Life is what you make of it

What a week it has been with Hurricane Sandy, not knowing if we are having school next Thursday and Friday, attempting to get homework done and eating the best that I can. My head hurts just thinking about it! We had our power restored after 62 hours without it. I honestly was getting used using candles and it felt like the world just stopped for a few days. There was no worrying about Facebook or LoseIt! or listening to the woes of the world. It almost reminded me of being in Cape May where there is just this calmness, peace and serenity. In some ways I wish that I had that back, and in other ways not so much. 

Since I was able to slow down the past few days, I spent time pondering my thoughts and feelings and if I am truly happy. It may seem odd to many but for me it was time to re-evaluate. Am I happy where my life is headed, am I happy with the current situation, can I do more with my life, can I live a better life? The answers are mixed for all of those questions but I can say that in general I lead a pretty happy life. I have done more with my life than I ever dreamed or imagined I could do. I have helped people both directly and indirectly by being there to lend an ear or to provide support or other means to people. My life is meant to be of service to others. I truly enjoy giving to those that may not have all that I have or just befriending someone who needs friendship and comfort. I do not like sitting around waiting for opportunities to come my way or enjoying everything that I have in the comforts of my own home.

This is where I begin to question things. The idea of service and wanting to help others, where did this come about? It is questions like these that I wonder if I am actually adopted into my own family because I am uniquely different from them in my ideals of life, and the people around it. While, I know for a fact I am not adopted since I look quite a bit like my mother. I have become my own person, separate of the norms that both my immediate and extended family are used to. It can make a person feel isolated, but I for one know that I have many close friends whom I consider to be my own family. It is up to our own individual selves to decide whether we want to be like those around us in our own homes or to be separate, unique and complete individuals. 

Life is what you make of it. 

I chose to be the person I am today, despite all the negativity and harsh judgements of family members. I chose to work my butt off to be a healthier person so that I can serve others. I chose to educate myself on what is going on in the world but also in the education system. I chose to be happy because I cannot see myself being miserable. I chose to love with all my heart and soul, any human being (or animal) that comes into my life who willingly accepts. I chose to live my life to the fullest with no regrets or looking back upon past mistakes or wishing to change things. I chose to laugh at myself when I look like an idiot or when someone tells an awful joke. I chose to love God and to serve as one of His servants. 

I am unique, fully of love, compassion, and hope. I am simply me. <3

Until next time....

Updated pictures.. 3 1/2 months going strong..

Frankenstorm

As I sit here writing to you all, I am waiting for Frankenstorm to approach. Where I live in New Jersey, is pretty much the center of the storm and work has been called off for the next 2 days. It is just lovely, and I am not really bothered by it because I have lived on Long Island where hurricanes and storms are a normal occurance.

What am I worried about? Not being able to go out for a run. This month has been a kick butt month for running and I will be hitting 50 miles on the 31st. I enjoy going out and running my normal route and then going the neighborhood. It is not necessarily fun having the wind make running hard but that is okay, I have gotten used to it. I know that running during the storm is not the best idea which is why I won't be doing it. I mean, this storm is only three days out of my life so it is not that bad right?

Today, since I am rather bored I am going to be doing a lot of exercise once I get my butt off the couch. I want to try and lose 1.4 lbs by the end of this month because then I will have hit my 30 lb mark. I am unsure if it will happen but I am going to try my hardest that is for sure.

One thing I have noticed over the past month is that I am loosing a boat load of inches off my body. From the beginning to the end I have lost about 11 1/2 inches. It is pretty crazy and to see clothes that fit at the beginning of the month that no longer fit now. It is pretty exciting!

I am excited to see what November is like!

Until next time......

C25k

So, I started the c25k program four weeks ago today. Initially, I started in but because I was so heavy and have no motivation I stopped at the end of week 3. At the beginning of September I decided to give myself another shot at running. Since then I have really enjoyed running. I am not exactly sure why, but it might be the fact that I am addicted to sweating now or just my excitement. I am noticing that my body is physically changing which is pretty sweet. However, there is one downfall. The scale is refusing to move at this point. I want to push the number down but it is not working. So I am just pushing through with running three times a week and doing zumba three times a week. We will see what results I have on the scale Sunday.

With my Reaper family, we are doing a scavenger hunt for the month of October. We created a list of things we are to do within the month. The list ranges from not eating meat for a day, hopping from your home to car, and completing all your goals for the month. This challenge has seen everyone off and running and it has been a lot of fun thus far. I also decided to join a running challenge for the month. Most of the people are doing 100 miles within the month. I decided to lower my goal a bit because I am not ready for that. So, this month I am going to run 50 miles this month. I am so excited and ready to start this running challenge. 

“Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly.” ~Stephen R. Covey

☼Ashley Grace☼