EAT - PRAY - LOVE

I like to read, love it actually. I am not the best reader but I love it anyway. I love biography's and autobiography's the most. I have always been a fan of documentarys which may explain it. I love any book or movie about anyone who overcomes anything. The harder the hardship the better. I do love a good beach read every so often (Bridget Jones Diary was great) but, I would rather read something that I know can and has actually happened.

A friend recommended Eat Pray Love to me so before I left California after a meeting, I bought it and began to read. That was in March and I just finished the book. Not because it was slow or boring but because for one of the first times, I took time to really read and understand and think about everything that she said. It took be so long to read because I did not want the book to end.

Elizabeth Gilbert (the author) spent one year in three different countries where she sought out something different from each. Italy, where she wanted to learn pure pleasure; India, where she wanted to learn about prayer and devotion and then Indonesia where she wanted to learn about love.

When people say that something changes their life, I always think..really? Your entire life huh? Well, I am not saying that about this book changed my life, but eye opening, definitely! So much in fact that this November, David and I will be taking a spiritual journey of our own when we attend a 10 day Vipassana Meditation course at a mediation sanctuary outside of Dallas. Ten days in silence, Ten hours a day meditating, Ten days not seeing each other, Ten days away from my dogs :( Ten days including Thanksgiving which for the first time, I will miss. Ten days that I really feel will, in fact, be life changing.

Why? That is the question that everyone has been asking and my answer..why not? If you know me you know that while my life can be a little mainstream (work 9-5, house with dogs, normal sleeping hours etc) you also know that my thoughts and what I want out of life are not mainstream, so that is the best answer that I have. Why go? because some of us would like to understand ourselves on a little bit of a deeper level than others care to know. Because after making the decision to not have children, I have decided instead to take every opportunity that comes my way, to embrace what I can out of life and live with no regrets. I hope that this starts out our path in that direction.

I recognize the difference in the people that I tell. Those with more of a traditional view on the world and life vs. those who have lived with more of an open attitude seem more understanding. Either way, it does not matter. I have always followed my own path. When confronted with a fork in the road, I have always tried to take the road less traveled and so far...it has led me on some incredible journeys. Glad to share them with you.

Get the book and read it!

Jennifer

The Little Engine that...Did !

THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT ... DID!

When I did my first sprint triathlon this past October (the Try Andy's Tri) I cried in every transition, balled actually. I had never even thought about doing a Tri until my friend and fellow cyclist Michelle asked me to do it with her and if you know me, I hardly even turn away a challenge. I was not prepared to say the least. I did not want to continue...bricklegs? What legs? I could not even walk much less run. I hated every minute of it. The swim, which I doggy paddled though was horrid. When the guys pulled me out at the end I am SURE that I was dead-weight, I cried in the transition. I cannot go on. "But Babe" (my supportive wonderful boyfriend David said ), "You are 1/3 of the way keep going" ! "Keep Going..HOW !"! The bike which should have been my best leg of the race was even hard for me and the run with a walk here and there was more like a shuffle. As I came up to the finish line after a somehow remotely descent 1:40 time..Lisa with TNT said "Are you going to do a TNT event now" I laughed.."Hell no I said NEVER"..

The next thing that I knew- I was getting donations for the Capital of Texas Olympic Distance Triathlon to benefit LLS. How in the world did that happen!? !!!

Lone Star Tri Sprint
This past Saturday morning before I got to the sprint tri I said to myself "If you cry again, if you hate this..you will get through CapTex and then, go back to long distance cycling. If it is that bad..do not torture yourself". I was terrified talking to the other TNT'ers on "The Plank" but when I jumped in I knew-I was just at the pool at Ballys on Wednesday night. It was a little darker, a little colder and a lot bigger-but I could do this. I knew how to do this. Before I knew it..I was passing the pyramid.. and talking to myself the whole time.."Woman ... you have this..you can do this!" ... I looked up again and was already turning by the Pattleboat. WHAT? ALREADY?.I had done it, and I had liked it!.."Hey David" I waved..."how ya like me now?"

The transition was easy and the ride although next time I will eat more..was good too. That was the beach where I used to go as a kid..hey I thought " I know you! " I could not believe how quickly it was over.. the half way turn already? GO TNT GO TEAM IN TRAINING..OMG were the cops shouting for me? They were! Awesome...Then the dreaded run was coming. STAY POSITIVE I thought...remember, have fun! I took the advice of a former TNT director that I had dinner with at a peer meeting a few weeks before and spun really easy for the last 1/4 mile and then got up on my peddles and stretched my legs out. I was in the no passing zone so am sure that the bikes behind me were aggravated...oh well I thought, gotta do what works for me!

When I got off my bike to dismount..nothing. No brick legs! Hey David I waved."it is just a walk in the park"! !!! I knew the 1 mile sign was there from seeing it the night before. I told myself just get to it and walk...I made it and kept running and although slow.. I ran all the way to the end by the road..then took a break. I ran to the rest station and stretched and took a break..I ran back to the grass...then walked and took a break..then I ran to the opening of the park..then took a break..then I ran in. " You are almost done everyone kept shouting" "Congratulations" the volunteers yelled. I ran past the TNT tent with tons of fantastic people waving..past the water where I had just stood shaking..OMG is this really it? There is David high fiving me, there is my coach...there are my teammates..there are my co-workers...I did this! I am done! I took a bow when I crossed the finish line and then looked up to the sky...thank you I said..I did this!

I work for LLS and I am training for CapTex for my Aunt Helene who died after 6 short weeks of finding out that she had Leukemia-for years she donated to my endeavors even donated to my first TNT event the 2001 Tour De Tucson for LLS. Who would have thought that she would die of the very disease that she was supporting. That year, I had no one to ride for, I did not know anyone who died from a blood cancer-who knew this would happen to my family? When I was running I looked up and said to her "You get me though this! You push me because I need you now..." And she really must have listened because, I finished!

I am not scared of CapTex anymore. I know that I can do this!

Thank you to my Aunt who watches over us all and keeps us safe and to your guardian "angels" if you have them who watch over me, and keep me safe.

To an experience of a lifetime!

GO TEAM

To Life!

Lekhayim (sounds like La Hi-Em) means "To Life". It is a traditional toast that people of the Jewish faith use to wish the best for health and life to the person that they are toasting.

I love this toast and always use it when I am toasting someone or something. So, I thought that it was a great start to my first blog spot. This picture was taken a few weeks ago at David's birthday dinner. That is Sake and it was good!

While I am not super over the moon about organized religion, I am someone who truly respects every ones right to believe what they want. Whatever gets you through the night. You can usually hear me saying 'Jesus, Allah, Jehovah, Holy Ghost, Buddha..whoever you are..help me now". I figure that just about covers everyone.

I have my own relationship with my God and it is both personal and important to me. I say my prayers every night and count my blessings constantly throughout the day. I am positive that I am blessed and am thankful for everything in my life. My job, my family, my friends, the material things that I do have that make me more comfortable, my pets, my boyfriend, my health. I feel thankful constantly. I am sure that I am blessed.

I am excited to share my adventures with you especially over the new few months as I prepare for my first Olympic Distance Triathlon! Someone asked me once "What defines you?" I could answer so quickly. What defines me? My work in non-profits, helping others, giving back and knowing that what I do outside my job is as important as what I get paid to do during the day. I put my money where my mouth is. This Tri is just one of many charity events that I have done over the past 8 years when I first fell in love with competing.

Follow my journey ... it is sure to be amusing!

Lekhayim!

Jennifer