If a house had arms. If a structure could be more than just a shelter, if it could provide comfort and warmth and if it could have a relationship with a person. What makes a house a home?
It all started several months ago, about six months after moving to a new town. I had just gotten married, quit my job, and moved to a place I had visited three times. It was an adjustment to say the least but that aside, I was searching for a great project in the community to get involved with. I suddenly found myself in a position where I had more time... something I couldn't find much of in my past living environment.
It was a Thursday in late winter, early spring when I first set foot in the Ronald McDonald House. What greeted me upon walking through the doors of the house was a rather chaotic situation. I was thrown in with a group of people who were vigorously sorting stuffed animals. Yes, stuffed animals - hundreds had been donated and were being sorted so they could be appropriately distributed to the children's hospital. It was a rather unorganized process. I asked several times for the manager of the house but she happened to be in a meeting. Although I felt just a bit overwhelmed, and I'll admit, I contemplated just leaving, I stayed. Sorting of the animals transitiioned into a few other chores around the house and I found myself still there an hour or two later and enjoying myself. This house was something special, of that I was sure.
The manager of the house finally appeared and took me aside, apologizing for the unconventional start to my volunteer day there and then promptly gave me a tour of the place. I noticed immediately, this was an exceptional person. She radiated energy, and her smile lit up the room. Her 5 foot maybe 3 inch frame gave off an infectious aura that exuded endless enthusiasm. She struck me as the kind of person you meet and can't help but smile back at. I'll explain what happened next with brevity... I found myself agreeing to a one day a week shift every Friday as the manager of the place.
I'll admit, I was a slight bit apprehensive about agreeing to the commitment, but found my apprehension was overwhelmed with excitement over the opportunity to consistently work at a place with such a strong and important mission. For those that don't know, the house is a place where families can stay at no cost when their child is receiving treatment at one of the local hospitals. Mostly, the house is filled with families that live too far away to make the daily drive back and forth, or in this particular case, there are families that have a newborn in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit). Families are provided with a place to stay and meals throughout the day. Essentially, a home away from home.
My job is to make sure the families are provided with anything they need and to "watch over" the house accepting the many donations we get and making sure it's clean from top to bottom. In the time I have been working there over the past few months I have seen probably about 40 families or so come and go from the house. It would be difficult to explain into words how I feel about being surrounded by these families who, each and every one, are going through heart wrenching and difficult times.
I have watched families leave the house with elation and smiles that their child's stay in the hospital turned out for the best. And I have unfortunately watched families leave their stay because their baby did not make it through it's recovery. Those are instances that I hold my breath and have a difficult time grasping how anyone copes with that kind of loss. In those times, I remember the importance of the work, that the house is a haven. The hope is that whatever hardships those families are facing, they do not have to think about where they will stay or what they will eat for dinner. The simple and everyday routine motions in life are offered in that house.
It's a place that has affected and changed me in ways I'll be forever grateful. I have met some of the other staff that work at the house who have open hearts and giving ways which is always an inspiration. I am appreciative to the families that have stayed and will stay in that house in the future for showing me that important things in life are your family and commitment to one another during hard times. I am appreciative for the house manager, director and a good friend and fellow staff member I've made in my time working there for showing me how to be a little more selfless and how to be committed and giving to strangers.
So if a house had arms that it could wrap around someone. Just to be there for a person, to provide comfort and warmth and a sense of security. I've decided it would be that house.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Columbia: www.rmhcofcolumbia.org
Monday, July 26, 2010
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
First Anniversary
My hair was swept up into an intricate winding collection of curls pinned to my head. Nestled within the curls was a broach that belonged to my Great Grandmother, three generations before me. When I close my eyes I can see the folds of the white dress that fell just right tapering out towards the ground. The blues, greens and whites of the flowers blend together in my mind like a brilliant watercolor. I can hear voices of family and friends, a calm excitement that filled the air. The sky was a brilliant blue and I remember a bright sun high in the sky...
With such vivid images and memories, it's hard to believe that almost one year has swept by. One year seems like a significant amount of time and it is. But by the same token, one year can pass by so quickly sometimes it's hard to take in all that happened.
So on Sunday it will officially mark our First Anniversary. We made it. For us the first year included leaving our jobs, moving to a new state, and working alongside one another... triple whammie. With such immense change applied to our lives, I admit, at first I was a bit apprehensive of what the year would bring. No doubt, I knew it would be an adventure, but how would it all unfold? With 360 of the 365 days now in the past, I can say in complete and utter honesty - It has been nothing short of wonderful.
Thinking about a year gone by always makes me think about a year ahead. What will it bring? What new things will be discovered? What experiences will be lived? In looking back and reflecting on the past, I always find I have new sense of awe and wonderment for what is to come. One year ago I remember feeling the anticipation of such a momentous occasion which was only five days away - my wedding day. In all honesty, I had a picture of what the day might look like, but really wasn't sure what to expect. What unfolded was a dream transformed to reality. Beautiful colors and sounds, so many familiar faces and all around an unforgettable experience. I'm not sure I could have ever truly anticipated the emotion that was felt and all that the day encompassed.
I suppose it is virtually impossible to know a feeling or emotion or what something will actually be like until it is experienced. I'll always look back on that day, almost a year ago, and relish in the beautiful and intoxicating memories - thinking of those, I can't wait for what is to come.
With such vivid images and memories, it's hard to believe that almost one year has swept by. One year seems like a significant amount of time and it is. But by the same token, one year can pass by so quickly sometimes it's hard to take in all that happened.
So on Sunday it will officially mark our First Anniversary. We made it. For us the first year included leaving our jobs, moving to a new state, and working alongside one another... triple whammie. With such immense change applied to our lives, I admit, at first I was a bit apprehensive of what the year would bring. No doubt, I knew it would be an adventure, but how would it all unfold? With 360 of the 365 days now in the past, I can say in complete and utter honesty - It has been nothing short of wonderful.
Thinking about a year gone by always makes me think about a year ahead. What will it bring? What new things will be discovered? What experiences will be lived? In looking back and reflecting on the past, I always find I have new sense of awe and wonderment for what is to come. One year ago I remember feeling the anticipation of such a momentous occasion which was only five days away - my wedding day. In all honesty, I had a picture of what the day might look like, but really wasn't sure what to expect. What unfolded was a dream transformed to reality. Beautiful colors and sounds, so many familiar faces and all around an unforgettable experience. I'm not sure I could have ever truly anticipated the emotion that was felt and all that the day encompassed.
I suppose it is virtually impossible to know a feeling or emotion or what something will actually be like until it is experienced. I'll always look back on that day, almost a year ago, and relish in the beautiful and intoxicating memories - thinking of those, I can't wait for what is to come.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Ode to Summer
In just a few short days my favorite season will officially begin. Maybe it's because I'm a June baby and was lucky enough to partake in beach birthday celebrations and other outdoor activities in the warm light of the sun. Or maybe it's just something inherently built in me that warrants my fervent love for summertime. When I think of summer, I think of the smell of suntan lotion, tanned skin, the stiffness of your hair after taking a dip in the salty ocean, or the way your skin feels after spending a day in the chlorinated pool... Ahh yes, summertime...
This summer, I can already tell, will be just a bit different from summers past. I turned on the news a few nights ago to the local weather man dancing across the screen proclaiming the entire state of South Carolina was currently in a "heat advisory". I looked down at the clock, 6:15PM. I then glanced outside and noted that the sun was still high over head as if it were only noon. The weatherman then pointed to a yellow and red chart that flashed across the screen and explained that when the temperature rises to 100 degrees, the heat index feels like it's about 105 and we should all take caution to, as he put it, "use common sense". He didn't stop there, he continued on to say we had reached 100 degrees that day, but not to worry... we didn't beat the record. We missed it by 2...Thanks weatherman. It has been in the nineties for about the past month here so I can say I'm getting at least acquainted with the heat. 100 degrees and the official start of summer hasn't kicked in... I think I'm in for an experience.
Nevertheless, walking outside in this type of heat has some upsides. Iced tea, lemonade, heck even a cold beer could not possibly taste better in such sweltering temperatures; and although I feel ridiculously hot and sticky, so does everyone else!
There are good things about the heat. Not ever having to grab a sweater before walking out the door is a blissful convenience. Who wants to bother with big bulky clothes? The heat welcomes tank tops, sundresses and shorts. Summertime is also wonderfully classified by long days with lots of sunshine and plenty of chances to soak up that vitamin D that everyone is saying people should be getting more of. The season invokes smells of family and neighborhood barbecues, picnic tables, burgers and for a kid, a chance to stay up past bedtime since it stays light out for so long. Watermelon should be named the official fruit of the season because it never tastes better than in does on a hot summer day. Lounging at the beach or by the poolside are not looked at as laziness but as merely embracing and celebrating the season. What could be better than summertime?
So even though its sweltering outside, I'm ready to welcome summer - bring on the sunscreen, barbecues and sundresses and even that hot southern heat.
This summer, I can already tell, will be just a bit different from summers past. I turned on the news a few nights ago to the local weather man dancing across the screen proclaiming the entire state of South Carolina was currently in a "heat advisory". I looked down at the clock, 6:15PM. I then glanced outside and noted that the sun was still high over head as if it were only noon. The weatherman then pointed to a yellow and red chart that flashed across the screen and explained that when the temperature rises to 100 degrees, the heat index feels like it's about 105 and we should all take caution to, as he put it, "use common sense". He didn't stop there, he continued on to say we had reached 100 degrees that day, but not to worry... we didn't beat the record. We missed it by 2...Thanks weatherman. It has been in the nineties for about the past month here so I can say I'm getting at least acquainted with the heat. 100 degrees and the official start of summer hasn't kicked in... I think I'm in for an experience.
Nevertheless, walking outside in this type of heat has some upsides. Iced tea, lemonade, heck even a cold beer could not possibly taste better in such sweltering temperatures; and although I feel ridiculously hot and sticky, so does everyone else!
There are good things about the heat. Not ever having to grab a sweater before walking out the door is a blissful convenience. Who wants to bother with big bulky clothes? The heat welcomes tank tops, sundresses and shorts. Summertime is also wonderfully classified by long days with lots of sunshine and plenty of chances to soak up that vitamin D that everyone is saying people should be getting more of. The season invokes smells of family and neighborhood barbecues, picnic tables, burgers and for a kid, a chance to stay up past bedtime since it stays light out for so long. Watermelon should be named the official fruit of the season because it never tastes better than in does on a hot summer day. Lounging at the beach or by the poolside are not looked at as laziness but as merely embracing and celebrating the season. What could be better than summertime?
So even though its sweltering outside, I'm ready to welcome summer - bring on the sunscreen, barbecues and sundresses and even that hot southern heat.
Friday, May 28, 2010
The Ultimate Man Toy
Often times throughout life we make decisions not based entirely on need, but instead heavily influenced by what we want. We made a recent purchase that was based on this particular notion, and despite my husbands protest, I like to call the purchase the ultimate man toy.
There are an infinite number of differences between living in New York City and living in an undeniably smaller town in South Carolina. Then again, there are an infinite number of differences between living in New York City and living anywhere else in the U.S. Either way, there is one major difference in way of life that warranted an immediate change when we moved, and that is owning a car.
When we first moved from New York, we knew there would be a mad rush to find a car and fast. Where before public transportation was a way of life and great convenience living in a big city, we were now living in a place where public transportation was not an option. We would need a car. After three days, one rental car and a painful process with the dealership, we purchased our ride: a purple (more like amethyst) mid-sized SUV. A used Chevy Equinox - the purple-people-eater.
Over the course of the past ten months we have lived in South Carolina, Eric and I have shared the ride. Any time we would reveal this bit of information about our current situation to a new person, the response was unwavering. "I had to share a car with my wife one time when her car was in the shop... how on earth do you do it!" Or, "Wow, that must be really something to have to share a way of getting around". It seems this sharing transportation notion invoked flashbacks of bad carpools from the past to many people. To us, it was fine. I mean we live together, now we work together, it seemed natural to be sharing a car. It felt this way for the majority of the past ten months until one day, as I was dutifully driving back across town from our apartment to work to pick up Eric who was patiently waiting, I happened to notice the odometer... we had put 150 miles on the car in one day... and we had stayed in town. Time to get a second car.
We decided that the purple-people-eater would be "my car" and he would pick out a second vehicle. Something "beat up", "worn", something just to get around town from Point A to Point B. Naturally, this meant getting a truck.
Now I have known people with Trucks. I even expressed to my significant other that I liked Ford F-150s in particular - yeah, I liked how they looked and they seemed like a great truck. We proceeded for the next month to spot trucks on the side of the road in varying degrees of distress. Many with For Sale signs tacked onto their side or scribbled in white chalk across the windshield. And often I would think why would anyone want to buy THAT thing. Of course when this thought appeared in my head, it usually meant before long I found myself pulled over on the side of the truck, peering into the vehicle to see it's condition. Then the remark: "This doesn't look that bad... what do you think?". At that point, I would smile and nod.
We would scour the web for cars on sale, and he would methodically call out to the sellers asking all kinds of questions about said trucks - what kind of engine, is it 4 wheel drive, how is the clutch? I listened, thinking - maybe I dont know so much about trucks...
Then one night I was called over to look at one he found on a website. It was white, it was a truck, it was exactly what he had been looking for. Instead of the numbers 150, on it's side were the numbers 250 which frankly I didn't understand... "What do you think?" he asked. My reply: "I think it looks great. If it's everything you are looking for, it sounds good to me."
So we went. We drove the 3 1/2 hours to go see the truck. As we passed through the fourth small mountainside town in Georgia, we both looked at each other and without having to speak communicated that we sure hoped this was "the one". We pulled up to the dealership, and were immediately approached by the salesman. "I got the keys for you right here, lemme show you the truck!" He was excited... I was curious and I'll admit, a bit nervous. We walked up to the truck and I think my jaw dropped. It was the largest thing I had ever seen... A monster. He started it up and it growled and sputtered and then transitioned to a hefty idling noise. I could tell, Eric seemed a bit apprehensive about such a bit purchase - and it wasn't the money for the beat up thing... it was a physically BIG purchase.
Then it was decision time. And you know, it was one of those great times when you find yourself looking at the intended item thinking: Did we really need that kind of car... no. Would it be better if we got the truck?... probably didn't matter. Would it be fun?... most definitely. And sometimes, you make decisions because you want to and not because you need to.
So we drove off the lot with the monster, me following in the purple-people-eater. I watched as car after car would move out of the truck's way - dwarfed in it's looming shadow. When we safely arrived back home we looked at each other and nervously laughed at our somewhat crazy purchase.
"You do know what this is, don't you?" I asked. "It's the ultimate man toy - let's go for a ride."
There are an infinite number of differences between living in New York City and living in an undeniably smaller town in South Carolina. Then again, there are an infinite number of differences between living in New York City and living anywhere else in the U.S. Either way, there is one major difference in way of life that warranted an immediate change when we moved, and that is owning a car.
When we first moved from New York, we knew there would be a mad rush to find a car and fast. Where before public transportation was a way of life and great convenience living in a big city, we were now living in a place where public transportation was not an option. We would need a car. After three days, one rental car and a painful process with the dealership, we purchased our ride: a purple (more like amethyst) mid-sized SUV. A used Chevy Equinox - the purple-people-eater.
Over the course of the past ten months we have lived in South Carolina, Eric and I have shared the ride. Any time we would reveal this bit of information about our current situation to a new person, the response was unwavering. "I had to share a car with my wife one time when her car was in the shop... how on earth do you do it!" Or, "Wow, that must be really something to have to share a way of getting around". It seems this sharing transportation notion invoked flashbacks of bad carpools from the past to many people. To us, it was fine. I mean we live together, now we work together, it seemed natural to be sharing a car. It felt this way for the majority of the past ten months until one day, as I was dutifully driving back across town from our apartment to work to pick up Eric who was patiently waiting, I happened to notice the odometer... we had put 150 miles on the car in one day... and we had stayed in town. Time to get a second car.
We decided that the purple-people-eater would be "my car" and he would pick out a second vehicle. Something "beat up", "worn", something just to get around town from Point A to Point B. Naturally, this meant getting a truck.
Now I have known people with Trucks. I even expressed to my significant other that I liked Ford F-150s in particular - yeah, I liked how they looked and they seemed like a great truck. We proceeded for the next month to spot trucks on the side of the road in varying degrees of distress. Many with For Sale signs tacked onto their side or scribbled in white chalk across the windshield. And often I would think why would anyone want to buy THAT thing. Of course when this thought appeared in my head, it usually meant before long I found myself pulled over on the side of the truck, peering into the vehicle to see it's condition. Then the remark: "This doesn't look that bad... what do you think?". At that point, I would smile and nod.
We would scour the web for cars on sale, and he would methodically call out to the sellers asking all kinds of questions about said trucks - what kind of engine, is it 4 wheel drive, how is the clutch? I listened, thinking - maybe I dont know so much about trucks...
Then one night I was called over to look at one he found on a website. It was white, it was a truck, it was exactly what he had been looking for. Instead of the numbers 150, on it's side were the numbers 250 which frankly I didn't understand... "What do you think?" he asked. My reply: "I think it looks great. If it's everything you are looking for, it sounds good to me."
So we went. We drove the 3 1/2 hours to go see the truck. As we passed through the fourth small mountainside town in Georgia, we both looked at each other and without having to speak communicated that we sure hoped this was "the one". We pulled up to the dealership, and were immediately approached by the salesman. "I got the keys for you right here, lemme show you the truck!" He was excited... I was curious and I'll admit, a bit nervous. We walked up to the truck and I think my jaw dropped. It was the largest thing I had ever seen... A monster. He started it up and it growled and sputtered and then transitioned to a hefty idling noise. I could tell, Eric seemed a bit apprehensive about such a bit purchase - and it wasn't the money for the beat up thing... it was a physically BIG purchase.
Then it was decision time. And you know, it was one of those great times when you find yourself looking at the intended item thinking: Did we really need that kind of car... no. Would it be better if we got the truck?... probably didn't matter. Would it be fun?... most definitely. And sometimes, you make decisions because you want to and not because you need to.
So we drove off the lot with the monster, me following in the purple-people-eater. I watched as car after car would move out of the truck's way - dwarfed in it's looming shadow. When we safely arrived back home we looked at each other and nervously laughed at our somewhat crazy purchase.
"You do know what this is, don't you?" I asked. "It's the ultimate man toy - let's go for a ride."
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
My Southern Living Exposure
I've been a terrible blogger lately. I'm trying to break my silence today with a feeble attempt at an entry. So bear with me. It's not that I have something profound to say or a story that will make you think, wow, that's amazing. It's just that I like to write and I haven't been doing it. So as the ever-popular saying goes - I'm getting back on the horse.
For a girl that had only been to "The South" but once or twice before taking up residence in one of the deepest parts, I would say that of late, I'm becoming quite acquainted with it. This past weekend we took a trip up to Atlanta, GA where we indulged in a fabulous performance by Zac Brown Band. Now, if you don't know who this band is, they are kind of a cross between country and Dave Matthews or jam-band type music. I suppose that generally they are considered a country group but as I found out this weekend in talking to some "true" southerners, there are bands that fit the country grain way more than Zac Brown Band.
We sat and enjoyed the concert at a beautiful (but cold) outdoor amphitheater and listened to Zac and his band sing their hearts out with songs like "Chicken Fried", "Highway 20 Ride" and "Sick 'em on a Chicken". Now I at first thought "Sick 'em on a Chicken" was called "Sick OF Mamma's Chicken"... boy was I wrong! Case in point, I'm learning new things every day. Apparently the song was not at all about Bad Chicken, but rather how they Sick the Dog on the chicken and then proceed to fry the bird...
The concert was wonderful, the songs were great and once I actually got the words right, I felt really a part of this southern thing. As we were driving back home to South Carolina from Atlanta, my husband asked me a quite pointed question: "Sooo, what do you like better, South Carolina or Georgia?" I have to confess the look I gave him was somewhat of a blank one... well, gosh, I had never really thought about it until he posed the question. After a few moments in thought as I looked out the window down Highway 20 at the seemingly endless road lined by a mass of beautiful green trees. It is in those moments, it's hard to imagine cultures and areas more different than California, New York, and South Carolina. I suppose I'll have to ponder that one for another day and keep exploring the many things the two states have to offer...
I've been pleasantly surprised living in our town in South Carolina at the amount of festivals and events they have going on almost every week. There are live bands that play each week outdoors this time of year, and there seems to be a rotating festival featuring some kind of Southern delicacy or tradition every time I turn around. Sadly, we missed the Crawfish Festival two weeks ago due to work, but hey, maybe we'll catch the BBQ event going on Saturday - they say they'll have 40 different kinds of barbecue... I wasn't even aware there were more than two kinds!
One last Southern Moment to share before I sign off for the day, victorious that at least I've completed a blog. We live in a great apartment complex that is built right by a river and canal. It's a wonderful thing living by water, especially for a California girl like me that has an unprecedented love for the ocean. While taking a sunset stroll just a few weeks ago, we stopped at the railing to peer down into the canal (I guess from that far away I was hoping for a gator sighting... yes, gator). Well most lucky for us, it wasn't a gator, but a water rat. Yes, a water rat. If you haven't ever seen one, it looks just as it sounds. A rat that swims. It seems the rat, which we affectionately have named Frank, has a home in that canal outside our apartment. We've seen him four or five times since the first sighting, swimming back and forth from his home - I guess he must be doing errands. So as you can see, I'm embracing my life in the south. Learning songs like "Sick 'em on a Chicken" and looking out for my neighbors like Frank. Until next time, bye y'all :-)
For a girl that had only been to "The South" but once or twice before taking up residence in one of the deepest parts, I would say that of late, I'm becoming quite acquainted with it. This past weekend we took a trip up to Atlanta, GA where we indulged in a fabulous performance by Zac Brown Band. Now, if you don't know who this band is, they are kind of a cross between country and Dave Matthews or jam-band type music. I suppose that generally they are considered a country group but as I found out this weekend in talking to some "true" southerners, there are bands that fit the country grain way more than Zac Brown Band.
We sat and enjoyed the concert at a beautiful (but cold) outdoor amphitheater and listened to Zac and his band sing their hearts out with songs like "Chicken Fried", "Highway 20 Ride" and "Sick 'em on a Chicken". Now I at first thought "Sick 'em on a Chicken" was called "Sick OF Mamma's Chicken"... boy was I wrong! Case in point, I'm learning new things every day. Apparently the song was not at all about Bad Chicken, but rather how they Sick the Dog on the chicken and then proceed to fry the bird...
The concert was wonderful, the songs were great and once I actually got the words right, I felt really a part of this southern thing. As we were driving back home to South Carolina from Atlanta, my husband asked me a quite pointed question: "Sooo, what do you like better, South Carolina or Georgia?" I have to confess the look I gave him was somewhat of a blank one... well, gosh, I had never really thought about it until he posed the question. After a few moments in thought as I looked out the window down Highway 20 at the seemingly endless road lined by a mass of beautiful green trees. It is in those moments, it's hard to imagine cultures and areas more different than California, New York, and South Carolina. I suppose I'll have to ponder that one for another day and keep exploring the many things the two states have to offer...
I've been pleasantly surprised living in our town in South Carolina at the amount of festivals and events they have going on almost every week. There are live bands that play each week outdoors this time of year, and there seems to be a rotating festival featuring some kind of Southern delicacy or tradition every time I turn around. Sadly, we missed the Crawfish Festival two weeks ago due to work, but hey, maybe we'll catch the BBQ event going on Saturday - they say they'll have 40 different kinds of barbecue... I wasn't even aware there were more than two kinds!
One last Southern Moment to share before I sign off for the day, victorious that at least I've completed a blog. We live in a great apartment complex that is built right by a river and canal. It's a wonderful thing living by water, especially for a California girl like me that has an unprecedented love for the ocean. While taking a sunset stroll just a few weeks ago, we stopped at the railing to peer down into the canal (I guess from that far away I was hoping for a gator sighting... yes, gator). Well most lucky for us, it wasn't a gator, but a water rat. Yes, a water rat. If you haven't ever seen one, it looks just as it sounds. A rat that swims. It seems the rat, which we affectionately have named Frank, has a home in that canal outside our apartment. We've seen him four or five times since the first sighting, swimming back and forth from his home - I guess he must be doing errands. So as you can see, I'm embracing my life in the south. Learning songs like "Sick 'em on a Chicken" and looking out for my neighbors like Frank. Until next time, bye y'all :-)
Saturday, March 27, 2010
No Pain, No Gain
I inhaled deeply and tried to concentrate on each step I was taking. I tried to keep my head up and focus on my end destination so I wouldn't loose sight of the goal. Why was this so difficult today? I've been finding that question present itself in my thoughts every time I embark on such a challenge. It was just a run, but sometimes a run seems so tough, even if I have been running frequently, and there are days when I find it is flat out discouraging.
Lately, I have been thinking back to when I was growing up and participated in competitive sports. Most of the time, I think of swimming. It's odd I would compare gliding through the water to running on concrete but the actions to me seem very alike. Swimming back and forth across the length of a pool is not all that different than running back and forth along a path - both activities take a necessary level of commitment and self determination paired with the right amount of motivation.
I swam on a competitive recreational team from the time I was 5 until I was 18. We were the Dolphins, the Mighty Dolphins in fact, and our coach was tough but he was great. "No pain, no gain" he would say, as me and my team mates were lined up along the swimming pool wall, staring up at him with half blank expressions. I'll admit, I understood this mantra at quite different levels when I was five than what I understood when I was eighteen. "You have to put in a lot of effort and push yourself to get better results". Hmmm, no pain, no gain. I learned this was a mantra that proved to be incredibly true.
Oddly enough, the stroke I was good at happened to be butterfly. This is the stroke where both arms literally fly out of the water simultaneously. As you dive back in each time you move forward through the water by "kicking" with both feet held together. Ironically, butterfly arm movements are paired with a dolphin-like kick. Some people think this is one of the hardest strokes, but if you ask me, that endowment would go to backstroke. I never could get backstroke down. In high school, the event I swam during meets was the 100 yard butterfly. This is four lengths of the pool and I remember that at the end of such events, I was for lack of better terms, pooped.
I can vividly recall standing on top of the diving block, looking out over the pool. At one meet against a neighboring high school, I waited for the starters commands: "On your mark", I stood tall and looked out across the length of the pool, deep breath in, don't be nervous, just concentrate "Get set" Reach down and grab the block, ready to catapult at the next command "GO!" I shot off the block and into the water. As I moved down the pool I could see out of the corner of my eye I was keeping pace with the other girls. My arms flew out of the water and I tried to take as many strokes before taking a breath as I could possibly stand. I reached the first end, touched and shot back off the wall - three more laps to go. I kept my concentration... no pain, no gain - well this was pain, I hoped it was paying off. Finally at the fourth lap it was time to step it up with what little energy was left in me. I could see I had a chance to pull forward - as I took the last half length of the pool I felt good about the race. My fingers touched the wall at the finish and I looked up from the pool at the time keeper "What was my time?". Instead, one of the referrees posed me an odd question: "What time is it?", I looked at my watch and replied "Uh, 4:30". "Well, you're disqualified, you can't wear a watch or any jewelry during a race."
Competing is tough.
You can imagine after the unfortunate disqualification, I never made that mistake while racing again. I realize how valuable all those years of swimming were to help me push myself, learn to be a little bit tougher, and to sometimes push myself physically to where I wasn't even sure I was capable. Now as I go for my four mile runs I try to think back about all those things. I mostly try to remember my coaches, the tough practices and the challenging races, meets and matches I participated in to help push myself now, even though I'm not competing in a race. And when it seems my motivation is lacking, I think back at that mantra - if I want results - no pain, no gain.
Lately, I have been thinking back to when I was growing up and participated in competitive sports. Most of the time, I think of swimming. It's odd I would compare gliding through the water to running on concrete but the actions to me seem very alike. Swimming back and forth across the length of a pool is not all that different than running back and forth along a path - both activities take a necessary level of commitment and self determination paired with the right amount of motivation.
I swam on a competitive recreational team from the time I was 5 until I was 18. We were the Dolphins, the Mighty Dolphins in fact, and our coach was tough but he was great. "No pain, no gain" he would say, as me and my team mates were lined up along the swimming pool wall, staring up at him with half blank expressions. I'll admit, I understood this mantra at quite different levels when I was five than what I understood when I was eighteen. "You have to put in a lot of effort and push yourself to get better results". Hmmm, no pain, no gain. I learned this was a mantra that proved to be incredibly true.
Oddly enough, the stroke I was good at happened to be butterfly. This is the stroke where both arms literally fly out of the water simultaneously. As you dive back in each time you move forward through the water by "kicking" with both feet held together. Ironically, butterfly arm movements are paired with a dolphin-like kick. Some people think this is one of the hardest strokes, but if you ask me, that endowment would go to backstroke. I never could get backstroke down. In high school, the event I swam during meets was the 100 yard butterfly. This is four lengths of the pool and I remember that at the end of such events, I was for lack of better terms, pooped.
I can vividly recall standing on top of the diving block, looking out over the pool. At one meet against a neighboring high school, I waited for the starters commands: "On your mark", I stood tall and looked out across the length of the pool, deep breath in, don't be nervous, just concentrate "Get set" Reach down and grab the block, ready to catapult at the next command "GO!" I shot off the block and into the water. As I moved down the pool I could see out of the corner of my eye I was keeping pace with the other girls. My arms flew out of the water and I tried to take as many strokes before taking a breath as I could possibly stand. I reached the first end, touched and shot back off the wall - three more laps to go. I kept my concentration... no pain, no gain - well this was pain, I hoped it was paying off. Finally at the fourth lap it was time to step it up with what little energy was left in me. I could see I had a chance to pull forward - as I took the last half length of the pool I felt good about the race. My fingers touched the wall at the finish and I looked up from the pool at the time keeper "What was my time?". Instead, one of the referrees posed me an odd question: "What time is it?", I looked at my watch and replied "Uh, 4:30". "Well, you're disqualified, you can't wear a watch or any jewelry during a race."
Competing is tough.
You can imagine after the unfortunate disqualification, I never made that mistake while racing again. I realize how valuable all those years of swimming were to help me push myself, learn to be a little bit tougher, and to sometimes push myself physically to where I wasn't even sure I was capable. Now as I go for my four mile runs I try to think back about all those things. I mostly try to remember my coaches, the tough practices and the challenging races, meets and matches I participated in to help push myself now, even though I'm not competing in a race. And when it seems my motivation is lacking, I think back at that mantra - if I want results - no pain, no gain.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
A Town Painted Green
As the snow begins its very first stages of the melting process in many parts of this country, we can all smell a hint of spring awaiting us right around the corner. It's mid-March which not only is synonymous with the madness of college basketball but is also marked by perhaps one of the craziest holidays all year round: Saint Patrick's Day.
St. Patty's Day to me is always a curious study of people's love to celebrate. I for one, don't have any Irish in me (or at least I don't think I do...), but that aside, every year I am quick to don a green outfit and join the masses in eating bangers and mash and swaying to Irish songs alongside all my friends at an "Irish Bar" no matter what city I'm living in.
New York, known for gloriously celebrating holidays, always had a fantastic Saint Patricks Day Parade. Now the holiday usually falls during a week day so unfortunately, I was never able to go see the parade... there were other obligations, namely work, that prevented me from a mid-week rendezvous. But fear not, someone a long time ago thought - why should a holiday mid-week prevent everyone from celebrating?! Easy solution: move the party to the weekend. Every year the Saturday before or after, whichever was closer, would hold a city-wide Saint Patricks Day celebration. In a city so cold this time of year, I think it is not only a day to celebrate Irish heritage but also to celebrate the coming of spring.
This year, even though I wasn't in NYC, the celebration this past weekend was still huge. Actually, I think it's one of the biggest all year that takes place in Columbia, South Carolina. Complete with green-dyed fountains, the town was transformed into a sea of green, and I mean that quite literally. 25,000 people came out to celebrate Saint Patricks Day. The festival was complete with food vendors, beer trucks and three stages graced by a continuous string of bands filling the air with music. Of course I was soaking up the nice weather with green beer in hand, yes green, and not holding back in my indulgence of Irish bangers, bbq sandwiches and the free nachos one stand was giving out... hey, it's an American celebration of Saint Pats and in the South no less.
Being new to town, we decided that it would be fun to "volunteer" during this festival, at least for part of it. Our charitable duties including nothing more than standing in front of a Budweiser truck and pouring out a selection of beers for any thirsty festival-goer willing to shell out $3. It was a site to see watching people pass by our truck. Since we worked the morning shift which ended at 1PM we hardly saw the tip of the iceberg, so-to-speak, of people in attendance. I did however, see a few families with babies in strollers who ever so cautiously would eye our truck, almost making it all the way by until one person (I saw it happen via Mom AND Dad) would hang a sharp left with the stroller, whip out some change and sheepishly say - well I guess I'll have one! Amongst the crowd was lots of green hair dye, sparkling and even light-up mardi gras beads and yes, I even saw a 6 foot tall leprechan - complete with orange hair, top hat and cane.
Although it was quite the interesting crowd, I noticed that fortunately it was a nice and well behaved one with everyone genuinely happy to be celebrating a great day with food, music and lucky for us - sunshine. I love that Saint Patricks Day is a day to celebrate such a strong and proud heritage. I hope one day I get the chance to actually travel to Ireland, which I hear is beautiful and inhabited by very gracious and fun people. For now, I'll just continue to find as much green clothing in my closet as I can and join the masses in food, drink and good times, every March to celebrate Saint Patricks.
St. Patty's Day to me is always a curious study of people's love to celebrate. I for one, don't have any Irish in me (or at least I don't think I do...), but that aside, every year I am quick to don a green outfit and join the masses in eating bangers and mash and swaying to Irish songs alongside all my friends at an "Irish Bar" no matter what city I'm living in.
New York, known for gloriously celebrating holidays, always had a fantastic Saint Patricks Day Parade. Now the holiday usually falls during a week day so unfortunately, I was never able to go see the parade... there were other obligations, namely work, that prevented me from a mid-week rendezvous. But fear not, someone a long time ago thought - why should a holiday mid-week prevent everyone from celebrating?! Easy solution: move the party to the weekend. Every year the Saturday before or after, whichever was closer, would hold a city-wide Saint Patricks Day celebration. In a city so cold this time of year, I think it is not only a day to celebrate Irish heritage but also to celebrate the coming of spring.
This year, even though I wasn't in NYC, the celebration this past weekend was still huge. Actually, I think it's one of the biggest all year that takes place in Columbia, South Carolina. Complete with green-dyed fountains, the town was transformed into a sea of green, and I mean that quite literally. 25,000 people came out to celebrate Saint Patricks Day. The festival was complete with food vendors, beer trucks and three stages graced by a continuous string of bands filling the air with music. Of course I was soaking up the nice weather with green beer in hand, yes green, and not holding back in my indulgence of Irish bangers, bbq sandwiches and the free nachos one stand was giving out... hey, it's an American celebration of Saint Pats and in the South no less.
Being new to town, we decided that it would be fun to "volunteer" during this festival, at least for part of it. Our charitable duties including nothing more than standing in front of a Budweiser truck and pouring out a selection of beers for any thirsty festival-goer willing to shell out $3. It was a site to see watching people pass by our truck. Since we worked the morning shift which ended at 1PM we hardly saw the tip of the iceberg, so-to-speak, of people in attendance. I did however, see a few families with babies in strollers who ever so cautiously would eye our truck, almost making it all the way by until one person (I saw it happen via Mom AND Dad) would hang a sharp left with the stroller, whip out some change and sheepishly say - well I guess I'll have one! Amongst the crowd was lots of green hair dye, sparkling and even light-up mardi gras beads and yes, I even saw a 6 foot tall leprechan - complete with orange hair, top hat and cane.
Although it was quite the interesting crowd, I noticed that fortunately it was a nice and well behaved one with everyone genuinely happy to be celebrating a great day with food, music and lucky for us - sunshine. I love that Saint Patricks Day is a day to celebrate such a strong and proud heritage. I hope one day I get the chance to actually travel to Ireland, which I hear is beautiful and inhabited by very gracious and fun people. For now, I'll just continue to find as much green clothing in my closet as I can and join the masses in food, drink and good times, every March to celebrate Saint Patricks.
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