Tag Archive | expecations

Coming Up For Air

Jul20

We all go through life like tomorrow is a given. Like we can, should, and will put off things for another day…. Another week… another month.

We will meet with friends as soon as our crazy, busy schedule allows.

We will wear the good dress, outfit, shoes on just the right occasion, but that occasion isn’t today.

I won’t blog today because what I want to say isn’t interesting enough

We will put off till tomorrow all of our hopes and our dreams.

We act like tomorrow is a promise not a gift.

It isn’t.

Maybe it’s human nature to feel that way because if we didn’t we would drown in our emotions and become incapacitated .

And there is truth in that. You have to believe in tomorrow to get through today. You have to know that tomorrow is another day to try again….. to dream again…. To begin again.

That being said, we must also realize that the beauty in life is not the chores we feel we must complete….. not how clean our house is (harsh truth – mine is a train wreck)……. Not all the million little things we fill our day with.

What is important is the connections we make. The people we share it with.

Often everyone puts off the really important things for things that our unimportant. You know the whole keeping up with the Joneses mentality. But unless your name is Jones, who really cares?

We live in a world where perfection is the norm.   Everyone wants a cookie cutter yard.   Wanting to conform to societies expectations……. but what if we just stopped?

What if we decided instead of being like everyone else that we would just be the best version of ourselves?   Flaws and all.   

And how about instead of looking at them as flaws, we look at them as just part of who we are?    

It is the whole let me get in shape,, so that I can start going to the gym. I need to start running, so I can start running with friends. Fear of failure or not being good enough is not an excuse because who says you aren’t good enough. Certianly no one in your tribe who cares for you would. They will also meet you at your pace:)

Here is the thing too…..

Haters are going to Hate.

Jerks are always going to be jerks.

Bitches are always going to bitch and have something to say.

People who will talk smack behind your back are not your tribe. Your tribe are the ones who come to offer you a hand when you fall down. (Then they will make a joke to your face about it). Most of all, you have to be your own tribe leader.

So choose your tribe wisely, but more importantly know that life is not a competition…… not with others. Not with yourself……

As they say……

So wear the dress, put on the shoes (especially the running shoes) and just enjoy:)

Great Expectations

Jul16

We all have them. We all have the thought of how things should be. The what if? The maybe it will happen this way. Maybe it should happen this way. The if then thought process.

What happens when things don’t live up to these expectations which more often than not is true. Sometimes these expectations are not based in reality. Sometimes we don’t like the reality. Sometimes we ignore the reality to our own peril. Sometimes we think our expectations weren’t so lofty, but in reflection we realize that we didn’t prepare for the reality of life and how it doesn’t always measure up to our great expectations. That’s ok too because while not what we thought it would be, sometimes reality isn’t as bad as we think as long as we can let go of the expectations

I’ll be honest. I’ve been on my Natpara for a few months now. It has been amazing the changes. On face value, I could not ask for more but… I had great expecations. I thought that taking it would be like a reset to prior to my surgery and I could just take one shot a day and go about my life.

Reality…..The one shot a day has given me so much back including being more friendly on my kidneys. No more muscle cramps, muscle spasms, dead tired beyond tired, and all the other fun side effects of being Hypopara. Reality is pretty darn good. My expecations though were overblown. I thought that I would no longer need to keep a pill box and reminder to take my calcium and other supplements. Yes, I’m taking much less calcium now but I thought I’d be taking none.

And while my running has improved exponentially, I am still out of shape. I still need to walk. I am still not where I was or thought I would be. I still need a reset of expectations. Expectations are not reality but a dream. They are goals. They are a driving force, but when life doesn’t live up to them you have two choices. You can choose to be disappointed or you can choose to look around, accept and appreciate the reality of where you are on a given point in your life.

Sometimes with running, we get so focused on the hitting a certain time, training a certain way, or realizing that maybe we can get to the finish line but we must adjust our expectations to do so. It’s easier said than done, but reality is what it is. Training will be what it will be and each person must do what is right for them and their body. Sometimes it’s all about what we are willing to accept. I have learned to accept a 6 hour marathon time when once I had dreams of a 4:15. If I had not faced the reality of where my body was last year, I would have been disappointed with that 6 plus our time but to date it was my favorite marathon.

Truthfully in the recess of my mind, I still dream of the 4:30/4:15 marathon. Reality is that will never happen for various reasons. Although I never say never. Truthfully, I believe that this year I might be able to make a 5:30 time and 5:00 if I’m lucky. Is it where I would want to be? Nope. Is it honestly where I will most likely be? Probably. If I did not adjust my expectations/goals, I would not be able to enjoy the process and the eventual finish. I can do this. I will get there, but only if I am honest with where I am right now.

Another year. Another race. Maybe I can adjust those great expecations, but for now…. I would rather do what I can than not do anything at all. That is the point.

Do what you can.

Accept where you are.

Enjoy the journey and smile for the finish.