have a pretty high arch but i get good support from my Asics GT-2080. i've had them for a couple of years and i need to replace them soon which i'm kinda sad about. RUN IN THEM FIRST! dicks has a really good return policy, and they have a loop in the store to run. i know you'll feel silly running in them in the store, but RUN IN THEM! you can only really break in a shoe so much. my asics felt like butter the moment i put them on.
gear:
i am basically and completely in love w/ my nikeplus. (one of my most favorite birthday gifts). i didn't think i would be trendy, but this honestly helps me not just run but is helping me stay on task. along with that of course is my ipod (one of my most favorite christmas gifts) and one of my most greatest purchases my armband. the only con to the armband from what i read is that it will not work on small arms, which is not a problem for my she-ra arms so just beware.
music: it was on random, but i got a good run with:
Goggle (Remix) by Tanya Stephans
Big Pun Ultra Remix by Crooklyn Clan
Escapade by Janet Jackson
La La La by Jay-Z
Hollaback Girl by Gwen Stefani
i haven't had a chance to download any good stuff lately, so the stuff is pretty old school but i have enough to work with. i just came across this site and downloaded two mixes. i definitely did not like them but then again, maybe i have to keep searching.
i hate spring. always have, always will. i hate pollen, i've had hay fever every year since i was ten. back then, they didn't make medicine quite as well. i was constantly drowsy and miserable. it seems to get worse every year. i want to rip my eyes out and turn my throat inside out and itch it to pieces. i hate spring. spring meant that track season was starting. i remember how i would be in the field house chatting it up with "T" who would be in the weight room training for his elite soccer team or whatever. warm weather memories. gah i hate them. i hate change in weather that brings the bugs out, and the people out. it starts to get warm and people start going crazy with insisting that every other past activity now must be conducted outside. i hate how spring becomes a coming out social event. people want to have their iced coffee coolattas on the metal tables outside under the umbrella, while wearing their light jacket over a cute khaki skirt and wedge sandals. people start window shopping and taking walks through the city, stopping in this thrift store and that cheeky designer shop. and the baseball games, sitting in the semi-cool night air while watching the sky dim, who wants that? how bout the beginning of those spontaneous bbqs? yeah, totally lame that anyone would enjoy just bumming around the table, drinking beers and shooting the breeze or chillin on the front steps talking about everything and anything. yeah...totally.
sorry for the lack of posts. my life has been so ridiculously awesome that i just haven't had the time. but on the reals, today was a long day. i went to hackensack medical center to donate blood for a grade/high school classmate whose leukemia came back. it was only really a 45 minute drive which stretched into an hour and 15 with traffic and detours. commuting is normally very boring, but i couldn't help but crack up at this guy who was pulled over to the shoulder, DOING PUSH UPS against his car! i thought, "hm, maybe he's trying to push something." but no, he was straight up flexing his guns and doing his sets. i looked in the rearview mirror as i passed him, and then wouldn't you know it, he finished, got in his car and attempted to merge into the crawling traffic. you just can't make stuff up like that.
i was a little disappointed, i went to HUMC all early so i would have enough time to donate platelets which is a good 3 hour run, and then head to work. well, sadly, i was rejected. they inspected my veins and told me i wasn't a viable enough candidate. i didn't know how to react, i've always thought i had strong veins! i had to be satisfied with donating a pint of my blood, and at least that will do some good, i hope. it's good to give back. (did i mention i'm walking this weekend? www.marchforbabies.org/stacyong?) hehe... shameless plug.
remember, when we look back on our life, we really do want to see how kind we were to others, not really expecting anything in return, but the sheer satisfaction of having contributed kindness, selflessness and love to this world.
one of the greatest life lessons i have been privy to lately is that of acceptance. i know some may not have a deep rooted faith, and that's okay, but it might be a little more difficult to grasp otherwise. that's simply because when you accept something, you basically surrender and lift the situation to a higher power. and the greatest thing that comes with acceptance is that of grace. this is so powerful to me, because i have mucho control issues. i want so much for things to go my way, and sometimes i try to nudge things in one direction, rather then letting it take its course. all this has done has caused me a lot of disappointment and frustration because it's not going my way. sometimes people just want to be a superhero, to be able to save the day, save the situation, to alleviate a concern. there's a fear of disappointing people, of showing weakness, the fear of being judged as indifferent or uncaring. however, if you have the grace to accept the situation for what it is, you submit yourself to the humbling notion that you are, essentially nothing. i'm not saying you abandon someone or leave them hanging, but you just gotta work within your limits and boundaries, respecting the bigger picture and the higher authority. i don't like authority. i don't like when someone tells me what to do. i don't like when i feel like someone is judging my actions. but true devotion and faith is about submitting to the Father's will, and trusting in His ultimate plan. He sees all, He knows all, and He corrects everyone, in His own time. sometimes i need to just remember that.
so life continues to be so ridiculously awesome. i had breakfast at G's house, saw E off back to maryland, and then went to work until 8:30. it can't get better than that. sadly enough, the only thing that seems to be getting better is my horrible sarcasm. saw a friend at the popular sushi place yesterday, and thoroughly enjoyed when she decided to blow up my spot in front of another person. that was really great. i saw no way around it, so i just embraced it fully and called her out for calling me out. that's how we jersey girls roll. only the strong survive. seriously.
so let's dig deep for some great updates. oh, i went to a mets game on saturday. yeah, i never realized how many milwaukee fans congregate in the new york area. i told them to shut up and drink the beer that they all probably had some hand in making anyway. um, then i went to an orientation for the papal youth rally where my very important top secret assignment will be to help with student drop off. it's incredible i tell you, the honor i feel is too precious for words. yesterday i drove an hour and a half for my goddaughter's birthday so i could play rock band for two hours with the cousins. straight. family bonding is so important to me. so i can't wait to update you guys tomorrow and tell you all about my rock star day.
