Where to run, next?

This post comes on the heels of a semi-dramatic/traumatic last 48 hours . . . and to be completely honest, the last 2 weeks, the last 2 months, and the last year and a half have been such a series of drastic changes that I am taking the time RIGHT NOW to write down a list of who and what I am grateful for:

1) God, and my faith in God. *note: Faith is not always easy.*
2) My overall generally-good health.
3) Family - for all of them, and right now, my mom has to receive more accolades.  She is such a strong, wise, persistent, faithful woman who teaches me the importance of trusting my intuition ('gut'), relying on my rationale (intelligence and wisdom), and pushes me to be resilient without expecting perfection.  
4) Resilience - and all of the opportunities that have been presented to me thus far to cultivate that characteristic.
5) My jobs, employers, and co-workers.
6) My dog. (Really, she might be my #2, if this were in ranked order!)
7) My education.
8) Along with my formal education, the ability to think on my own!  I have to give credit to my dad for some of this - even though he is a very strong personality and likes to persuade me to think he is right all the time ;-) he has instilled in me the will, encouraged me to practice, and expected me to make decisions for myself.
9) Amazing friends.  Not one of them is perfect, and the ones that know they aren't don't expect me to be, either :-) 
10) The capacity to think, create, plan, act, evaluate, and repeat.
11) Wisdom, discernment, and people who I trust when mine are clouded!
12) The feeling that gratitude and hopefulness creates/provides.

and

13) the fact that I completed 'sanctioned run' #2 this morning with two people who have been such an incredible blessing in my life over the last year.  

Showing our 'race numbers' - and please disregard the slightly crabby faces, the weather was NOT ideal for a run this morning!

Life Goes On

As the calendar year comes to an end, I find myself looking forward to many new adventures in the next 3, 6, and 12 months (and, of course, beyond).  

What a whirlwind of change 2012 has proven to be in this lady's life; for better or worse in the immediate sense, all things work together for good.  I have laughed hard, cried, trained, quit training, started training again, achieved goals, fallen short of goals, gotten angry, given forgiveness, taken lots of naps, gone for periods of time with too little sleep, been injured and healed, learned a lot, dated, winery-toured, snuggled my nephew, counseled friends, received support, frustrated many, confused a lot more, and still - here I am.  I am a child of God, a daughter, a sister, and a damn good friend.  Everything that has happened in my life, whether by my choice or by indirect consequence of my choice(s), I am remembering that a heart of gratitude and love not only feels best, a heart that full will bless others.

I am in great company and although many, many, many circumstances did not turn out as I anticipated, I am slowing down and taking a breath . . . counting to 10 . . . and moving forward.

Good health to you - be safe, and be well!