Giving Thanks for All the Things

'Tis the season of giving thanks!

Let me just say I believe we should reflect on our blessings and give thanks on the daily. It's a given, though, the Thanksgiving holiday prompts us to dig a bit deeper and appreciate the things around us even more.

And here we are, with another Thanksgiving in our midst...

Blessed and ever so Grateful

It's that time of the year, again and already.

While I reflect, almost daily, on all the good that's come my way, I especially try to draw on all that gratitude this time of year. After all, the holiday season is a busy time. It's easy to let one's focus veer towards all the chaos, rather than all the blessings, if we're not careful.

Thankful.Grateful.Blessed.

Thankful. Grateful. Blessed. These three things are paramount, year-round, but especially this time of year.

This has been quite a year, for us all. So many changes, and still so many unknowns. Yet, so much to be thankful for.

I've written previous Thankful posts (in 2020, 2019, in 2018, in 2017, in 2016, in 2015 and in 2014), and I honestly don't know if I could say it any better. Bear with me, I'm going to go with (mainly) what's been said before, but tweak some of it to make it more current.

A Lot Can Happen in Four Years

Believe it or not, Voldy has a birthday today.

Remember him? He's the keepsake from that freaky (misdiagnosed) staph infection that landed me on the operating table for emergency surgery. 

While he was pretty ugly to look at, for a very long time, now he's kind of grown on me. Well, at the very least, I've gotten used to seeing all six inches of him on a daily basis. After all, things could have played out much worse had I not bypassed my local doc (and seen the specialist instead) on that fateful day, June 29th in 2017. 

Gratitude - I've Got Some

Gratitude. Tis the season.

This has been quite a year, for us all. So many changes, so many unknowns. Yet, so much to be thankful for.

I've written previous Thankful posts (in 2019, in 2018, in 2017, in 2016, in 2015 and in 2014), and I honestly don't know if I could say it any better. Bear with me, I'm going to go with (mainly) what's been said before, but tweak some of it to make it more current.

Best Running Advice: Be Grateful

I have been an avid runner for over 15 years.

I have received a  lot of valuable advice in that time. The advice has come from running experts, coaches, online research, and fellow runners. 

I know what shoes are best for my feet, the value in warming up (and cooling down), and how to pace myself in a race of (almost) any distance. I have learned to run my own race and to opt out of the comparison game. Although I'm still very much a work-in-progress, I'm thankful for all that I've learned.

The most valuable lesson, though, has come from my own experience...and that is to always be grateful.

Grateful. Joyful. Blessed.

Grateful. Joyful. Blessed. .

There is SO much to be thankful for...and not just this time of season, but year-round.

I've written previous Thankful posts (in 2018, in 2017, in 2016, in 2015 and in 2014), and I honestly don't know if I could say it any better. Bear with me, I'm gonna go with (mainly) what's been said before, but tweak some of it to make it more current.

P.M.D.D. - Post Marathon Distress Disorder

Post Marathon Distress Disorder (or PMDD, for short). - I've got me a case of it.

It may not be an authentic, documented mental condition, but I can attest to its validity.

When a big race is on the agenda, you train for it. When it's a REALLY BIG race that's been at the top of your bucket list forever, you train even harder. You look forward to the big day and do everything in your power to ensure you're ready, physically and emotionally.

There's all kinds of early morning runs. There's shoe rotation. There's the fueling strategy. There's frequent weather-stalking. And there's plenty of race day stress, due to the aforementioned weather stalking.

But what happens after the finish line?

A journey of Gratitude

It's been an interesting two years.

It hasn't been easy, but it's been very enlightening. Definitely not a journey I'd choose to repeat, nor wish on anyone else, but it left me with some valuable lessons. And I'm ever grateful for the experience.

In case there's any doubts, I'm talking about my journey with Voldy.