You Best Believe

This is the time of year where dreams start flowing like swiftly moving rivers, carrying us away and making us feel like anything is possible. I don’t know about you, but I love it when people dream. I fondly remember a girl two years ago who about this time of year decided that she was going to St. Croix to attempt to earn a Hawaii qualifying spot in May of the following year. If you would have asked around if she had the track record to do it, I think the answer would have been a resilient “not so much.”

Do you know what the best part of dreaming is? No one can put a limit on it. It’s in your own mind, and it’s just for you and no one else. You can choose to never say a word, or tell a thousand people - it's your call. How many things would have never been done if someone who really believed in something had let the secret out and then decided everyone else was right when the idea got shot down before it even had the outline of wings.

There’s a catch though, if you think your dream is in fact possible, then that’s where the work really begins. Then that dream becomes a goal, and it must be broken down into smaller goals and steps toward making it happen. You don’t even have to have a timeline on it, but it’s still necessary to break it down into pieces to make it more manageable.

Then, with each passing day, you have to believe that what you’re doing is bringing you one step closer to your goal/dream.

Decisions about how we’re going to spend our time and energy come at us a million miles an hour, every single day. We’re forced to prioritize our lives in order to retain some sort of balance and not to mention good ole sanity! A speaker once made the statement about the decision making process, she said “You have to constantly ask yourself, is saying yes to this particular thing, or taking this particular path, bringing me closer to or farther away from the women (person) I want to be?” I thought that was a very insightful statement, and I'm planning to use it in 2010 as I go on my merry dreaming way.

So, where is all this going? I guess I can’t help but be a dreamer this time of year and I know I’m not alone. Without dreams our lives seem a little more like a black and white photo than a colorful vibrant painting. Dreams challenge us, force us to look inward, and give us a sense of purpose as we go about our day.

I want to start dreaming again, and I have been. I’m starting to believe again. In what you ask, well, that’s TBD, but mostly in myself, my spirit, and that love can be transferred to and through other people as we follow our heart. When the alarm sounds at 5:00am, and it’s cold and dark outside, you best be believing in your dreams because it’s a constant struggle sometimes. Life beats you down, responsibilities are necessary and sometimes what you’re doing day in and day out doesn’t seem to be helping you make one bit of progress. It’s not a matter of if you will get to that place; it’s a matter of when. Sometimes the best thing you can do is get out of your own way and move on.

Now is the time to dream big, to write it down and remember it during those stretches where you’re feeling like nothing is worth it. There will be times where the only thing that keeps you going is the fact that investing in the edification of yourself and others will ultimately be the best return of all.

I have a shirt I wear sometimes. It’s one of my favorites. It simply says:

I Believe.

So, don’t think I’ve been sitting over here on my sling laden hiney wallowing over the world as it is. I’ve been dreaming in vivid hues, I’ve been planning, looking at the numbers, and setting a few goals of my own. Heck, after two weeks of nothing back in November, I was back at the gym doing what I love (and because I was driving everyone around me crazy). Oh lifting a thing called weights...oh yeah.. I remember you, quadriceps screaming, hamstrings hurting, and three sets of lunges later, I'm wondering how I ever stopped I love lifting so much. I’ll bank some of that strength, thank you. I’ll be sore now so I don’t have to do it during the season, and I’ll start gearing up because when this baby comes off my arm, you best believe I’m coming out swinging.

So, enjoy your new year everyone..and don’t be afraid to enlist the help of a few others that will believe right there with you. When you can’t even walk, and you're forced to crawl along, they’ll carry you…I promise. Happy New Year to all my wonderful friends and family. I love you now, in 2010 and beyond!

Here’s a new song I feel was written just for me in the new year.. hopefully, you’ll love it too…

How Did I Get Here? Where Am I Going? I need a roadmap.

I have no idea what I really do for living.

Well, when I say that, it's only about half true, but I still have a really hard time describing it to other people.

I'm not a typical dietitian. Don't get me wrong, I love the science of nutrition itself, but the thought of working in a hospital or long-term care facility never appealed to me in the least. It had nothing to do with the people there, as I did my internship they were very nice and I thought the environment was just, well, "ok." It never really felt like home to me, or a place where I could be creative, have different challenges day in and day out, and make my own job description. I'm thankful we have dietitians out there who love it, they touch many lives and do an exceptional jobs. It just wasn't for me right from the start.

During my last two years of college, my advisor, Dr. Kristine Clark, was willing to let me intern with her through the summer and then during the year. In the world of sports nutrition, Dr. Clark was one of the very first sports nutritionist to actually have this title at a major Div. One University. She was a trendsetter and innovator in the field. Before anyone had barely heard of the technology, Dr. Clark moved from underwater weighing to determine body fat percent to the BOD POD (see below), which looked more like that tv sitcom spaceship from "Mork & Mindy" than something to measure body fat! I remember the first time I jumped into my spandex and was locked inside. You could hear the air rushing out as your air displacement inside the air-tight container was used to measure your body composition. Pretty cool! It was extremely accurate, and I loved observing her counseling athletes from swimmers, wrestlers, and football players, to cross-country athletes like myself.

Mork getting out of the egg on the TV show "Mork & Mindy" (which I actually remember seeing on TV if that tells you how old I am!)

The BOD POD

We started looking into programs where I could continue on to get my PhD, and pursue my dream of becoming a sports nutritionist at a university just like her. However, somewhere along the line I started to get a bit of cold feet about being in school for another 4-6 years right away. I loved working with athletes, conducting studies, and helping people achieve their goals, but I just couldn't see myself being in school again after finally getting my nutrition degree. I needed a break and felt I could always return to it later in life.

Out of the kindness of her heart, she made some phone calls on my behalf. Low and behold, one of the people who actually picked up the phone was one of my bosses from my current company. Dr. Clark explained that I was one of her best students and would be an asset to any company (I tried to not to freak out seeing as I had no idea what this company even did!). They weren't looking for a dietitian, but they were a company that made healthy baked goods for kids so they decided it might not be a bad idea to interview me.

It didn't hurt when I was interviewed that two of my bosses are also Penn State alumni, as is the President of our company. Not to mention that two out of the three also played collegiate sports (like me!). I swear, when I first got the job I wondered what I had gotten myself into. During those initial months all I did was make copies and try to figure out how to integrate my knowledge into the company's needs and products.

Today, I'm still not sure what I do, but it's more like a combination of product development, sales, marketing, writing, supporting our sales team, talking to customers, parents and a whole host of other things. My job is different every day. It has some stress that comes with it, but nothing excessive, and it allows me to be creative and look for new ways to improve our products for the children we serve in schools all over America.

With that said, everything starts with a dream and I've been thinking more and more about how I can integrate my first love of sports nutrition into my life in some way shape or form.

Don't forget though, I'm just like most of my fellow triathletes/sports enthusiasts that read my blog. I'm up at the crack of dawn for swim workouts, tired after a long day of work, and during the season, starving a majority of the time! I get exhausted, and I need quick / easy food that is also going to satisfy my needs as an athlete. Things have got to be simple because a majority of my day I'm pressed for time. Typically in the evenings I'm putting away training clothes from one day while re-packing the bag for the next day while trying not to set my kitchen on fire with dinner cooking downstairs.

So, with that said, I'm going to start sharing a little bit more of my nutrition knowledge/tips/tricks and thoughts about what I do to make things easier during the heavy training times to keep me on a healthy track. Now, just a forewarning, I burn a ton of calories throughout the week so my diet may not be the perfect example of the same things someone else who is much more sedentary might want to strive to emulate. However, just like everyone else, I'm committed to making improvements in 2010, cooking more, saving money, and using a sound diet to help me achieve my potential as an athlete and healthy individual.

Hopefully, you won't mind reading some of my thoughts on the matter and maybe you'll even gain some insight into the fact that eating "healthy" food doesn't have to be so difficult!

Just to start us out on the right foot, here's something I've done before to help make my snacks during the week better than just grabbing a handful of whatever is on the counter top at work.

Having Healthy Bites on Hand

Do you have fifteen to twenty minutes on the weekend to grab some quart baggies and fill them? I bet you do! By buying things like granola, trail mix, almonds, or dried fruit (or mix your own) in bulk containers and then fill the baggies - now you're on your way to better snacking.

Please remember, nuts contain better-for-you monounsaturated fats, but also are a concentrated source of calories. Therefore, do limit your portion size to 1oz. In the case of almonds specifically, 20-25 medium pieces is about 1oz. One reason I like almonds in particular is due to the fact that they have more calcium than any other nut (75 milligrams per serving). In addition, one serving also provides half of your body's Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of Vitamin E.

So grab your baggies, make up your healthy snacks and throw them in gym bags, lunch bags and in desk drawers at the beginning of the week so you won't be tempted to go for the candy bowl when your stomach starts growling!

Stay posted.. more to come - that was fun!!

There's Just Something About Christmas

For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given. Isaiah 9:6

When the candles are lit, and I'm standing alongside friends, family, and acquaintances in the pew singing the last verse of silent night A cappella, that's when I'm overwhelmed with the emotion of Christmas every time. I try to hold it together, but knowing that I've been given the greatest gift of all through Jesus's birth, and death, is truly amazing thing.

I hope everyone had a wonderful Holiday. Enjoy this time with family and friends. Just knowing how lucky we are to have the time off from work, the means to do so and our health is more than I could ask for.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year my friends!

I Heart San Diego

Last week determined one thing, and one thing only, I love San Diego with a passion. I'm not sure if it's the weather, or the fact that so many people love the same things that I love, or maybe a combination of both - but the fact remains I always enjoy my time immensly while I'm there.

It was a work trip, so lots of work was done (and then some). My trip started out a bit rough with a delayed flight to DC because of fog. I was set to fly out of Pitt at 6:00am, but at 5:50 they let us know about the delay and then we all had to make a mad dash for the ticket counter to get rescheduled. Let me just say, even in a sling, I can still drop a mean 40 yard sprint if something calls for it. I think many of the other people were surprised to see me throw the computer in the bag and make a dash for it (and end up there in front). Obviously someone (not naming any names) is missing competition just a wee tad bit!
In DC, where I would be waiting for four hours for my next flight to San Diego after missing my first plane, I had the pleasure of sitting next to this guy. He was one of the only benches with an outlet nearby so I spent about 3 hours listening to him snore while I typed away!

When I arrived I immediately stripped off my coat and took a huge breath of fresh air! It was wonderful!

The Hotel De Coronado has plenty of history and it was nice to stay somewhere that wasn't a shiny high rise, but more of a immensely manicured, low rise with tons of character. It was amazing to think of who had probably stayed here in the last 100 years since it was built. Pretty neat.

If you were wondering how they decorate in San Diego with no snow - question answered. Pretty wreaths & low and behold.. an outdoor ice skating rink.

I thought for about 2 seconds about strapping on some skates and then decided Dr. Bradley would probably have me by the throat when I got home. So I watched my workmates have a blast!

Someone once told me I wear a ton of black and white. Just to prove them wrong I looked in my closet to assess the situation. Hummm...well, I just plain don't know what they are talking about!

Even my pj's are black and white! What can I say, I find it very stylish (and easy to match!)

The lobby had a huge Christmas Tree with all of the trimmings so I jumped in to get a picture. I just love this time of year.

On Thursday, once I was finally done working for the week, my Father and I spent some time out on the back deck at sunset. The weather was about 60 degrees, the sun cast a golden hue over the beach, and I was so happy to get to experience this time with my Dad. The seagulls were busy swooping in to get some leftovers when they could. This guy was way too close for comfort! I took his picture right before he flew away!

The sunset on the deck

Lifeguards doing one last beach pass before sunset. I felt much more peaceful just getting to see this place.

The hotel is known for this particular part of it's architecture. I liked the way the sun was glowing in the tower.

The outdoor rink at night

Then we went out for a very nice Italian dinner and I showed Dad that even though I was injured, I was totally fine and that I love triathlon just as much as I did pre-November 14th.

On Friday, my Dad came back and brought his wife Angela along! We spent the day eating and shopping - does it get better than that!

THEN, on Friday night it was time. The time we triathletes look forward to every year in December. It was a special showing of the Ironman World Championship the DAY before it was actually airing on NBC. All I can say is that the San Diego Tri Club has some pretty heavy hitters to get this broadcast, commercial free, a day early. Gary, from San Diego (who I met at BSLT 70.3 in June) was kind enough to buy me a ticket and we met all his tri friends! What a fun night!
That wasn't the most amazing part though. We actually had the chance to meet TWO of the athletes that were featured on the broadcast! Rudy Garcia-Tolson, the first above the knee double amputee to complete the Ironman (he didn't make the bike cutoff at Kona, but he did at IM Arizona in November!). We also got to meet Kyle Garlett who three years ago couldn't walk up a flight of stairs his heart was so weak due to years of cancer treatments. That didn't stop him from getting a transplant and attempting the greatest distance in triathlon. Both gentleman were a true inspiration and to see them speak in person was truly a blessing. Thanks so much to both athletes for showing us the power of the human spirit to preserve!

All and all, it was a great trip with many things to be thankful for this time of year (and always). There will always be hard times, things that we think don't go our way (but that actually have a greater purpose) and things that ulimately make us stronger. I'd like to think that all of these things, cool people, and experiences allow me to be a better version of myself with each passing year. Or at least I hope so!

I hope everyone has their Christmas shopping well underway (or done)! Happy Holidays to my blog friends all over the country! Thank you for sharing this journey with me!

Girls On The Run (or in my case shuffle-walk)

It was a chilly morning as I woke up and packed on the layers this past Saturday. I couldn't help but smile though as I gathered the mittens, hat and running shoes because I knew today was going to be a vvverrrry special day! Today was the Girls on the Run 5k!

After the crash, at some point while evaluating the things I WOULDN'T be doing over the next 6 weeks (which were many), I realized that this was one thing I really, really, really didn't want to miss. It was one of my favorite things last year and I'm not sure who it meant more to - me or the girl I ran with during her first 5k! We just had loads of fun last year, and I couldn't help but feel if I could even shuffle, that would be enough to get the job done.

I was cautioned by many a person, but all in all, I only ended up actually shuffling about .5-.8 of a mile total! The girls range in ages from about 8 years to 11 years old so they aren't throwing down a 7:00 min mile or anything yet. Most of them are just happy to be out there and excited to give a full 3.1 mile run a go!

At first I arrived late (no surprise there), and I was getting organized by getting my orange bandanna, picking up my chip and getting the strange and bewildered looks from many of the other competitors! I'm sure they were confused why a girl with a big freaking sling was about to run a 5k! When I found the organizer she told me that everyone was pretty much already assigned and that they didn't need anymore "buddy" runners. My heart just sank! This is the whole reason I got up in the early morning on Saturday to come out here in the cold!

Finally, she looked around and saw a table with a mother and her two children, Max and Samantha. She thought a minute, and then took me over to introduce me to "Sam" and said we would make a great pair for the day. I was relieved and excited that she found someone for me and Sam was a bit shy at first, but eventually she seemed to loosen up once I started cracking jokes about my sling. She and Max were twins, so it was a big deal for her to be doing the race without him by her side, as he was in most activities.

However, after hearing how much fun she'd had in the program and having her Mom help attach my chip to my shoe, we were getting to be better buds. At 9:50am, with a 10:00am start, we went out to get in line and take some final pictures!

Sam heading to the start

Of course you're going to see a few elves, Santa hats, toy soldiers, and even a gingerbread man (like I did last year) if you are lucky at the Jingle Bell 5k (which is always where they hold the Girls on The Run event in association with this hometown race)!

Loving those socks! I HAVE to find some for next year!!

We started off pretty strong and even though I asked Sam if they taught her about "pacing" she quickly replied "oh yes," but didn't show any signs of actually following that strategy! Then again, I've been known to get caught up a little over my head at some local 5k's too so I couldn't blame her. This was exciting stuff once the gun goes off. We did plenty of walking and then we would pick a spot and decide to run for a bit.

After the half way point, she got a little obsessed with picking up all the bells that had fallen off everyones' attire so we did a lot of stopping to get those! Either way, we had lots of fun and I got to know a cute little girl with lots of heart. It was all in all a great day.

At about a 400 to the finish we decided it was time to run it in. I stayed with her for a bit and then let her go ahead to cross the mat and hung with her until we got her medal and met her Mom for a finishers picture. I couldn't help but smile down deep in my toes when she crossed because I remember those first days of crossing a finish line and how it made me feel. I can only hope she'll take that experience and want to feel that way again and again, in life and maybe even in some more running events. I love running so much that the best thing I think I could ever do is help someone else find that same joy it brings me.

So, that was it. My collarbone didn't seem to suffer any ill effects and any shuffling I did, I did completely on my toes to absorb all the impact. Talk about sore calves! I guess that's why I'm not a sprinter!

I hope everyone had a great weekend. Hellooooo from beautiful San Diego!

San Diego Here I Come!

As of Monday, I'm hoping to get a little more of this..

and not so much of this..

Our meetings next week will take place in San Diego and I'm worried about one little, itty thing.. (Mom...hide your eyes) - my ability to be right on the beach and not run on it.

I have quite a bit of self restraint in some cases (not using the last of the milk without throwing out the container, not eating someone else's food etc.) Some things (chocolate, what the heck - dessert in general, wine, shopping, did I mention wine?), not so much. However, this isn't one of my strong suits when I know I will not have anything as beautiful to look at while running all winter in PA, nor will I be able to wear a pair of Capri tights and a long sleeved t-shirt as my only garments.

I say a prayer.

"Oh Lord, please help me to not be stubborn and do what my Doctor says just for three measly more weeks. It's not that long and being good may save me weeks of frustration and a few choice words in the end. Amen"

We'll see. I can only hope I can make it happen. I need to go to the gym, and see what workout equipment is available and get my fix there before going outside and SITTING, like a good girl.

Well, there are THREE wonderful things to look forward to and that would be seeing Marit at the beginning of the week, my Dad, and my friend Gary, at the end. If you are part of the San Diego Tri Club, I think Gary and I are going to hit up the showing of the Hawaii IM World Championship on Friday night so say hello to a newcomer if you see me!

Marit and I in SD - January 2009

Gary and I at Buffalo Springs Lake 70.3 - June 2009

I've been hearing a lot about everyones' training and it makes me partly jealous, and partly happy that I slept in until 7:45am today...ahh.. to roll over at 6:30 when your alarm goes off and just snuggle back in.. Remind me I said that I was jealous in like March ok?!

Have a great weekend everyone!!

Thankful for the Journey

"YES" please operate on this side because my collarbone is sticking strait up on one side and pretty much horizontal on the other side. I'll take a new one made with a titanium plate & five screws please.

"NO" there is a button over here and you do not want to go into this side. This side is strait and happy. Thanks.

"The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. Because the brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough." ~Randy Pausch, Carnegie Mellon, The Last Lecture.

I loved this book. It was quick reading and it really made me think about things. Leave it to a man that has terminal cancer to remind you about what's really important. Randy reminded me that most of the things in this life that we may think are really really big things, are actually pretty small things so don't sweat them. He also talks about seizing every single moment, because you don't know how many more you have.

December is a really reflective time of year, don't you think? You can't help but recap what's happened over the last year and even over your life. You ask yourself questions like, "What about this year really stood out to me the most?" "What did I do well, what do I want to improve and how can I remember those lessons for the future?" "What experiences changed the way I look at things, changed me as a person, and will now impact my goals over the next year, next five years etc.?"

I'm not really talking about resolutions here. I'm not sure those really exist (or they exist for like A-minute). I'm talking about the way we look at life. What was the most meaningful to me and why? Or even, What mistakes did I make that I never want to repeat, but most of all, what did I learn from them.

Life is a big old ball of hectic craziness sometimes. We're lucky to even HAVE clean clothes, our teeth brushed and food in the fridge at times! Let alone actually be THINKING about things.

Either way, it's a good time of year to do that and it always makes me think about myself, my character and who I want to be going forward so I can suck less and do a little better. I'm not saying I've come to any conclusions at this point, but there are a few things that I do know.

- This year has been hard, way hard and a couple of times when I tried to come up for a quick breath of air, I barely got one before I got pushed back under again.

- I've made other people's lives harder this year too at times, and I want to do better.

- I love triathlon, the people who are in this sport, the training, the mystery of all it all. Not so much about the placing or the times, but the way the sport continues to teach me new things and challenges me as a person, and as an athlete. It's the "QUEST" that keeps us all coming back each year. We're searching for that "perfect race" that usually only happens about 2-3 times in a lifetime. Things go wrong, that's the nature of our sport, but it's the quest that keeps us coming back!

This year someone asked me why I "wasted so much time training" because "it just doesn't make sense when you only have so much time outside of work to be devoting it to something like that." That was a tough one, because I knew right away that person didn't have one ounce of experience in this area to speak from, and they most likely weren't going to understand one bit of what I'm talking about or why I do it. I tried anyway, didn't really get anywhere!

- This year really allowed me to reconnect with a lot of my friends from the YMCA and I've realized how much I really love the people there. They are so supportive, so caring and so friendly (even when I don't want to talk at 6am in the morning!). They are true friends that I can go to with issues, or just sit alongside in spin class and not say a word and yet it still helps me that they are there. They make my training life and personal life so much more interesting and fulfilling and I feel so freakin lucky to have them. Never mind, I don't have any friends (I just talk about them on here so you think I do - fooled you! :)

- I've done things I never thought I could do this year. I traveled to races all over the country solo, learned to fix my bike (in minimal situations), fixed flat tires, drove to places 4+ hours away by myself! Many things that I would not have attempted a few years ago. I really believe triathlon has helped me have confidence in myself and a belief that I can do anything if I trust in my faith.

- Life is good. It's hard, it's unpredictable, and it's a chance for each of us to see what kind of legacy we want to leave behind. I'm not sure what mine is yet, but I'm always searching and when I get a whiff of something that feels right, seems right or just pulls on my heart, I try to follow it.

Those are my thoughts for today. I don't know that they made one bit of sense, but I tried.

It's a wild ride. I'm thankful for the journey and for the people in my life. You make it more meaniful and fun, and I'm not giving any of you up any time soon!!

What One Armed Girls Do In Their Spare Time

I've been thinking about this post for awhile considering almost everything in my life has been impacted by my current one arm in a sling status. For the most part, my stitches are dissolving inside my body, my life is adjusting around this little setback, and it doesn't hurt too much except when I really do something dumb (like use it to open a car door or pick up a laundry basket). It really is only temporary, and it's really not like my leg is in a full cast or something! Either way, let's be honest, I still get annoyed, but all in all, it's really not too bad.

The doctor let me know last week that he would see me the first week or so in January so please pray for fast healing!! I'm hoping for good news on that visit!


So, what have I been up to? Well, let's see?



1. Learning to do my hair with my left hand (that cannot hold a round brush and actually make a curl without almost pulling out all my hair!)



2. Figuring out what I'm going to do next season (which largely depends on the healing of this collarbone. I had big ideas prior, but everything could be subject to change if I don't heal quickly).



3. Getting ready to go out to San Diego for work next week.



4. Chatting with Marit about our plans to take San Diego by storm! Can't wait to see you!!



5. Learning how to use the elliptical and recumbent bike and getting my sling really, really sweaty while watching friends I haven't seen since the accident walk up with an appalled look on their face! It's almost humorous now!



6. Working, Working, Working.. back at it in full force but excited that Christmas is right around the corner.



7. Procrastinating on all of my shopping, which is not good at all considering when I get back from S.D. it's going to basically BE Christmas.



8. Updating my website, making changes to the blog and forming a business plan for a few outside things that I'd like to start working on. More to come!



9. Picking up presents for "STUFF A BUS" which is a week long program that one of the local radio stations puts on from bus parked to collect items for Toys for Tots! This is a great time of year to help out those who may not have things as easy, and Toys for Tots is just one example of a small things that even those of us that feeling broke can still do. Check out this cute guy I found at the store. How fun is this! I love butterflies and if I would have had one of these to crawl after I know I would have enjoyed it so I hope someone else has fun with it!

10. Living with Lissa for a bit who passed her bar exam! YIPPEEE! Go Lissa, JD! She also just got a job here in Pittsburgh so she's apartment hunting and helping out this girl who can't even reach things on the top shelf sometimes! How nice it worked out for both of us!

11. Allowing Lis to kiss Sydney Crosby (Pittsburgh Penguins) because it was her 28th Birthday and he was sorta asking for it anyway.

12. Decorating for the Holiday by pulling out all the lights, hanging lighted garlands above the door and thinking about baking Christmas cookies (not doing it yet, just thinking about it!)

13. Catching up with friends I haven't talked to in awhile and trying to get over not being capable of talking on the phone while in the car (which I know, isn't safe, but it's where I do most of my calling). So, if you haven't heard from me yet - you're on the list, just give it time!

14. Being thankful. Even though I didn't have the best season by any stretch of the imagination, I tried to stay positive. By experiencing setbacks and challenges I've never faced before I will certainly have more experiences to share with others that might help them someday. You can't really know what it's like until you've been in someone's shoes who can't do everything, whether its due to injury, sickness etc. It's not fun sometimes, and I'm so anxious to get better, but I'm learning things even through this situation and as Matthew Wilder would say:

Ain't nothing gonna break my stride
Nobody gonna slow me down, oh no
I got to keep on moving
Ain't nothing gonna break my stride
I'm running in a one touch ground, oh no
I got to keep on moving