Carry it in My Heart

I went to the cardiologist recently to have my heart checked.

“Perfect picture of health” he stated.

I am simultaneously relieved and not surprised.

My adult children waiting in in the lobby don’t have a care in the world and the receptionist mentions how much the staff enjoys their laughter. It is my turn to wait not as joyously. My son & daughter are checked. We are all fine.

But I feel the doctor has missed something. Something important…

The Grind!

Recently, my sister, who is a marathon runner, asked me to go to Vancouver with her and my niece. Michelle, my sis, would be running a half marathon sponsored by Lululemon. As an enticement, there would be yoga in the park, special clothing promotions, hair braiding and more. Plus I could have a brief girl's vacation using my new shiny passport!

On one of the days there Michelle planned for us to climb the Grouse Grind. The "Grind" as it more commonly known is a steep two mile hike in which you climb 3000 feet up the side of a mountain.

This is the starting sign of the Grind

To climb this hill one has to go up man made stairs that can make you lift your knees to your chest and scale rocks and tree roots. It is not for the faint of heart.

But I am faint of heart! Before this trip, I cannot get out of bed because I am feeling depressed, alone, lost, angry, full of rage, and overwhelmed. 

Gather Ye Rosebuds

Today I got a call from a girlfriend that I admire more than she knows.

During our call she tells me her office doors may have to close because her biggest client had to move on for reasons out of her control.

I know why she has called me. It’s not because I am the fun friend you call to hang out with rather I am the friend that can say, “Me too” and mean it! I have been in your shoes and felt that same thing.

Pruning. It is defined as cutting away dead or overgrown branches or stems, especially to increase fruitfulness, growth, and prevent disease.

It is like the beautiful rosebush that blooms during our beloved rose parade but must be cut back merely a month later. This is done so that it might not use ALL of its energy to keep those branches that no longer serve it and bring forth May blossoms.

Weight of the World

Closing my eyes today to ignore the young lithe twenty-something women in the front row, I climb the imaginary hill to the beat of Eminem. I spin and spin and spin.

I feel accomplished. I am neither the best nor the worst of the class.

Then that strong voice, the one that never leaves me, speaks “but look at that butt of yours! Why can’t you just put that fork down?”