Will Run For Ice Cream

Welcome back to "Will Run For Ice Cream"! 🍦🏃‍♀️ As I lace up my running shoes and hit the road (more like treadmill these days) once more.  Where have I been? Between going back to college at 48 to get a 2nd bachelor's degree, getting a full time teaching job, being a mom and a wife, working out took a back seat. Ok, more like it because extremely non-existent.  I'm happy to report that I earned my Bachelor's degree from Mississippi State University in Elementary Education. I was hired in 2022 mid-way through the year as a half day kindergarten teacher. In 2023, I was moved to 3rd grade as a full time teacher. Both of those positions were 'over flow' or extra teachers for the year. I'm happy to report that this year, I am a 4th grade teacher. I absolutely love it. I am hoping that this is my forever home at least for awhile!  Oh, and I am now in Grad school. 😊 During all of this, my mom was diagnosed with cancer. She died 6 months after her diagnosi

Wow, has it really been 2 years since my last post? I suppose that I allowed life to get in the way. For any faithful blog readers, I apologize. Although, I'm not sure how many people actually read blogs anymore. I think most people use other social media platforms.  (By the way, drop by and say hi on Insta. )  But for some reason, each year when I pay for my google domain, I can't seem to let it go. As silly as it sounds, this little space is mine. And lately I've been struggling with ownership and acceptance. And my domain renewal was a not so gentle reminder that I have a voice .  Seriously, you'd think by 48 that I'd have this figured out - nope - apparently not. However, I am wise enough to know that we have a choice to allow situations to harms us or make us stronger. I'm choosing to let this mid-life quandary make me stronger. And because of this, I'm setting goals, taking charge, and reexamining priorities.  Movin' on... 

It's not selfish to take care of yourself. It's not selfish to take care of yourself. It's not selfish to take care of yourself. And I'll say it just one more time in case you didn't hear me. It's not selfish to take care of yourself. I have found through experience that when I'm not taking care of myself, not only do I suffer but my family suffers. So ditch the mom guilt and take the time that you need! I have a tendency to keep pushing my needs aside until I reach a breaking point. We've had a very busy fun summer so far. However, I've struggled to get some quality ' me ' time to decompress. I'll spare you the meltdown that ensued. But the reality check that followed prompted me to take action.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. Do not feel guilty for taking time for you. There have been plenty of times that I skipped my early morning workout. I just didn’t feel like doing it before work. After work, I was too emotionally and physically tired. Recently, I got up, made lunches for the family and told Hubby and Lil Man that I needed 30 minutes. And I felt guilty!

4am alarms are never easy. Getting up at 4am and not ‘feeling’ the workout is even worse. The struggle is real! At times too real. And I have experienced this often. My unprofessional advice?

If it was easy everyone would do it. Isn’t that the saying that we hear often? Cliff notes version - sometimes things get hard! Sometimes we want to give up, but I have to remind myself to remember the why. Why did I decide to do this? Why should I finish what I’ve started? Sometimes I’ve found that my why changes. But there IS STILL A WHY!

In case you haven’t figured this out by now, I’m a planner. I know - shocker right?!? :) So although I love substitute teaching, it’s making the planner in me anxious. And it’s been reeking havoc on my workouts. Basically the morning of or maybe the night before, I find out if I’m working. So my day ( that I thought I had planned ) can be turned upside down in an instant. But, truthfully, isn’t that really the same with everyone?