Reflections on January 2015

      2015 began without a sweeping resolution, but instead would be centered on a theme, a positive force of nature. The goal would be to consistently push myself to be better and to get others to join in on the fun. January would have a specific set of goals that would start the year in the proper direction.

     The list of January goals was written on a piece of white printer paper that I taped to the side of the dresser in the guest room next to my desk. Every night, I would take the opportunity to revisit my goals for the month and think about the actions that I was taking to achieve my goals. 

   Here was my list:

1. Sub 30 minute 5 mile Fresh Pond Race (a race held each Saturday around a pond near Boston)

2. Meatless Sunday Dinner through Friday Lunches

3. Finish Advisory Curriculum

4. Be Grateful every day.

5. Be Active with 20 different people. 

and I didn't write it on my list, but I made a commitment to having a drink free January. 

 You might expect at this point that I will be writing about my perfect completion of all of my goals, but that is not the case. I was only able to race Fresh Pond during the 1st two weeks of the months and I was able to race the 5 miles in 31:24 in sub optimal conditions. This goal will be moving onto my February list of goals and I look forward to sharing with you the outcome by the end of February. 

During the month of January there was only one instance that I ate meat during the week. It was at breakfast during a snow day after finishing a great run with a great friend. I ordered a meal that had bacon by accident. It was a delicious mistake!

I wrote a ton of advisory curriculum which was definitely the result of this goal. I still need to write a few more lessons to be done for the year, but I refuse to continue to write about it because it is definitely not a "sexy" goal. The Bay State Test Blog deals mostly with "sexy" goals. 

It is the last three goals that I was most excited about during the month of January and I strongly encourage that anyone who reads beyond this point considers setting some  type of similar goals as the net positive that I obtained as a result of being focused on these goals was something that I felt was worth sharing. 

5. I set a goal of being active with 20 different people. I tracked this in a very basic way with a strip of paper that  I listed each person that I was active with during the month. Next to the person's name I wrote the date and way that I was active with that person. Throughout the month, I  pushed myself to invite people to go for a run, or join me at a spin class, or go to yoga. I was active with people that I had never been active with before and I was able to reconnect with friends that I hadn't seen in a long time doing something extremely positive. I only was able to be active with 19 people, but I will set the same goal for February and plan to have a much better outcome. 

I have been drink free for all of January. My mind is sharp and combined with the adjustments in diet and the absurd amount of shoveling that I did during January I have lost 8 pounds. I wasn't drinking  very much in 2014, but the extra focus that I have gained as a result of this commitment has allowed me to push myself mentally, physically, and spiritually. I feel like a life-ninja. 

Lastly, The goal that  I was most proud of achieving for the month of January was the goal of being grateful every day.  I set an alarm on my phone to buzz at 8:30 pm each day so that I would have a time to reflect and write down one thing that I was grateful for on that day ( no repeats). At the end of the month, I had a list of all of the things that  I was grateful for each day. It was great reminded of all the positive things that have fueled me throughout the month of January. I look forward to doing it again in February. 

I hope that you enjoyed reading this and are feeling positive as a result. I haven't written in a while and I feel a bit rusty. I apologize for any grammar or fluency issues that exist in this entry. I hope you had a wonderful January and I hope you have an even better February.

Smile!

He Awoke...

from his slumber. He was recharged and ready to be a warrior once again.

It isn’t always about the running!

I looked around and I realized that I was surrounded by a pretty amazing group of people.

I was in the process of cooking a fairly epic meal. It would be my last meal in my 20’s and I wanted it to be something noteworthy. I was attempting three of my favorites (tortellini alla vodka, eggplant risotto, and penne carbonara).

I didn’t realize in that moment that I would be spending the last two hours of my 20’s engaged in two very different (but both very exciting) activities. The 1^st was a solo dishwashing dance party. The second was sitting in front of bright 14 inch screen as my fingers moved swiftly across the keys.

I would like to share some excellent realizations that I had during this evening.

1. Ace of Base is probably the best music to listen to while having a solo dance party.

2. I was incredibly happy with the life that I lived thus far. The 20’s were a particularly amazing period of time.

3. It isn’t always about the running. As I looked around at the amazing people that I was with who were sharing great stories, food, and laughter together my mind began to think of all the great friends that I have made along the way and the incredibly family that I was fortunate enough to grow up with and be a part of. Running is such an amazing part of my life and I never take it for granted, but it is incredible to know that if I run a 4:34 for the mile instead of a 4:32 that none of these people are going to think less of me in anyway.

4. We can never necessarily predict the direction that life will take us, but the more often we practice being the best version of ourselves the easier it is to smile back at the road that we travel on and help others smile as our paths cross along the way.

5. Chumbawamba is also pretty amazing for solo dance parties.

I hope that whatever circumstance that has led you to reading this blog entry makes you think about where you are in this very moment and all the things, people, and events that have led you to where you are. I hope that in reflecting on all those things you have a great big smile. I hope that you take the time to say something kind to someone who has made you a better you along the way.

Thank you to everyone that shared my last meal of my 20’s with me and anyone that I have ever shared a meal, drink, smile, or a laugh with!

Stay Current

I realized how absurd I must look: a sweaty white guy sitting alone in his car in an empty school parking lot in Roxbury eating room temperature mac and cheese mixed with chili.

My mind flashed to the thought of how important it was to live in a way where you Stay Current.

I think that we live in a culture where we can expect to fall behind and easily catch back up. I came to this realization when I went to watch a tv show On-Demand and it was not available (It wasn’t available because I recently took the exciting step to downgrading to basic tv). I realized that I no longer had the safety net of On- Demand and that the only way for me to know what was going on with Parks and Rec or the Real House Wives of Beverly Hills that I would need to Stay Current.

I realized that I probably wouldn’t be able to Stay Current on these shows ( particularly because I wouldn’t even have access to any fantastic Bravo programming), but then I realized that I was excited about this prospect and how I might be able to challenge myself and others to Stay Current on being the best version of ourselves.

Back to my mac and cheese/chili.

I had just finished an easy 12 mile run after school and my body was craving the immediate intake of protein and carbs. I was really excited that I had the opportunity to satisfy this need with my delicious blend of carbs and protein. I was happy that could Stay Current on some of the needs that would aid my recovery from this run ( I surely could have driven home and wait 25 minutes before eating, but I think having the immediate intake of the mac, cheese, and chili was much more beneficial).

So I challenge people to think of how they can Stay Current on things that will make their life better in a few small ways

- Stay Current ( on your health) and do a set of sit up and push-ups after reading this line. And maybe drink an extra glass of water

- -Stay Current ( on being positive) and tell someone how they impressed you in some way today.

- Stay Current ( on your relationships) and call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while that lives far away

Feel free to add any additional ways to Stay Current on being better versions of ourselves.

Resolve Constantly

If there was one action that I could encourage people to take in 2012, it would be to Resolve Constantly!

I looked at my last blog post and was a little bit upset that my last post was on November 27^th. I was three days and 29 miles from hitting my November Goal of 240 miles for the month. It was ambitious and I am sure that people may have wondered if I hit my goal. Did his resolve wane? Is that why he hasn’t blogged in so long?

I am very happy to report that since my last entry, my resolve has grown even stronger and I am back on a familiar path of pushing myself and others to be the best versions of themselves.

I resolved three things for December and I achieved all of these resolutions.

- I ran with 25 different people for the month

- I ran a sub 4:40 mile.

- I ran 255 miles for the month.

I am resolving for a January filled with:

- 265 miles

- Only 3 days of pizza eating

- a Sub 4:33 mile.

As we make our way into the New Year, I would hope that people take time out of each month, week, and day to resolve something.

Resolve constantly, and push yourself to be a much better version of yourself.

Resolve constantly, and share your mini-resolutions with the people around you so that they can hold you accountable for being that better version of yourself.

Resolve constantly, and encourage others to resolve constantly to make themselves better version of themselves.

Everyone deserves to be a better version of themselves today than they were yesterday. Everyone deserves to be a better version of yourself tomorrow than you are today.

This does not happen by chance.

Resolve Constantly and Constantly Create a Better Version of Yourself!

Only in Horseshoes and Hand Grenades

My month goal was 240 miles.

I am at 211 miles. I have 3 days to get 29 miles to achieve the goal.

I am really exciting to be very close to reaching my goal, but I am going to have to work hard to hit the mileage. I need to make this happen. Any support that you can provide ( text, phone call, email, in person motivation) would be greatly appreciated.

Falling short of my goal isn't really an option that I am interested in taking.

After a great thanksgiving break with family and friends, I am reminded of a phrase that my dad would say to me and my brother if we were ever happy with almost accomplishing something.

"Almost doesn't count. Only in horseshoes and hand grenades"

Any support that you can provide in helping me hit my 240 miles for the month would be greatly appreciated.

Also, December is just around the corner so I hope you have begun your brainstorm of you December Resolution.

Take a Run to Be Thankful

Go running by yourself or run with a close friend during the next couple days. On the line challenge yourself to this task.

List 5 things that you are thankful for

However, I want you to be specific. I don't want you to just say blanket things like "I am thankful for my family". Challenge yourself to be specific (What or who are you thankful and identify a very specific reason that you are thankful for that person or thing)

I ran with a great friend today and we talked about some of the things we were thankful for and I shared some things that I was thankful for, but after we parted ways my brain really began to explore all of the things that I am thankful for.

I was thankful for my father who worked so hard his entire life to give me opportunities to figure out who I am and how I can help this world out a little bit.

I was thankful for all the people who I have met that have challenged me to become a better person, runner, friend, and teacher.

I was thankful for my mother who taught me how to cook, dance, smile alot, and to understand how important family should be.

I was thankful for my brother who taught me how to stand up for myself and always knew when to step in if I was ever having trouble standing up for myself.

I hope that anyone who reads this takes the opportunity to think of all the things that you should be thankful for. I hope that you take that opportunity while you are running so that you let all these amazing people and experiences that you have had to help fuel you on a run as we approach one of the best days of the year.