Celebrating 34 Years

Wow! What a day! I woke up singing Happy Birthday to myself and I think even the kitty meowed a cheer! I hit the gym where the cute guy at the front desk wished me a happy birthday. It set the mood for an intense and very rewarding leg day! I managed to increase lots of my weights and had a great interval workout on the stairmaster. I even passed my best weight on the leg press- 450!!! Whoohoo! Happy Birthday to me!

The birthday wishes kept coming all day! Alex even sang to my voicemail and mom sent flowers. I enjoyed a wonderful lunch with Pam and Marion where I got a calorie free birthday cake drawing and a balloon. Who could ask for anything more? I hit the gym this evening for Mike's St. Patrick Day's spin. I got in a few good miles before class and had a good time connecting with everyone. The wishes kept coming. Mike even did my favorite spin ride- the flat plain and played my favorite Grease song! A good night with good friends. I even scored a gift from the Rush.

As I sit here reflecting on my day, I am reminded about the year I leave behind. It's been a challenging year. Last March was when my weight loss started to really stall leading me on a downhill spiral. Around that time, I was entering into a friendship that wouldn't last the year but was short and intense and taught me a lot about who I am and who I'm not. A little more than a year ago, I starting lifting and have made great strides with the weights and have found some peace and joy there.

In the past year, I have met and reconnected with some amazing people. I have formed a core group of ladies with whom I am honored to train with. It was my birthday last year that my mom helped me buy my first rode bike which has changed my life. I have logged many miles on that bike. I have sweated, laughed, sang, and even cried on the back of that seat. I have met many people and have supported several good causes. It opened a whole new world for me.

This year saw me go back to church. I found the missing part of myself there. A place I belong and am accepted for who I am. The bonds I have formed there are strong and encouraging. They give me a new strength. It was like coming home.

In the past year I have become a triathlete as strange as that sounds. Alex has worked faithfully and with lots of patience with me in the pool. She has logged many miles with me on the bike (even though she is not allowed to pick routes! :) ). I have found some strange joy in running and can even make it 5 miles. Something I never dreamed I do.

Friendships that were always there are still there. I started working on those "baskets" even more this year. Pam has been a constant source of encouragement and love. A real friend. Casey has become like a sister to me. Sharing the joys and pitfalls of life in our little corner of the world. I even caught up with an old friend from high school who moved into the area. Entered the new year with her and the family.

It's been a good year filled with many blessings. There has been heartbreak and tears but there has always been love and support. My family has made great strides in accepting this crazy "active" lifestyle I embrace and my mom and me reached new understanding in our different approaches to this weight loss. Because on either journey, its still been a battle.

I am looking forward this year- my first triathlon, half marathon and who knows maybe a half iron man. But either way, I am thankful today for the life I live. It just keeps getting better. As I say goodbye to the past year and tuck those memories away, I continue to keep moving on this journey. I never want to stop growing and learning. Life is good.