Tag Archives: happy

Are You Living Your Passion?

Saturday morning I had a video conference as part of the workshop that I’m taking with Tara (Family Sport Life).  One of my main focuses during this 6 week workshop has been our business.

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From previous discussions, Tara already knew that I wanted to grow our business but not at the expense of giving up any family time.  Saturday Tara asked me if my plan was to do as much as possible with the business now and then really put all of my time and energy into it in a few years when both boys are out of high school and no longer living at home.

Her eyes almost popped out of her head when I said “NO!!”  After the boys are done with school and Chris is retired (less than 6 years for all of this!!) we will move – TO A BEACH!!!

I need this view all day every day!
I need this view all day every day!

I think this was one of those lightbulb moments!  The whole reason that I’m struggling so much to do the things on my list every day/week is because it is NOT my passion.

We own a business –

the day we closed
the day we closed

so I feel like I need to make it the best event venue possible.

However, it is pretty obvious that I’m not living my passion and that is the reason I’m struggling so much with everything from being motivated to being positive and enjoying all parts of my life.

The real problem is I don’t even know what my passion is anymore.

16 years ago I quit working (teaching and coaching) to stay home with my first baby.  I spent 9 years as a stay-home mom and feel fortunate that I had the opportunity but somewhere along the way I lost part of me.

sweaty - sign of a good run
sweaty – sign of a good run

I’ve always had my running and working out but I don’t know if that counts as living my passion.

The number one thing we have always told our boys when they start talking about what they want to do with their lives is that they should do something they love and be happy!!!

Chris knew when he was in high school that he wanted to be a pilot.  He figured out a way to make that happen and has always loved what he does!!!DSCN0408I hope that one day my boys feel the exact same way about whatever they end up doing!!!

Do you know what your passion is?
Are you living it every day?

I need to figure out what my passion is make sure I live it every day!!!

Happy Monday!

Kim

A Smile Doesn’t Always Tell the Whole Story

I try to be real in all aspects of my life but I still think that what most people see is only part of the real me.

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Most of the time people see the happy smiling version of me.

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There are many times that my smile is just a surface smile.  It is to cover up the inner turmoil or stress.

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There are lots of times that I “fake” my happy – some days I can pull that off and end up truly being happy.  Other days it is just a cover.

I have always been an overly independent person and for some reason I convinced myself that part of being independent meant never letting anyone think that I needed anything.

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There are times that I feel very lonely and I think it is because I have spent so much of my life being the strong person who has everything together that I have put up walls.

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Other than Chris (because I have told him), I don’t think that anyone who knows me realizes that there are many times that I appear happy but on the inside I’m the opposite of happy.

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When someone asks me how I am I always say, “Fine.”  Sometimes I want to say, “Well, actually, I could use some help”  or “I need a hug” or “I have a great life but right now it doesn’t seem like things are great.”

But instead I just smile and carry on.

Do you have walls that keep people from knowing the true you?
Do you ever feel like you have to pretend to be happy?

Happy Monday!

Kim

Happiness Is…..

What makes you happy?

Screen Shot 2014-11-30 at 7.42.36 PMI’ve spent some time lately thinking about the things that make me happy because that is where I want to spend my time and energy!!!

I know that we have all heard the phrase – “Sometimes you have to do things you don’t want to.”  I agree that sometimes we do have to do things that aren’t really high on our list of fun things.

However…..I think that the majority of our life should be filled with things we love and things that make us happy!!!

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The things that make me the happiest have very little to do with material things (much as I love my boots and cocktails!!!) and everything to do with people!

Spending time at the end of the day catching up with my 3 favorite guys always makes me happy!!!

Screen Shot 2014-11-30 at 8.28.21 PMHaving my boys spend time doing wall sits because I chose to do 45 1 minute wall-sits in an afternoon is priceless!!!

Spending Thanksgiving with good friends makes me happy!!

Phone calls with my sister and sister-in-law always make me smile!!

Knowing that we helped our newest tenant out a little makes me happy!

Running, even if it is slow, makes me happy!!!

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What makes you happy?
Do you spend more time doing things that make you happy than not?  (that is my new goal!!!)

Happy Monday!!!

Kim

My Heart Is Overflowing

Sometimes there just aren’t words to express the depth of my emotions – this weekend was one of times!!!

Colonel Turner
Colonel Turner

All of the hard work of last week and lost sleep was worth it to enjoy every second of the time with my family celebrating Chris’ big day!!!!

Mandi, Dad (holding Griffin), Tim, Sam, Stacy
Mandi, Dad (holding Griffin), Tim, Sam, Stacy
Hunter, Jordan
Hunter, Jordan

I’m beyond thankful to my family and Chris’ family and some of our very dear friends for coming to the ceremony and then helping us celebrate at the party!!!

pinning on the "birds"
pinning on the “birds”
Hunter & I pinned Chris' shoulder boards and Jordan pinned the hat
Hunter & I pinned Chris’ shoulder boards and Jordan pinned the hat

My family and some of Chris’ spent almost as much time traveling during the weekend as time here with us.  Having them help celebrate made the day even more special!!!

Tim, Chris, Griffin, me, Stacy, Sam, Dad, Mandi
Tim, Chris, Griffin, me, Stacy, Sam, Dad, Mandi
Tim, me, Mandi, Sam, Dad
Tim, me, Mandi, Sam, Dad
siblings
siblings

I know how busy everyone is these days and the fact that our families basically dropped everything for a couple of days means more to me than anything.

Also, our friends who changed plans, worked around existing schedules and made it a priority to help celebrate with Chris are the greatest!!!

Even with everything going on (cooking and planning a party for 150+), hosting my family, going to Hunter’s final cross country meet…..I enjoyed every second of this past weekend!!!

I needed the time I normally spend blogging last week to prepare for the weekend and I’m happy that I took that time but I’m also happy to be back to normal blogging (and reading!!!) this week.

Happy Monday!!!

Kim

I AM A RUNNER AGAIN!!!!! (Finally!)

Since the 43 yesterday really worked my quads, I decided to work my arms (namely my biceps) today.  I did my 43 version of the traditional Bicep 21s.

First, I did 43 bottom half bicep curls (just curl up to waist height).  Then I did 43 top half curls (waist height to shoulder height curls).  Finally, I did 43 full curls.

[youtuber youtube=’http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xQv5mOw5Pw’]

(Once again, the demo is just a sample – I only did 3 of each type of curl for the cute video!!!)  You can see that I used a barbell instead of dumbbells today – this is my Body Pump bar and I added a 10 pound plate on each side.  I thought I might have to drop down to 5 pounds to complete the reps but I was able to maintain my form with the 10s so I kept them!!!

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stop here!

I noticed in the video that my bottom half curls look like they go past my waist – here is where I tried to stop them each time.  (and also where I started and ended the top half curls)

My hip was feeling fine even after I ran Tuesday so I decided to go ahead and run again today.  (It has been 6.5 weeks since the DR said nothing for 8 weeks – CLOSE ENOUGH!!!)

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Today I ran 7 miles in 50:35 and then did an easy 2 to cool down.  (On my treadmill all at 1.5% incline.)  It feels so good to really run again!!!  I know that  I should back off and run easier but I just love the feeling of a good, hard, fast run!!!  I have MISSED it!!!  And now, once again – I AM A RUNNER!!!  All is right with the world (at least my world!!!)!!

Running makes me as happy as Screen shot 2013-01-16 at 11.41.18 AMbeing on the beach (it is a really close call, though!!!).

I heard the funniest story on the way home from taking Hunter to school.  A teacher has sued a school board because she has a fear of children and had to quit her job after being transferred to a middle school.   Story here.  Very odd choice of professions for someone who has an intense fear of children!!  People make me laugh sometimes!!!

Happy Wednesday!!!  (I have the whole day to catch up on things -now that I’m done with my long-term sub job!!)

Kim