Bridget Wright

This has been a very busy weekend for me. Kensley had a cheer competition this weekend and we were running A LOT for the past two days. Although my life is busy (just like every other super-busy mother), I try my best to stay motivated and excited about life no matter what is going on in my life. I love life and all that God has to offer me. I try not to get bogged down in what’s wrong, what’s not going right or what I *wish* were different in my life. It is what it is. I accept ALL that God has to offer including the good and the bad and the in-between. I don’t pick and choose what my challenges from God are.

I just accept what God allows.

For some, success in some areas is a challenge. There are so many distractions in our daily lives, that it’s hard to stay focused on what you should be doing. Setting goals is a big deal because it means that you’re eyeing something that you want to accomplish…and that’s a good thing. But getting to that goal is where the rub is and where a lot of people fall short and sometimes fail.

Identify any of these distractions and see if you have a problem in one or more area:

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1. You find that you spend an inordinate amount of time on phone calls that are non-productive. This includes assessing the latest gossip, finding out what happened on the soaps or what Bran-gelina wore to the Oscars. And yes, men are not exempt from this either as they may find themselves continually discussing the latest sport scores.
2. You daydream a lot or bemoan the things that you wish you could get done.
3. An hour or two has passed and you cannot identify one productive thing that you did within that time.
4. You say “yes” to every volunteer opportunity (whether school, work or community) that people ask of you.
5. You can’t say no. Ever. See #4.
6. You wake up tired and exhausted and go to bed pretty much the same. Tired.

If you answered yes to even one of the situations above, staying focused is likely a challenge for you. While you may get some things done, you may be frustrated that you’re not getting ahead or accomplishing the things that you need to be getting done. Take heart; there is a way out and a way that you can set goals and stay focused.

• Learn that saying “no” is not always a bad thing. You simply cannot do everything for everybody all of the time.
• Watch your conversation(s) and interactions with others. Are they productive? Do they advance your goals? Is the other person being helped or benefitted personally? Remember, big minds think big thoughts while small minds, well…
• Keep a to do list. Read the to do list. Follow the to do list rigorously. Do not deter from the list until all is accomplished for the day.
• Follow a daily schedule. Rise and retire at the same time daily. This will help stabilize your internal clock and keep your body energized.

sherlock holmes 2009 While these few tips are not all encompassing, they are just a few pointers to get you started on a pathway headed toward success. Just hang in there and you’ll get there!

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I did it!! I just completed my first running race ever on Saturday. It was the Vulcan Run 10k race, which is the equivalent of 6.2 miles. I am so proud of myself!! I really didn’t have any doubts that I would be able to do it, but I worried that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with the other runners or that my running pace wouldn’t last as long as I needed it to. But surprise, I found that not only did my running pace last, but I was actually able to complete the race at a respectable finishing time, despite the fact that I’ve only been training for a few months and this was my first race. Did I already say that? Well, for it to have been my first race, I completed the 6.2 deal in 1:16! Happy? Sure, but satisfied? Absolutely not. I think because I’m a perfectionist and because I push myself harder sometimes than I should, I looked at my results on race day and decided that I needed to tweak some areas and change some things around if I am going to compete in the 13.1 mile half-marathon that I’m training to do in February 2010. Yes, I have A LOT of work to do!

There are a lot of things that I have learned while I have been preparing for this race, and a few of them came to the forefront for me on Saturday. Of course, a lot of these lessons I am able to transfer to other areas of my life. However, I have also been able to see where tweaking some things around will not only help improve my performance, but will also give me that extra added mental energy boost that I need to succeed in running, writing, speaking and even in parenting! Who would have guessed that little 6.2 mile race could do so much for you. And, it was my first race too!

Bill & Ted’s Bogus Journey movie full Here are some things that I learned Saturday as a result of preparing for a goal that I’ve set for myself:

1. Be diligent at all times, not just when you think it matters.

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The night before the run, I was loading up on Gatorade and water, just so I wouldn’t dehydrate or get near it. Probably not a good time to worry about dehydrating is it? Yes, I drink plenty of water daily, but just not NEARLY as much as I should or could in order to give my muscles the fuel that they need to endure a race of any proportion. About a 1/2 mile into the race, I could feel my lips and mouth getting parched and a little dry. The heavy drinking the night before (just water and Gatorade!) did not do the magic that I ignorantly thought it would. To prepare adequately for anything, you must plan, prepare, outline and strategize how you want to accomplish a goal and then work towards it. Don’t wait until the last minute and expect stellar results.

2. You are what you eat. We’ve heard that millions of times right? But it is so very true, and when your body is conditioning or training for something, it is incredibly important. Again, I eat pretty healthy, but not nearly as good as I should or can. In preparing for a long distance race (or anything where the body will be energy-taxed), it is important to watch everything that you put into your body. EVERYTHING. From that harmless piece of Halloween candy to that last meal of the evening, each bite is important. Cheat days are ok, as are occasional slip-ups. Those things are bound to happen. But what I’m talking about is a lifestyle change in your eating habits that will dictate your endurance level and your stamina. Sometimes we may not realize that the decisions we make are instantly-felt, but they are. Everything that we put into our bodies is just like the decisions we make and the actions we take. They all have an effect on our lives and we have to just think it through before we take that bite or make that move.

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3. Don’t give up. That goes without saying, you would think, but sometimes it bears worth repeating. Although I did a good job, I still felt like I had under-accomplished what I had set out to do as far as my running goal(s) were concerned. Of course when this happens in our lives, we may feel like we want to give up sometimes. But you cannot give up or even THINK about giving up. The potential for reaching goals can stretch your confidence level far beyond what the imagination can fathom. I, for one, NEVER thought that I’d become a runner, or participate in a race, or prep for a marathon. Never in my wildest dreams, but here I am, training, preparing, eating and drinking my way towards fulfilling a goal that I have set for myself. And, if I just stay focused, I will most definitely reach it.

By the way, did I mention that this was my FIRST race??

I’m getting ready to do my morning run in a little while with my running buddy, Katie. She and I are training for the Mercedes Marathon

that’s going to be in February 2010. We’ve been training now for a couple of months and making good strides. Actually, I’m pretty proud of us for being consistent, upbeat and generally excited about accomplishing a goal that both of us are looking forward to. However, yesterday, I had a momentary setback in my enthusiasm.

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Coogan’s Bluff In the news yesterday, there was a story about three marathoners

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who collapsed and died while running the Detroit race. It completely shocked me and scared me a bit because these were seasoned, veteran runners and relatively young in age. They were 26, 36 and 65, and were all quoted by their families as having been “in good shape, no prior medical conditions and no signs that anything was wrong.” So here I am, a newbie, about to run my first half-marathon, the same distance as those guys. But, it’s angsting me to know just why and how in the world these men could collapse and die from a sport that many medical professionals tout as healthy, beneficial and great for the body. I began doubting that this running thing is actually that good. Really?

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Well, yes, really it is. I know that and many avid runners would agree with that as well. Although I spent most of yesterday in panic mode about pursuing my goal, I eventually prayed (should have done that first!) and asked God for peace in my heart about what I am about to pursue. Kenneth chided with me about not having heard from the authorities on what the cause was and asked me, “have they not called you yet??” because he knows I’ll stayed glued to something until it makes sense to me. This episode I’m afraid may never make sense to me, nor should I expect it to.

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The more I considered the situation, the more I realized that I cannot live my life in fear and in anticipation of “what ifs.” Sure, I need to make good decisions, and yes I need to consider the consequences of my actions in all that I do, but to walk around always afraid to make a move? No, that’s not quality living nor is it the way God wants me to behave each day. As a matter-of-fact, fear is the absence of faith, and without faith…

So, I’m off now to meet my friend Katie, run a few miles, laugh, sweat and enjoy life a little. My life is held in the palms of my Father and all that I do is for my good.

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I am a big

fan of helping others and doing the right thing, especially when the situation warrants ethical and appropriate behavior. We live in a world where everything is hurry up and move and done on such a high-energy, high-stressed scale that it’s no wonder why people have physical and even mental ailments. There is sometimes just too much to do in our lives and little time to do it in.

Finding stability in an otherwise over-crowded, over-committed life is sometimes more elusive than attempting to get 8 hours of sleep a night…it just cannot be done! Being busy all of the time, never having time to slow down or enjoy things can leave a person drained psychologically, emotionally and physically. There simply is not enough of you to go around when you need it to. So, today, let’s learn how we can stabilize our hectic conditions and possibly offset stress, pressure and unnecessary problems that we simply DO NOT need in our lives.

1. Stop Committing. This means don’t overcommit, don’t say yes Easy Money movie download Gran Torino download to everything and stop trying to do so much. It is true that if you don’t do it, that it WILL get done. It really will. There’s no reason that you must feel that YOU have to be the one and the only one to do the project, pick up the pieces and move the thing along. Stop saying yes every time you’re asked to help out, volunteer or commit.

2. Choose your commitments wisely. This not only applies to volunteer work, but also to your day job. You may not always be able to say no to your boss, but you can manage to say no to those office extra things like sphere-heading the Christmas party, managing the Big Brother/Sister in-house network, and even supervising the department’s coffee fund. Commitments require your time, energy, talents and skills 100% in order to be effective and make a difference. If you’re not able to give 100%, don’t do it.

3. Exercise regularly. Those who know me know that I am a big fan of regular exercise. I have found out personally that it is the best stress-reliever and all around physical tuning that I need to make my day flow better. And actually if I don’t get to exercise on a given day, I find it difficult to focus, harder to be creative, and sometimes in an all out not-so-good mood. It doesn’t have to be anything strenuous or overly-taxing. Simply taking 20-30 minutes a day to do some form of simple cardio exercising or strength training will have you feeling better in no time at all.

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Offspring dvdrip 4. Rest. I learned this one the hard way. The body cannot focus without proper rest. Some need eight, others need less. The amount of hours is not so important as is the quality of the rest. Relax your body and give it the proper rest that it needs in order to function better and more efficiently.

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No, none of these bullet points are new or eye-openers for many of you. But the question is, is are you doing them? It’s nothing to know it but to do it is the key. And, as our bodies start to age (and they will), our physical needs will change and so will our mental abilities. For instance, I find now that I cannot multi-task nearly as seamlessly as I once was able to. When I could manage 5-8 projects at one time, now I find myself happily juggling two…and sometimes juggling those balls in the air are a big challenge to me.

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*batteries not included hd Beetle Juice Stability is important for every aspect of our lives. It helps us deal effectively with others and gives us a semblance of peace and quietness in our minds and in our spirits. Check your life. Are you over-committed, rushed, hurried or otherwise unable to focus? Is it hard for you to “turn your brain off”? Do you find that you have stomach knots and headaches from worrying about the things that you said you would do…and then you angst over how you’re going to get them done?

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Redline dvdrip Be sure to check back with me on later posts where I give real-life examples of my own crazy schedule and how I coped with it. Now “no” is one of my favorite dictionary words, and I’ll make it one of yours too!!