This weekend was crazy for me. On Saturday I went to my college roommate's wedding reception (she got married in Alaska, but then celebrated with family back in Ohio). I make sure I ate something healthy before I left, just so I wouldn't be starving and eat all sorts of delicious yet fattening appetizers. When it was time to eat I was good, skipping dips, deep fried foods, and completely bypassing the desert table (a BIG step for me). I did treat myself to a cupcake, which I accounted for before I even went up there! It was great... and I wasn't hungry at all. Then I danced... danced my HEART out for a good hour and a half, only stopping twice! And downing 2 bottles of water! It was soooo much fun since after all that's what the bride and I did back in college!
So the next morning I was sore, but it was time for our big family reunion! After a light and healthy breakfast we headed over. I knew that it was a potluck, but I came prepared, making a light and delicious tomato & cucumber salad! But there were lots of fruits and veggies there so I loaded up on those for lunch and dinner (it's an all day event). I did allow myself a tasting of my aunt's delicious potato salad, and a sliver of my mom's homemade and better then you would ever find in any restaurant pies (yeah she made 5 delicious pies... but I just took bites of my 2 favorites!)
But it's not just the food... we also play beanbag tournaments (like cornhole). And when my 85 year old grandma needed to stop I volunteered to step in! After all, I was out in the first round and was just sitting! Then of course we played softball. Now usually I half-ass it... picking to play outfield and just slowly jogging to bases. But I decided this year... why not go for it! I took 3rd base knowing it would force me to do more action and I almost caught the ball twice! Surprising myself both times that I even went after it at all! Then when my team was up to bat I volunteered to be catcher (we have a small family so you have to catch for your own team) I did this so I would once again NOT sit on the bench and take a break, I wanted to stay moving the whole game! Oh, and did I mention my three awesome hits! Now I did not make it to base... but I did have an RBI, and I sprinted as fast as I could, making sure to give it my all!!!
It was a great weekend, but today I am SOOO sore! It took me all day to find the motivation to do my strength training exercises! But I did them, even in front of my boyfriend who said I do not look sexy doing them, much to my surprise! haha! I may not be able to get out of bed tomorrow morning, but that's what alieve is for right? Hope everyone else had a great weekend!
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Monday, September 6, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
Additional Family
I was cleaning up this and found my pile of birthday cards (just a few weeks old). Before I put them away I always read them one more time. What I noticed this year was the change in family. My sister, divorced a year, has a new boyfriend who signed the card... but the one that really got me was Shaun's family. This year they signed it "love you". I know it may sound weird... after all it's not like she signed it "mom."... but it meant a lot to me realizing that I have a growing family.
It is weird how easy it comes.. I was raised with my family, and as the youngest I am the last to experience that "in-law" part of a relationship. I have always wondered how easy or hard it would be to love an entire extended family like they are my own. And I'm learning... not as hard as one would think. It started with a just some hugs and Christmas gifts... but now I have a whole new list of people I can call family.
Maybe it's just special to me... see my dad's family was absent most of my life... a long and detailed family story that can just stay with our family... I got used to just having one family, used to having on grandma, 5 aunts, and my cousins. But now, I have another grandma, mom (don't worry mommy she's NEVER going to replace you!), and brother.... and I have to say... it's great.
Also recently we have reconnected with my dad's family... and while there are still some sore subjects, it is nice to get to know some aunts, uncles, and cousins who I only really knew from old pictures and class assignments of family trees. It's a bit overwhelming sometimes to think that someone can love you... no matter what... because you are family.... and that's something to keep close to my heart.
It is weird how easy it comes.. I was raised with my family, and as the youngest I am the last to experience that "in-law" part of a relationship. I have always wondered how easy or hard it would be to love an entire extended family like they are my own. And I'm learning... not as hard as one would think. It started with a just some hugs and Christmas gifts... but now I have a whole new list of people I can call family.
Maybe it's just special to me... see my dad's family was absent most of my life... a long and detailed family story that can just stay with our family... I got used to just having one family, used to having on grandma, 5 aunts, and my cousins. But now, I have another grandma, mom (don't worry mommy she's NEVER going to replace you!), and brother.... and I have to say... it's great.
Also recently we have reconnected with my dad's family... and while there are still some sore subjects, it is nice to get to know some aunts, uncles, and cousins who I only really knew from old pictures and class assignments of family trees. It's a bit overwhelming sometimes to think that someone can love you... no matter what... because you are family.... and that's something to keep close to my heart.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
It's All About Me!
Ok, not really... but sometimes it is. Today for example my family held a wonderful barbecue for my birthday. It was amazing and made me really feel blessed to have such an amazing family who loves me for me. It made me think that sometimes you do need to put yourself first.
At work you always put your bosses needs first (as any good employee does)... but I would also put other people ahead of me that I didn't really need to... it was just a need to be liked I guess. The problem is now, I need to put myself first... I need to tell myself that I am good enough, that I do deserve the best... to honestly think about what *I* want... and demand nothing less... at least when it comes to the job search. So thank you to my family who, at least once a year, makes me put myself first... it's a good reminder that I deserve anything I want.
At work you always put your bosses needs first (as any good employee does)... but I would also put other people ahead of me that I didn't really need to... it was just a need to be liked I guess. The problem is now, I need to put myself first... I need to tell myself that I am good enough, that I do deserve the best... to honestly think about what *I* want... and demand nothing less... at least when it comes to the job search. So thank you to my family who, at least once a year, makes me put myself first... it's a good reminder that I deserve anything I want.
Monday, May 3, 2010
The Relationship Ladder
All my life I have had people come and go in my life, as do most people. And as I have gotten older I have started subconsciously rating people... from least important to most important. The thing is when your life goes into crisis mode you really start to see where people land on the ladder of importance.
Family is always near the top, at least for me they are. My mom is one of my closet friends, she knows almost everything about me and is the most supportive mother anyone could hope for. My dad and I... well we have a typical father/daughter relationship where we don't always see eye to eye. But that aside I know that my dad would jump through fire to save me, no questions... ok few questions asked. My sister and I are 10 years apart, and while we may have started our relationship with me coloring pictures for her to hang in her dorm room, we have become great friends, the type of relationship where you can ask for favors and not need to worry about when they are going to ask for it back. I am pretty close to my brothers. My oldest brother plays the role well, being the guy I go to for advice when I'm too nervous to go to my dad... he would also do anything for me... and vice versa. My other brother and I have learned to appreciate each other, which is coming a long way for the constant bickering and fighting when we lived under one roof. It's hard to get really close, since we live 6 hours away... but I think it would be cool to hang out with him now. So, while my family is at the top of the ladder, I am closer to some then others.
Friends can cover a WIDE range of rungs on the ladder. I have friends that I have known since I was in diapers, ones from high school, college, and career. The thing with "crisis" mode is that you can REALLY tell where friends fall. Friends from young childhood for me hold a special place. Months can go by without us talking, but when we finally connect over the phone or during a visit it's as time was stopped and we can really be ourselves. I can't say the same for some high school friends.
While I have no problem reconnecting over facebook I am reluctant to go to my 10 year reunion. See, I was never really myself in high school... I was quiet and reserved and just waiting to get out of there. My senior year I was the most "me" and those who met me then I get along with better than those who I knew before. Many people from my small town are the type to get married and have kids in the 20's. I'm not saying anything is wrong with this, if that's what you want then go with it... but it isn't what I want and I make no apologies for it. I based my friendships from high school on where they are now. Some I considered close when I was 15 I simply exchange Christmas cards with now. Most of the reason is my move to the big city... if you didn't get why I wanted to leave you don't get me... end of story.
College friends I am still close with. I was finally being myself and finally decided one thing that changed my life: "If you don't like me... then you don't have to be around me... and I'm ok with that." I may have only made about a dozen friends in college... which is odd since I graduated with I don't know... 150,000. But the ones I made are the real deal. It may have been lonley in some of my classes, but I read a lot of books and was quite happy. I had people to hang out with on my 21st birthday, people to go to OSU Football games with, people to just spend time with. Most of those friends I still see pretty regular, and all of them like me for me.
Work colleges... ok no one wants to talk about work. Needless to say at the end of the day I will probably only keep in touch with 2 or 3 people total, they were great at work... but you can only get so close in a work environment... these people are at the bottom of the ladder.
After college I took some time to get to really know me... the best assignment I ever had was to go on a date (dinner and a movie) alone... just me... no one to talk to... no one to distract you... just you. It sounds weird but for me it was empowering. I had spent so much of my life with people, with friends, with everyone that I really didn't know who *I* was. Once I figured it out I was able to really let people in my life. The people who still liked me stayed, and I even added some new people. My boyfriend, Shaun, and a lot of his friends... all of which are amazing people who want to spend time with me... for me.
Family is always near the top, at least for me they are. My mom is one of my closet friends, she knows almost everything about me and is the most supportive mother anyone could hope for. My dad and I... well we have a typical father/daughter relationship where we don't always see eye to eye. But that aside I know that my dad would jump through fire to save me, no questions... ok few questions asked. My sister and I are 10 years apart, and while we may have started our relationship with me coloring pictures for her to hang in her dorm room, we have become great friends, the type of relationship where you can ask for favors and not need to worry about when they are going to ask for it back. I am pretty close to my brothers. My oldest brother plays the role well, being the guy I go to for advice when I'm too nervous to go to my dad... he would also do anything for me... and vice versa. My other brother and I have learned to appreciate each other, which is coming a long way for the constant bickering and fighting when we lived under one roof. It's hard to get really close, since we live 6 hours away... but I think it would be cool to hang out with him now. So, while my family is at the top of the ladder, I am closer to some then others.
Friends can cover a WIDE range of rungs on the ladder. I have friends that I have known since I was in diapers, ones from high school, college, and career. The thing with "crisis" mode is that you can REALLY tell where friends fall. Friends from young childhood for me hold a special place. Months can go by without us talking, but when we finally connect over the phone or during a visit it's as time was stopped and we can really be ourselves. I can't say the same for some high school friends.
While I have no problem reconnecting over facebook I am reluctant to go to my 10 year reunion. See, I was never really myself in high school... I was quiet and reserved and just waiting to get out of there. My senior year I was the most "me" and those who met me then I get along with better than those who I knew before. Many people from my small town are the type to get married and have kids in the 20's. I'm not saying anything is wrong with this, if that's what you want then go with it... but it isn't what I want and I make no apologies for it. I based my friendships from high school on where they are now. Some I considered close when I was 15 I simply exchange Christmas cards with now. Most of the reason is my move to the big city... if you didn't get why I wanted to leave you don't get me... end of story.
College friends I am still close with. I was finally being myself and finally decided one thing that changed my life: "If you don't like me... then you don't have to be around me... and I'm ok with that." I may have only made about a dozen friends in college... which is odd since I graduated with I don't know... 150,000. But the ones I made are the real deal. It may have been lonley in some of my classes, but I read a lot of books and was quite happy. I had people to hang out with on my 21st birthday, people to go to OSU Football games with, people to just spend time with. Most of those friends I still see pretty regular, and all of them like me for me.
Work colleges... ok no one wants to talk about work. Needless to say at the end of the day I will probably only keep in touch with 2 or 3 people total, they were great at work... but you can only get so close in a work environment... these people are at the bottom of the ladder.
After college I took some time to get to really know me... the best assignment I ever had was to go on a date (dinner and a movie) alone... just me... no one to talk to... no one to distract you... just you. It sounds weird but for me it was empowering. I had spent so much of my life with people, with friends, with everyone that I really didn't know who *I* was. Once I figured it out I was able to really let people in my life. The people who still liked me stayed, and I even added some new people. My boyfriend, Shaun, and a lot of his friends... all of which are amazing people who want to spend time with me... for me.
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