Engaging Fully in Life...

As certain dates come and go on the calendar, I find myself reflecting over the past year.  A year ago I met someone who ultimately helped me realize what living a happy life meant.

As I was struggling to figure out what to get my husband for Valentine's/Anniversary of our first date - I had the brilliant idea to make him a calendar with photos.  Who knew that exercise of selecting pictures over each month would result in a moment of enlightment.

Every month there were special memories all captured in pictures.  And as I reflected back - my thoughts went from - wow! what a busy year... to did we really do all that in a short period of time?  My moment of enlightment? I love my life! This is what living is all about.

Partly because I compared the past year to previous years - and just like the movie Groundhog Day - there were years where everything was a blur - why? Because I wasn't living life fully engaged - just going through the motions of what I thought was expected of me.

I love that last year was the busiest, craziest year of my life - and I can't wait for more of them... and while I think I should slow down on fitness activities (marathons, half marathons, triatholons) - I realize that is what makes life full for me.  I'm still in Drive - Fully engaged!

My own version of happily ever after....

Happily ever after - fitting thought after returning from the most magical place on earth with fairy tale princesses at every corner.

But happily after what?
- After clearing the bad relationships from my life?
- After achieving a certain project at work?
- After hitting goal weight?
- After completing my first triathlon?
- After running my first marathon?
- After completing the Goofy Challenge?

I've spent too long working on "things" that I think will make me happy.
Kind of goes back to the previous post - losing focus on the journey and hoping the destination will somehow make me happy.

But happiness comes from how I feel, what I think.
So Happily Every After is a daily activity - my outlook, my reaction, my thoughts.

Neglect and Final Destinations

Yes - it's been a very long time since I posted anything here.
Why?  Hmmm - that answer is complicated - let's just say it might offer many more postings in the near future.  So I have neglected this site, struggling with pleasing everyone, frustrated by lack of inspiration, frantically searching for motivation to continue the journey.

So what have I been up to since I last posted? Honestly, not anything I can vaguely remember as significant.
Seemed lost - going through the motions of life - regained a little weight, adapting to changes, but bottling up emotions to maintain appearance of everything all good.  Probably why there weren't many posts - you can't fake writing about what's in your head.

So - my mindless meandering through the Internet - looking for something to represent my latest running achievements and came across this...

Focus on the Journey... Not the Destination

I just finished my first marathon in December and the Goofy Challenge (39.3 miles) in January and I'm struggling to feel a sense of accomplishment.  The quote sums it up - I was so focused on the destination, the finish line - that I lost any sense of the journey leading up to those two events.  The races themselves seemed surreal.

So - back to the drawing board - must tell myself every day to Focus on the Journey...