The Life of G

Hard Lesson to Learn

Ever have one of those moments where you say something to someone, and then immediately would like to take those words and shove them back down your throat?

Yeah, totally had my own insert foot in mouth moment yesterday.  Only problem with mine is that it made me look like a really creepy person, to someone that I had just been getting to know.  ::slaps self in the forehead::.

I hate knowing that the words I spoke, even in jest, had the ability to hurt someone, and make them 2nd guess wanting to know me, or be associated with me. I think what sucks the most about that, is there is no way I can fix that. I can say I am sorry (which I did, repeatedly) but really, the words ”I’m Sorry” only go so far.

So now I have to accept the fact that I probably just ruined what could have been a great friendship over a comment that didn’t need to be made.

One mistake I will definitely be learning from.  Just a hard pill to swallow.

Tattoo Your Name on my Heart

Happy Rainy Tuesday!

What better way to procrastinate then write a blog about my soon to be newest addition of body art, and one of the most special one’s (only 2nd to the tattoo I have for my mom).  Well, let’s start at the beginning…

I have now for the past 6 years, been volunteering at this lovely place called The Hole In The Wall Gang Camp.  For those of you who don’t know what it is- it’s a camp that was founded by Paul Newman that allows children who have life threatening illnesses to come to a summer camp, and for once, be allowed to be a child and not a diagnosis.  It is a magical place, and I would try to explain the feeling you get when you step onto camp- but there are no words in the english language to properly describe it.  Just know that it is a life changing experience to be able to work/volunteer there, and your whole outlook and perspective on life changes once you have.

So, for a little while now I have been trying to think of a way to show my love for this place, and to keep a reminder of it always with me.  A couple years back some other counselors at the camp got these tattoos. They had taken a piece from a quote of Paul’s describing what camp was- and I was immediatly taken with the phrase.  It just was the simpliest way to describe what camp is- and maybe turn your idea of what a phrase like that could mean.  Here is the whole quote:

“Camp is a place where kids could escape the fear, pain and isolation of their conditions, kick back, and “raise a little hell.” ”

Raise a little hell…. not a term you would typically associate as being “good” most of the time you think of the term and envision rebellion, destruction, terror…etc.  Yet, when put into the context of what these kids go through, long stays in hospital rooms, being kept inside and not allowed to be  “normal” kids, coming to the camp- they are allowed to “raise a little hell” and simply be, themselves. 

So after much contemplation, and setting a goal of paying off my credit card in order to get my tattoo… the time has finally arrived!

I haven’t exactly worked out what it will look like- I have some great artists friends that are helping me out- but I do know that it will be on the inside of my left foot, and that it will be done after my next road race.

Just talking about camp brightens my outlook on this gloomy day.  I have a picture on my desk at work of me and some of my campers- and all I have to do is look at that picture to infuse the camp love and spirit into my heart, and any “bad” day I am having, doesn’t seem so bad anymore.

I will post pictures once I finally get inked- but thought I would give you the back story.  If you are interested in learning more about camp- or how you can give back, I will list the link below to their website!  It is a non-profit organization, and they run on private donations as there is no cost to the children’s family for them to attend camp!!

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

<3

http://www.holeinthewallcamps.org

Tagged: raise a little hellthe hole in the wall gangtattoos

A lot has happened….

Well, it seems as if I feel off the wagon, so to speak. I really am terrible at remembering to update my life on the interwebs.  So lets see if in a nutshell I can catch you up to where my life is currently.

My last entry was talking about me training to run a 9K- well good news!  Not only did I run the 9K, I also met and surpassed my fundraising goal, thanks to the generosity and love of my amazing friends and family. I am so proud of myself for actually accomplishing this task- shows me that I am stronger and more determined then I once thought. 

So what is next…

Well earlier this month I turned 26- and I was having a quarter life crisis about this.  Yes, yes I know, its weird, and I shouldn’t be upset about being 26…. but I am!  For whatever reason I think it hit me that I am no longer a “kid” I am now closer to 30 and farther away from where I thought I would be at this age.  There are so many goals that I wanted to accomplish by the time I was 30, and because life doesn’t go as we plan, it seems as though I won’t be meeting those goals.

So what does one do if they cannot meet their goals- set new ones!

I am determined to be able to play the guitar proficiently and write, record, my own songs. In the past I have relayed on others to help me achieve my goal of making/recording music, only to have road blocks put up. The old adage ‘you can only rely on yourself’ seems to fit here- and I know that the only person that can make my dream a reality is me.

I also am going to continue running, and doing more runs for charity.  I am starting by doing an 8K in October for Breast Cancer research.  This is something near and dear to my heart, as my mother is a breast cancer survivor. I Also am toying with the idea of doing a Tough Mudder event in May and doing Warrior Dash in August. Will see how my body holds up.

I am also planning on getting a tattoo… one that symbolizes something very near and dear to my heart.. but that is a story for another post, as this one is long enough!

So, to sum it all up- I am 26, terrified of getting older, but learning to set new goals, and trying to live one day at a time. Will see how this goes.

G

Been Thinking

jhnmyr:

Having a point to make doesn’t always mean having to make the point.

Very true, JM.

Tagged: jhnmyrJMJohn Mayer

Source: jhnmyr

I am running a 9k- What am I thinking!

As the title states, I have decided to run a 9K race in May.  Now looking at that, I am sure most people would be like “Well that’s not really a big deal” and “People run all the time, what is soo special about that”.  Well, let me put it into perspective for you.

First off,  I am not a runner. I have always detested it (mostly because I was never really good at it).  Sure, I played sports in my youth, but I always volunteered to be the goalie. Why? O because they do less running!! Or so I thought, until I played Lacrosse in high school.  My coach insisted that I not only run as much as the other players, BUT do it in all of my goalie equipment. Yeah, I got the shit end of that stick.

In any case though, running has never been my forte.  However, I had ony of my best friends take up running a couple years ago.  The way that she described how she felt when she was running- well it got me thinking that I wanted to drink the kool-aid.  So over the past couple years I have dabbled in trying to run.  I always thought to myself that I could train and run a race- but I always seemed to be injuring myself.  So- bring in the experts, i.e. my orthopedic surgeon. 

I was basically told that due to my physical make-up, I have probably the worst body for running.  I have flat feet (no really, they are like pancakes) and I am knock-kneed.  So that sets me up to have problems, but combined with that, my shoes were causing my to have awful knee pain, and shin splints.  Sooo after a bought of physical therapy- and getting proper shoes!  I started running again in January.

Fast forward to now- another dear friend of mine just turned 26.  She posted a status on Facebook saying that she wanted to try 26 new things this year in celebration of this birth milestone.  I suggested to her how about doing a marathon with me- as I had signed up to do a 26.2 mile run/walk in support of the Jimmy Fund, 2 days after my 26th birthday!  She informed me that she was going to be out of town, but that she really wished she could.

Thats when I went searching and found this 9k race in May.  It is run through the Red Sox foundation and other partnering non profits.  The goal is that each runner has to raise $1,000 with the money going to support our soliders that are coming back from the war with tramatic brain injuries, PTSD, ect.  The only catch, is that you have to be able to run at least a 15 min mile, as the finish line is home plate in Fenway Park, and due to their being a game that day, they can only allow the park to be open for a certain time before shutting it down for game day preperations.

For me, a 15 min mile is not really an issue, as I am running an 11-10 min mile currently. My issue is- how the hell am I going to raise $1,000 in 9 weeks.  It seems like it would be an easy task, a no brainer.  But really with the way the economy is, and people out of work, who wants to be philanthropic- especially people my age who have mountains of student loan debt.

So, as of today, I have raise a whopping $20.00- which means I have $980 more dollars to go to reach my goal. And yes while this task seems daunting to me- and I start to think “what the hell have I done”  I also think about those men and woman who risk their lives everyday, who give more than there time, or money, who give there lives so that I can enjoy the freedom and life I live.  When I start thinking about that- I realize that no matter what, I will do this race, I will raise this money, because they deserve it.  If they can risk there life for a country full of strangers, than I can get my ass in gear- run 5.6 miles, and raise money to support them.

So- wish me luck! I will continue to blog and update my progess on my running/fundraising. 

<3

G

Tagged: RunningFundraisingGoalsCommitment