Be a Beacon for Each Other; Tell Someone What They Mean

Something for Today: 
Tell someone what they mean to you. Think of someone (close friend, family, acquaintance, or someone you only know from a distance) who has impacted or inspired you in a positive way. Then TELL THEM. Let them know what their words, actions, or example means to you. Thank them. This can be as easy as a text or e-mail but these things truly do matter and can go a long way!

I woke up early this morning.  Earlier than usual anyway.  One of my intentions is to carve out morning time for peaceful and silent reflection just for ME.  This time is when I have some of my most meaningful conversations with myself.  It's the time that, if I listen, I can hear God's voice...and my higher self...so clearly.  Taking the first moments of the day for just being still with my thoughts allows me to see and hear things about life that I might otherwise never slow down enough for.  It also gives me the chance to connect with friends through e-mail when I might not find this time later in the day. Just taking these extra moments in the morning opens up opportunity for lots of things that might otherwise never happen.

My early morning today meant finding time to have coffee with my husband, light a few candles, get a phone call that school is canceled again (again?!), and check my e-mail.  I must be radiating some sort of energy to people that says "contact Amanda" because I woke up to a few e-mails from people I rarely talk to.  One of them was from a little sister of sorts...someone I've known for many years.  I knew her when she was just a little girl.  She was 9 or 10 and I was 16.  Over the years we've kept in touch a bit and had some special moments.  Always an important person to me.  A kindred spirit.  One of those people that you don't have to talk to constantly or keep in touch with regularly.  You are just connected.  Her words to me were simple but so strong.  She expressed how my words have influenced her life and she shared with me how her life has been changing for the better.  In the end she used the word "beacon" to describe what I've been for her.

Beacon : someone or something that guides or gives hope to others.  A light. 

What a beautiful and strong word.  In fact, I might jump on the word trend wagon that's going around and make BEACON my word for the year.  Beacon.  A reminder to find my beacons in life by focusing on, receiving and embracing those things and people that fill me with love, inspiration, and meaning. My friend's words were so affirming to me.  Meaningful.  Perfect timing.  In fact, as I was reading them, they put a light in me.  They were a reminder that we really do make a difference in the world when we share our heart...our spirits...our stories.

My friend's words that she took the time to write to me became MY BEACON for today.  For awhile. And they reminded me of the power in taking the time to tell others what they mean to us.  It can be as simple as a text or e-mail but these words can go a long way.

I sent an e-mail back this morning letting this beautiful woman know how much her words meant to me.  Just as my words and life had been a beacon of sorts to her, her words today were the same for me.  We all have moments where we lose sight of ourselves...where life gets a little foggy as we try to make our way.  Sometimes it is hearing from others in this way (when we least expect it) that can remind us where we are going and uplift us...they make a difference.

Today I want to reach out and tell someone what they mean to me.  Someone that doesn't hear from me very often and might not know what they mean to someone.  This doesn't have to be complicated.  It might just be a simple text thanking them for who they are.  Or a phone call.  Simple.  Simply letting someone know what they mean.

Do you have someone in your life that has been a beacon of sorts (temporarily or constant)?  Is there someone that you can reach out today with a simple text or message that lets them know what they mean and how they have influenced your life in a positive way?  

Amanda 

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Six Months

 It's January already!  How did that happen?  Seems like such a blur.  Moving from Oregon to Asheville, NC last March was probably the biggest adventure of our lives.  We just made a decision that life was short and we were ready to try something new for a year.  My husband's work allowed him to do this easily.  Well, is moving across the country with three young kids ever "easy"?  Ha!  But, in the big picture, making this big change flowed quite easily.  Moving costs were covered, it was easy to find renters for our house, we had a place to stay in Asheville until we found our perfect little house in this little town, and all the excitement that comes with discovering a new place was ours to enjoy day after day!

"For one year", we said.  We'd move for about a year and then come back so that our kids could be raised near family.  One. Year.  Seemed like a pretty awesome plan. No problem.  I just wasn't prepared to fall in love with a place like I have with HERE.  I wasn't prepared to have my breath taken away by the Blue Ridge Mountains day after day.  I wasn't expecting to have a feeling of "coming home" when we settled here. I didn't imagine that living in this small town with my front porch swing and walk to coffee and library life would still provide our family with so much. So much  community and charm but yet still so close to the funky, artistic, one of a kind city of Asheville. I never imagined that I'd have the perfect soft dirt/gravel path near Beaver Lake to run around day after day or trails at our finger tips for our dates (when we find a sitter).  I never imagined that once I got here, I wouldn't want to leave.

But we're sticking to the plan.
Six months left.
I've avoided thinking too much about this.  When I do, it puts a pit in my stomach and my heart hurts a little (or a lot if I was going to be my normal dramatic self).
I've been digging my heels in, dropping little hints about staying forever, wishing, hoping....But all along I know in my heart of hearts that raising our kids near their very loving and supportive Grandparents and extended family (who want nothing more than to be a part of their life as much as possible and create some lasting and loving memories) is a RICHNESS that can't be replaced with HERE.  I know that moving back is the right thing for us despite my desires to stay here (what feels like home) forever.

This morning, I woke up with the intention to snap out of this mindset of already missing something that I haven't even said goodbye to yet.  Instead of thinking of how much I don't want to go, I will be thinking of how much living I still have HERE.  I will think of all the things I still have to look forward to TODAY... the next six months.

In the next six months I will:

• Continue to run my favorite trail almost daily (and no, it doesn't get old even though it is only 2 miles for every loop).
• Keep exploring Asheville.
• Make new friends and develop the ones that I have made but been too scared (until now) to bond with too deeply.  
• Volunteer and stay involved with the Literacy Council
• Keep training for the Boston Marathon. Training has been so joyful! 
• Travel as much as we can on this side of the country.  A big trip coming up really soon that I'm super excited about...and way easier to fly to from here than Oregon.  YES to seeing the world!!  
• Take a road trip to Boston in April to stay with friends, run a marathon and show our kids a big part of history.  
• Enjoy 3 more seasons in these Blue Ridge Mountains that I love so much...the rest of winter, spring, and the beginning of summer. Oh glorious summer with fire flies, humid nights (yes, I love this), sitting on my porch with coffee while watching birds and the town streets filled with families taking evening strolls.  
• Continue watching my kids thrive!  They are all three doing so well right now.  My son (gosh, he's had a rough start here) has made tremendous strides this last month or so and I only see it getting better.  So proud of him! My mama heart is beaming right now. All the hard work of the last many months is paying off.  
• Keep being conscious of my goals for life, particularly the way I am as a mother.  This is the most important role to me out of all my roles I play in life. Patience. Love. Modeling. Presence. 
• Take part in the Asheville Marathon and Half Marathon as an ambassador and using the half as a training run.  
• Visit the Biltmore Estates as often as possible until we leave.  What beautiful and romantic grounds!  
• Be open to receiving fully whatever life has in store for us each and every day, including six months from now.  
• Love fully.  
• Live richly.
• Give myself.
• Reach out.
• Keep learning.  
• And a big one:  Keep getting rid of fear!  Fear of sharing myself (knowing I'll just be leaving).  Fear of change.  Fear of not knowing what life holds.  Goodbye fear.  Farewell.  I won't miss you.  

Oh, I'll hold on to THIS day always.  

So, here's to SIX MONTHS!  Amazing all that can happen in Six Months if we are present and willing enough to truly LIVE and make the most out of our life!  

Amanda 

I don't write here as often as I used to but you can also find Runninghood on:

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Twitter:      https://twitter.com/Runninghood1

An Energy Shift and Writing Us Through Personal Affirmations

Something shifted in my life this weekend. Energy.  Perspective.  Something tangible.  A wake up call of sorts.  I say this weekend because this is when I felt this shift the strongest.  But really, this shift has been in progress for quite some time.  Lots of work going on in this head and heart and spirit of mine.  A quiet process that hasn't been entirely easy. Good work is never entirely easy.  I woke up Sunday morning feeling like I'd just been given a new pair of glasses that allowed me to see myself, my life, and those I love so dearly in a new, beautiful, hopeful, bright and full of possibility way.  It was like I was remembering myself for some things but yet seeing something new and different.  Shedding a layer.  I can't adequately explain this new page I find myself on but I do know in my bones that it is here to stay.  I'm determined to hold on.  But really, I don't think I need to hold on to anything.  I think I just need to BE...right where I am.

My run on Sunday was a reflection of this energy shift.  I went to my usual path around the lake where I expected my favorite dirt/gravel path to myself. Instead, the path was full of people enjoying the beautiful blue skies and spring-like day.  Friends laughing, families walking hand in hand, dads throwing frisbees for sons, dogs running free, smiling faces turning towards the bright sky to soak up the sunshine...it was a glorious day!  The energy within myself and around me was amazing!  I set out on my 10 mile run knowing instantly that this run would be all mine. No trying to stick to my designated "easy pace range" or thinking too much about anything other than soaking up all the life around me.  I was running with my heart, not my head.  I just wanted to run what was easy and happy for me on this day.  A glorious unleashing.  I finished with a huge little-girl-like smile stretched out over my face. Oh how good it felt to run so free and happy.  And strong.  In fact, I'm pretty sure, I was smiling the entire run.  It was a run I needed in so many ways.

One of the things I was yet again reminded of on Saturday night is of just how valuable of a life tool my journals are for me.  The habit of writing down my long and short term goals, personal affirmations, gratitude and self reflections is a habit that carries over into all areas of my life in such powerful ways.  Writing these things down helps me with accountability, self awareness, and the ability to see things from new perspectives.  It's not for everyone but it does work for me in helping me make my life what I want it to be and in staying true to my values and dreams.  My time in my journal...my time writing down my goals and seeing my affirmations and gratitude on paper is as important to my life as physical exercise and eating healthy.  It's my language with myself.

Some affirmations for today to go along with my current goals:

On Mothering with LOVE and GRACE:

• I respond in a way that heals instead of reacting in a way that harms.  
• I use my words to uplift and empower.  
• I model calm and thoughtful responses.  
• I am present with conversations and play

On Being the Friend I Want to Be:

• I am an open ear and available when my friends need me.
• I communicate in a way that lets my friends know I care.  
• I hold my closest friends close.  I'd rather have my treasures of friendships be small in number but rich in depth than miles and load of "friends" that are only superficial and surface.  

On Being the Wife I Want to Be:

• I am faithful and loving in my actions, words, and thoughts
• I give him the freedom to be himself while lovingly encouraging and supporting him in making and striving for new goals for self-improvement.
• I am adventurous and open to trying new things
• I work on our love life. I tend to it like I would my greatest garden.  

On Being the Athlete I Want to Be:

• I find JOY in my running and marathon training
• I follow a plan and trust the process
• I believe in myself and  the value in daily exercise, eating healthy, staying strong and sticking to a goal
• I use the energy that comes from physical self-discipline to make myself stronger in all other areas of my life. 
• I seek balance in my life

Do you write down your personal and positive affirmations, goals and gratitude?  Do you put these things where you can see them?  Why or why not?  Again, I don't think this habit is for everyone.  But it does work for me. In so many ways.  I've written my goals, visions for my life, affirmations and gratitude for most of my life and I've seen these thing manifested in some pretty amazing ways!  It's part of intentional living for me.  I was laughing the other other night when I found a sort of life map that I jotted down for myself while in the middle of a graduate class.  It was kind of an outline of a vision I had for what I wanted the next 5 to 7 years of my life to be.  And you know what?  Almost all of it came to be!  I'm not saying that just writing our visions, dreams and goals down will make them come true.  Obviously not.  But by visualizing them, I was made more aware of them and intent on making them happen.  I wrote these things before I was married but I was engaged and in graduate school.  I wrote when I wanted to have each of my three kids (what ages I would be and how far I wanted them spaced), when we'd buy our first house, professional goals, goals to get my masters degree before kids, marathon goals, etc.  And it all happened as written/envisioned.  I should frame those jotted down notes someday... they truly are a dream come true because when I was writing them down, I was breathing life into them by starting with dreaming them up...those dreams led to more focused intention and then I kept my dreams in my head and imagined them and now here we are.  Ready to jot down some more life dreams for the next 5 years perhaps because at this point I'm having a hard time seeing 6 months ahead.