It really brings about a different spirit in people.
Now people are actually encouraged to make some kind of positive change in their lives.
Im not gonna lie,
I totally love the idea.
I have a hard time starting better habits when I don't have a "starting point."
I know a lot of you can relate because we hear it all the time:
"Starting my birthday i'm not going to…."
"After Christmas no more…"
"Starting whatever day i'm going to start…"
It's like setting yourself up for a 1, 2, 3, JUMP
Almost 8 months ago I decided to pack up and drive across the country with my dog and my boyfriend.
Matthew didn't have a job, we didn't have a place to live… we just did it.
We packed up our tree house in less than 12 hours, just the two of us.
We barely scraped up enough time and money for a Penske truck,
it was an adventure, that's for sure.
We used walky-talkies to talk to each other about the days of corn fields we were driving through.. passing off the cigarettes at every gas station... then at night we would stay in some random hotel and sneak in our, then 50 pound, german shepherd/pit bull mix, who.. oh yah! has severe anxiety issues. I think ranger really grew as a person on that trip.
On the last day we wasted no time at the continental breakfast… we were out of there. I remember it was raining and I was so mad we didn't stop at the state line.. THE ONLY ONE I DIDN'T GET A PICTURE OF…
Ranger was all over me, crying at the cows we were passing by…
Through everything I heard Matthew's voice coming through the walky-talky, "We made it babe."
New Years Eve this year…
We went to a CSU basketball game that was just awesome. Seriously, it was one of those really close call the whole entire time games. And everyone was so into it! I'm glad the guy behind me was mediating everything his baby boy was doing on the court, I successfully followed the entire game! I was also surrounded by the best company a girl could ask for. I hadn't laughed that much in a long time.
There was a big win and then the game was over,
as we were leaving I noticed all these girls dressed up in their NYE attire and thought about what i was wearing, I wasn't even wearing mascara... I couldn't help but to think about how many times I left a basketball game and went straight out to the bar after to dance with friends.. I really miss that.
I miss being a college student...
There is a fine line between "teen" and "adult" and it's called a college student.
When we got home I got so mopey about being grown up and hating it! Sometimes it's hard to be so responsible all the time.. it's exhausting.
Matthew started talking about the bittersweetness in living in so many different places. He explained to me how his friendship with his high school friends and his friendship with his college friends were two totally different things, but equally important to him.. and if he would've stayed in High Point he would more than likely only have that relationships with those friends. Thats the beauty of living in so many different places.
I think I would've been in the same boat.
I will never regret moving anywhere because of all of the amazing people I have met along the way. I mean, people that have changed my life and have been a part of it ever since then. I'm so appreciative to have had the opportunity to meet these people.
SO anyway,
Matthew and I were in the process of cleaning out the liquor cabinet and I got all upset because I wasn't getting all dressed up to go out..
…but why not?
This was mine and Matthew's fourth New Years Eve together.
I was a little disappointed that we weren't anywhere super cool and exciting like we have been before… but after a beer or two I guess it didn't matter where we were going. Of course it was 11:40 by the time we left the house but we made it!
We ended up going to this place downtown called the Sports Station. This bar used to be an old train station, it's right on the tracks! As soon as we walked in we were getting bumped into by all these drunk people, obviously in their own world. We made it to the back where the bar was and squeezed into this little table with no stools.
I wish I could describe the feeling of this place. It's the perfect size with these friendly bar tenders that are just hilarious, it's like one of those bars that you would see on a TV show, everyone was definitely considered a regular. Hug and kisses all around!
About 5 minutes til midnight I asked Matthew what his favorite part of 2014 was. I started to think of my best moment while he was thinking and then we both kinda said "the road-trip out here."
When the ball was about to drop, everyone stopped what they were doing and counted down the new year in unison. It was the most amazing thing i've ever been a part of. I couldn't stop laughing just because everyone around me was so happy… it made me so happy! After the kisses died down, "Don't stop believing" by Journey comes on… THE WHOLE ENTIRE BAR STARTED SINGING. I was so overwhelmed with the feeling of home and belonging. In that moment I knew I was exactly where I needed to be.
Loveland, Colorado
Maybe that's why people make resolutions on New Years, it's a starting point the whole country is in on. We're all in it together!
It's inspiring when we all come together and do something good for ourselves. And good for us for cheering others on in the process.
A couple years ago I, Matthew and I were in Italy for New Years and I decided I wanted to run my first half marathon in April. I had the registration up on the computer, ready to go. We talked about how much training I would have to do and how hard it would be to run in the cold…Well, since that half marathon, i've ran 5 more… It was a crazy sounding thing in the beginning but before long, those crazy impulsive goals became a reality.
I thought long and hard about what I wanted to do differently this year. I wanted it to be simple and realistic, something I could actually stick to effortlessly...
Yesterday I was reading Facebook and I saw something about someone successfully finishing last year's resolution to run 365 days straight.
I thought about this all day long today… it was haunting me all day at work. Something was just telling me I need to do it. This challenge would definitely not be simple, and it's not very realistic. But something in me lit up about it.
I came home and talked to Matthew about it and at first he thought it was crazy… but asked me if I was serious and then told me to go put my shoes on.
If you're reading this blog, thank you, it's a compliment that I could keep you interested this long. But more than likely it's because you have some kind of interest in my life.
So, I'm going to use this blog to stay accountable through this journey.
Also, I will try to use my Jawbone app, so if you got one for Christmas, let's be teammates!
I understand that committing to running for 365 days in a row is absolutely crazy sounding.
I understand that it gets cold in Colorado in the winter.
I understand they make clothes for that.
I also understand that 88% of new years resolutions end with failure.
I'm not planning for that.
I'm going to be keeping track of the miles, just to see.. I'll be posting my runs on here as often as I can.
I know this is crazy, y'all! But i'm really excited about the challenge.
If you feel like joining, you don't have to tell anyone or post it anywhere, just get up and run.
Make it your personal thing.
Running often has been a time when my mind just completely focuses on God. I'm surrounded by his beauty, releasing endorphins, and I can't help but to be so thankful for my life and everyone in it. I'm thrilled to see where the next 365 days takes me on my journey with Christ.
i ran today:
1/365
It was freezing cold, maybe around 20, my face hurt, there was a lot of snow. They have a law here that you have to scrape your sidewalks within 24 hours of a snow storm-- thank you people for doing that! At first I thought it was ridiculous but today I was so thankful! The air felt great after warming up, I was excited to be out running again. Matthew and Ranger were right behind me. :)
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