I could hardly walk and now I run!

My amazing relay team!

The human body is an amazing creation. It’s ability to endure injury and repair itself is nothing short of miraculous. Even while sporting scarring evidence of pain and imperfection, it often grows stronger as it heals the wound. What other things in nature can claim the same?

Twenty-three years ago today I could hardly walk. My mid-section had just been sliced open to deliver my third child – a little boy with stick up hair and long feet. He still has stick up hair and long feet. As I stood and willed my legs to move, I recognized the familiar sensation that my insides might actually fall out in front of me. I expressed that feeling to a physician once and he replied, “Just walk backwards and you won’t step on anything!” I’m quite certain I held my breath for the first few steps.

Over the following several days my walks grew longer and quicker as my incision healed and I regained my strength. I soon resumed normal activity. The limitations of those first few days faded and life carried on.

My boys

A few years ago, ten to be exact, I once again found myself facing a physical challenge. I began to run. I thought I was too old, but a friend encouraged me and so I tried. I have since participated in many races with half marathons being my longest. I even coach middle school cross country runners. I don’t know that I will ever attempt a marathon. My favorite race is a relay (about 200 miles) with my team of twelve. I enjoy the comradery and shared misery unique to an overnight endurance challenge. I rejoice that my body will allow me to participate.

Walking seemed almost insurmountable when I was younger and had just given birth with the aid of a surgeon. Now I run, because I can. Yes, it seemed insurmountable at first. No, it isn’t easy and it isn’t always fun, but my body can do it. This body that has years and miles, wounds and scars, heartaches and joys, can run! I think that is miraculous and I am grateful that I am so blessed! I bet you are, too.

What can your body do that once seemed insurmountable? I would love to hear about it.

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

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Guest Blogger: Kristey writes about love

Hello! I'm Kristey. I love to write, it soothes me, and some of it may interest or even help someone. I gave birth to 4 amazing people, and I live in a sleepy little town outside of Boise Idaho, where I drive a school bus! I am an active member of the LDS church. I love to laugh and tease, but I have a mean streak that most people will never see.  I can be a little eccentric at times. I love to look at train tags, and I can never get enough chocolate. I dream of water often, and love to be in it or near it. My favorite beach in the world (so far) is Point-No-Point Beach near Kingston, Washington, where I lived for 8 years. I am constantly at battle with a weird, re-appearing black monster in my head and I am prone to addictions. I love to help people talk out their problems, and feel better.  I am not big into animals, but I can appreciate them.  I hate spiders, bullies, and seafood. I hope to be a published writer someday!

 

BIG GIRL

I am a big girl. I have always been a big girl.  I spent a huge chunk of my life hating myself, for that reason. I hated the fact that not only was I ashamed of the way I looked, but I felt powerless against the people constantly pointing out my size, or ignoring me because of my size.  I felt powerless to stop my self-loathing - always wishing I was thinner, trimmer, smaller.  I was never happy with my appearance, and always watching for someone to give me that "ewwwwwe" look.  Always looking for the perfect outfit that would make me look good.  Always wanting to be beautiful.  Always wishing for guys to pay attention to me like they did the thin girls. Never wanting anyone to really look at me, because they would see all my insecurities bulging out of my skin. 

 

It is ironic to me that being "more" of a person (aka fat) can make you feel like "less" of a person.  Less valued.  Less worthy of love.  Less than human.  Less feeling.  It is one of the most looked down upon, prejudiced conditions that a person can be in.  Big people get discriminated against all the time.  Big people are often stereotyped as lazy, smelly, gluttonous, without discipline, and unattractive. Here's the thing: is being big REALLY the worst thing a person can be? What about a liar? A cheater? A mean person? Think about it … people don't snicker and point when a mean person walks by!

 

Okay, let’s get to the point . . .

 

I'm not advocating that we shouldn't take care of the bodies we are blessed with; we should be doing all we can for our health.  I am saying that when all is said and done, EVERYBODY deserves love!  Yep. We can love ourselves no matter what!! Too thin? You can still love yourself. Too tall? Yep. You can do it.  Stinky? Love yourself. And guess what? Iit works for other things, not just body types!! Missed a deadline? Love yourself anyway.  Are you a sinner? Love is the answer.  Bad hair day? You guessed it. . . love. Ate half a cake?  You know the answer! 

 

Every person in the world has a problem.  Fat is my problem. (One of them, anyway) but everybody deserves to love themselves.  Everybody has a DUTY to love themselves.  Most of the true and lasting changes I have made in myself were because I loved myself!!

 

Love is a VERB, an action.  Something we DO.

 

How do I love me? Let me count the ways   . . .

 

*I try to workout and take a walk every day, because it makes me feel better - physically, emotionally, spiritually, and mentally.  It’s just good for me.

*I limit sugar and processed foods because they make me feel worse - in every way. 

*I remind myself that everyone has flaws and insecurities. Mine just happen to be really obvious.

*I do the best I can. (Most of the time.)

*I tell myself "I love you.”  I just look in the mirror and do it.  Then I smile because I feel good.

*I am kind to myself.  Would I say the things I tell myself to another person?

*I remind myself over and over as many times as it takes that my Father in Heaven loves me too, and it’s all going to work out fine.

 

Love is power! If you really want to improve yourself, try starting with loving yourself unconditionally.   If you are a big person, take that big restroom stall! Take the front seat in the car because you can't climb in the back!  Smile at those people who are looking at you from the corner of their eye when you eat in public! It doesn't matter what they are thinking! You know something that they don't. You know you are every bit as important, special, and worthy of love as anyone else on the planet! And that's true no matter what your problem is :)

 

Kristey Jensen

 

 

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

 

Happy Running!

 

 

 



Things I am Grateful for ...

Here is a photo essay of things I am grateful for.  If you find yourself surfing the net today and run across this blog post, I hope these pictures trigger thankful thoughts of your own.



Love of my life!

These guys

All of these!

Temples

The Gospel

Snow!

Palm Trees!

Sunsets



Baby toes!



Gardens

Ice Cream!

Airplanes



Irrigation water and my boat

And cookies!

These are just a few of my favorite things!  What are some of yours?

Happy Thanksgiving and ...

Happy Running!

Guest Blogger: Marie writes about gratitude

I’m Marie Olson, wife, mother-of-three, and owner of a little Etsy shop called Not Very Domestic. I also happen to be Granny Green’s favorite daughter! (Yes, she is my favorite daughter!) You can follow me on Instagram @notverydomestic to see what crafty stuff I’m up to.

With Thanksgiving fast approaching, stuffing… uh, I mean, Gratitude, has been on my mind.  I think gratitude is a lot more than going around the table and listing off your blessings once a year.  The virtue of gratitude is an action. True gratitude is a way of living.

As the wife of a med student and mother of three living 2000 miles from home and subsisting on student loans, I’ve had a lot of opportunities to count my blessings, and a lot of practice developing the virtue of gratitude in my life. I’ve been pondering the subject recently, I have come up with a few practical things we can all do to live more gratefully.

Take Care of Your Stuff

When we don’t take care of our things, it suggests that we don’t care about our things. Whether it be our home, our car, our clothes, or our toys, it is important to take the time to maintain and care for our possessions. Failing to do so is, quite frankly, an act of ingratitude. This is something I am constantly trying to teach my children.  So often, I find myself saying “If you can’t take care of the stuff you have now, I’m going to stop buying you new things.” Pretty sure I need to follow through a little better.

Be Content

Live within your means. Waste not, want not. Make do or do without. Don’t worry about what the Joneses are up to. It is very easy to spend time dreaming of the day I can fill a closet full of new clothes, or own a brand new piece of furniture, or even just do the dishes in a dishwasher. Doing so causes me to overlook all of my blessings. I have a happy, healthy family, a warm house, and food on the table.  We do not do without any necessity.  Which leads me to my next suggestion….

Turn Off the TV

And while you’re at it, log off Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram.  Ok, ok, so that may be a little extreme, but I hope you catch my drift.  When one is constantly bombarded with advertisements and the social-media-filtered lives of your “friends” it’s easy to feel like you’re missing out. You’re not. I promise.

Give Thoughtfully and Sparingly

Black Friday is coming. I’m pretty sure it starts on Thanksgiving these days. Kind of ironic. I think I’ll be staying home. I’m a little afraid of being trampled by crazed shoppers.  It is wise and prudent to buy things on sale and to stretch your money.  Just be careful not to stretch it so far that the boxes under your tree are full of meaningless junk.  It really is that thought that counts.  Your loved ones will appreciate a thoughtful gift far more than a bunch of stuff you bought because it was on sale.  And remember, Christmas really isn’t about the presents. Neither is Thanksgiving for that matter. And grateful people don’t trample others in pursuit of a cheap iPhone.

Nurture Relationships

If we value something, we make an effort to care for it. The people in our life are our greatest blessings. Be kind, spend quality time together, and serve those you love. 

I hope you have a happy Thanksgiving filled with good food and people you love!

-Marie

 

You can follow Marie on Instagram @notverydomestic or check out her Etsy Shop!

 

Visit my Guest Blogger Page to get to know all my blogging friends!

 

 

Happy Running!