birthday

Grateful Not Grumpy

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I’m feeling like a big baby about my upcoming birthday.

Pun intended.

I’m a big baby because

a) I know how many days away it is; 35

b) because I feel pouty and crabby about turning 35

Those of you reading this who are days, weeks, months, decades beyond 35 will probably think I’m a bit ridiculous, so will those of you who are years away from seeing 35.  I’m guessing in a few months time I’ll have settled into 35 and look back on this post and feel ridiculous too.

Right now, however, I’m a bit bummed about 35.

I’ve always been the youngest.  In junior high and high school my friends (and boy friends!) were upperclassman. At 17 I became a whitewater raft guide, working side by side with folks in their 40s and 50s. Even in college, although I didn’t start until I was 20, my closest friends were in their mid-late 20s.

Yesterday I was in a rehearsal with two college kids and a high schooler. I’ve never felt so old. I wasn’t sure whether to be proud that I could keep up with them or saddened that they could keep up with me.

Okay, okay, I know, this is kind of ridiculous. Age is just a number, it happens to everyone, with age come wisdom, and hey, I am smarter, stronger, & better looking now than I when I was 25 (except the wrinkly elbows and sun spots…).

I need an attitude adjustment.  I need an attitude of gratitude.

Life is beautiful and tremendous and long.

35 years old signifies everything I have seen and experienced thus far and, if I follow in my grandmother and great aunts foot steps, I am still a baby. 🙂

Today I am grateful..

…that I’m not a pissed off, prepubescent 10 year old Faith with a bad bowl cut.

…that I’m not a self-conscious and angsty 15 year old Faith.

…that I’m not a 22 year old Faith with devastating insomnia and a wrecked immune system.

…that I’ve traveled all over the world.

…that I’m still dancing.

…that my work is helping people more fully live in their body’s through dance, Pilates, and yoga.

…that my family is sweet and goofy and smart and accepting.

….that I had my grandmother Mildred in my life until she was nearly 95 and I was nearly 35.

…that I got to have a heart to heart with my (almost!) 101 year old great aunt last Sunday.

…that at almost 35 I am braver and more confident than I ever have been.

…that I have an AMAZING new niece, a new light, a new love.

…that it’s April, Spring is magic.

…that I have lived nearly 35 years full of love, adventure, and learning.

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phonto

Birthday Challenge

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It’s been a long time since I set any fitness goals.

I’ve written about my ebb and flow approach to goals and planning a few times before but basically I’ve found that sometimes it works great for me to have a concrete schedule for a set period and time and a goal to strive for. Other times I take each day as it comes and don’t plan or track my workouts.
It’s spring. I feel energized! I feel like I’m coming out of hibernation! March was a very challenging month. I spent a lot of it sick and away from home. I didn’t get a lot of exercise.  The whole combination left me out of breath and feeling a little soft.  I’m totally in the mood for a fitness challenge and some goal setting.
In 6 weeks I will turn 32. As some of you may remember, I kinda like “preparing” for my birthday and the start of a new year of my life by setting some goals or making some resolutions. (Here’s my pre-31st birthday post and my pre-30th birthday post). Moving is one of the things that makes me feel most in touch with myself and most alive so a 6 week fitness challenge to close out my year of being 31 seems perfect.
Like I mentioned, I’m feeling really out of shape. My “normal” routine of teaching 6 classes and running just a few miles last week left me sore in places I haven’t felt in a while. Perhaps, hopefully, it’s exaggerated by leftover sickness but in any case I am setting a challenge from where my body is at right now. It’s so important, yet hard, to respect our body’s edges and limits. Four years ago at this time I was training for a May marathon.  A 10 miler was a short training run! My weekly goal for this challenge will be 10 miles!

I’m not a big numbers girl, I’ve never really had a “lucky” or “favorite” one, but 32 seemed like a fun framework for this challenge.
April 1-may 12 I will


Run 64 miles
Practice yoga 16 times
Do 16 Pilates workouts
Meditate 32 minutes a week (this is going to be the hardest to achieve but I need it)
And yeah, I’m not opposed to losing 3.2 pounds

Thanks for listening, it helps me feel more committed to write my plan down for everyone to see. Are you interested on my progress? Should I post my weekly accomplishments and challenges or is that kinda boring/useless to you?

Do you take an always-have-a-goal/schedule/training plan, a “plan? What plan?”, or an ebb and flow approach to your workouts? Got any spring goals?!

Ps Hey Cville! Want to meet people, workout hard, have fun, and be outside? Next week I’m starting a Fit Camp.  We’ll meet at an area park and I’ll run you through a full body workout using the natural features of the landscape.  Email me if you are interested gracefulfitness[at]live.com