#TwoWorldsOneFamily

"Did you really Quack at the principal?" Smiles and laughter ensue, followed by a proud and emphatic "yes"...

That epic detention scene from the classic movie the Mighty Ducks defines the tone of my most recent trip to Disney World.  Shenanigans ran wild everywhere. Dancing was key. Dueling Pianos were defining.

In short I was given the wonderful opportunity to be part of something bigger than myself and more importantly to be so kindly woven into the fabric of a family that has been going strong since 1999.

A few years ago, I got my closest girlfriends shirts that mimicked the classic green mighty ducks hockey game sweater.  Malia got Hall, Betty was Conway (although in hindsight we all know she should have averman), Allie was the perfect cake eater so got Banks, and then Jenna and I rounded out the group as the famous (and might I ad charismatic ;) ) Bash brothers, Fulton Reed and Dean Portman.  Why did I buy them you ask? Well…because in the most fundamental sense; Ducks fly together.

I am lucky to be blessed with girl friends who have stuck together through good times and bad, through multiple moves, graduations, husbands and various other craziness. We are our own band of brothers, the Golden Girls: the CPE.

For years we had always heard rumors of these amazing other people that Jenna met by way of a mouse and a magical kingdom.  They were her other family bonded by similar life events and a little pixie dust. Needless to say, I was anxious to meet them.

On the second day of our trip to Epcot for Food and Wine Festival I got in my Duck jersey as instructed but was not sure what to expect. Yes, the night before was a blast full of antical dancing, but I was still trying to figure out how I could possibly fit into this family. Maybe I would need to be content with just being a bystander.  I've always wondered how this other family could understand our family's love for the mighty ducks, but I took a deep breath and proceeded on faith.

We started our oh so familiar walk to the boardwalk and spotted a fellow duck below the bridge looking around for someone familiar, who instantly responded to our duck call from above and sprinted toward the call. (I kid you not it was like a scene from the movie) Then as we were trying to board the boat to begin our adventure, a second duck forgot his park pass….without hesitation the group lets out a "Goooaaldbeeerrg" and there was no looking back.

We were welcomed unconditionally with open arms into their world.  I am sure that growing up, I was not the only one who had a father say "treat others like you want to be treated". As I get older I try not to be jaded, but it seems like often times people forget that.  This weekend reminded me how important the golden rule really is and how you can truly bridge gaps with its power. Its easier to love than it is to hate or to judge.  Looking back it was simple, the fabric that wove these two families together was the ability to love and be genuine.

So would I quack at the principal by myself?...probably not, but if I was with the group that stood in front of an entire bar singing "we are the champions" or the fantastic people that did the conga line around the bar...then yes I would definitely change my answer and give a resounding QUACK!

#ducksflytogether To all those that made the past weekend wonderful, I truly thank you from the bottom of my heart...I am so blessed to have finally met you all.

Gordon Bombay wanted to leave you with a little parting gift...

Buckle Up and Get Unconfortable

Due to many many reasons I stopped, I walked away and I almost boycotted exercise all together.  There was no motivation to do much of anything beyond the daily grind and the things I "had" to accomplish.  If it weren't for a dear friend who introduced me to the Bar Method, I was really close to losing much more than my health.

I remember the first day of class, I was so nervous.  They give all new people a tour the day of your first class, and of course I was the only one.  Everyone else knew what they were doing.  I had no idea what to expect, "I don't take group classes, what was I getting myself into? I am going to look like a fool, everyone knows I don't know what I am doing."...Uncertainty and self doubt, something I struggle with daily.

This class was like nothing I had ever done before, despite being an athlete all my life it was a mental challenge that was different, and at times harder than anything i'd experienced thus far.  I had to accept that I was not going to be good right away, I had to choose to get better.  I had to be comfortable with being uncomfortable.  The more I attended I realized that the silver lining lay in the fact that yes, in fact I didn't have prior experience.  There was nothing from my past to compare myself to, it truly became a challenge, and not a chore. This class, and group of inspiring women, who I saw almost everyday for 4 months jump started my desire to get back on the exercise train....and ultimately bringing me back to life.

After about a year of the stepmill and bikes I got the itch to start running again.  Not sure I can pinpoint the moment it happened, but all of a sudden it made sense.  Chelan was going to be my new challenge.  Where better, to have my first race back but in a special place that was worthy of the time and effort needed to train.

The road to Chelan was challenging, and definitely not like the last time.  Balancing running and life was the new goal, and for the most part that was NOT as hard as I made it out to be the last time.  Being too busy to do something is a choice.  Yes, we have obligations that sometimes we really can't get out of, but there is always time in the day to treat yourself, or an hour that you can dedicate to maintain the relationships around you.  The balance; now that was a piece of cake. However, having taken a heavy hiatus, this time around the training was nowhere near as easy as before.

Being comfortable with being uncomfortable quickly became my new motto.  Learning to really live in the present and refrain from comparing to my old self was a necessity.  The runs did not come as naturally.  The legs were always heavy.  When looking back there were only a handful of long runs that could be categorized as feeling "good".  I had to really self regulate and remind myself that although frustrating, I was almost starting from scratch.  Live in the now, not the past.  There was always a constant inner struggle between the new rational mentality that I took from the Bar Method and my ingrained competitive kick butt mentality.

Some would argue that the new motto was almost one of someone settling, and one year ago my competitive side might have agreed.  I would have heard the inner voice that says "push harder, strive to be better, you can't be ok with subpar" or the ever popular, "that's just a rationalization". Now though (that I am so much older and wiser) I see it differently.  The event was the same, but the motivation and the journey that brought me there were entirely different.  One was a need to prove self worth and acceptance, the recent was the challenge and the joy based on my present circumstances.  Stemming from a place that was for "me" and not "them". It was humbling to start over and not be as "good" as I once was, but it was also liberating to be uncomfortable.

And then you ask, "ok great you ran, what does that have to do with me?"...stay with me just a little longer and I'll tell you...

Often times, I think we do that in life.  We are afraid to step out of our comfort zone and take the next step for fear of failure or not living up to the standard that "they" have for our lives.  We miss out on meeting fascinating people in line for Starbucks, because god forbid we actually talk to a random stranger without having stalked them over the internet for days before the first encounter (so weird, right?). We let a work meeting (that is actually a meeting to talk about scheduling another meeting) take priority over the kid's school play or game....and the list goes on.  So unless you are Captain America, and putting off your meeting with Tony Stark is going to result in the destruction of the southern hemisphere, I say go to the play, rescheduling will not result in Lokie having free reign to destroy the earth.

I accept that we live in a world of obligation, however its our choice as to how we exist in that overly scheduled world. We have the ability to be tied to it 24x7 at the touch of a button or swipe of a screen.  Don't get me wrong I love a good Facebook post, or a witty tweet, but there comes a time when we need to cut the cord for a little while and need to re-learn how to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. I dare you to not use your cell phone for a day...talk about feeling naked and vulnerable...but its a step in the journey.

There is a purity in being uncomfortable, that can be quickly forgotten the more we strive to be stable and content in our lives.  In short (of my not so short post), my recent race training and the milestones that brought me there, taught me how easy it is to lose oneself among the everyday shuffle if we are not present and engaged in the things that make the shuffle interesting.

In the words of Taylor Scott, if you can find the "Beauty in Now" I truly believe you can become comfortable with being uncomfortable.  Yes, its risky putting yourself out there rather than aimlessly scrolling through your Facebook news feed while standing in line. But hey, you might just meet the person who changes your life while you could have been contemplating your status update "hmmm...scone with my double tall latte, or blueberry muffin? #starbucksproblems".

The choice to be young...

We start as little kids with wide eyed fairy tale dreams...and then eventually grow up to deal with "the adult world" and "adult problems".
Growing up is inevitable, but doesn't mean you have to lose the dreams and your youthful beginnings. 

I just spent a week with my mom in Walt Disney World.  I think we reminded each other that you are never to old to be young:

• Its ok to be first in line for the bus to take you to the Magic Kingdom, even if you are pushing 55 and may have stepped over an 8 year old to obtain your spot in line.
• It is ok to make sure you see the park opening, and its even more ok to be so ecstatic that you tear up as Mickey and his friends welcome you to the Magic Kingdom.
• It is perfectly acceptable to be 27 and the only one in line above 4 feet tall, waiting your turn to hug Chip and Dale.  (it make way more sense when Chip proposes to you, that would just be weird to do to a 2 year old, she definitely would not understand)
• When Alice asks you "Do you know the white Rabbit?" and all you want to do is scream "Of course I do, I've only seen your movie a bazillion times in my 27 years of existence, where is the Mad Hatter? Do you guys have time for a tea party? Can we sing twinkle twinkle little bat?"...that too is perfectly fine, however to not seem so crazy you simply stick with a hug and "oh of course I do Alice :)"
• It is 100% fine to ride Splash Mountain as many times as possible, and sing zipp-a-dee-do-da with the animals the whole time.
• Riding the brand new Little Mermaid ride multiple times, taking pictures, and singing along among all the 5 year olds is definitely not weird...(considering I saw the movie 8 times when it was in theaters almost 20 years ago)
• But most importantly, watching little girls and boys experience the magic of Disney for the first time is enough to keep you young at heart.  Their innocence is what keeps the magic alive for us as we grow older.  Helping them to have a fantastic experience is completely acceptable and entirely necessary.

My Mom & Dad instilled in me a love for Disney that will make it so even as I physically age my heart and soul will always default to youth and innocence.  If I can do that for others in my everyday life even if it is just a spoonful of sugar's worth, then I have succeeded; in turn keeping "youthfulness" alive.