So – when I saw “Smells” for Day 3, I thought, “Okay. This is weird.” But then – on my way home last night, someone in town was burning wood to heat their home….and the smell of smoke from a wood burning stove took me back 35 years in an instant. 

You see – whenever I smell “wood smoke” in the cold air, my memory immediately goes back to playing in the snow in my grandparents’ front yard and smelling the smoke from their chimney when Grandpa would load the wood stove in the basement.  Whenever I smell that type of smoke, I feel just like that little girl again – all bundled up in her snow gear, carefree and happy.  

So very thankful for those memories – and the special scents that can take me back in time. 

Today’s theme for gratitude is “movement.” This morning as I was getting on the treadmill at 5am, “gratitude” wasn’t exactly what I was feeling. It’s not easy getting out of bed when my alarm goes off at 4:30am (and let’s be honest, I hit snooze and don’t get up until 4:45), and it’s not easy getting in an early morning workout. However, it’s very easy to lose sight of the fact that those early morning workouts aren’t chores – they’re a privilege. I know so many people that aren’t blessed with the health that allows them to do what I am able to. 

So tomorrow morning when my alarm goes off – I’m going to try to remember to say a prayer of gratitude for the gift of “movement”…..

……but I’m still gonna hit the snooze button. 

#livethankful

It’s November 1st – and number 39 is an EPIC fail.  I have not taken a picture every day, and I’m realizing it’s not realistic to think that I could every day going forward for the remainder of this year.  So, I’ve come up with a compromise.  Instead of taking a picture every day for a YEAR, I’m going to take a picture every day for a MONTH – and not just ANY month.  I’m going to take part in a “30 Day Photo Gratitude Challenge” during the month of November – a month that is filled with Thanksgiving.  (Pun intended.)

Day 1 – Something I See Every Day

This is a photo of something I see everyday – my coffee maker and one of my favorite coffee mugs.  This photo makes me think of a lot of things.  First, it makes me think about how much I enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning.  Second, it makes me grateful for the quiet time I have every morning while I’m enjoying that cup of coffee.  Normally, this is the time that I read my daily devotional and bible verses.  It is the perfect way to start my day, and I’m thankful my schedule allows for it.  Third, that coffee mug makes me think about when I received it – and it makes me thankful for so many things.

A close friend gave me that mug as a gift when I was going through a very rough time.  She gave me that mug along with a beautiful card in which she wrote “Even though it didn’t turn out like it was planned, someday you will see it was just a step along the path of where you were meant to end up.”  Whenever I use that mug, I think about that.  I don’t think about the rough time I went through – but I think about everything that has happened since, and how immensely blessed I’ve been.  Thinking about all of those blessings helps me begin my day filled with gratitude – and that’s exactly how I want to start this month.

I’ll save my “lesson learned” on this item until the end of the month, but I have a feeling I’m going to learn A LOT.  #livethankful

 

To be completely honest – I never really LOVED running before a couple years ago.  I’ve done 5K’s – and I even ran the Soldier Field 10 Mile race in Chicago 5 years ago, but I was only able to run the first 5 miles before having to walk/run the remaining 5 miles.  I average walking about 15 miles every week, and I look forward to getting my miles in – but running was never something that I really looked forward to doing.  That changed sometime early last year.

Last spring I started having some health issues.  When you’ve had perfect health your entire life and then you begin having issues, it’s scary.  I was having stomach issues from stress, and I wasn’t taking the best care of myself.  Fortunately, I found a great doctor that helped me fix what was causing my stomach issues instead of just treating the symptoms.  After investing a lot of time into getting myself back on track, I felt better than I had my entire life – and still do.

As part of my improved health, I started to increase my workouts.  I had worked some running intervals into my walking schedule to help change things up a little bit and build my endurance.    The more my health improved, the more I actually started to enjoy running.

My friend, Heidi, and I completed the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Event five years ago.  For those of you not familiar with it, the participants walk 60 miles in three days to raise funds and awareness for breast cancer research and treatment.  I remember thinking to myself while we were walking those miles that we were close to walking a marathon for three days in a row.  (We walked 20 miles each day.)  When my cousin, Sarah, met me at the finish line in Soldier Field, she asked me, “Could you walk or run another 3 miles?”  When I responded, “Yes,” she smiled and said, “Then you could do a half marathon.  Don’t forget that.”

I never did.

I don’t remember there ever being one specific moment where I decided that I wanted to do a half marathon – I’ve always just had it in the back of my head.  My friend, Kelley, has ran a couple of them, and I always regretted not joining her.  So when I learned about the Detroit Free Press International Half Marathon, I was intrigued.  Running over the Ambassador Bridge, running in Canada, running back through the Windsor Tunnel….it all sounded fun and challenging.  So – I decided to add that accomplishment to my “Year of 40 List,” and I signed up.  In the weeks and months that followed, I learned so much about myself and what I’m capable of.

Every time I hit a new distance milestone, I was amazed at how strong it made me feel.  Every week I was running longer distances on the weekends, and I began looking forward to them.  I remember the first time I ran 6 miles, then 7, then 8…..and each one felt amazing.   I ran 10 miles for the first time the morning of my 40th birthday, and that was the first time that I really felt ready for the big event.

Our group headed down the day before the race.  We picked up our packets, had a great dinner, then headed back to the hotel.  All of a sudden from out of nowhere, the doubts started to set in.  I was scared that I wouldn’t be able to run the entire 13.1 miles without having to walk some of it (my goal was to run the entire race).  I was scared it would take me a lot longer than everyone else to finish.  I was letting my fear suck all the fun out of it.  I went to bed and tried to get a good night’s sleep to forget about it all.

I woke up the next morning and started getting ready.  I started getting more and more excited, and when I put my race bib on – things started to feel real.  We all headed down to the starting line and got in position for the race.  Once I was in my corral, my fears were entirely replaced by excitement.  As every corral in front of me was released and I got closer and closer to beginning my 13.1 mile journey, my heart started beating faster and faster.  When the countdown was over and they released our group, I was all smiles as I started running.

Some of my favorite moments from the race….

1.)  Running over the Ambassador Bridge
2.)  Seeing the sun break through the clouds after we had feared a thunderstorm the night before
3.) The high five and “Go Blue!” I got from a bystander in Canada
4.) Feeling the breeze and fresh air when I ran out of the Windsor Tunnel
5.)  The “You Could Have Picked Chess” sign one bystander had
6.)  Running my fastest miles of the race at miles 11 and 12 after mile 10 almost killed me

I turned the corner onto Fort Street at the end of the race, and I was almost on “E.”  I was exhausted, but I could see the finish line.  As I got closer and closer to the finish, there were people lining both sides of the street cheering all of us on.  As I ran past a certain point, I could hear the cheering get louder.  It’s so hard to hear and see people as you’re running, so I wasn’t sure if it was anyone I knew or not.  And then I heard a voice louder than all the rest yell, “You’ve got this Donnellon!!  Go!!”  I immediately got a burst of energy – and I sprinted the rest of the way to the finish line.

As soon as I crossed the finish line, the tears started.  I was completely overwhelmed.  13.1 miles – and I ran…every…single…one.  It was one of the greatest feelings I’ve ever had in my entire life.  I made my way to the medal line, met up with the rest of my group, and we headed back to the hotel to meet up with everyone and headed home.

I was a little sore today, but not bad.  Any soreness that I have can’t compare to the pride I feel when I see that 13.1 sticker on the back of my car.

Lesson Learned From Item #1: Never believe yourself when you think you can’t do something.  You can substitute out the “half marathon” for any accomplishment in this saying that I found online – “There will be days I don’t know if I can do a half marathon.  There will be a lifetime knowing that I have.”

 

 

 

I’ve always loved to read.  One of my earliest memories when I first started elementary school was how easy reading came to me.  I remember specifically a workbook that we used in the second grade for reading comprehension.  We would read a (lengthy) story and answer questions afterwards.  Some of my classmates hated it, but I loved it.  As my schedule has filled up over the years, I find it harder and harder to sit still long enough to finish a book.  However, reading is still a pastime very close to my heart.

Recently while attending a workshop, our instructor told us that she was a member of a Book Club that met on a monthly basis.  She shared with our group how her Book Club was an amazing group of ladies that got together to discuss their ‘pick of the month’ and enjoy some quality time with each other.  I was immediately jealous, and I thought to myself, “I really wish that we had something like that around here.”

I have been thinking about my “Year of 40” list for quite some time, and I’ve also been trying to think of ways to keep myself on track.  The more I thought about my jealousy over not having a local Book Club, the more I heard a little voice saying, “Mary – if you want to join a Book Club and can’t fine one – START a Book Club.”

So, I created a group message on Facebook – and did nothing.  Created the group, but sent no message.  I started to talk myself out of it.  I thought, “Just because I want to do this, no one else will.  I’m sure everyone will think this is just a waste of time.”  Not realizing that people could see I started the group, I had some people ask me what the group message was for.  That made me feel brilliant that I had forgotten to delete the darn thing.

As September grew closer and my “Year of 40” list started to materialize, I kept thinking about my non-existent Book Club – as well as the long list of books I wanted to read this year.  My sister-in-law kept asking me when – if ever – I was going finally going to utilize my group message.  The next night I went home, pulled up my message, had a glass of wine, and sent out my message.  Looking back now – I laugh at how nervous I was when I hit the “Send” button.

Just as I thought would happen, it wasn’t everyone’s thing.  Some people left the group.  Some people said, “Thanks, but I’m just too busy right now.”  Some people said they would like to be kept in the loop, but they weren’t sure how many times they would be able to attend.  Everyone said that if they changed their minds or their schedules changed, they would let me know.  I appreciated everyone’s honesty.  Then there was a group that was just as excited as I was to finally have a group of ladies to read books with.

In the weeks that followed, I started to get messages from everyone saying how excited they were and how much they were looking forward to getting together.  I think my favorite part was how some ladies sent me Snap Chats and texts showing me pictures of our first book when their copy had been delivered.

This past Sunday we had our second Bearcat Book Club get together.  Every time I saw someone walk through the front door of my friend’s home, my smile got a little bigger.  Here was a group of some amazing ladies that were taking time out of their busy weeks to spend some time discussing our monthly read, and (more importantly) spend some time with each other.  As cheesy as it sounds, I almost got a little teary eyed as I sat around the table listening to the conversation.  Our book this month was “The 5 Second Rule” by Mel Robbins – and every single lady sitting at the table discussed the positive changes they had made or experienced as a result of putting what they learned in the book to work.  Each one of these ladies was responsible for making these changes on their own, but I couldn’t help but think to myself – “Just think what would have happened if you never would have hit that ‘Send’ button.”

Not every member can make every meeting, but that’s okay.  For the ones that can attend, we always have a great discussion.  It’s so refreshing to take some time out of our schedules to talk about something positive and just spend some time with some great ladies.

Lesson Learned From Item #5: Never be afraid to put yourself out there.  To quote an amazing lady that just shared this with me recently, “When you put yourself and your ideas out there, you’ll get back so much more in return.” 

 

 

“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you .” ~ Maya Angelou

I’ve always loved writing, and – ask anyone that knows me – I love telling stories. I always thought about writing a book or a blog….sharing my thoughts on life, lessons I’ve learned (and there’s been a LOT), and bits and pieces of good info I’ve picked up along my journey. However, every time I seriously thought about it and got close to putting a plan in action, the fear would inevitably set in.

“Would other people find my thoughts interesting?”

“Would people care to hear about the lessons I’ve learned?”

“Would anyone think that my journey was worth reading about?”

After giving into that negative thought process, my plan of action would get put on the back burner. I would busy myself with other things to keep myself from thinking about the one thing that I really wanted to do. This cycle repeated itself for many years.

Until last year .

Last year was the first time my desire to share something was stronger than my fear of what other people would think about it.

THE IDEA

One evening last summer, while having dinner with a close friend, she shared with me that her 40^th birthday was approaching and she was a little apprehensive about it. Would she be happy? Would she be sad? Would she feel old? All understandable, I told her, and I suggested she make a “40 Bucket List”. When she asked what that was, I explained that she could make a list of 40 things she wanted to do between her 40^th and 41^st birthdays – during her “Year of 40.” She said it sounded like an interesting idea, and then we changed the subject. Although we stopped talking about it – I never quit thinking about it.

So – here I am. I’m days away from my 40^th birthday, and I’ve decided to take my own advice. Seemed like a simple enough idea, right? I mean, make a list of 40 things that you would like to do in a year. No big deal, right? Yeah.  Not so much.

As I started to put my list together, I really started to think about what I WANT to do this year.   Is there something that I’ve been putting off? What are some things I keep saying I want to do? My dad never misses an opportunity to point out to either me or my siblings when we say, “I’m gonna,” because that means we usually won’t. As I started putting my list together, I realized that I had a very LONG “I’m gonna” list.

So, after some soul searching (and a few glasses of wine), here is my official “Year of 40” list:

1. Run  a half marathon.
2. Learn how to swim. (Don’t laugh at this one. I have a HUGE fear of water and need to get this done.)
3. Learn how to play the piano. Well.
4. Visit an art museum.
5. Read one new book a month.
6. Take a road trip somewhere new.
7. Learn a new language.
8. Read the Bible daily.
9. Visit my grandmother’s hometown in Kinkora, Ontario. (I’ve been there before, but cannot seem to find time to go back. This item is just ensuring I do.)
10. Drive around one night to do nothing other than look at Christmas lights.
11. Bake a cake from scratch.
12. Make cookies to give away and deliver to my friends. (I’ve never done this before, and I’m always looking for more ways to celebrate my favorite holiday.)
13. Walk/Run a minimum of 75 miles a month.
14. Do yoga weekly. No. Excuses.
15. Attend a service of a different religion, preferably one I’ve never attended before.
16. Take better care of my skin. (Duh. I’m turning 40. This is just common sense, but once again – if it’s on the list….I HAVE to do it.)
17. Recreate my wardrobe. (Losing – and keeping off – 40 pounds over the past year is great, but it’s equally frustrating when your clothes are too big rather than too small.)
18. Go on a breakfast date.
19. Try one new recipe a month. (I MUST start trying some of the plethora of recipes I’ve pinned on Pinterest.)
20. Go to a drive-in movie.
21. Go to a weekend church retreat.
22. Learn how to make sushi.
23. Go kayaking.
24. Watch the sunrise at the beach.
25. Go putt putt golfing. (Random, I know. However, while writing this blog entry, I accompanied my niece and 7 of her friends on a putt putt golf expedition. I couldn’t play because I was the score keeper, so this item is just fresh on my mind.)
26. Attend a college football game.
27. Volunteer for a new event/charity I’ve never helped before.
28. Reconnect with one old friend every month.
29. Get rid of all my old stuff that I no longer use. For real.
30. Perfect my smoothie-making abilities. (This should really read, “Actually MAKE a smoothie and continue to enjoy them.”)
31. Explore the community I grew up in and attend more community events.
32. Have a picnic.
33. Make it a point to pray for someone else everyday.
34. Organize, deep clean, and decorate my living space.
35. Go on a spa day by myself.
36. Carry “Thank You” notes with me at all times and use them.
37. See a stage show.
38. Give more compliments, and also become better at receiving them from others.
39. Take a picture everyday.
40. Write a book about the experience of my “Year of 40.”

So, there you have it. I plan on sharing this journey – and any other lessons I learn along the way – with all of you. It’s a pretty long list, and  I only have 365 days, so let’s get started! I’ll be posting more soon, my friends! #yearof40