Do These Training Wheels Make My Manifesto Look Big? Pt II

Ok, since this ride is only one...ONE...week away I thought I would repost in case anyone wonders where I am next Saturday morning. Yeah, I know. No one wonders...

Have you ever had the feeling that the universe is trying to tell you something? Yeah. Me too. Usually I just ignore it. Ok, this is complicated so I will get to the point. Several things have happened over the last few months that have given me the determination to change my status quo and break out of my box. Ok, perhaps determination is too strong a word. What is the word for "I'm still chicken but I think perhaps it is about time I do change because I am turning 40 next week and so what better time to finally break out of my shell and do something really different, really hard and really unexpected even if I don't really want to?" Where the heck is my thesaurus...

So, if you can, follow my train of thought through the last few months...

First, an old college roommate announced that she was training for her first triathlon. Something I have always thought I might like to do, but too afraid.

Then a friend suggested that I consider doing a local century bike ride this summer. Yeah, right.

Then a beautiful young lady who is livin' the life and blogging about it *here*posted what I will call her "Fear Manifesto." She is doing it. She is busting out. Naming her fears, conquering her fears and telling the whole blogosphere about it. I was touched by her original post and a follow-up entitled "what are you waiting for?" So I asked NatureGirl, "NatureGirl, what are you waiting for?" She had a whole list that I will not bore you with now. But then she had the gall to remind me of my own recent post *here* in which I was dumb enough to say that I was finally ready to take a step outside of my box.

So....I asked Hunky Hubby if he would like to ride that Century with me. He would. One hundred miles. I was thinking of doing the 1/2 though. That sounded doable, and not too much of a challenge, and even kinda fun, and isn't that enough, and couldn't I call that my box-breakout!

But then (stay with me here I know it is confusing)...a girlfriend who is doing a different 100 miler this spring right before her 40th birthday, gave me a good talking to a la...

"What do you mean only half, you are fit, it is your 40th birthday for crying out loud, it's only an extra 50 miles, yeah it is long and hard and you could wind up with a bike seat permanently affixed to your posterior, embrace it, go big or go home!" And yes, those were her exact words.

So Now...I don't know. I think I may actually want to go through with this thing, crazy as it seems. Hmmmm....yeah....who knew? But how do you shed the fear? And what is it that I am really afraid of? I think perhaps...

Quote of the Day:

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.

Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.

It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be?

You are a child of God.

Your playing small does not serve the world.

There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other

people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.

And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, Our presence automatically liberates others.

--Marianne Williamson author

What Walt May Have Forgotten To Mention In THE END

I have been known to get worked up about things from time to time. I can even be a bit uptight sometimes. My online persona is calm, cool, collected and well balanced. But that is because we can be anything we want to be in this world where there is time to think through each sentence and edit. In my real life I do not have this advantage and sometimes my passion, opinions and temper get the better of me. I must have done this at least once with a good friend of mine, because she suggested a topic for me to blah blah blahg about. I must be loosening up in my old age, because I just ended that sentence in a preposition and I am going to leave it. See, I am not uptight...anymore.

ANYway, as I was saying before I so rudely interrupted myself...The topic? Princesses. Specifically “How Walt and his Princesses Didn’t Do Us Any Favors” or “What the Heck!?” Ok, I know. That needs a little explanation.

First of all. Name a princess who has a mother. Anyone? Nope, that is a step mother and she is awful. Yep, that one too. Anyone else? Ok. So, no one has a mother. Why you ask? Well, first of all it is a cheap literary/film device used to create instant sympathy for our young female protagonists. You do not know her well enough to like her, but you feel sorry for her because she hasn’t got a Mum. Cheap trick, but effective. Plus, being motherless allows said protagonist to get into all kinds of trouble that would otherwise be avoided had someone been there at home to ground her till she came to her senses. And in case you are thinking of trying it, apparently locking her in a tower just creates more problems.

So, the real problem I have comes in the message that these headstrong teens are sending to the audience. For instance, the beautiful redheaded siren who utters the infamous “But, Daddy, I love him!” Love? Seriously? She had never even MET him. Yet, as you may recall, was willing to put life on the line and give up home, family and the ability to breath underwater for the strapping lad with nice hair. Sheesh, Navy guys! Or how about the well-read adventurous lass who dreams of leaving the provincial town that is holding her down in search of something more! Was the “more” really a man who constantly yells at her and then locks her in her room without food until she complies with his wishes? Hmmm? Message: “If I am just sweet enough and love him well enough he will turn from a beast into a handsome Prince.” Sorry to ruin it for you.

Don’t get me wrong. My girls watch(ed) these movies. One of them loves all things Princess, and I did illustrate the worst examples. The point is...the point is...well I don’t know really. I guess I want my girls to have a bit better role models when it comes to love and marriage. I certainly do not think they are ruined by watching these. Perhaps it even gives us something to talk about with our daughters. But those dang Princesses make it look too easy. Handsome? Check. Good Kisser? Check. Sign me up! Too easy.

Truth. It is hard work to have a good, happy and successful marriage. Fun work. Interesting work. Amazing work. But work, ya know, everyday, forever. By definition work is: “Activity involving mental or physical effort done in order to achieve a purpose or result.” I love that when we think of it in terms of relationships. Do we as mothers and fathers have a clear purpose or result in mind? Yes! We want to live happily ever after. I guess I just wish a few of those fairy tales would end “And they lived happily ever after, always putting considerable effort into their partners’ well-being and focusing their attention on service to God and one another, by being unselfish and considerate, praying together often and treating each other better than when they were dating, all while keeping the big picture in mind. The end.

Quote of the Day: "A successful marriage requires falling in love many times...always with the same person."

--Mignon McLaughlin author

Five Little Special Blogs...

So, I was flattered to get a little mention on THIS totally cool mom's blog yesterday. Check her out. She says she is losing her mind...but she seems to have it pretty together if you ask me! I follow quite a few blogs and I know I need to get in a start organizing better so that you can see all of the amazing peeps I read (I happen to have superior taste.) In the meantime here are a few I have picked up recently...

chocolate chip waffle (creativity running amok)

words of me (luscious trip through the world of language)

whole foods kids (yummy stuff from scratch)

zen habits (relax...It's all good)

my kid (self proclaimed mess expert)

new old school (livin' large like it's 1844)

Um, Like, Didn't You Wear That, Like Yesterday?

If anyone noticed or cared about my absence the last month...sorry. It is summer. Ok, so super fun(ish). I have been trying to de-clutter as of late. Ya, you're right, who am I kidding. It is never ending. As soon as you clean and organize the last closet in the house it is time to start back on the first one again. Nevertheless, I am at it again. I know. Know. KNOW, without a doubt, that I can do with less stuff. Most of the stuff creeps in from other people. I hate to shop. But things (plastic things especially) must have the ability to shape shift and slip in through the cracks in the doors and holes in the screens, because I find junk everywhere that I know I have not purchased. I do not buy a lot of clothes for myself either, but I do tend to hang on to them long after they have lost their appeal. Pretty sure those Calvin's and Duran Duran concert T are coming back in style soon. Where did I leave those jelly shoes anyway? Oh stink, why do my stories always carry on so?

Ok, so, last week, I went to Chicago on a brief get away with Hunky Hubby. Three days, one small backpack so I would not have to deal with luggage. I took 2 great no iron shirts and one skirt, which I wore on the plane too. Actually, I wore the same skirt the whole 3 days. Amazing, totally wrinkle proof, indestructible, little black skirt. Went from dressy to casual with the change of shirts. Voila! I hate picking out clothes and so I often wear the same outfit two or three days in a row anyway. Yes, I know, some of you may be offended by this from a hygiene standpoint, but really? Get over it.

Lately, I have been thinking that I ought to just pare down to the bare essentials clothing wise à la "Tim Gunn's 10 essentials" or the like. And after my little trip I knew it was totally doable. Then I ran across this lady...*Here*. Bingo! Six items or less. Choose six items from your wardrobe, and wear only those for a month. Don't worry, certain items, eh hem, can be changed everyday and do not count toward the six. So what do you think? Should we all try? Less laundry, less clutter, less trying to decide what to wear, less...moreness. And if we get bored perhaps we need more stuff to DO not more stuff to wear.

I streamlined breakfast like this about six months ago. I have two different breakfast menus that I alternate when the mood strikes. Whole greek yogurt with berries and nuts or a veggie omelet. Yep. Everyday. Nope. Have not got bored yet. And I wash it down with a big glass of water and a stupid bunch of stupid vitamins and stupid pills because apparently everything goes to heck on your 4oth birthday! Stupid 40.

Anyway, I am going to participate in the experiment. If you are willing to jump on board with me I wanna hear about it. It does not have to be 6. It could be 5. Or 10. The idea is to simplify. Perhaps clothes or food is not your area. Maybe there is some way to interpret this experiment in other areas. Give us some ideas. I think we as Americans have been valuing quantity over quality in so many areas of our lives for years. This experiment of quality over quantity could help us see the flip side for a while. Ok...our 30 days starts...Now!

Quote of the Day: "Simplicity and repose are the qualities that measure the true value of any work of art."-- Frank Lloyd Wright