Never Drinking Again

I'm never drinking again

for at least 8 hours

I Keep Running

I don't always know where I'm running to or what I'm running from, but I keep running. 🏃‍♀️

I can't stand with those who stand still.

Self-Talk: The Mantras and Tools That Push Me Through

I found this article in one of my running groups:

https://www.runnersblueprint.com/running-mantras/

I used to roll my eyes and cringe at this sort of thing, not realizing it's something I've basically done subconsciously and internally for ages. Before I'd ever heard the word mantra, these were the kinds of things I told myself to push on:

"It's easier than it feels."
"You'll feel better in a minute."
"You're just warming up."
"Just settle in. If it's still bad, you can bail then."
"You don't quit in the home stretch."
"You'll thank yourself later."
"You're not tired."
"You don't DECIDE when you're done."
"I'll quit when I'm dead."
"Just chill."
"Breathe."
"Now HAUL"
"Bring it on home"

I don't have any conscious go-tos, but some I might think of adopting or adapting from the list in the article are:

"I'm stronger than I think."
"I can."
"The strong get stronger."
"It's a hill. Get over it."
"Dig deep. Breathe deep."
"Strong. Focused. Relaxed."
"Pain is weakness leaving the body."
"Breathe in strength. Breathe out weakness."
"If it doesn’t challenge me, it doesn't change me."
"Pain is temporary. Pride is forever."
"Hills are not the danger. I'm the danger."

Not mantras, but a couple of the other tools I use to get through challenges are:

•A rule I try to follow: don't quit past 50%. (I mostly use this for dance games, but it can serve elsewhere too.)

•Checking in with myself when I feel like quitting: Am I honestly too tired or in too much pain to continue? Do I NEED to quit? No? Then it's just mental. Get over it. Push on.

Do you have mantras or tools you use? What are your favorites?

New President and First Female Vice President

Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have just won the US presidency. As Biden becomes our nation's 46th president, Harris takes her place in history as the first female vice president of the United States.

My Subconscious Dug Up Braulio

Incredibly bizarre: After spending Halloween night watching the first 3 Twilight movies last night, I fell asleep and had a vivid dream about an ex of mine from 7th or 8th grade named Braulio Lopez. The dream was nothing weird — just me getting him to open up and him eventually talking about how much I'd hurt him when we were kids. When I woke up though, I couldn't help but go on his Facebook profile, just to check that he actually looked happy. 

I looked at his profile pic, which I realized I'd seen once months ago when he and I became Facebook friends — likely our first interaction of any kind since our middle school breakup. He and I hadn't been together long or had anything serious. He was a sweet and quiet guy, and I've had many "louder" relationships to occupy mind since, so his and mine is not one I've ever given much thought to (aside from moments where I take a moment to let all the people I may have hurt in my life say their piece to me in my imagination.) It was just a kiddie relationship anyway, and I'm not sure he and I ever exchanged a word after that sad day all those years ago.

Anyway, his picture: It was him in a store with nothing noteworthy in sight other than a turtle backpack AND A TWILIGHT POSTER, which I hadn't previously noticed, slightly blurry and just within the shot. 😮 I'm not reaching here; there's nothing else to the pic, which I haven't seen or thought of beyond that one instance months ago.

I couldn't make this stuff up. I know Twilight was pretty popular but damn... 😂 I blame the mysteries of the human brain for this one.