Imagine all the people living life in peace

 I cannot find the words.  I cannot stop the tears.  I cannot imagine the effects.  I cannot imagine the loss.  I cannot imagine the grief.  I cannot imagine the horror.  I cannot imagine the fear.  I cannot imagine the change.  I cannot imagine the devastation.  My heart hurts for so many people. 

I cannot imagine the size of heart this boy carries.

        Best,
               Anne

Pictures that make me smile

             Best, 

                    Anne

When people change your life you remember who they are

Last weekend I visited Whidbey Island for the first time with my friend Amelia (who lives there). The island is very lovely and on our trip back to Bellingham we drove through the marathon course, more or less. We started driving from the finish to the start so I made note of doing everything opposite of what we were driving. We drove up several hills and I let out a sigh knowing that I'd be running down them. That was the last sigh I let out. I felt like the majority of the drive turned into us going down hill after hill. Blerg. In spite of the hills surrounding me, the views certainly made up for the intimidation. I will never grow tired of the views in this state. However, I guarantee I'll grow tired from those hills. 

 Last weekend was a weird/disappointing/not worth discussing one for running. Sorry I didn't recap but you would not have wanted me to. It's a new weekend and today was a daunting day. I woke up early to run 18 miles. Honestly, I was pretty nervous. Last time I tried to run 16 I could not even do that. When I woke up, I actually felt like it would be a good day. Something in the breeze...

I headed my normal route and added some extra mileage in order to complete the full 18. I thought a lot about school. It's a busy week. I thought about every one of my roommates sleeping away.  I thought about what I'd be giving up for Lent and yes, running did cross my mind. You have to humor yourself out there...no one else will. I ran every hill I confronted and mentally gave myself a pat on the back. Eventually, I found myself back on my street as if I had just left. Eighteen miles later, I let out a sigh.

Today's Dedication: Community Health Cohort

Eighteen miles. Eighteen incredible women. Today I'd like to discuss some of the most inspirational and hard-working women I'm blessed to know. Our major is small, clearly. The cohort is made up of such unique personalities, ideas, stories, and backgrounds that make it an absolute pleasure to go to class each day. Sure, there are days when class sounds tiring, but I find such comfort knowing that I'll walk in and see the same beaming faces. I found myself thinking about these ladies during my run because we've had such a time consuming quarter full of work. We're all exhausted. I was exhausted running. But the quarter is almost over and all of our hard work, time spent, sanity lost, and exhausted laughter will come to an end in no time. Training is almost over and the marathon will come and go just as this quarter did. I'm thankful of this reminder because sometimes it's hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. We may have an overwhelming week and a half to go, but we'll all make it. There are only 24 hours in a day, right? We have a good thing going in Community Health. Everything will be beneficial. After all, these women are going to do big things with their lives. I'm glad I know them because I can't wait to watch them lend their helping hands and make an impact in this world. How did I get so lucky?

           Best,
                  Anne

A Tootsie Travesty

I learned today that since 1930 people have been sending in their wrappers with the Indian and star for a free tootsie pop. As a child I always checked on that but never thought to send it in. It's a good thing because I found out today it was all a myth. Over EIGHTY years of letters and wrappers sent to the owl (I assume he was the CEO) and no one got a free sucker. Who's the sucker now? I am appalled. They aren't even that good...

That's all. Just for the record, Mr. Owl, it never takes three licks to get to the center of a tootsie pop. Crush our dreams even more. Good day.

            Best,
                    Anne

Cookies and Chatarungas

Sometimes I can not keep my mind from racing during yoga class. Before each class I tell myself to turn off my brain to everything else. This isn't the same as going out for a run and having that road look at you begging for you to just speak. I want yoga to stop all the madness in my brain so that I can put my effort into practicing the perfect pigeon pose (just a little alliteration to start your morning). Yesterday I worked on "letting my synovial fluid relax" but somehow I kept thinking about vanilla wafers. I have class for fifty minutes and I cannot tell my mind to not think about baking? Shame on me. 

 Vanilla Wafers 

Recipe from Mama Pea

1/2 c. vegan margarine (Earth Balance)

1/2 c. sugar

1/4 c. brown sugar

A splish and splash of Almond Milk

1 t. vanilla extract

1 and 1/3 c. unbleached flour

1/2 t. salt

1 t. baking powder

Preheat oven to 375

Mix margarine, both sugars, milk, and vanilla

In a separate bowl, combine flour, salt, and powder. 

Add dry mixture to wet mixture. 

Scoop a tablespoon of dough and flatten it with your fingers on baking sheet

Bake for 11-13 minutes

Eat.

 Maybe you will think about making these this morning, afternoon, or evening. It tastes better than meditation.

Now I may start my morning with child's pose or something. You should make these cookies or else...shame on you.

           Best, 

                  Anne

"Don't you ever crave a juicy burger?"

Do you know what I like? I like making decisions for myself. Knowing that an outcome, good or bad, formed because of my decision is a satisfying feeling. Sure, not every decision I make is a good one, but I realize that it was my own. I cannot blame you or you or even you. Nearly two years ago I decided to become a vegetarian. No one told me I should. No one said I should not. After living most of my life eating meat rather sparingly, I thought I'd take the plunge. People ask me why I'm a vegetarian whenever it is brought up in conversation. It's usually followed by, "don't you ever crave a juicy burger?" I answer the second question first. "Never." Then I try to explain the first part. I honestly have a number of reasons that are good for me and maybe not for you. I'm completely okay with that. You take care of yourself and I'll take care of myself. I have to warn you though, if you are ever in need, it would be my pleasure to take care of you. I have always been well taken care of on this earth so I thought I'd do my part and take care of the earth as much as I can. There is an abundance of land being used to raise animals and water used to grow grains and feed them is an extreme amount. We use over half the water in our country for livestock. Should I repeat that sentence? As a person with a passion for health, I know it is not an end goal. Health is the path you travel to reach your end goal. Reducing heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are all positive aspects of vegetarianism. I just think about the animals out there. I don't want them to suffer. I get sad just talking about it so I really think I'll leave you with that. Did you know you save the lives at least 100 animals a year by not eating them? I learned that one day. It helped reassure me of  my personal decision. So, my reasons may be environmental and they may be health benefits, and they may be because I do not want animals to suffer but I hardly think it's necessary to ask why I'm vegetarian. I certainly don't ask why people eat meat. After all, you may not be able to part with a juicy burger. I cannot blame you. We've gone over that.

            Best, 

                   Anne

So Close to Sixteen

It was supposed to snow today. It was supposed to rain today. It was supposed to be cold today. It did not snow today. It did not rain today. It was nearly 50 degrees today. I could not have asked for a more beautiful day. I love how Washington is funky like that. Looking at weather.com is without a doubt one of the most pointless things to do. You take what you're given and run with it. That's exactly what I did. I went to work at 7 am and was ready to run a few hours later. I decided today would be a great day for my long weekly run of 16 miles. Then I would have the rest of the weekend to relax, if you can believe it! 

I snapped a few photos of the various surroundings. Sometimes they all look the same, but each day I feel something different. All love, though.

Around mile 3 I felt an uncommon pain in my lower left leg. It was not comfortable. My only problem, besides the pain in my leg, was that this does not really happen to me. Even if my body aches, it's usually just because I have been running for a long time but it never starts at the beginning of my journey. The worst part? I need to run. This is my escape and time to just get out there and go. I enjoy my surroundings, I smile at other walkers/runners, I hold back on petting the adorable dogs because I know that is not what I will do during the marathon, and I have a few hours to myself with my music in my ears and the breeze leaving a smile on my face. I could have easily turned around and tried the sixteen on another day but I decided to put my stubborn painful foot down and keep trucking.

 I tried to take a picture of the mountains because they were as clear as every but somehow it looks like a painting. Well, I guess you'll have to deal with that. It was really the least of my worries. I was cruising back and around mile 13 I really felt that stupid annoying pain getting worse and worse. It's difficult to respond when you know exactly how far you have to go and in the grand scheme of things, it seems so minimal...so doable. By mile 14, I gave in to that pesky fibularis longus and came to a halt. It was time to use my emergency call (Yes, I tuck my phone into my running belt in case I ever need it for something---you can breathe a sigh of relief, Grandma. Things happen. I'd hate to be stranded 8 miles out). I called my roommate Briana and she was such a dear life saver. Unfortunately, I just could not pound the pavement any longer. With two miles to go, I threw in the towel.

I guess I'm not as tough as I thought. Blueberries really put things in perspective...

Today's Dedication: My mom

My mom rides her bike twice a day (weather permitting). I thought about her today while I was running. If she is unable to ride her bike, she feels like she missed a great part of her day. I am the same with running. Everyone needs a little time to just get out there and do something that makes them truly happy. I see that in her after she goes on her bike rides. Don't get me wrong, that is not the only time she is truly happy. I have one happy mother. She makes me happy, too. If she has an off day, she adjusts her bike ride accordingly. She will usually just shorten her route and wait for the next time to come back stronger. This is all I could think about while I was out there. I nearly heard my mom saying, "don't push yourself." Mothers do know best. My mom knows me best and I would like to think I know my mom best...as far as in comparison to all the other moms...She is one of the strongest people I know and look up to. No matter what the situation, she always finds a graceful way to deal with it. I envy it and try my best to emulate it. One bike ride at a time. One run at a time. One day at a time.

          Best,
                 Anne