Thank you Utah!!! (From Tennessee...)

It seems that every time I start a blog post here on my beloved FitMePink, I start with an excuse as to why it's been so long since I last posted. This post will be no different. Last time we "spoke," I still lived in the-happy-little-bubble of West Jordan, Utah. A few months, a job offer, and a lot of prayers later, my family now resides in the far-away-somewhat-foreign-to-us land of Tennessee. I'm mentally and emotionally trying to accept the fact that we are here. It is beautiful. And my parents live here...yay! But I REALLY loved where we were. My life was busy and happy...just the way I like it! Life for me has come to a sort of screeching halt. I know it's time for me to find myself in this new place, but first things first...a thank-you note.

Dearest Utah,

I was taught at a young age the importance of sending a "thank you" note when someone gives me a gift. In keeping with this important

lesson in etiquette, I just want to thank you for the lovely life you

provided for me and my family over the course of the last five years.

In fact, I actually owe my life to you. You were the place of my

birth. My growing-up years were spent elsewhere, but to you I

returned for a college degree, and even found myself a husband in your

lovely, happy valley.

In fact, apart from a short time in another (warmer, sunnier) state,

to this point in our married lives, we've pretty much called Utah

"home." Thank you for feeling like home. Thank you for all

the "firsts" you provided us with. Our first date, our first kiss,

our engagement, our first married apartment, and even our first home.

Thank you for allowing our family to grow from a family of 3 in this

Utah-home to a family of 5. The walls were busting at the

seams with the pitter patter of tiny feet. These were years of

"musical beds" when little ones were to scared to stay in their own.

These were the years I got to spend every waking hour with my

beautiful children before sending the first off to school. These were

years of family walks, family bike rides, family dinners, family story

time, and family prayer. Thank you for blessing my oldest son, born

while we lived away, with two little sisters. Thank you for helping

them be best friends.

And speaking of friends, thank you for putting some of the best

friends I could ever hope for directly in my path. Thank you for

taking them from different parts of the state, country and world, and

landing them right where I needed them right when I

needed them...in Utah. Thank you for play dates, friends who loved my

kids as their own, dinner swaps, singing groups, running buddies,

trusted babysitters, and so much more.

Thank you for your beautiful roads, trails, mountains, and scenery.

In your beautiful landscape, I not only developed a greater

appreciation for God's creations, but also developed a love and

passion for fitness. Many miles were logged onto my personal odometer

as I watched the sun peak over the mountains to the east in the quiet

hours of the morning.

Thank you for also placing in my path group fitness instructors who

taught me that there's more to fitness than running! Because of these

inspiring women, I developed a new attitude, outlook, and lifelong

fitness addiction! As I attended classes week after week, exercise

became something I couldn't live without. It was no longer an option,

but a scheduled part of my EVERY day. These women showed me by their

example that the human body is capable of amazing things. As a

result, I've raced, I've pushed my limits, I've fulfilled

a dream, and I've never looked back.

Thank you for inspiring me to start a fitness blog which has blessed

my life more than it's blessed anyone else's. How could I not

be dedicated to fitness when I was busy writing about it? Thank

you for giving me inspiring friends through this blog...most of whom

I've never met, and a few that

I have.

Thank you also, dear Utah, for the gift of in-laws. In a place where

my immediate family did NOT reside, you forced me to see my husband's

family for the amazing people they are. If I'd chosen a husband based

on HIS family alone, I'd still be married to the same person. I now

have relationships with his family I never would have hoped for had I

not experienced life with them in the same place...in Utah. Besides

just being my mother-father-sisters-brothers-in-law, I have

friends. I have another set of "parents" I can comfortably

call "mom" and "dad," and the closest thing to

having another sister.

And speaking of sisters, thank you for mine. Almost a year ago, I

finally got to live close to her again...after nearly 10 years of

living apart. Thank you for reminding me of how nice it is to have

someone around who has loved me since the day I was born...who knows

every detail about me and my life, and loves me anyway. Someone who

can walk into my house piled high with toys, laundry, dirty dishes,

and clutter, and truly not even notice. Someone who can knock on the

door when my house is in shambles without sending me into a

picking-up, panicked frenzy.

Thank you for cousins my kids love as their own siblings. Thank you for Baby Jack who's birth-in-Utah changed my life.

Thank you for Zumba. Thank you for making my current friendships

stronger as we-as-friends danced and laughed together. Thank

you for helping me go out of my own comfort zone to learn dances, let

go of all inhibitions, and teach them to an audience of participants.

Thank you for giving me one more thing I can share with my

sister...Zumba. And thank you for giving me new friends through Zumba

I wouldn't have made any other way.

Thank you for making my home a gathering place for out-of-town

visitors, and a home-away-from home for my baby brother while

he was living life as a single college student in happy valley. Thank

you, also, for giving me a front row seat to watch his courtship with

the only girl good enough to marry our baby brother...Anne.

I can't say life was perfect while I was in your borders, Utah. There

were cold, long winters. There was heart-ache. There were lonely

days. There were "Monster-Mom" days. There was yelling.

There was crying. There was impatience and misunderstandings. But I

guess I can't thank you for the good without also thanking you for the

bad. Because the "bad" is what is sculpting me into the person I want

to become. At times I felt like I was thrown kicking and screaming

into the "refiner's fire." But through the tears, I got a little bit

stronger. Apparently, however, it wasn't enough. We've moved out of

your comforting borders into the unknown. Please tell your friend,

Tennessee to be nice to me and my family, because at the moment, I'm

sure missing you, Utah. Cold winters and all.

Saying good-bye felt like one of the hardest things I've ever done.

But saying good-bye also made me realize how blessed and loved we are!

Thank you for the good-bye parties. Thank you for the tears. Thank

you for showing me how it feels to have true friends who feel like

family. Thank you for reminding me of the importance and blessing of

real family. Thank you for good neighbors, and cherished memories

that will last a lifetime.

As I look back to my time in Utah, I feel blessed to have lived in a

place so rich in the culture of what makes me

ME. Really, there aren’t enough words of gratitude

that will do justice to how I feel.

As I move forward with the ones in my life that matter most, I'll try

to live by the words of Dr. Seuss, "Don't cry because it's over. Smile

because it happened."

All I can say is, thank you.

Sincerely,

Robyn, wife, mother, southerner-in-training,

westerner-at-heart.

Working Out Early Morning vs. Never At All...

It's going to take me a while to really admit it, but summer is over. As a stay-at-home mom with a 3-year old and a 1-year old, my life of motherhood has yet to revolve around the school year or the seasons. I can up and leave on vacation anytime somewhere-other-than-here beckons. I can also workout whenever my little heart desires. Most days, it's desire is to be at the gym by 8:30 so I can fit in a little cardio session before the group fitness class at 9. Tough life, I know.

Recently, I had a hard decision to make. I was getting ready to sign The Boy up for preschool, and I had two sessions to choose from: morning or afternoon. Doesn't sound like a big deal, but I hated making the choice! If I chose morning, I would have to drastically change my workout schedule. No more 9am group fitness if he has to be to school by 9:30. If I chose afternoon, The Boy (and I) would miss out on the much-needed nap time. An early-morning-angel-boy isn't quite so pleasant by late afternoon if he's missed his nap. His teacher would NOT thank me for that choice. So somewhat reluctantly, I chose morning preschool.

I would love to think that I could change from working out in the morning to working out in the evening, but it just won't happen. Sure, it may happen on occasion, but things always come up at night...meetings, parties, snuggling up with a good book on the couch, reality TV...you know, important stuff. I love me a good workout, but by nighttime, my motivation to get sweaty drops to pretty much nothing.

Before The Girl entered this world 19 months ago, I was somehow motivated to get out of bed at the crack 'o dawn to workout. But since then, my bed has become cozier. I've stayed up later. Now, waking up at 5am sounds (and feels) like waking up in the middle of the night. (Why wake up at 5, when I can drop my kids off at the kids' club and work out at 9?) But I'm trying to find motivation to do it again. Sure, I could go to the gym and do my own thing while The Boy is at preschool. But there's no group fitness option. Lame, I know, but most days, it keeps me going. The 5:30 am group fit classes are my only other morning option.

So right now, as I type, I'm building up the motivation to wake up in T-10 hours. I think I can do it. I actually love working out early...once I'm up and there. It's just the getting up. It's the leaving the pillow that has formed itself so nicely around my head. It's the wanting to find out what happens in the rest of the now-interrupted-by-the-alarm-clock dream. It's the trying to negotiate with myself that I'll fit in a workout later...sounds good in my half-asleep mind, but it never actually happens. So here's my new commitment:

I will wake up at 5 am at least 3 days a week to work out. I'll allow myself the other two days to negotiate a later time. I'll be more productive as a result. I'll be a better mom! I'll blog more! I can take a power nap later! So, along with Mama Sweat, here's my new mantra:

The benefits I'll gain from working out early are much more important than the bit of sleep I'll lose!

Say it with me now.

The benefits I'll gain from working out early are much more important than the bit of sleep I'll lose!

OK, I feel better. The alarm is set. My new schedule starts tomorrow. Who's with me?

CHANGE: The Gratitude Edition

With Thanksgiving upon us, what better time to introduce GRATITUDE as a way of change? I know I always use my toddler as an example, and I have to again. When I really pay attention, my little guy teaches me SO MUCH! For one thing, he's really good at saying "thank you." And he's thankful for the smallest things..."Mom, thanks for making me pancakes!" "Thanks for getting my shoes." "Thanks for the water." "Thank you for finding my legos." "Thanks for buying me this yogurt." The list could go on. We've taught him to say "thank you," and "thank you" he says. A lot.

There was a time in my life where I was pretty depressed. I was a missionary for the LDS Church in cold, dark Finland. It was in-the-way-negatives-freezing. The people weren't very receptive to our message. The language was hard. I was tired. And did I mention that it was dark and cold? It was difficult not to focus on the hard stuff--not to complain with my brain and my mouth.

At some point I realized that my situation wasn't going to change, but that if I was going to survive mentally, I had to change. My companion and I decided to come home every night and say a prayer of gratitude. We weren't going to ask for anything. We were merely going to recognize the good that had happened that day, and say, "thank you."

It was amazing. Nothing changed, but the way I felt did. I was noticing small things--a smile from a stranger, a warm bus, and many, many small miracles. Miracles that would have gone unnoticed if we hadn't decided to mentally take note, and to thank.

For me, this was a major turning point. One of life's BIG a-ha moments. Wonderful things happen EVERY DAY. We just need to notice.

Our world and country are in turmoil, as well as many of our personal lives. We can do many things to change our circumstances, but many things are out of our control. Instead of focusing on the negative, try focusing on the positive. What are you thankful for? What good things happened to you today? Try keeping a "gratitude journal," saying a prayer of "thanks" at the end of the day, or just trying to be grateful in your heart and mind for life's little miracles.

This also works great in marriage and other personal relationships. If your marriage is suffering, list the things you are grateful for in your partner. Nothing will really change, but as you notice the positive, see what happens. Things will start to change. For the better.

In this month of Thanksgiving, what little (and big) things do you have to be thankful for? Give us all some ideas as we change our attitudes with gratitude!

CHANGE: the attitude edition

I looked out the window this morning and saw snow. A few days ago, it was 70 degrees outside. We were wearing t-shirts and sandals. When I saw the snow, my mind started whirling with negative thoughts about how much I dislike winter, cold weather, driving in the snow, bundling up to go outside, wet snow puddles on my floor, etc.

Fast forward a few hours to the awakening of my 2-year old. The minute he looked out the window and saw snow, he saw beauty. He started running around the house saying, "It's winter outside!" He was THRILLED. He ran and got his new winter boots, put them on over his pajamas, and started pestering us to go play in the "winter." His enthusiasm was contagious. I couldn't help feeling a little giddy to go run in the snow. His optimistic outlook changed everything.

Since we're talking about change this month, I thought a change in attitude for many of us might just be what the doctor ordered.

I've read lots of anti-Obama blogs this morning filled with doom and gloom at the prospects of where this great nation is headed with our new Presidente. I have to admit that Obama wasn't my personal choice. But he is our newly elected President. And maybe it won't be such a bad thing. I'm all about optimism, and this is one area where I believe pessimism won't do us any good. We can all continue praying for our country with a hope for a bright future. Let's keep moving forward, people!

As for attitude, according to this study, your outlook on life may help you live longer, and also improves the quality of life.

In the Mayo Clinic study, Toshihiko Maruta, M.D. reports, "The wellness of being is not just physical, but attitudinal...How you perceive what goes on around you and how you interpret it may have an impact on your longevity, and it could affect the quality of your later years."

I'm not encouraging the "blissful ignorance" often associated with optimism if it leads to poor choices. However, an optimistic outlook is said to have a positive effect on the following:

Superior Health
Greater Achievement
Persistence
Emotional Health
Increased Longevity
LESS STRESS (who doesn't need some of that medicine!)

Here are a few quotes to get you going...

The average pencil is seven inches long, with just a half-inch eraser - in case you thought optimism was dead. ~Robert Brault

An optimist is the human personification of spring. ~Susan J. Bissonette

An optimist is a person who starts a new diet on Thanksgiving Day. ~Irv Kupcinet

Optimists are nostalgic about the future. ~Chicago Tribune

If an optimist had his left arm chewed off by an alligator, he might say, in a pleasant and hopeful voice, "Well, this isn't too bad. I don't have my left arm anymore, but at least nobody will ever ask me whether I am right-handed or left-handed," but most of us would say something more along the lines of "Aaaaah! My arm! My arm!" ~Lemony Snicket

The place where optimism most flourishes is the lunatic asylum. ~Havelock Ellis, The Dance of Life, 1923

Now go run in the snow, look to the future with hope, set some goals for this month, and keep plugging away as the positive influences you already are to so many!

My uber-excited-about-everything-life toddler helped me change my attitude this morning. How do you change your thinking when you're not feeling so positive?

Fall is in the air!

After a heaven-sent extended summer, Fall is actually really here. Change is in the air! I can feel it. The leaves are changing, the wind is blowing, holiday decorations fill the stores. A new president will run our country NEXT WEEK! It's a change of seasons in more ways than one!

With all of these changes, what a great time to re-evaluate where you are, and where you want to be. Think about your body, and your overall health (including mental, physical, and spiritual). Are you living your best life? Use the month of November as a month of change for you. See where you're going, determine if you need to change course, and make a plan to get where you want to be. Don't wait until January to make New Year's resolutions...change with the seasons NOW!

Throughout the month, we will post tidbits on dealing with change in a healthy way. Let us know if you have any suggestions! The comments are always open for personal shout-outs!

Also, if you have anything you'd like to contribute to fitmepink, email us at fitmepink@gmail.com.

HAPPY NOVEMBER!