Friday, February 25, 2011

Hair

I have a lot of it. Big, bushy, curly, long, dark hair. Yes, yes, I know that many people would love to have it, and that "the grass is always greener", and all that jazz. It has taken me many years to come to love it and see it as part of my personality, part of who I am. It's big and unruly much of the time, it seems to take a different shape each day, it truly does have a mind of it's own. But in the end, it's only hair.


Right?


I know I am not the only one who has hair moods. At least I would like to think so, since I don't really need one more thing that makes me (and everyone else) think I might not be making such a slow descent into crazy. It can make you feel fun, serious, sporty, frumpy, silly, sassy (Spice Girls?), all of the above. Sometimes a new 'do can even give you a new lease on life. A little pick-me-up along the way. So what happens when someone loses their hair? It might seem shallow to think that it could make a person feel like they're losing part of themselves, part of their identity, because afterall, it's just hair.


Right?


Lately my locks have been making me feel heavy. Weighed down. I even wake up at night and find half of it wrapped around my neck and think that it might be the cat finally following through on his plan to get rid of me (seriously). I am sure part of it is the Winter Slump we are all feeling here in the Northeast. We are longing for Spring, for the sun to melt the now-brown snow, to warm us up, to get us out on a patio for an outdoor happy hour. The other part might be my automatic reaction to people telling me it's "gotten soooo long!" and then reaching out to touch it, which would be to wear a hat or immediately put it up. I have always had a thing about people touching my hair...much like all the strangers who automatically reach out and touch a pregnant belly without asking if that's okay (it's not, by the way). It's not an interactive display, it's actually attached to my head.  


Anyway, it would seem as though #5 on the list is going to come sooner than I originally expected. I am making myself an appointment in March, and if all goes well, 8 or more inches of this unruly mop will be going to Pantene Beautiful Lengths or Locks of Love (depending on how many inches I can chop). Nothing would make me happier than sharing the wealth of hair I have inherited with someone who is feeling like they need a little pick-me-up or a new lease on life, and in doing that I'll be giving myself the attitude adjustment I feel like my head needs. All this, and it's only hair.

Monday, February 21, 2011

I Am (Not) An Athlete

There are about 1,000 words I could use to describe who I am and what I do. Athlete is not one of them. In fact, I have spent most of my life making sure I am the first person to make some sort of self-deprecating comment when the topic of athleticism might come up. I always found joy in being the girl at my friends events talking too loud, making inappropriate jokes, being (one of) the first people to crack a beer or pour a glass of wine, and saying I am the resident asthmatic who doesn't "do" running, or biking, or swimming, or gymming, or [insert sweat-inducing activity here]. And let's be honest, the word "found" isn't accurate, I still do find A LOT of joy in all of those things. It's just that, well, I also found in the last year that I, *gasp*, also kinda, sorta like running, and biking, and jumping rope, and practicing yoga, and chasing my child and my friends children around the birthday party of the week.

What does this mean?? Is the world coming to an end? Have I matured (doubtful)? Did someone perform a lobotomy on me while I wasn't looking? Who am I?? 

I suppose that's all a little dramatic. Shocking, for those who know me. It's not that I never played sports and didn't enjoy them. I did. A lot, actually. I was a ballerina from age 3 until I hit high school and found that chasing boys and avoiding my homework was much more interesting than barre exercises and recitals. I played Field Hockey until my senior year. I was a cheerleader for my last 2 years. I was in great shape, and like all 17 year olds, had no idea, and didn't appreciate it like I would now.

What happened between then and now? Dorm life. Beer. Concerts and road trips. Falling in love, making new friends, getting engaged/married, buying a home, working 40 hours a week, adopting a dog, more beer and BBQ's, and starting a family. Life.

I think it was about how socialization changed. In High School, our lives revolve around those hallways and classrooms and (for some) after school activities. Then they set us free into the "real world" and we have to figure out how to make new friends (and keep the old), live on our own, etc, etc. You know the drill. And this doesn't mean that it worked this way for everyone. It's my understanding that a lot of people continued to run and play sports and make their general health a priority. I even know a few of these people! For me though, for someone who is not an athlete, those things just didn't carry through. 

Fast forward to a year ago when I put on running sneakers and downloaded the Couch to 5K podcasts onto my ipod. As I said before I had plenty of excuses as to why I didn't take my desire to get healthy seriously until then. But why did I suddenly get off the couch and do it? An old friend of mine, who I love and admire immensely, ran into me at my very first 5K (on Mother's Day last year) and she asked me why I started running. My off-the-cuff answer was that I had an 18 month old and it was the only time I had ALONE. How funny and how true that is. 15 years ago I strapped those running shoes on because everyone else I knew was doing it, and now I do it to get away from everybody else I know! Being alone with my ipod and not having to think about anything was such a gift. It still is such a gift, it's just been tough to find the time (and the above-freezing temperature) to do it. Excuses, I know.

Motivation is an interesting thing.

Anyway, back to the point, I am still not an athlete. I'm not sure I ever will be, but I am someone who found that person deep down in there somewhere (whether it was because I wanted 30 minutes to myself or not) and after a while I started to like it. Maybe even love it a little. Challenging myself in new ways, making lists that include insane things like running the Beach to Beacon, and even making some dear friends meet me at Punk Rope to enjoy this thing called exercise with me, it's all actually, do I dare say, fun? I'm not sure where this is going to take me and my self-deprecating attitude, but so far I am enjoying the ride...and the occasional run. 






"Time does not change us. It just unfolds us.“~Max Frisch

Monday, February 7, 2011

What Didn't Make The List

As I mentioned previously, The List took me some time to complete. I wrote, scribbled, scratched, removed, added, and so on for a while. Obviously, there are many things I would like to accomplish by myself, with my family, and with my friends that did not necessarily make the cut this time around. That doesn't mean I'm not doing them if/when the opportunity presents itself,  and since most of my posts have already been about things that aren't on The List, then why stop now?


Something that was on there and removed was participating in a parent/child yoga class. The reason this was removed was because for 2+ years now I have not been able to fine one (not ONE) that was tailored to N's age group or that fit our schedule. By our "schedule", I mean a class held on the weekend when I'm not at work (I will spare you my rantings on that topic today. My husband and I are full-time working parents, this is something that comes up often, so there will be plenty more opportunity for that blog post.). Until now. I have driven by a little space about a mile from our house a few times in the last couple of months and noticed a yoga studio taking form. I kept an eye out for the "open" sign and any kind of advertising for classes. I found them on Facebook and started following along with their progress. And FINALLY there was a place offering Tot classes for 2-5 year olds (score!) on Saturday mornings (win!).


This past Saturday N and I put on our yoga pants and checked it out. The woman running the class was lovely. She read a story about a polar bear and a tiger making their way home after being lost, and running into plenty of adventure along the way. Then she picked series of poses and stretches that pertained to the book as much as possible. N loved trying to get herself into position and loved even more when she was asked what kind of noises and movements she thought certain animals make. We did partner poses with each other, and she also got to crawl underneath me and dance around me during any stretches she wasn't participating in. I think her favorite part was rolling up the mats though and putting them away! We really enjoyed it and will definitely be back. Spending time doing something new and different with her AND getting in a work out? Yes, please.

I doubt this will be the only honorable mention on my list. Hell, I cleaned two closets last week during a snow day that have been on a list for YEARS! That deserves recognition too, but I have opened the doors to them about 100 times since then as my husband walks by to show them off and bask in my accomplishment (they even smell good!). That's enough for now.

Sidenote, re: things actually on the list:

- I marked my calendar for swim lesson sign-ups in April. N and I would start in May...the snow probably won't melt until July anyway.

- I also marked my calendar for the Beach to Beacon 2011 registration which is in March (the race is in August). Just typing that makes me feel faint.

Stay tuned...