It’s May! How did the time pass so quickly?

 

I am surprised how quickly the first third of 2015 has passed!  It’s already May.  “May Day!” Perhaps that distress call was coined because those in peril felt sudden panic similar to the surprise that the rest of us feel when we realize the month of May is suddenly upon us. Where did the time go? Where did April go? My attention must have been directed to uncommon things.  Here are a few of them.

We’ve had a life altering experience in that my husband changed jobs this spring.  It has been both challenging and rewarding. We are growing through the experience while both of us learn to adjust to new skills (I’ve been packing him a lunch every day!) and schedules.

I’ve taken on new business opportunities like this one and I am learning to “put myself out there” a little more. I’m also venturing into the realm of book coaching and that is another learning experience.



Some of my favorite people



My illustrator, Margaret.

I had a visit from some of my favorite people throughout April and my focus was on spending time with them.  I didn’t neglect all of my work!  In fact, my favorite little illustrator and I published my first children’s book. What fun we had! Stay tuned to learn more!

Now it is May.  My company is gone.  I harvested new spinach from my garden yesterday. I’ve committed myself and some friends to the Grand Teton Relay in August for which I must prepare! It’s time to mow lawns and market books and continue to learn new things. It will soon be autumn!

This sudden arrival of May leaves me thinking …

Does time pass while we are living life or do we let life pass while we are watching the time?

Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

 

HAPPY RUNNING!

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook!

Tuesday's Training Tip: Eat on the Run

This Tuesday Training Tip discusses fuel and the importance of learning to eat on the run.  When I began running at the age of 47, I could not drink within 45 minutes of a run. I ran first thing in the morning. I certainly couldn’t eat before a run and I never dreamed of eating during a run! Experience has taught me a few things.

As I began to embrace fun run opportunities, I learned that it was important to fuel before a race if you had any hopes of completing the race. Longer races require fueling during the run.  I would suggest practicing or training to eat on the run by fueling during your long run workouts. 

·         Try fueling on runs or workouts longer than an hour.  Eat something every 20-30 minutes.

·         Mimic race day water stops and fueling opportunities by studying the course and mapping your workout accordingly.

·         Try different fueling options on several long runs to find what works best for you. Experiment with gels, chews, and granola or dried fruits to discover your personal preference.

·         The best fuel is the one that agrees with you. Here are some of my favorites.

It will be tricky at first, but with practice you can learn to eat on the run and avoid hitting the wall or bonking on race day.


Tune in every Tuesday for more training tips and visit my Training Tips page to find all the tips you may have missed.

Question: Do you have a favorite workout fuel you would like to share?

 

Happy Running!

 

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook!

  

Guest Blogger: Savanna writes about Moving Forward



My name is Savanna Taylor. I was born and raised in a small town called Parma, Idaho (perhaps you have heard of it?) After getting my degree in History Education, my husband Brycen got accepted to the Healthcare Administration program at WSU in Spokane, WA. We have one crazy daughter named Addlee who is smart, spunky, and has a lot of curly hair. I love a good book, anything that has to do with Real Housewives on Bravo, my family, shopping, and my religion. I love to blog, it is such a great outlet (even if being a mom might come first to updating it)!

Push Play

It seems lately that my life has been put on pause. It is waiting for the next “big step” in life. My husband is finishing up graduate school at Washington State University in Spokane and we are still jobless. So imagine that every time the phone rings you hope it is good news, or every email is a “can we have an interview?” email, but alas nothing. I have envisioned myself already living in seven different states before he even got a rejection letter. I didn’t want to buy a deeply discounted jacket for my baby for next winter because “what if I live in Arizona?” crossed my mind. I am silly that way. That is just one example though, of how I have been putting my life on hold lately. 

My family recently had some major changes happen in it (I will spare details, let us just say it changed the career path of several people) and all of the sudden I was left thinking that everything I knew as normal was suddenly well not normal. I thought, they should just stick it out, just let it blow over, just hit pause. Now I see though, that by pushing that play button of life and making things happen they found out how much happier they really can be.



Playing with a toy any way she wants!

I have found that if I hit pause on my life and wait for something to happen I often miss the most important parts of it. I miss the opportunities to hang out with my friends, continue to explore a city I have grown to love, and even the little moments with my small family. I have put off big decisions because I am waiting for the next scene of life. Like a movie, I am paused. I had the thought, “why am I not enjoying this life I have? Why am I waiting for life to happen?” Think of it like the lottery, you won’t win it if you don’t play it (granted your chances are very slim). Isn’t our life like the lottery though? Think of all the amazing things that you and I take for granted every day, hello we have running water! I just think of how we sit and wait for a trial to pass, or sit and wait for the rainy day to be over, or sit and wait for that clock to slowly click to 5:00 p.m. so we can leave only to rush home and sit in front of a TV. I love to watch my 18 month old daughter play. If she gets frustrated with something she just throws it down and moves on to something else. She doesn’t just sit there and wait, she reacts, and she moves on, she finds something else! We are not meant to be stagnant. Either we are moving forward or moving backward. There is no pause. So if we live life in this limbo we really are doing ourselves a disservice. Today I went to the store and I bought that discounted jacket, because even if I do live in Arizona, California, or Alaska I did something progressive. I planned for the future, I embraced this pause in life, I recognized it, and I decided to push play.

 Follow Savanna's blog Savanna's Saga's

Visit my Guest Blogger page to get to know all my blogging friends.

 

Happy Running!

 

 Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

Tuesday's TrainingTip: Wear Your Running Clothes

Even if it takes all day!

This Tuesday’s Training Tip is a simple one – wear your running clothes. I will admit that I don’t feel like running every morning when I get out of bed. In fact, there are often times that I lie there thinking of ways to get out of running that day.

I have learned this one simple trick.  If I get dressed and wear my running clothes, shoes included, something magical often happens. My brain recognizes that I am a runner. My clothes make me look and feel like a runner. It doesn’t always happen immediately and I think that is why it works. I am still telling myself that I don’t have to run today as I lace up my shoes. While my lazier self is still rationalizing a non-run day, the feel of my running clothes is gently reminding me that I am a runner and I will feel better after I have logged a few miles. Sometimes it takes all day before I actually get out the door, but rarely do I miss a run if I have first chosen to wear my running clothes.

I have long said, “Looking good is half the battle.” I am usually referring to a public speaking assignment or scholarship or job interview, but it holds true with running as well.  Get out of bed, wear your running clothes, shoes included, and you might find that you truly are a runner!

Stop by every Tuesday for more training tips and visit my Training Tips page to find all the tips you may have missed.

Question: Do you have a training tip you would like to share?

 

Happy Running!

 

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook!

Monday Mood Mender: So You Want to Buy a Boat

 

 

This Monday Mood Mender is an excerpt from Gold Pans and Irons Skillets.  As the weather warms we begin thinking about outdoor recreation and that can include buying a boat!  Enjoy!

So You Want to Buy a Boat

Are you nuts! Maybe you should wreck someone else’s boat first. There are a few facts regarding boat ownership that one should be familiar with prior to purchasing a boat of his own. These guidelines may very well save one’s sanity.

The first and probably most important guideline is to buy a used boat. Do not be tempted by the shiny paint and bright propeller of a new boat. The unblemished interior and perfect upholstery will not add to the level of fun experienced by boaters. Rather, they will elevate the level of stress the inexperienced boat owner will encounter while developing his boating skills. Look for a well-loved boat—one that has previously missed the trailer while loading, scraped up against an unkempt dock, had its propeller dinged by unseen rocks, and/or possesses rebuilt gears having had them stripped by a sandbar. This will not only reduce stress levels, it will also save a great deal of money and grief.

Money. Remember there are hidden costs to boat ownership. Though the monthly payments seem manageable, do not forget the rising costs of insurance, boat fuel, boat licenses, life jackets and boating toys, picnic lunches, boat storage, doctor appointments, insurance deductibles for boat repair, swimsuits, sunglasses, sunscreen, ibuprofen, and a new hot tub.

Grief. A boat can tear a hole in one’s heart in so many ways. The first time it gets damaged the owner may feel as if one of his children has been diagnosed with an incurable fungus. This will most likely occur on the maiden voyage in any number of fashions. If one is fortunate enough to have previous trailer experience, the jackknifed boat trailer may be avoided. If not, SUV may experience paint job damage, as well. It is inevitable that the driver of the boat will, at some point, miss the trailer while attempting to load boat. Hailstorms happen. Upholstery wears out. Some reservoirs have hidden obstacles such as, rocks, tree stumps, and sandbars. Boat plugs are small and cheap, but critical to boat buoyancy. Do not forget the plug!

The second guideline is to get help. Boats are not cars. They do not move like cars. They do not steer like cars. They do not have brakes. The steering wheel is on the right side of the boat, not the left. A valid driver’s license does not guarantee competent operation of a boat. It is advisable to take a lesson, take a friend (with boating experience), or hire a driver!

Bodies of water can be deceiving. Water, unlike pavement, is fluid. It is ever changing. What may lie well beneath the surface this week may be lurking just below the water line next week, especially if the body of water is an irrigation reservoir during a drought year. It is advisable to take a map, take a friend (that knows the area), or use a depth finder. The latter is probably not the best option as this is a well-loved boat. It lost its depth finder long ago.

Weather is unpredictable. Thunder. Lightening. Wind. Rain. Hail. It is advisable to get a weather report, get the boat out of the water, and get to cover.

The third guideline is to exercise patience. Not only is the boat owner new at this activity, the boat riders are also new. Communication skills tend to develop slowly. While driver can see individual in water behind boat or in front of trailer waiting to help with loading, he cannot hear due to the roar of the motor and propeller. There is a learning curve required to decipher hand signals, head nods, and arm wavings.

Remember, well-loved boat was purchased for a reason. It requires practice to learn to enter a boat free of muddy feet. It also requires practice to tie secure knots. Nervous drivers sometimes do bring the propeller into contact with foreign objects. It only takes a few minutes to swamp a boat, but boat will drain and dry provided it can be rescued in time. Keep spare boat plug in glove box.

The fourth guideline is to find joy in the ride. The motivation behind acquiring a boat was most likely to have a good time, spend time with loved ones, and relax. It may take time to accomplish this goal. It is difficult to have a good time or relax while panicking over learning to launch, load, and operate one’s newly purchased boat. Add a few scrapes and dings, discover that the boat still floats, learn to water ski or catch a fish, improve communication skills, and the experience will begin to be enjoyable. If, however, the motivation was to keep up with the Joneses, the best bet would be to purchase a brand new boat complete with shiny paint job and bright propeller. It would then be wise to park it in a rental storage unit to preserve the newness, take a few snapshots, and talk really big to the neighbors. The monthly payments and insurance will still be due, however many of the added hidden expenses will be avoided—as will the joy.

 

Moral: If you love something enough, even its imperfections are beautiful.

Find all my books in my Etsy shop or on Amazon and Kindle.

Happy Running!

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook!

Food Friday: Pineapple Upside-down Cake

It’s Food Friday and more importantly it is Good Friday. In preparation for Easter Sunday, the hubby requested a Pineapple Upside-down Cake. (I only make this cake about once a year.) The recipe book is well loved as you can see in the photo. It is a 30 year-old copy of the NEW Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook. I have a newer version, but this one has my handwritten notes, so I keep using it!  I have modified the recipe to fill a 9 X 13 cake pan.

Pineapple Upside-down Cake

1 20-ounce can of crushed pineapple and reserve juice

4 TBS butter or margarine

1 C packed brown sugar

3 cups all-purpose flour

5 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

2/3 C shortening (I use Butter Flavor Crisco!)

1 ½ C white sugar

2 eggs

3 tsp vanilla

Maraschino Cherries (Optional)

 

Drain the pineapple and reserve the liquid. Melt butter in a 9X13 inch glass baking pan. Stir in brown sugar and 2 TBS of the reserved juice.  You can decorate the bottom with maraschino halves if desired.

Add water to remaining juice to make 1 1/3 C liquid. Set this mixture aside.

Coat the baking pan with cooking spray.

Spread crushed pineapple evenly into butter and sugar mixture to cover bottom of pan.

Combine flour, baking powder, and salt.

Beat shortening and sugar together – blend well. Add egg and vanilla; beat one minute.

Add dry ingredients and the remaining liquid alternately, beating after each addition. (I usually do half the flour, half the liquid, the rest of the flour and the remaining liquid last.)

Gently spread in pan over the pineapple layer. Bake at 350◦ for 40 minutes.

Turn the cake over onto a baking sheet or serving tray if you have one that big! Allow to cool!  Notice that some of the pineapple is clinging to the pan.  Be patient! It will drop into place when it cools.

Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream!

This Pineapple Upside-down Cake is heavy! That’s how we like our cake at the Green House. Using crushed pineapple guarantees pineapple in every bite!

 

Question: What dessert will you be serving up this weekend?

 

Read all my Food Friday posts HERE.

Happy Running and Happy Easter!

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

Guest Blogger: Nikki Writes about Sharing Traditions

Guest Blogger, Nikki, is back today with some counsel about sharing traditions with your children.  Nikki is an entrepreneur and owner of Bedhead Designs.  She is a homeschool mom who volunteers in her church and community.  Thanks, Nikki, for taking time to share your thoughts with us!

Every time I hear the word “Tradition,” I hear the song from ‘Fiddler on the Roof’ in my head, and I yell, “TRADITION!”  Haha! The dictionary defines tradition as the transmission of customs or beliefs from generation to generation.

How do we go about sharing our ‘traditions’ with our families? I will share an idea with you!

Talk about current events with your kids. As you are talking about what’s going on, share with them your family values and beliefs about the topic. You can do this daily in a shorter devotional type setting, or once a week as you gather as a family to learn and play together in a Family Night.  It’s easy and can be a binding force and a comfort for your family.

Subscribe to a newspaper or two. If you can, choose a local one, and then a more national one so you can get a variety of current events. You can choose online or real newspaper. (You can even just do the Sunday edition if you don't want a bunch of papers piling up. There will be plenty to choose from all week!) I like real newspaper because we can gather around it, and choose one that jumps out at us. Let the kids pick sometimes (or all the time), it will get them more interested. Once you have picked a topic, read the article out loud and start the discussion. Ask them pointed thinking questions. Then tie it into your beliefs and values. My kids range in age from 14 down to 5. Sometimes the topic may be over some heads, but they will glean something from it. There is usually one big simple truth you can teach everyone and get more detailed with the older ones as they ask. AND LET THEM ASK! Open it up to them so it isn't just you up there expounding. Be sure to get down on their level so they know this is a time to ask real (and sometimes hard or scary) questions. This will be a great way to keep the channels of communication open with your kids. If you are sharing a range of topics, even the touchy ones, they will see that it's totally cool to talk about anything with Mom or Dad. THAT IS SO IMPORTANT!

I am a strong believer in sharing my customs and beliefs with my children! I think it is wise to give them a foundation on which to build. As they go about their life, they will come to crossroads, or uncharted waters. They will need to draw from somewhere or someone, what to do in this or that situation. If we have not shared what we believe or what we have done, what do they have to stand on? It is important for the next generation to know what we believe and how we did things. They can then decide if it’s something worth passing on. Sometimes, they are not, and it is wise to be choosy. If your beliefs are not shared, though, your children cannot judge them for themselves.

Winston Churchill said, “A love for tradition has never weakened a nation, indeed it has strengthened nations in their hour of peril.”

I think this quote can be used in a family situation, too.  Knowledge of family values can strengthen us in an hour of peril.  Start sharing with your families today. You will find a new closeness and strength to your family. You will be confident that your kids can make choices and discern what is right and right for them.
 
For more ideas on family closeness, visit Nikki's blog in the ‘Family’ tab.


Stop by each Thursday to see what the rest of my Guest Bloggers have to say.

Happy Running!

Tuesday’s Training Tip: Get a Tennis Ball

If you’ve been training for a few weeks chances are you’ve had to deal with some aches and pains. Today's tip suggests it might be time to get a tennis ball.  You could be surprised at the many uses of these brightly colored orbs.  They’re not just for tennis players anymore!

Reasons to use tennis ball …

• It fits under your foot and can be used to massage from heel to toe while sitting in a chair, even at work.  (I didn’t believe it until I tried it!)

• A tennis ball can isolate sore spots in the upper calf.  Sit on the floor and roll it around under your leg.

• Hamstrings – It works for these guys, too.

• Gluts – Bye Bye, Sciatica! Position the tennis ball under your left or right Gluteus Maximus and roll around until you find the sore spot. You’ll know it!  Hold that position until you feel the muscle relax. Your nerve will thank you.

• Tennis balls are inexpensive.

• You can pack them in your purse, pocket, or gym bag.

• When you are not using them for massage, they are a cheap form of entertainment.  You might want to learn to juggle – or not.

Don’t let those aches and pains go for too long.  If you don’t find relief quickly with your home remedies, seek help from someone who knows more than you.  Your family physician, massage therapists, and even the pros at your favorite running store should be able to help. Try a tennis ball first.  You don’t have to wait for an appointment and you can afford it.

Tune in every Tuesday for more training tips and visit my Training Tips page to find all the tips you may have missed.

Question: Do you have a training tip you would like to share?

Running Granny Green encourages women, especially grandmothers, to gain greater fitness by providing tips and inspiration to insure long years of joyful grand-parenting. The cookie recipes are a bonus!

Happy Running!
Carol - aka Running Granny Green

Follow me on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

Miles from a Runner’s Perspective

 

Becoming a runner did some funny things to my brain.  It changed my perspective on a lot of things, especially miles. I recently ran across a quote that went something like this, “You know you’re a runner if you’ve ever seen a sign indicating the miles to the next town, exit, etc. and thought – I could run that.” It’s true, I’ve had those thoughts.

Runners track miles to know when to buy new running shoes or how many days until the next race. We even use them to gauge whether or not we can eat dessert.

There are miles we don’t track because we think they don’t count.  Unlike someone who walks for exercise (and I applaud all walkers, bikers, and swimmers for getting things moving) we runners do not count every step. When a walker tells you she did three miles, you can be confident that is exactly how far she walked. If a swimmer reports a mile swim, he probably did just that.  Bikers count their miles, too.

A runner makes a strong distinction between running and walking.  Although walking is a form of exercise, we usually discount those miles. 

Let me give you an example.

My running buddy, Susan, and I went for a four mile run last week. We walked to our meeting place a few hundred yards between our homes.  Those yards don’t count because we were not officially on our run, nor had we chosen our route.  We chose a four mile loop and walked a half mile to the starting point.  That half mile doesn’t count because we were only warming up and had not started running.  The loop brought us back to the starting point and we walked the half mile cool down back to where we met earlier.  The cool down half mile doesn’t count because we were not running. Then we stretched for a few minutes and each walked another few hundred yards to our home.  We covered about 5.5 miles. We reported a four mile run.

It occurred to me that this is common practice not only amongst runners, but amongst many of us, especially women.  We often discount our efforts or talents because we don’t think they are worthy or as good as someone else’s efforts or talents. We are afraid we may not measure up to the expectations of others, or worse yet, that we will never measure up to our own expectations.

Perhaps it is time to count all the miles, all the efforts, all the talents and give them the respect they deserve.  You may discover a different perspective.  Perhaps the runner in you should accept that sometimes it’s okay to walk a few miles, because even walking is progression.

Question: What things do you discount that ought to receive greater respect?

HAPPY RUNNING!

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook!

Food Friday: Time to plant a garden

I

How does your garden grow?

 

It’s Food Friday and I am asking this question, “Have you planted your garden yet?” It’s that time of year.  I know it’s a lot of work, but the benefits of your own garden are bounteous. Here are a few reasons to grow your own vegetables this year:

• Vegetables are healthier than cookies.

• Gardening is a form of cross training.

• Vegetables in the garden are cheaper than a trip to the grocery store.

• You don’t have to mow grass where your garden grows.

• The neighbors will think you are resourceful.
• Overabundance of vegetables provides an opportunity for charity.  Give them to your neighbors.

Planting a garden is a sign of hope.  Hope that there will be water for the growing season. Hope that you will be around to harvest your crop.  Hope that seeds will germinate and grow. Hope in the future.

What are you waiting for?  Get your garden planted and watch it grow!

Question: What vegetables do you ALWAYS plant in your garden?

Read all my Food Friday posts HERE.

Happy Running!

Follow me on Twitter and Facebook.

Guest Blogger: Jennifer shares some thoughts on happiness

My first Guest Blogger, Jennifer is back today with a few thoughts about happiness! Jennifer hails from Utah, but began her journey in Parma, Idaho.  Thank you, Jennifer, for contributing this week!

Well, hello again Friends!

When Carol asked me to guest post again I honestly had the hardest time coming up with a topic.  I like to think I’m pretty clever, but when you’re preparing a post for another person’s blog there seems to be a little bit of pressure that comes with it.  So I decided to treat it like I would if someone asked me to speak in church and told me I was free to choose my topic.  My guidelines for that situation is that it must be:

1-      Something I truly believe in.

2-      Something relevant to my life.

3-      Something that is appropriate and not TOO embarrassing.

------------------------------------------------------

I was standing in line at Target on Saturday and was casually listening to the conversation that the cashier and a shopper were having.  They were talking about life and getting super personal about marriage.  I’m not sure how it came up; maybe they knew each other. I just pretended to be really interested in the jerky and candy assortment in the checkout area so they didn’t get creeped out by my intense listening.  The conversation got really juicy when the cashier asked the shopper how many times she’d been married.  Long story short, I found out that they were both currently married to their second husband.  The cashier then said, “Yeah, they say the second marriage is the best and happiest marriage.”  The shopper agreed but then they went on to talk about how both of them were beaten in their first marriages and they now disagree and fight a lot in their second marriage. But boy, are they happier!

I didn’t even know what to say to the cashier when it was my turn to purchase my items because I was so sad for her.

I know it’s not my place to judge.  I know that my life isn’t better than theirs and that I’m not perfect.  I don’t know their lives, the situations that they really are in and the choices they have made to get them there. I do know, however, that life is short and we deserve to be happy and to be treated with respect.  There is nothing I hate more than settling.  OK, I also hate whales, “50 Shades of Grey,” drive-thru windows, and the stalky white part of romaine lettuce.  We’ll save that for another day.

I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve been judged for being “too picky” just because I’m single or people have given me sad puppy eyes because they think I’m some lonely old cat lady without a husband or kids.  Newsflash! I don’t have cats either.  I have a roommate I barely talk too and a picture of a bunny wearing a crown on the wallpaper of my phone because I can’t even commit to a pet right now.  That’s apartment life for you.  Oh, and did I mention that I don’t date? I don’t do anything to try to date but you get what I’m saying. I’m not picky, nor would I ever settle, and I would never wish someone to be in a relationship just for the sake of being in one.  I see this a lot and it makes me sad and a little angry.

No matter what faith you belong to, I hope you believe that there is something bigger than you out in the universe, that you are here for a reason, and that you are unique and special.  For me, I believe that God put us on this Earth and He wants us to be happy, to be kind to others, and to be kind to ourselves.  This can be hard.  People do rotten things sometimes. We get bugged by the way we look, we get down on the way our life is going because we think we are meant to do so much more or because we are comparing our successes to someone else’s.  And, “Why can’t we find our (immortal) Augustus Waters for crying out loud?!”  The truth is that life isn’t a feel-good movie.  Life isn’t perfect, but we can make choices that will help us have a happier life.

If someone in your life is making you feel like you aren’t a special creation of worth who is loved by God and others, then I believe you should seriously reevaluate that relationship.  I’m talking friendly or romantic here, people.  I think the best thing I’ve learned in my life is that if you truly love someone then you should be able to be open and honest with them about anything.  If someone you love is treating you like garbage or is making you feel sad then you need to talk about it!  Don’t tip-toe around it and hold your feelings in and only confide in the cashier at Target or other irrelevant people.  Be an adult and go to the source to solve the issue.  You can do it in a loving way without blaming.  Simply state what you’re having a hard time with.  Someone who truly loves you will work on it and try to do better.

When all is said and you’ve given 100% and if they still aren’t willing to meet you there ... then you do what you’ve got to do. (#BYEFELICIA). Please don’t just settle with unhappy friendships, relationships or situations just because you’re worried about what people will think or because you’re afraid of it getting worse. The world is filled with so many people and we aren’t meant to be besties with every one of them.  We are, however, meant to have a happy life filled with wonderful people we love and who love us back.

If you aren’t willing to have the conversation then you should really evaluate the relationship.  Do you really love them?  Do you respect and love yourself? Please find someone to talk to about this if the answer to these questions are no and you still can’t walk away.  I most likely don’t know you but I really believe that you are worth something.  Picture what advice you would give your best friend if they were in your same situation. You would probably tell them how they are worth way more and that they deserve better and to be happy. I bet you would.  Try to take that advice!  You should treat yourself like your best friend—a concept I’m still working to achieve.

{Now, I don’t want to downplay abuse at all.  If you’re scared and can’t find a way out then please seek professional help or go to another loved one who will help you get out of the situation safely. Abuse is disgusting and should never be tolerated.}

Resentment is gross and takes too much time.  Cut it out.  Find your worth and believe in it.  Try to be kind even when it hurts.  Respect others and expect that same respect back.

You, my dear, deserve to be happy :)

Jennifer Hansen :)

You can read more and follow Jennifer's own blog at Anything But Ordinary ! Find her first guest post HERE.

Stop by each Thursday to see what the rest of my Guest Bloggers have to say.

Happy Running!

How do you find time to write?

A pre-published author recently asked, “How do you find time to write?  When do you write?”  I don’t think the answer is in finding time. I believe it lies in making time for writing.  This can be easier said than done.

Momentum is a challenging thing, especially in the writing/publishing/marketing world.  I published my third book two months ago. I finished the writing and publishing process and launched into marketing mode.  As soon as my focus turned to marketing, my writing efforts were put on the back burner.  Although this is a natural flow, the busyness of marketing can derail future publishing efforts if the writer does not stay focused on her long term goals.

Here are a few ideas that help me keep writing.

Set goals – Whether your goal is to publish one book a year or write 5000 words a day, a defined goal will motivate you to press forward.

Make a schedule – This schedule can be fluid to allow for unforeseen interruptions, but an editorial schedule for your blog or a timeline for book chapters will keep you in your writing seat, especially if that schedule has been shared with someone.

Share your goals or schedules – Yes! Tell someone what you plan to do and then go about doing it.  Whether that someone is a book coach, your blog readers, or your significant other the fact that they know about your plan will hold you accountable, even if they have forgotten!

Have more than one project – We creative types can have trouble with goals and schedules that seem to confine us.  Perhaps that is why we need them so badly. A variety of writing projects can lend a sense of freedom to your goals and schedules.  When you don’t feel like working on your next book, you can work on your next blog post or press release. Be mindful, however, that you don’t get caught in Uncompleted Multi-tasking land! We creative types have trouble with that as well.

I am happy to announce that amongst the busyness of book marketing and blogging I have begun writing my next book.  I am carving out, or finding time to write each week so I can work on my long term project while meeting the editorial schedule of this blog and finding new ways to market my existing books. Watch for excerpts in the next few weeks. This one is going to be fun!

Question: Do you have a trick that helps you stay on task?  Share it in the comments below.

You can find The Hard Run and other books by Carol M Green on Amazon, Kindle, and in her Etsy shop.

Happy Writing!