It’s that time of year again!

Smile and be happy

Kind hearts are the gardens,

Kind thoughts are the roots,

Kind words are the blossoms,

Kind deeds are the fruits.

Take care of your garden

And keep out the weeds,

Fill it with sunshine

Kind words and kind deeds.

Running has always been a relief and a sanctuary — something that makes me feel good, both physically and mentally. For me, it is as much about the health benefits as it is about the joy it brings to my life. Let's face it - the magic of winter is starting to lose its luster. I am about ready to trade in my hot chocolate by the fire (or riding my trainer in the basement) for an iced coffee, sitting on my back deck with the sun beaming on my face (instead positioning the Cyclopse on the deck; so I could ride my TRI on the deck in the sun; or ride out on the road). 

It’s coming, I can see the rising sun earlier in the mornings and the sunset later in the evenings. And I can hear the birds on my morning runs. 

It’s that time of year again! Spring is right around the corner and with that, the promise of more outdoor activities. Am I ready? Yes indeed.  I am taking that last sip of hot spiced tea today! 

It really is never too late

Living as if You Matter

Sometimes God pushes us to our limits. 

It's because he has greater faith in us 

than we have in ourselves.

This is me outside of Hemingway’s permanent residence;

Where he wrote in his writing studio 

‘writing studiously’ at least 4 hours each day.

I've been a fan of the writer Ernest Hemingway for as long as I can remember, there's always been something about the incredibly large life he lived that inspired me to become a writer.

My life became even more full, as I journeyed through Key West when Leon surprised me with a Caribbean cruise to bring in the new year several years back (2009). One of the stops was to the island of Ernest’s second home. I learned it was the place where he dedicated most of his writings and many stories aspired from there. I also learned he was raised in Oak Park Illinois, only a hop-skip-and-a-jump away from Wisconsin. He sure had a colorful life full of many spouses, with wild, exotic flair-ups and flings.

Hemingway’s Home

January, 2009

I guess this is what sparked my interest in "The Old Man and the Sea” in 1952, this was written after Hemingway took a break from his travels in Africa. He maintained a permanent resident in Key West. This is the home I toured, and learned of the  made-up stories of his strained relationships with spouses and discovered his writing routine. The docents even said, they “could be fairy tales made up, or not.”  They liked to keep us guessing. 

His daily schedule is something I picked up and use today. I set aside certain amount of time, carve out even 15 minutes, to write, research and read-to-write. 

I also learned Mr. Hemingway had set-aside time to conduct active research (I love that applied approach). He would go out during a specific time every day and watch the crowds; sit and listen to people talking and participate in jovial conversations, while jotting down his thoughts in his small notebook.  

One of his favorite places to go, ironically, was the Pub. He liked to drink (ha ha).  He’d go there every evening; but only after his work in the studio was done. His studio writing comprised of thinking and sometimes even stewing; then carefully wrote. At the pub, he attentively listened to the sailors stories at sea; which inspired his tales.

Earnest Hemmingway’s Writing Studio

Lately, I keep thinking of a quotation of his from his novel "The Sun Also Rises," in which two characters are talking a little more than halfway through the book. When Mike tells Bill that he went bankrupt, the latter asks how it happened.

"Two ways," Mike replies. "Gradually, then suddenly."

The quote keeps coming back to mind because it captures the path that many take on in fitness and health overall. 

It's so easy to make little compromises, drop a run here, skip a swim there, eat a little something that isn’t healthy, or have that extra glass of wine. (Bear in mind that I'm not pointing any fingers, I'm just as guilty of doing each of these things as anyone. In fact, this is written specifically to me). The problem is that before you know it, these little compromises add up to something you'd never have chosen if you'd taken a moment to step back and think about what the impact might be after making them for a long enough time.

Keep at it!

This is why I write this, to keep my focus on those little positive shifts I am making in my life. And making sure I let myself know, hey, “You can’t do that, you should stop and think before you grab that cookie.” Ha ha! 

Before you know it, you are making great strides. I sure can acquiesce to this. It really is never too late. 

🏊🚴🏻 🏃🏻‍♀️

This year, the docket unfolds.

Guess what?

Once a year,

 I go someplace
I've never been before.

😍 ❤ 💘

This is my art completed In 2015.

This year, on the docket, there are going to be many, the Netherlands, Quebec, Kauai and Saugatuk, MI to start. I found out, on a whim, my friend booked a trip to Amsterdam this year. Several years ago, she discovered her distant relatives are Dutch and Norwegian. Dutch is a small part of my ancestory is as well, my paternal side. As time went on, she went to Holland and ran across a letter, a ‘great-great’ left for anyone who passed-by with their last name. It was fun to hear her story. {Don’t get confused, there are several second-to-first person switches here..}

Evening sunset

She said, “I was passing by a little venue in Holland and the curator asked me what my last name was.” I told them, and the curator said, “Wait, I have something for you.” 

"I was Surprised and perplexed", she said, "I waited while the curator went to the back room, and came back with a worn envelope. I took it. As I read it, I found out that my family was quite wealthy in those days. They basically owned the town, and had all sorts of trades in their favor. I was silently hoping that she left something for me.” She snickered, but then continued, “After saying my thank you’s and good byes, I walked the streets of the little town and saw banks, bars and other buildings having signs with my last name plastered on the fronts.”  She smiled, “It was very cool! I even got a picture pointing to the bank sign. I found out many of my family, in the late 1880’s left this little town to move to either South Africa or Colorado. There aren’t many who live in the US today, you can't find many of them here. I found a family who lives in the Netherlands.” She paused. Then continued, "This is what got me interested in reconnecting with my history and traveling to those places where my families live."

A few years later, she went on to saying, another of her distant relatives reached out to her. He lives in Amsterdam; invited her to stay with them. The history and family stories and tails will be fun to listen to. 

This year, she decided to take her distant relatives up on the offer. 

Today, while telling me of her plans, she invited me along. She said it would be fun to participate in part of her journey. I said I’d look at my calendar and see if I have anything during those travel dates. She said, “Okay, let’s see how our story unfolds. If it works great, if not, it wasn’t meant to be.” 

Come along, as I share my travel plans to go someplace I've never been before and as these plans for travels unwind and unfold.

🏊🚴🏻 🏃🏻‍♀️