Now that's more like it!

It's amazing what one can accomplish...if they make the friggin' list and follow it!
Yup. Who knew?

After being disorganized, spinning my wheels and not getting nearly enough checked off my list...I finally got sick and tired of going in circles and got some things DONE!

Thank you Mom and God for giving me a shallow bottom to my barrel.

To start the day, yesterday morning Gwen and I went to do 10 flights of stairs at Bear Creek Park. We counted one flight...147 steps. If we round up to 150...that's 1500 steps climbed. We had such a good time. Then we hiked the 2km loop and talked, laughed and celebrated just being alive, healthy and able to be out there hiking at 9am on a Friday.

After that I went to the rental and took a load to the Salvation Army and then loaded up a car full of bankers boxes (with work papers over the past 7 years) that were stored in the garage...and took them to my house...and now there's only one (yes...one) car load left there!

I had a big conversation with the realtor as well and he says I have to cut the price more on the house that I'm trying to sell. I asked for comparables. I called other Realtors who's signs I saw in the neighbourhood that had "sold" signs on them...and their prices were higher than my house price! So...I'm not lowering the price... My gut says - Paint it. Fix up the few deficiencies and the house will sell.

It's funny...when you put a bit of energy towards something....magic happens. It's also empowering. Life just feels better. It feels like being stuck in the mud and then getting 'un-stuck'. Crossing off a few things off my list yesterday was like closing a door that was letting all the heat out of the house. Or....closing a hole that was sucking my energy out.

Just a few little things crossed off my list feels so much better. Thank you GOD!

And then I went to the hostel, got the new computer running properly after hours and hours of frustration!

And now the ball is rolling in other areas as well! I realize that I'm not suppossed to stare endlessly at colour chips, confused and undecided,...so an interior designer is coming over to the house today to pick colours for the vacation rental and my living space. I couldn't pick the right colours if my life depended on it...so rather than stagnate any longer, I called someone to help me.

Maybe that's what it's about (and perhaps I needed a little reminder) that when I need help, I just have to call someone to help me. And sometimes...I simply need to get up and help myself.

Mel and I also decided to find a new location for the DIVA Retreat in Mexico. I was supposed to send my credit card to our original location to pay the deposit...but I just couldn't do it. Finally, I told Mel that something was stopping me from sending our deposit. There were a few factors that were not perfect about that location as well, so it just didn't feel right. Over the past few days, we have been looking for new locations...and OH MY GOD! There are some amazing places out there!

This one is our favourite!!

We'll see.

For now, I'm off to get that last load from the house and make a plan to get things in order there...put up a few curtains in the art room, maybe paint the inside of the garage...and see if I can get the exterior of the house painted this late in the year...and then...I have faith that my little beach house will sell at the price I want it to.

One thing is for sure, Mom,...you have a very stubborn daughter! Probably, it's not always a good thing...but occasionally, it's not a bad attribute.

Thank you for listening, Mom.
This is more like it!
Love you,
Crystal

Where Have YOU Been?

This is a question I'm asking myself right now...and one I remember you asking when we were teen-agers!

Where have you been?

Days and weeks have flown by and I've been busy with so many projects...but it feels like I'm jugging too many things right now and nothing is getting completed properly.

Living intentionally has gone out the window this week!

Work, selling the house (an unanswered prayer...still!), organizing my vacation rental suite downstairs (slow on my tight budget!), the hostel (it's like it's got magnets glued all over it and I'm made of metal...I just get sucked in there and never leave). (Sort of like the customers...so that's not really a bad thing now is it?) And then there's the gala, the next DIVA Retreat, trying to maintain some sort of exercise and health (how is it possible to have had such good intentions of my 6 pack summer and it's not summer anymore and my 6 pack still hasn't arrived...not by a long shot!). And it would be nice to have some sort of 'life', too.

I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed right now...not doing a very good job of juggling at all. And certainly not living as intentionally as I would like to be!

All in all, I bring myself back to my center as I write this and realize that I've been going in circles...in my mind and in life...getting wound up, frazzled and going too fast to slow down enough to regroup, focus, get settled and slowly, methodically, accomplish one thing at a time. I guess this is all a process. There is no finite end or finish line when it comes to being intentional. It's a work in progress...at least it is for me...and although I have not seen you in SOOOOO long Mom, I hope that there's little parts of you that come through in me and my busy life that help to bring me back to center, to myself...and show me where I am so that I don't have to ask myself, "Where the heck have you been?"

A friend of mine is great at making lists, worksheets and prioritizing details. And this is a skill that many people have. Even me. I can make lists, get organized and create worksheets almost as good as the best of them...but this, this is only step one. Step 1 is only part of the equation...and it's the easy part. Step 2...my friend is also very good at that! VERY! I could learn a few things here beause at step 2...now that's where I stumble...that's where I have to follow my damn list that I made!

STEP 1: Make the list!

STEP 2: Follow it. Dammit!

It's really so very simple. Make the list. Then follow it.

If I can do this, then I'll know where I've been. I would be on that page, working smarter, not harder, somewhere between all the crossed-off, check marked, scribbled out, complete and finished projects...doing the happy dance of joy that only comes with hard work, discipline and focus.

Mom, I love you, miss you and need a little bit of you right now!
It's a good thing you're not coming out right now though ...YOU would probably be put to work! Either that...or YOU would be the Master of the List...and WE would all be put to work.
Yes...that's probably the way it would work.
I love you!!
Crystal

Note to self - stretch!

Mom,
On Thanksgiving weekend, Gwen, Charlotte (a friend of ours) and I went to Bear Creek Park to run the stairs. The stairs were sort of like in this photo although I didn't have a camera so this photo is just from the internet but it looked very similar...and just as steep!
The stairs were over 100 steps to go up. Gwen said they were closer to 140...I am not sure. I lost count!
We ran up and down the stairs 6 times and then hiked the 2km loop that went up, over and around the creek and then back down to the car.

We had so much fun!!!

Until the next day...and the day after that! Today, my calves are still so sore that it hurts to walk down any stairs. Going up is OK but going down is not easy! I feel more sore than when I've done a triathlon! I spoke to Gwen yesterday and we both laughed at our sore calves.

Note to self: stretch!

We're planning a big friend stair-climbing session on Friday. I'm not sure that I'm ready! Maybe one or two sets...but that's about it! Maybe I can be there for moral support and cheering! I'll let you know how it goes!! Gwen's so excited about it! It's a big work-out and will be so much fun with a bunch of people!

Next time, I think we should stretch though. Take a few minutes at the end. Stop. Stretch. Slow down. And take it easy.

One thing is for sure...all things are more fun, more enjoyable and more worthwhile when surrounded by friends and family.

Running over 800-900 steps alone would be very hard...but with friends and family...we just laughed the entire time!

Well...we laughed at that time but I certainly wasn't laughing the next day!

I can hear you saying, "Well, why don't you just go do that again!"
:)
Love you, Mom.
See you soon!
Crystal

Bliss-Dream-Spirit-Love

At dinner lastnight, we each selected a few little cards that have wonderful messages in them. I randomply picked two for you and Don and opened them up for you.


Some of the other messages were:

"Seek not outside yourself, heaven is within."

"If I had my life to live again, I'd find you sooner."

"Be strong, go with your heart and believe in miracles because anything - anything can happen."

"Then we sat on the edge of the earth, with our feet dangling over the side, and marveled that we had found each other."

"These are the magic years...and therefore magic days...and therefore magic moments."

And then we spent the evening laughing, eating, laying on the livingroom floor and giving thanks...for family, friends and all the bliss, dreams, spirit and love in our lives.

Love you, Mom,
Crystal

I Am...

I am my mother's daughter!
I can bake like you wouldn't believe!

And make a mess like you could believe!

And clean it all up in 7 minutes flat while the flapper pie is in the oven with the merangue turning a golden colour!

Love you, Mom.
Thank you for the recipe! This time - I measured!
Crystal

Giving Thanks

Hi Mom!
With so much to be thankful for today (and everyday), we're wishing you and Don a very happy Thanksgiving. Tonight, we're at Gwen's for a turkey dinner and flapper pie!! We wish you and Don were here, Mom. Very much. We'll call you tonight!!

Scotia's been pacing the hallway wondering if Plan B is going to materialize!! :) She's looking forward to seeing you!!!
As the weather changes today (it's raining), it's a perfect morning to sit inside and think of all that I'm thankful for...
- our family
- health (how lucky we are to all be so healthy!)
- the friendship our family shares and how we all like to spend time together
- all the encouragement and support we give one another
- there's always someone to call and talk to in our family
- freedom and opportunity to follow our own path
- wonderful friends
- abundance
- the freedom to make my own choices and decisions
- for the chance to make a difference in the world
- the ability to live in one of the safest, cleanest countries in the world
- faith
- our upbringing and how you raised us
- I'm thankful for all of these things and more...
- for my spirit, mind and body (and bright smile and big teeth)
- for second chances and "do over's" and for how life has a wonderful way of working out
- for all the people that love me and see me for who I really am
- for living across the street from Gwen...I'm very thankful for this
- I'm thankful (so very thankful) to be born into our family and that you're my mom

I could go on and on Mom. I have so much to be thankful for. Thank you for every part of this wonderful life, Mom. Thank you for you.
Happy Thanksgiving!!
Love you (and Don)
Crystal

Intentional Decisions

Today is the Hawaii Ironman championship. I put my name in for the lottery and got in but decided a couple months ago that I didn't want or need to go.

Surprisingly, the decision not to go and race was very easy...even though it's the most challenging sporting event in the world and (for those that aren't fast enough to qualify...like me), I'd received one of the most sought after lottery spots.

Just finishing the race in August did make the decision easier as well, because doing a race 6 weeks later would be beyond difficult, to say the least.

I'm watching the live video feed of the pre-race right now and happy to be doing so from afar, rather than being one of those 2000 athletes getting ready to jump in the water in 30 minutes.

A very cool intentional decision. Thanks Mom! If I hadn't been focusing on living more intentionally, I'm sure I'd be there simply because I'd gotten an opportunity to go...not because I truly, intentionally wanted to be there.

I think I've almost made some other decisions about racing next year ...not that you want to hear them, Mom,...but..maybe Ironman Canada next August and what do you think of Ironman Western Australia next December? Some friends are doing that race...and it is supposed to be a gorgeous course!! We'll see! You'll be the first to know!

Now, on to more relevant decisions...choosing paint colours for the house and vacation rental downstairs. I have no idea what colours to choose! I think I need some professional help from a decorator or designer.

And what to do on this beautiful Saturday...
- put something good into my mind...I'm reading two good books right now: Women, Food and God ...and Spark: the revolutionary new science of exercise and the brain
- put something good into my body...I'm doing a test run of your amazing pumpkin pie today in preparation for Sunday dinner at Gwen and Robs!!
- get some exercise...going for a run later
- and focus a little on my 'calling' and what I'm meant to be doing in my life....work on the garage, spend a little time on my book and 15 min on the guitar

So...what do you think of Plan B? :) Gwen and I still have our fingers crossed and hearts hoping!!!

love you,
Crystal

What if?

A few days ago, Eric and I watched the movie Pay It Forward. He hadn't seen it before. I've watched it at least a dozen times. And every time, I cry my eyes out at the end. Such an inspiring movie. Yet so sad at the same time. I guess that's what makes it such a great movie...

It evokes emotion and makes me wonder...what could be possible. It makes me ask the question, "What if?"

What if it were really true...and what if we each did 3 little "random acts of kindness" in a big way? What could happen? What sort of difference could it make?

If you do the math, after only 60 days of Paying Forward good deeds, 10,460,353,203 good deeds would have been carried out! That's ten and a half billion good deeds! And only 60 days....

What if?


Watching the movie reminds me of the website I made years ago to promote random acts of kindness. It makes me think of how I could make a bigger difference with it. I'm revamping it now and making it more simple. And setting it up so people can submit their stories easier. It's going to be way better.

Living intentionally today means leveraging what I've got, rather than starting something new. It means STILL CROSSING MY FINGERS ABOUT PLAN B (I hope you and Don can come a the end of October)!!! And it also means daydreaming about what could be possible if we surround ourselves with the right people, add a little inspiration and emotion, say what's on our mind/in our hearts and ask the question, "What if?"

Love you, Mom.
Crystal

Plan B

What do you think of Plan B?
I was out for a run yesterday and it came to me that this plan just might be as good or better than the original plan!! You would have 4 of your girls here...just think of the fun we'd have!!!

And the timing of the Rider game is PERFECT!!

Life's not always perfect and it seems, sometimes, that just when we plan for something, it doesn't quite work out how we hope it will. But, Mom, you're the very best and creating an even better "Plan B" and no matter what the plan is over the next couple weeks,you've taught us so well to have hope and make the best of any situation.

Thank you for all of these little life lessons that you've inspired all of us to follow and learn from. I sure hope we can make this plan b work out....

Gwen and I are going to cross our fingers!!
love you both,
Crystal

An invisible string...

Hi Mom,
Thinking of you and Don this morning, sending you lots of wishes and good thoughts.
Gwen and I are so sad that you aren't able to make it out, but we'll be home soon for Christmas and I can hardly wait! Please tell Don that he's in all of our thoughts.

In the interim, it's good to know that even though we're not all in the same city, we're all connected to one another with an invisible string made of love, strength, hope and friendship that is stronger than anything.

More to come later today.

Later...
After working this morning and focusing on some projects that I need to finish, I'm taking a little break and then going for a long run in the sun. When I get back, I'm making soup with some vegi's that I bought from the vegi farm (out on Benvoulin Rd). The pumpkins there are HUGE!

We really wish you and Don were coming out next week to celebrate Thanksgiving, the Rider game and our wonderful family! Gwen and I are really sending Don the vibes today (and every day) and we hope he knows how much he's loved.
Mom, you are the greatest at looking at the bright side of things...and that's just what we're all to do, I guess. Look at the bright side...and rely on that invisible string when we need to.

I love you, Mom.
Missing you today.
Always here for you Mom and forever connected...
Love Crystal

2 Simple Instructions from the Hawaiian Surfer

The course this weekend was amazing!!!

Gwen and I made it home around mid-night lastnight after a long drive home.
We made the 6pm ferry which was awesome. We had a reservation for the 5pm but it was cancelled. Luckily they moved us to the 6pm ferry b/c there was a 2 sailing wait and we would not have gotten out until 10:00pm if we didn't have a reservation.

Then, once in Vancouver, we found or way, we got lost, we almost got to the USA border and then we finally got back on track...arriving home safe and sound, just a little tired.

It was a fantatic weekend! I don't even know where to start to tell you about it!

One of the siimplest yet most profound points the instructor mentioned has stuck with me. Two simple instructions that hear learned from a Hawaiian.

Number 1:
Remember who you are.
Number 2:
Step into your power.

Sounds easy...but is it really?

This is wisdom that you could have shared in exactly those words - simple and to the point. You certainly instilled these instructions in us, growing up.

Even with you as a parent, the most amazing Mom in the world, it's not easy to do these things though...at least not from my experience or what I see around me. Even in my business classes, my students think their greatest problem is finding the money. My response to that it, "If you really had everything else together, the money would find you." Then, in my classes we talk about the real things holding us back...like fear, bad timing, lack of skills, resources or confidence and other things like not knowing where to start or lacking the courage to know where to start and even the not so simple task of simply taking a leap of faith.

The course this weekend was totally enlightening in many ways and I can't wait to learn more. It's a blend of psychology and kinesiology (a fancy word for muscle testing and how the body responds to certain mental/emotional thoughts. Totally up my alley. I felt like I was right at home!

Anyway, more on that later.
For now, I've got to practise my guitar. Gwen was a star on her uki. She was going to teach me a few things but when I tried to tune my guitar with her uki tuner (and my lack of ability) it didn't work out very well and I had to take it in to the music store today to ask them to tune it. Suffice it to say that, right now, you'd want me to play with "earphones" like on the organ, if you could hear me!




:)
Love you, Mumsy!
Can't wait to see you!!!
Crystal

It's all about our thoughts...and beliefs!

This little poem is amazing...and life is, indeed, about our character, as the title suggests...but it's even more about our thoughts...
and
beliefs!




Gwen and I are at this amazing workshop this weekend in Victoria and it's all about our beliefs, thoughts, stuff inside our brain...and how that has a huge impact on EVERYTHING that happens in life!

There are a million quotes said about "thoughts" and "beliefs".

We become what we think about most of the time...

Thoughts are things...

Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it will achieve...

We won't see it...until we believe it.

It was an amazing day! So much learning, so much great information, and so much familiarity!

When I was about 20, I wanted to learn more about kinesiology, muscle testing, the power of the mind and how our beliefs influence our lives. Then I sort of lost touch with this inner calling and finished university, went on to move to Kelowna, etc. and time went by.

I always remembered my interest in muscle-testing, the power of unconscious thoughts and positive thinking and how "our perception is our reality"...but never focused on these things specifically.

Well, today was sort of like "coming home" for me. Even the facilitator and some of the other participants seemed oddly familiar. It was fascinating.

I knew I was meant to be here. It was as if I could finish the sentences of the facilitator. I knew what he was going to say before he finished saying it. I can often feel what someone is feeling or I can sometimes receive an awareness of other people's thoughts...not really reading their thoughts...just sort of intuitively being aware of what is going on. (Of course...there are other times when I'm so absorbed with myself that I have no clue what anyone around me is thinking or feeling!)

Regarding the intuitive moments I experience, I know I get this from you, Mom. Except that you have this gift in a much more powerful way than I do. (The not so intuitive moments...the self-absorbed times...we both know where I get that from! kidding!)

Anyway, it was an extraordinary day! I loved every moment! I'm here in bed, feeling so happy to be here! Gwen is out with Britta for the evening. I'm so excited for tomorrow!

I find it interesting that I'm finally here, studying what I was drawn to so many years ago. I believe in my heart that this is a piece of what I am called to do in my life's work. I did know this years ago, too, but I guess the timing wasn't right until now.

I have faith that everything unfolds in life as it's meant to. And my life seems to be unfolding in ways that I dreamed of, prayed about and wished for.

Thank you Mom - for encouraging me to dream!
Thank you God - for hearing every word in every prayer I've uttered!
And thank you universe - for all the stars (and 4-leaf clovers) I've wished upon!

I love you Mom.
Crystal

3 Little Things When Going On A Road Trip

Hi Mom,
Sorry I've been away...working in Penticton all week and now in Victoria with Gwen! Great to talk to you en route!! Love you. This is a photo of the sunset we saw from the car as we drove. It was a gorgeous drive. Gwen drove the entire way. She's amazing. I was so tired of driving after driving to/from Penticton all week. I sat in the passenger seat making snacks for her and we laughed and talked the whole way! Oh my God, we had fun. We left very early and had over an hour of time to relax and wait at the ferry terminal.

Living intentionally:
1. plan ahead: we made a reservation on the ferry so we could be first in line and get on the ferry with no worries. The 9pm sailing was the last one and we didn't want to miss it.
2. leave early: we left early and had lots of extra time in case of any problems on the road. There were no problems and the weather was perfect but it was nice to have some extra time and not worry about a thing.
3. leave the radio off: we didn't turn on the radio once. We just talked and laughed the whole way. 4 hours of sister visiting and fun. We both feel so blessed - for a bit of sister time; to live so close to one another and to come from such an amazing family.

love you,
will write tonight,
love Crystal

Going against the grain...

Mom,
I had a simple but totally totally awesome revelation today...and it reminded me of you.
This week, I'm driving to Penticton all week for work. I leave in the morning, heading against the much larger flow of traffic that is heading into town and I have a smooth, very un-crowded drive south. Then, on the way home, I head back to Kelowna at the end of the day, when everyone else is leaving Kelowna. It's a lovely drive...against the flow of traffic.

It made me think of life...and how it's often wiser to go against the grain, and behave in ways that are opposite of the rest of the masses.

For example, when everyone else is selling their houses...perhaps I should not be selling mine....but rather - buying theirs. It's a buyer's market right now, after all.

Or when everyone else is buying stocks for investments...maybe I should not be so quick to buy, right along with them, but sell instead.

Or, when someone is selling a run-down business that has seen better days...and nobody will even look in that direction or consider it's viability because the opportunity is disguised as a 'dump'...only to be revealed and discovered through vision and hard work! Yes...that's the time to jump in and seize the opportunity...like the hostel almost 12 years ago...when everyone else is running in the other direction. Thank God nobody wanted to buy it back then, leaving it for sale for almost a year before we came cross it. I can't believe no one saw the opportunity there, just underneath the surface.

In our family, we learned to go against the grain, not to blindly follow and that "opportunity is often disguised as hard work" and great things don't always come easy and they're not always shiny and new.

I think it's that way with a lot of things. The value in a building, any item and even in people might be hidden or concealed...and we just have to uncover it to see it...Polish it up, refinish the surface areas and then look at it shine. Or...with people...listen to them, pay attention to the details, validate their concerns rather than minimize them, show that we care...show just a little thoughtfulness...and then watch them shine.

Now that's amazing.

I know this is what happens...b/c people in my life = family, friends, loved ones, God...seem to be polishing me until I shine.

Mom, thank you for polishing us till we shine...by loving us, by showing us that opportunities are often concealed as hard work and by showing us to go against the grain and not just follow the masses.

love you,
Crystal

Finish strong.

When I was training for my first Ironman, back in 2001, my coach said, "Save a little energy so that you finish strong."

He went on to say that "how you feel at the end of your race...whether you're happy and full of energy....or tired, exhausted and beaten by the day...that will have a lasting impression on you forever...much more than what the finish clock says."

I was pretty scared, in that first race, unsure of what to expect or how the day would go. So I saved a lot of energy for the end. And feeling good, feeling happy, enjoying my family and friends who were all down to cheer...now that did have a huge impact on me. Feeling good gave me lots of opportunity to enjoy the day and enjoy the finish...and celebrate with everyone. It's always left a wonderful memory etched in my mind and spirit, when I think of the past.

Maybe I should have tried harder - in that race. And in everything in my life. I know I certainly do "save a little" just in case. I'm not sure I lay it all out on the table...or on the line...until now. Lately, it's felt great to give life all I've got...whether it's out in the jungle or other areas of my life. Not that I'm perfect...I'm certainly not. I could be a better friend, not drop so many balls (and I drop a fair few!), and be more focused and more organized and be more thoughful and follow through a bit more on things...and I could go on and on forever here...but I'm trying...trying to finish unfinished things on my long list as well as lay it all on the line a little more.

And...I'm going to give the last 3 months of this wonderful year of intentional living the best I've got...and finish strong. I can't believe the past 9 months have gone by so fast. I can hardly believe all that's happened over the past year...all the wonderful, terrific and amazing things, experiences and moments.

It's overwhelming to look back and see how far we've come!

Even still, I can say that I probably could have done more. Tried harder. Been more focused....

BUT...that's life. (And it feels good to just "tag that toe and let it go" when it comes to feeling guilty...

OH! LIghtbulb moment....living intentionally might be about living guilt-free... forgiving myself and letting myself off the hook a little for not being perfect...and just letting go of the past...

Wow! Wouln't that be amazing! Wouldn't that help people finish strong...I know it would certainly help me!

I'm here now...and I'm going to finish strong!

I love you Mom. Thank you for making it OK that I'm not perfect and that a race finish time or medal or even finishing doesn't mean anything to you...all that mattered to you was that I made it out of the swim alive and was happy...which was an example to me that it's OK to save a little so I finish strong and not get too wrapped up in running someone else's race (or trying to keep up to someone else's pace). All that matters is running my own race, at my own pace and doing the best I can in this moment.

And, truly, every day, I think we all do the best we can on that day - in that moment - and it's really pointless to say or think or feel, "Oh, I could have done better." Because...really...if we could have done better...we would have done better.

Tonight, I made a little island on the living room floor with a big blanket after I got home from teaching in Penticton. And then, I got a few books, a couple pillows, my laptop and the phone...and I stayed on the island reading, talking to Amelie on the phone for an hour, writing a few emails to friends and playing with Scotia.

I love being on the "island"... in touch and out of reach.

And a little island time is a great way to get back to my center so that I can finish strong.

I love you.
See you soon!
love Crystal

Give a little...take a little

Give a little...
On Saturday I gave a speech to some runners in a "learn to run" clinic at the Running Room on goal-setting and motivation. I feel so honoured to be asked to give a speech (whether I'm paid in cash or in 30% off coupons for new runners) because there's just something so humbling, for me, in that people want to hear what I have to say.

Who knew?

Most (if not all) of what I've learned has been through experience...and it's so true that most "experience" is either gained by trial and error or through making mistakes or by sheer luck (and I'm lucky to be pretty lucky).

In my speech, I told the group some of my trials and tribulations...and how I've learned quite a bit of how to do things right...by first, doing them wrong. Completely wrong!

I shared my experience of learning to run...and my first marathon...when I was on a training run with a friend (14 years ago) and it the 20 mile run, the last big run before the race, and I had 2 gatorade bottles that I was carrying...and I didn't want to carry them both...so I drank one whole bottle of gatorade before starting the run, so I wouldn't have to carry it. It seemed like good logic at the time, but about two hours in to the run, things started to go sideways...

I bonked.

The big sugar rush (of that entire gatorade bottle) wore off and I hit the wall completely.

With an hour still to go...I walked the last 5 miles home alone...vowing never to do that again.

I shared 5 key points in my talk...
1. Have a goal. For me, to be inspired, I've got to aspire towards something.
2. Know why you're running. (I shared the story of running 100km, raising $ for the women in Africa. It was a good story. It's hard to believe we ran 100km all in one day. We're just planning our 6th annual Great Big Run For Africa right now...and in the past 5 years, we've raised over $100,000...not bad for 4 girls-a couple meetings/year-each taking turns on what's become a relay run-and laughing in the RV all day!
3. Pay attention to the stories in you're head. I shared the example of how, for my entire life, I've thought I was not a good runner, even though I've done lots of running...and how one person can make such a positive influence when they help you change the story in your head... When Eric told me I was a good runner (He had to state specific examples of my running...and I still didn't really believe it...) but during the race, I told myself "I'm a good runner!" over and over and over...and...apparently...telling myself this new story seemed to make it come true.
4. Join a group. This one was self-explanitory...Simply put - we're better together. And we can go farther (in life and on a run) when surrounded by friends.
5. Find someone that believes in you. I ended with my story of Pete and how he did his best to teach me how to swim (in 3 weeks) for my first triathlon...and I went from there, barely finishing, to the Ironman within a year.

I think I've done about 30 of these speeches, on various topics, for the Running Room. I feel very blessed to meet such amazing people; some learing to run; some elite runners; some somewhere in between...but all totally inspiring b/c they are out there running even though there's a million things that they probably need to do before the day is done. I find the "learn to run" clinic the most inspiring b/c, for these people, running is a far-off dream and they found the courage to somehow show up and give it a try!

Very cool!


And I also took some time for me. Took some time to putter around the house. Took some time to garden for a couple hours. Took some time to play with Scotia. Took some time to look at holiday destinations. Took some time to read. And Relax. Laugh with friends. Listen to Gwen in one of her fabulous performing moments. And talk with friends about ideas, dreams, my career and holiday plans!!!

I think I'm getting my career/calling sorted out! Yes - miracles do happen! Thank GOD!

I went running - ran 2 hours a couple days ago! Felt fabulous! Then, today, I went and did exercises and stretching on the dock. It was gorgeous. Absolutely gorgeous!

I feel so blessed!

It feels good to give a little...and take a little.

Love you, Mom.
Can't wait to see you!
Did the Rider's win?
love Crystal

Christmas is coming!!!!!

Christmas is just around the corner!!!
Here's a look at a few photos from years gone by.
I can hardly wait for this year's Christmas fun! Flights are booked!
can't wait to see you and Don!!!
You're amazing, Mom!
Love you,
Crystal
PS: Where on earth did you get this bunch?