Wishing and Hoping and Dreaming

It's funny how one potential change in your life can send your soul into a tailspin wishing and dreaming and hoping for all the new possibilities in your life. (sometimes the potential changes can send your mind down the path of a nightmare but that's not what this entry is about)

My life has had me running on speed and adrenaline since March. I have been reconnecting with people, cultivating new relationships and working on old ones, volunteering my time, reaching for new goals and maintaining current ones.

In the middle of life, an interview was dropped in my lap. The prospect of changing my career path excites me. I have been working for five years for a great employer, the only unfortunate circumstance of that situation is there was no potential future for a girl sitting with two business degrees. So this interview got me wishing and hoping and dreaming of what it could mean for me to go into corporate America and utilize my degrees.

Imagine my enthusiasm when I was offered the job. I have to admit, it scares me to change my routine and leave behind the people I have seen every day for five years and care for. But the prospect of my future and being self sufficient wins out over those circumstances.

So today is my first day starting the new job. As I sit on the train riding into my orientation I can't help but feel nervous and thrilled all at the same time. I'm not allowing my mind to go into self-doubt because I know I got this and the change in my life will be refreshing.

This type A girl who likes routine is getting all shook up and still wishing and hoping and dreaming.

Goals that Lead to Lifestyle Changes & Keeping Them

Back in January of 2011 I had a doctor convince me to get a full blood work up. This freaked me out, not only because needles and I have a fickle relationship, but because, what could they find?? I was a young 26 year old, I'm healthy, right? Even if I'm not, won't my youth cancel all of it out?

Then the test results came, my doctors exact words "Your cholesterol levels are impressive."

"Thanks doctor, I'll take a compliment where I can," I respond with a fat smile on my face.

"I don't mean in a good way Alicia, I mean badly, your cholesterol is 271, normal should be be between 125 - 200, you could drop dead of a heart attack at 26," she concluded.

My smile turned dumbfounded and my jaw dropped to the floor, along with my stomach and heart. Way to make a young person feel mortally in danger doc.

She of course discussed how I could help this situation without modern medicine, exercise, diet, fish oils and flaxseed. I jumped on this, I did not want to take medicine, I'm young and single, I still want to have kids, what kind of effect can cholesterol meds have on that?

I started going to the grocery store weekly and loaded up on yogurt (which I already love), fresh veggies and fruit. I lessened my fatty carbohydrates and added in more whole grain carbohydrates. Flaxseed lasted through about two weeks of good effort and then I gave up. I bought yoga dvds and took to those and riding the stationary bike every day until it got warm enough to ride my regular bike.

An amazing thing happened when I got my blood work done 3 months later, my cholesterol dropped 41 points, I felt better, looked better and found myself buying smaller jeans. This instilled a lifestyle change in me towards healthier living. Don't let this post fool you though, I still splurge (more often than I should!)

This winter was busy and hard, but I have set more goals for myself and taken to pick my exercise back up.

I volunteered at The Bank of America Chicago Marathon this past October and found it to be an amazing experience. I was in a spotter tower 20 feet off the ground watching the runners as they walked the recovery path to the after party. Our goal was to observe them and if anyone looked like they were about to pass out to notify the medics to the runner and if they laid down to yell at them to keep moving (you have to do that after such a hard work out on your body even though your mind tells you to sleep). As I watched these runners I saw every age and shape imaginable. And kept thinking, "if they can do this then surely I can!"

That brings me to goal number 1. Run a 5k by the end of 2012.

I am well on my way to succeeding with this goal. I went to a running store and purchased my first ever pair of running shoes after being properly fitted and observed by an expert. On Monday, March 19th, I started the Couch to 5K program. This is a challenge for me as I have never been athletic because I never had to be, I was a music geek. I am a tiny girl with a great metabolism but I recognize it is starting to slow down and I can head off a lot of health issues with the lifestyle change of learning to be fit. In order motivate me even further, I signed up for my first 5K, the Color Run in Kansas City. I am running it with my sister-in-law who also recently tried running and is about 4 weeks ahead of me in the Couch to 5K program. It's a huge encouragement to know we are doing this together, even if we are 500 miles away from each other at the moment. There is definitely strength in numbers, even if it's mentally.

And to transition to Goal number 2. Ride a 50 mile bike ride by the end of 2012.

I have always enjoyed biking and have the joy of having two men in my family who are very passionate about cycling. My dad and my brother. Watching them pick up bicycling and riding century rides (100 miles) in the past 8 years has been awesome. I couldn't be left out and started to partake in short rides with my dad. I recognized last year that my bike was a very heavy frame and I rarely went past 7 mile rides. So this spring, I ordered a new bike and boy has it made all the difference. My longest ride so far is 13 miles in one day and I have put 37 miles on my new bike so far this year. I have affectionately named it "The Gonz" after Gonzo from the Muppets. The Gonz and I have a long summer ahead of us that I look forward to taking to the roads and riding all over. It's pretty sad when your old man is more fit than you and 25 years my senior. No more trailing behind him, this year I will keep up and will do at least a 50 mile ride with him.

The icing on the cake...err, no icing, that's bad for my cholesterol...is my blood test is the end of April. I can't wait to see what a year of watching my diet and exercising more than I ever have in my life will do for my numbers.

2011-A year of lessons

I am only 20 days late in writing this post, but still wanted to get it up here. Besides, I'm within the first month of the year, that has to be good for a procrastinator like me.

I started out 2011 with my usual mindset, "this is going to be my year!" It didn't take but a couple weeks for an overwhelming theme to pop up for 2011, it certainly was my year....my year for learning. This wasn't the kind of learning you get from a classroom like I had been in for my entire life up until December 2010. This year was filled with life lessons. Every time something would knock me down I'd remind myself it was all a learning experience and that God was trying to teach me something.

Since I am not a resolution kind of person (I always have hopes, dreams and goals in my life, the year does not mark an end or a beginning in that aspect for me) and I don't want to be negative, I thought I'd capture 2011 by listing some of the things I learned from all my experiences.

• Even though you are young, it is never too early to be proactive about your health.


• I will always love singing and making music with other people.


• Thunder snow is an amazing sight (and sound) to witness.


• It takes almost an entire day for 2 people to shovel a driveway with approximately 20 inches of snow and over 4 foot drifts.


• People will come into your life and people will go. As hard as it is, let those that go, leave, they'll come back around if your story together is not over.


• Sushi is not that gross, except when you order the wrong roll and it has squid on the top. It is not aesthetically pleasing.


• Being passionately attracted to someones looks and personality does not translate into a true, functioning relationship.


• Never date the man who wants you to chase him. He's either not that into you or is an empty person.


• Music will always be my number one choice of therapy (shopping is a close second).


• Challenge yourself by doing things you never think you are capable of. Being a stage manager at a musical was one of my favorite experiences this year.


• Follow your gut.


• No matter how blindsided you are by an event, do not sit back and take the beating. Assert yourself, you will regret it later if you do not.


• When questioned about a situation, no matter what you say, 90% of the time the interrogators mind is made up about you and you have simply become a pawn on their chess board.


• Do not wear flip flops in downtown Chicago. Questionable substances will end up on your legs.


• Going for a bike ride by alone is the quickest way to clear my mind. There is nothing like the wind in my face, my feet pushing the resistance in my pedals, the trees whizzing by, breathing in the fresh air, the sun glaring down on me and dodging the gutsy squirrels, chipmunks, rabbits, snakes, turtles, frogs and birds that dare cross my path.


• Wrigley field is still nothing but a giant bar to me.


• Always throw a swimsuit in your purse when going downtown Chicago in the summer, you never know when a hot day is going to come out of nowhere and you will just to shed your clothes and sit on the beach.


• God will leave you in an uncomfortable environment and let your pride fall in order to teach you humility.


• The Art Institute is a visit best shared by someone you can converse with about the art displayed.


• Spray on sunscreen does not provide near enough coverage as lotion. At least for me!


• Taking one of the last trains out of the city into the suburbs during The Taste of Chicago is an entertaining, multi-cultural learning experience. (This also applies to any big outdoor concerts in Millennium or Grant Park and White Sox or Cubs games.)


• It is not difficult to put two 80 plus year old women together in a room and get them gabbing and giggling like they are blissful teenagers again.


• A lot of sibling rivalries last a life time, but age and wisdom soften those rivalries into humor.


• A gap toothed truck driver that you meet at senior housing in the deep south can be even smarter than any business professor. Life experience no matter what your age, means, career, race, political ties is invaluable.


• Cemeteries can be beautiful and vastly full of history. All those headstones have a story to tell.


• A sanatorium is a long term medical facility associated with tuberculosis illness. It provided a lot of jobs for many of my ancestors.


• An outdoor wedding, while beautiful, takes a lot of blood, sweat and tears. Especially when it's 100+ degrees out.


• I am honest to a fault with everyone, but myself. In the words of Florence + the Machine "I've been keeping secrets, from my heart and from my soul."


• Mom's sweet tea is a cure all.


• I learned just how tragic a miscarriage is. I had no idea how much a woman has to endure until my best friend went through it.


• Playing vacation roulette is fun and can be successful!


• Even the calmest of weekends with my best college girl friends can become a highlight of the entire year.


• The night time Chicago River architecture cruise is peaceful and gorgeous.


• It takes quite a while to get up to the observation deck of the Sears Tower (I refuse to call it Willis) and it takes just as long to get out on the ledge and look through a glass floor 103 floors up.


• When you feel like your whole world is falling apart, it's easy to want to leave everything behind and start somewhere new.


• Don't be surprised when the tug of your almost four year old niece's hand begging you to have a slumber party with her wins out over going out with friends. She won't be this little forever.


• Jeans over $100 still shrink. Because I know my legs didn't get shorter.


• Massachusetts and Connecticut must make a lot of money off parking meter tickets. ALWAYS feed extra change in your meter.


• The historic New England pub was a hotel, a restaurant, a court, a church and a post office. It served all purposes.


• You meet very interesting people at breakfast when staying at a bed and breakfast. Surprisingly, most of them were my age!


• Boston's mass transit system is immaculately clean.


• Don't wear new shoes on vacation. The blood bursting blisters will scar your feet for four months and counting.


• Lobster isn't that great when you are taking on a nasty cold, stick to comfort food.


• Gnomes are adorable.


• I can and will continue to embrace no bangs. I gave up fighting my cowlick after 20 plus years, it's a beautiful thing.


• Observe a marathon, you will never believe the wide variety of runners. And you will leave thinking, "if they can do this, then certainly I can!"


• Every year I think this, but am always amazed at how blessed I am with those in my life that chose to celebrate my birthday with me.


• One small little man that you have never met can melt your heart the day he is born.


• I can survive a four year old girl's cupcake birthday party.


• Thai food is amazing.


• Whenever I make a new, complicated dessert, better plan on two batches. I always alter something after tasting the first and second batch is far superior.


• Much like follow your gut but a little different. You must also follow your heart.


• When the person that you let go comes back, it's as if you never missed a beat.


• My dad and I make a great cooking team in the kitchen, I can't wait for next Thanksgiving.


• My brother makes a killer apple pie with just the ingredients found around the house.


• The Christkindl Market is best for German pastries, Gluhwein and the souvenir boot.


• I am a terrible ice skater.


• Playing pranks can be fun if you're partner in crime is the right person.


• Befriending coworkers from different generations can give you a beneficial perspective on life and work you could not comprehend on your own.


• You always need someone to bounce ideas off of.


• If the rubber washer in the rim if your coffee mug won't stay in, throw out the entire mug. If not you will continue to spill the contents all over yourself and walk in to work with wet pants, shirt and/or a soaked purse.


• Christmas feels very un-Christmas without snow.


• I will never cease to enjoy seeing Christmas lights through my Nana's eyes.


• Children are extra gullible at Christmas (and extra silly).


• Sometimes in the middle of ordinary life, an ordinary person can surprise you.


• Most people choose to grow up, but there are some who want to live in their past forever and never better themselves.


• Moroccan oil works wonders on hair.


• When you get your bravery up to finally do something you need to do, follow the bravery on through.

So there are my lessons from 2011, some serious, some a little more entertaining. It's funny, the older I get the more I look forward to life and not just mine but others. The circle of people I care about and love continues to grow and watching their lives always excites me. So here's to 2012, another year full of life lessons.