Friends
You Are Not Alone
July 11, 2011
It may seem like other people know what they’re doing, and they’re breezing through life with all the answers. It may seem like everyone else has it better — no struggles, no anxieties, heartaches or disappointments.
Maybe your life is not where you thought it would be at this age. Maybe everyone else has the perfect spouse, big house, successful career, money, phenomenal body and great looks … and you’re just destined to be miserable.
Not really …
Not everyone expresses their pain. Think about it. Would you go spewing your disappointments and anxieties to just anyone?
Everyone is suffering in their own way. Everyone is struggling.
The more we feel alone … the more we feel like people don’t get us … the worse life can look.
Change your mindset. Reach out. Find people that can relate to you. Open your heart to those that love you. Express yourself in different ways. Try each and every day to find happiness. Come up a new plan.
If you change the way you look at things, the things you look at will change.
Photo by Wildcat Dunny.
Don’t Be a D-List Friend
April 1, 2011
With my bff and maid-of-honor, Danielle!
I’ve been called “Super Friend.” I will talk to anyone, anywhere. I will find something in common with you and love to keep in touch. You tell me you like working out? We’re doing a race together. You tell me you love to cook? I’m giving you my favorite recipes. Your husband’s a Giants fan? Double date!
Maybe I’m a hopeless romantic — or friend-mantic — when it comes to friends. Maybe I just want to have clones of my best and closest friends. I don’t know. I just really like to connect to people and have crazy, laughing-so-hard-I’m-crying fun. I feel like you can learn so much and also offer a lot in return. But, some friendships are just not worth it.
In all these trial-and-error friendships — some have lasted and some have fizzled out. I think that’s normal. My hubs says that not everyone is going to be your best friend. My closest friends tell me that there are different levels of friendship. I agree with both. And, in all this, I’ve figured out my friendship “style” and “requirements.” Maybe that means I’m high maintenance. Tell me what you think …
To me, a close friend:
• Responds to your phone calls, texts, emails, fb posts, whatever. Maybe not right away — but to the important ones, yes. And if it’s been a few days, a “sorry, things have been crazy” message is cool too.
Real life example: I once expressed to a “friend” how devastated I was with losing my cousin and said I really wanted to get together and be with friends to laugh and have fun. No response. The day that we got together, I texted her to see if she was coming, and she had a lame excuse. Didn’t even mention my email or bother to rsvp to the evite!
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He’s Hooked! Hubby’s First 5K
March 28, 2011
Hubs and I did a race over the weekend — the Phillies 5k at Citizen’s Bank Park. It was his first race and (obviously) our first race together. In fact, I’m pretty sure that he’s never run longer than a mile before. I’ve done quite a few and was so excited when he let me talk him into doing it. Even though it was freezing out, it was a good first race since a few of our friends did it with us and the crowd was fun and friendly.
Our strategy
Billy didn’t “train” for the run and neither did I. He did about one mile twice the week of the race; my ankle and knee have been bothering me for weeks. So, our plan was just to go slow and steady. To be honest, I got a little worried when we were just out of the lot and he asked me how long I thought we had gone. Um, maybe a quarter of a mile?
Our plan was good though. He didn’t lose gas, and neither did I. I’ve learned that lesson before — it’s so easy to just take off with the pack and sprint — but with that, if you’re not conditioned, you can exert too much energy, get exhausted and have nothing left. The group carried us and I felt like we were going at a decent pace.
Toward the end, I’d say the last ¾ of a mile, I suggested we pick up the pace. My body felt good and I had all the energy in the world. He tells me that he’s going to lose his shoe, and I’m thinking GREAT. With the end in sight, he makes me pull over to the side while he ties it up (with frozen fingers). Rookie mistake! Out of love, I do.
Then, like the scene from Stand By Me when the boys start sprinting through the junk yard, I yell – “SPRINT!!!!” If it was a straight run and I didn’t have to dodge people, I would have beat Billy.
Our times came in and he beat me by two seconds, and we were both under 35 minutes.
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AllThingsGwen.com is my unofficial guide to health and happiness. It's a chronical of me finding my way.
I encourage you to think about “AllThings[YOUR NAME HERE]” and what’s really, truly important to you. Hope you enjoy my recipes, fitness tips, motivational posts and aha moments.
- Will work for sneakers. http://t.co/fyLwM3Ug
- RT @motivationlive: People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it. - Anonymous
- Oh man. Gotta teach 7 am and 9 am kbox after crazy Meise wedding.
- I was part of Facebook's IPO! Bought many a share. Hope it makes some bacon. I will tell my grandkids about this historical moment.
- Planning our First Annual Meise Summer Jam. There will be a big roasted pig.
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