INSPIRATION is where you find it

How about one last dose of inspiration?

If you've stuck with me through Advent, thank you for your patience. If you're lost on what I'm chatting about, here's the details: I have been following the #AdventWord2017 challenge on Instagram, We've had daily word prompts to inspire us to post a pic related to each day's featured word.

Being a runner, most of these #AdventWord2017 posts have had a running "slant" to them (key word : most). There may have been a stray post here or there that has been non-running related, but not many.

I first blogged about #Awaken, #Journey, #Gather, #Simplify, and #Heal (HERE). A week later, I chatted about #Mend, #Focus, #Prepare, #Messenger, #Watch, #Voice, and #Wilderness (HERE). Just recently, I highlighted #Trust, #Among, #Light, #Dazzle, #Open, and #Embrace (HERE).

That leaves us with the final five words of the Challenge. and here they are:

Renew
Got cold weather? Well, I'm in Iowa, so cold weather is very much my reality this time of year. Instead of cowering inside, I prefer to open the door, step outside, and let it #renew my mind, body, and spirit.  Ironically, this word was featured on the Winter Solstice, and the temps may have been cold (and windy!), but they left me invigorated.

The temps were 29F with a feels-like of 21F

Greeting

Last Friday morning, I awoke to a sprinkling of snow. What's ironic, is this was the first snow we've seen this season. Sure, there have been a few flurries in the air, but nothing on the ground. I felt it proper to extend a proper #greeting to the white stuff. Consequently, it was all gone a couple hours later. Oh well.

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow....

Child
I grew up with the Star Wars stuff, but never quite was able to grasp the story line. Well, having two of the kids home (on winter break) with all kinds of free time, we decided to have a Star Wars marathon...which made me feel like a #child again. Thankfully, I have gotten a better understanding of who is who, and how everything is playing out in the Star Wars saga...but stay tuned, we're only six movies in, and there is still much to be learned. I'm glad the kids are answering most of my questions and not making me feel like a clueless pest.

Hello, Luke...I know who your father is (and your sister, too)

Believe
Guess what greeted me Sunday morning? A fresh layer of snow! Seeing the snow made me #believe a white Christmas would actually be a reality. It was a perfect kind of snow, too, and it allowed me to enjoy a perfect run. I could feel the snow sprinkling my face as I heard it crunching underfoot. It was just me and the great outdoors...total tranquil bliss.

All is calm, all is bright

Celebrate
Lastly, the temps on Christmas morning were the coldest of the season, but the air was unusually calm. I don't think it was a coincidence. I was able to get out for a couple miles before finishing all the dinner preparations as we waited for the kids to rise and shine. A perfect way to #celebrate the start of a special day.

A last hurrah for the obnoxious Santa leggings

As a runner, it's not always easy lacing up and getting the runs done. Throw in tricky weather conditions during a busy time of year, and it can really be a time crunch (and a mind game) to make it happen. These daily inspirational words have given me a welcome distraction amidst all the craziness of the holiday season and a tolerant mind in dealing with the cold weather as well. And the running has been going well. I don't think that's a coincidence either.

How about you? Has it been a crazy holiday season in your world? Have you been able to find some quiet moments? Where do YOU look for inspiration?

**I'm linking this with Debbie and Rachel and Lora for the Running Coaches' Corner.