alignment, strength, connection and something else...

Those were my "words for 2023" in one of those 'whatever words you see first is your mantra for 2023' thingies. They definitely resonated with me, and really are carry-overs from the past year. I've been actively working to align my life with the people, goals and experiences that are truly important to me. I have made GREAT connections along the way and am looking forward to strengthening my relationships. I feel I have been physically and mentally strong in general, in my past, but I'm really seeing growth in both types of strength since stepping away from working full time at the end of 2021. 2022 really was a year to gain clarity - I'm not sure that was my intent, but that is what happened. Without that clarity, I wouldn't be able to pivot my focus so that it aligns with the people and things I value. I really have been moving toward doing things I love, with and for people I love, with a faith that it will all work out, and lo and behold I feel stronger, I feel more connected, I feel HAPPY and GRATEFUL. I kind of feel like I'm as content now as I seem here in this baby pic of me! So yes, the 2023 words alignment, strength and connection definitely resonated. I can't remember the fourth word. Oh well it will show up, like clarity did for 2022, right?

I'm not one for resolutions, but I actually do want to clean and streamline a shelf or drawer every day in January. This is inspired by our recent trip where we moved my in-laws back into their house after a fire. In their case, insurance charged per-item to clean and restore. This included unused mason jars (small canning jars). Seriously? But it did make me think, what in my house is worth cleaning and restoring? I'd like to keep only those things. We have a lot of unusable items that should be tossed or repaired, and also a lot of useful items that we no longer need (or never enjoy using), so we can pass them along to those who will love them. Managing "a shelf or drawer a day" will get me through our bedroom and bathroom in January, and likely the upstairs closets. Adulting is so fun, isn't it?

Training is going very well. I am progressing well, I can feel myself getting stronger and more fit, it's amazing. And the data doesn't lie. My running, swimming and biking are all showing improvement. My coach's philosophy is not to train to a number or a place in a race, just get as fit as you can so you can have your best performance. And my philosophy these days is "How far can I go? How good CAN I be?" So here we are in alignment, I'm doing the workouts, I feel great, my coach is helping me get to my best, and I want to keep on keepin' on! She prescribed a New Year's Day long run for me, for 75 minutes. I was afraid to do this because I wasn't sure I could, but then I just got up and did it... and got way more out of it than I expected!

So for that long run, I didn't exactly know my route, I didn't know the bathrooms along my route, and I didn't use the bathroom before I started the run. Mile three was VERY UNCOMFORTABLE until I stumbled on the McDonald's, then things got MUCH better! Of course, this was never my normal running route, and I wasn't running with my phone, so I didn't exactly know how to get myself home. All the houses looked the same, the street names were all similar, and with no map nor any cue sheet, I got lost. By the time I got to familiar territory and could sort myself out, the run ended up being 90 minutes. Let's just say I learned some valuable lessons that day, which is the point of training! Mostly I learned that when $h!t happens, I can handle it and carry on just fine, and I'm a lot stronger than I think I am. I really am happy that even though I got lost, the extra 15-minute detour was no big deal on my body nor my mind. Go, ME!

That said, training continues and I'm about to head to the pool. We got in yesterday afternoon, I unpacked and did my bike workout, today is a swim and a run so yep, I just keep on keepin' on, indeed. Hope you are all setting yourself up for a great healthy week. HAPPY NEW YEAR, everyone! I hope it is your best one yet. :)