chattynatty: Got me thinking...

So the following are things that either friends have sent me or I've read recently on other's blogs I follow. All of these I share with you, because they really "got me thinking"...

First- just today Another Mother Runner blog posted the following: After I read it I decided I would make some edits and share with you my 26.2 reasons Why I Run- some I was totally in line with this author...my edits in Blue

Kicking us off today is one seriously badass mother runner: Dorothy Beal. In Train Like a Mother, we included a short story from her about how she ran 13 miles pushing a triple jogger at a pace I’m not going to even print because I can’t run that fast even when I don’t have 80 pounds of cargo. (I hate jog strollers and can't fathom running with a triple- this lady has some you know what: Strength, Power, Determination) Takes all types, right? I would be intimidated, but I know she’s got a great heart to go with her fast legs. You can catch up with her at Mile Posts and on twitter @mileposts.
26.2 Reasons Why I Run:
1. I am an endorphin addict. I somewhat agree- I like the feel both mental and physical after running and I notice when I don't run I don't find I'm as good mental/physical
2. I want to be a strong, fit example to my three children. (subtract a child and I'm right with her)
3. I run to feel life deeper. To experience it one breath at a time. I want this- this would be a good running goal to focus on.
4. I want to be faster today than I was yesterday. Right on Sister!
5. I am a better mother, wife, sister, daughter, and friend after I run. Absolutely, 100% agree.
6. I enjoy going on 20 mile runs with friends much more than driving 20 miles to a bar. I wouldn't drive 20 miles to a bar, but I do like my drinks with friends. So this is a flip of the coin with me coming out either way happy, because to run 20 miles with a friend can be the best therapy/time spent, but drinks with friends is memorable too.
7. I run to find my strong. I run to feel strong- not find it.
8. When someone talks about marathons I want to be the person in the room who has run the most. (I am training for #19 Marathon right now: Boston 2012, which I will be running with my mom who also qualified.) I like talking about my races, but more so as a conversation tool or a way for me to connect with other people, but I'm not about wanting to be the person in the room running the most.
9. I’m slightly obsessed with shoes. Running gives me an excuse to buy multiple colors in the Saucony Kinvara each year. It’s not my fault running shoes only last 500 miles. No for this one.
10. One day I want the number of marathons I’ve run to be in the triple digits. I don't care about the number I just want to be able to keep running marathons.
11. I like the shocked look on childhood friends faces when they find out that this completely un-athletic shy girl they knew could now kick their butt in a marathon.Can't say I'm with her on this one- I like that the marathon/races/running has taken the place of how active I was in high school, and you know me I don't think anyone could ever call me shy.
12. I love the pure joy of moving through the air with nothing powering me but my own two feet. Yep this is a great feeling.
13. Running teaches me things about myself I never knew. Yes running is a great "life teacher". Sometimes as a student I don't listen hard enough.
14. I love crying at the start of a marathon and fighting off tears after the finish. I have never cried at the start of the marathon, but tears were definitely with me when I finished my first one.
15. I want to be healthy enough to see my grandkids and be able to chase them around. Yes- totally.
16. I want my daughter to grow up and think that I’m cool and she would pick me as a friend if I weren’t her mother. (I hope my sons think this too.) Again couldn't agree with her more.
17. I like thinking of an outfit that I want to wear and fitting into it when I put it on in the morning. Not really me.
18. I like having strong legs vs. stick thin legs. Yes mammy!
19. I love making new friends through a common shared love of the sport. Ditto
20. I feel like a super hero when I push my kids in my triple running stroller. Nothing else makes me feel this way. I will never feel this way because hate jog strollers and M and K are way to big to be pushed now :).
21. I run because I want others to. Yes, Yes, Yes
22. I run because, after 3 kids, I have the body I wanted in high school. Don't probably have high school body, but I feel good about the body I have.
23. I run because I am in love with tempos, track workouts, fartleks, long runs, slow runs, easy runs, and hard runs. I need to diversify my running and I'm doing speed runs, long runs and easy runs, but the others aren't in my workout schedule thus far.
24. I run to feel closer to God. I think we are close to God at all times, so I don't run to feel closer, but maybe it allows people to realize God is there when they are focusing on themselves/tuning out the world.
25. I run to quiet the voices in my head that tell me I am not enough or that I am not worth it. I am enough. I am worth it. Running does a lot for your esteem, especially when you find others that have this same belief -which a lot of women runners who run regularly do.
26. It makes me happy, plain and simple. I’ve never regretted a run. Ever. Never thought about that, but yep never regretted a run, even after my face plant the other day when running- it gave me perspective that even when you have a bad run you learn something from it- "Look out for the darn little water spicket half on the sidewalk and half on the grass" Those things are deadly.
26.2 I run because I cannot imagine my life any other way. I am a runner. I am a runner!

Next: the following again stuck a cord with me. No I'm not depressed, but find myself sometimes doing these things. Again it "Got me Thinking"...my " I'm going to let this one speak for itself.

http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/12/11/30-things-to-stop-doing-to-yourself/

When you stop chasing the wrong things you give
the right things a chance to catch you.

Great quoteAs Maria Robinson once said, “Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” Don't know who Maria Robinson is, but pretty inciteful Nothing could be closer to the truth. But before you can begin this process of transformation you have to stop doing the things that have been holding you back.
Here are some ideas to get you started:

Stop spending time with the wrong people. – Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you. If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you. You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot. Never, ever insist yourself to someone who continuously overlooks your worth. And remember, it’s not the people that stand by your side when you’re at your best, but the ones who stand beside you when you’re at your worst that are your true friends.
Stop running from your problems. – Face them head on. No, it won’t be easy. There is no person in the world capable of flawlessly handling every punch thrown at them. We aren’t supposed to be able to instantly solve problems. That’s not how we’re made. In fact, we’re made to get upset, sad, hurt, stumble and fall. Because that’s the whole purpose of living – to face problems, learn, adapt, and solve them over the course of time. This is what ultimately molds us into the person we become.
Stop lying to yourself. – You can lie to anyone else in the world, but you can’t lie to yourself. Our lives improve only when we take chances, and the first and most difficult chance we can take is to be honest with ourselves. Read The Road Less Traveled.
Stop putting your own needs on the back burner. – The most painful thing is losing yourself in the process of loving someone too much, and forgetting that you are special too. Yes, help others; but help yourself too. If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.
Stop trying to be someone you’re not. – One of the greatest challenges in life is being yourself in a world that’s trying to make you like everyone else. Someone will always be prettier, someone will always be smarter, someone will always be younger, but they will never be you. Don’t change so people will like you. Be yourself and the right people will love the real you.
Stop trying to hold onto the past. – You can’t start the next chapter of your life if you keep re-reading your last one.
Stop being scared to make a mistake. – Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing. Every success has a trail of failures behind it, and every failure is leading towards success. You end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.
Stop berating yourself for old mistakes. – We may love the wrong person and cry about the wrong things, but no matter how things go wrong, one thing is for sure, mistakes help us find the person and things that are right for us. We all make mistakes, have struggles, and even regret things in our past. But you are not your mistakes, you are not your struggles, and you are here NOW with the power to shape your day and your future. Every single thing that has ever happened in your life is preparing you for a moment that is yet to come.
Stop trying to buy happiness. – Many of the things we desire are expensive. But the truth is, the things that really satisfy us are totally free – love, laughter and working on our passions.
Stop exclusively looking to others for happiness. – If you’re not happy with who you are on the inside, you won’t be happy in a long-term relationship with anyone else either. You have to create stability in your own life first before you can share it with someone else. Read Stumbling on Happiness.
Stop being idle. – Don’t think too much or you’ll create a problem that wasn’t even there in the first place. Evaluate situations and take decisive action. You cannot change what you refuse to confront. Making progress involves risk. Period! You can’t make it to second base with your foot on first.
Stop thinking you’re not ready. – Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow beyond our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first.
Stop getting involved in relationships for the wrong reasons. – Relationships must be chosen wisely. It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company. There’s no need to rush. If something is meant to be, it will happen – in the right time, with the right person, and for the best reason. Fall in love when you’re ready, not when you’re lonely.
Stop rejecting new relationships just because old ones didn’t work. – In life you’ll realize that there is a purpose for everyone you meet. Some will test you, some will use you and some will teach you. But most importantly, some will bring out the best in you.
Stop trying to compete against everyone else. – Don’t worry about what others doing better than you. Concentrate on beating your own records every day. Success is a battle between YOU and YOURSELF only.
Stop being jealous of others. – Jealousy is the art of counting someone else’s blessings instead of your own. Ask yourself this: “What’s something I have that everyone wants?”
Stop complaining and feeling sorry for yourself. – Life’s curveballs are thrown for a reason – to shift your path in a direction that is meant for you. You may not see or understand everything the moment it happens, and it may be tough. But reflect back on those negative curveballs thrown at you in the past. You’ll often see that eventually they led you to a better place, person, state of mind, or situation. So smile! Let everyone know that today you are a lot stronger than you were yesterday, and you will be.
Stop holding grudges. – Don’t live your life with hate in your heart. You will end up hurting yourself more than the people you hate. Forgiveness is not saying, “What you did to me is okay.” It is saying, “I’m not going to let what you did to me ruin my happiness forever.” Forgiveness is the answer… let go, find peace, liberate yourself! And remember, forgiveness is not just for other people, it’s for you too. If you must, forgive yourself, move on and try to do better next time.
Stop letting others bring you down to their level. – Refuse to lower your standards to accommodate those who refuse to raise theirs.
Stop wasting time explaining yourself to others. – Your friends don’t need it and your enemies won’t believe it anyway. Just do what you know in your heart is right.
Stop doing the same things over and over without taking a break. – The time to take a deep breath is when you don’t have time for it. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting. Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.
Stop overlooking the beauty of small moments. – Enjoy the little things, because one day you may look back and discover they were the big things. The best portion of your life will be the small, nameless moments you spend smiling with someone who matters to you.
Stop trying to make things perfect. – The real world doesn’t reward perfectionists, it rewards people who get things done. Read Getting Things Done.
Stop following the path of least resistance. – Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile. Don’t take the easy way out. Do something extraordinary.
Stop acting like everything is fine if it isn’t. – It’s okay to fall apart for a little while. You don’t always have to pretend to be strong, and there is no need to constantly prove that everything is going well. You shouldn’t be concerned with what other people are thinking either – cry if you need to – it’s healthy to shed your tears. The sooner you do, the sooner you will be able to smile again.
Stop blaming others for your troubles. – The extent to which you can achieve your dreams depends on the extent to which you take responsibility for your life. When you blame others for what you’re going through, you deny responsibility – you give others power over that part of your life.
Stop trying to be everything to everyone. – Doing so is impossible, and trying will only burn you out. But making one person smile CAN change the world. Maybe not the whole world, but their world. So narrow your focus.
Stop worrying so much. – Worry will not strip tomorrow of its burdens, it will strip today of its joy. One way to check if something is worth mulling over is to ask yourself this question: “Will this matter in one year’s time? Three years? Five years?” If not, then it’s not worth worrying about.
Stop focusing on what you don’t want to happen. – Focus on what you do want to happen. Positive thinking is at the forefront of every great success story. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.
Stop being ungrateful. – No matter how good or bad you have it, wake up each day thankful for your life. Someone somewhere else is desperately fighting for theirs. Instead of thinking about what you’re missing, try thinking about what you have that everyone else is missing