2018 WILL FAIL BY UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

To be honest, I didn’t hate all of 2017. If anything I had some of the best days of my life during the year.

But — I also had some of the absolute worst.

Every “New Year” we talk about how we plan to make the next year bigger and better than the last.

Why does it have to be so much BIGGER and BETTER?!

You want 365 days of sunshine and rainbows? I hate to bust your bubble, but you’re being unrealistic. 

You can’t expect joy without pain and no where has it EVER been written that life would be easy. It’s going to be hard, you’re going to have bad days, but those low days do not have to dictate your entire calendar year.

I challenge you to set a realistic standard that the next 365 days can uphold. Prepare to cry a day or two and guard your heart because a friend or family member will probably break it.

Also, control your emotions because you will certainly feel anger swell inside a few more times this year.

Know this, there is a silver lining. Something memorable will occur this year. Stop looking for perfection in an imperfect world and start making memories that are worth telling your future self.

Choose to rise above in order to forget the negative moments of last year. Decide today that you will not count 2017 as a failure because there is always a lesson to be learned. There is at least one moment from those 365 days that you can say was absolutely worth it and that, my friend, is your mustard seed.

I say all this because I look back on the day I ran the Boston Marathon in 2017. I won’t be running Boston in 2018, but does that mean my 2018 is destined to be less of a fulfilled year in my running career because I won’t be running the pinnacle of marathons that exists? HECK NO!!

Society says that we establish security by striving for more, but in 2018 I want to “MYTHBUSTER” this in a pretty big way.

Example?

The past two months my husband and I have been downsizing the material items in our home to make room for MUCH LESS. I think even he still becomes shocked by the fact he has more clothes than I do; that’s counting my running gear. We have a TINY HOUSE GOAL so that we can accomplish our BIG LIFE DREAMS!! 

Want more from LIFE, not possessions.

Less can be more and bigger doesn’t always mean better. Life will throw lemons and you can either mask it with sugar to drink the bitterness or THROW THE LEMON BACK!!

Become stronger from the hard times, embrace every good moment that comes your way and remember that no one is entitled to a life without the bad days. The bad days make the good days so much sweeter because without them you wouldn’t cherish the good like you do.

My worst day of 2017 was a nightmare brought to reality, but if all I do is remember the nightmare that came alive I will never allow myself to leave that painful moment. Sure we all remember the bad, but we don’t have to hold it hostage in our hearts.

The scars on our hearts show the brokenness that God has mended. In the mending — we are made stronger. Be stronger this year and don’t be so hard on yourself.

Just as 2017 came and went, so will 2018. It’s up to you how you remember it.

You’re reading this.
You’re breathing.
You’re not finished.

Write the story and make the memories you want to remember.

Now go, 2018 is waiting.

Imperfectly Yours,
Katie 

BE WILLING TO DIE FOR YOUR WHY

Will Smith is one of my all-time favorite actors. He embraces every character from every role that he acts as and leaves nothing to be questioned. He takes his talent, as he has notably stated before, and he beats on his craft until it becomes fine tuned.

This morning I was listening to interviews that Smith did years ago and two points stuck out to me. I've heard these interviews time and time again because I actually listen to motivational speeches during my workouts. However, this morning, these interviews struck chords in me in a different way.

Will Smith once said, "Greatness is something that truly exists in all of us...I know who I am, I know what I believe, and I’m willing to die for it."

I think we can all just let that sink in for a moment or two.

In another interview Smith said, “The only thing that I see that is distinctly different about me is I’m not afraid to die on a treadmill. You might have more talent than me, you might be smarter than me, but if we get on the treadmill together there’s two things; you’re getting off first or I’m gonna die. It’s really that simple.”

Hearing this, repeating this over and over, it makes me emotional.

I've said for years that there are two keys to accomplishing your goals; know your why and be determined to never give up. At the end of the day your determination to persevere is propelled by your why. Your why is what you look to when you feel that you are on the brink of quitting. When you get to a point of no return you remember why you started in the first place.

Why is not the number on a scale, why is not the number in a bank account -- your why fuels you with passion to fight against all odds. On your weakest day, your why makes you stronger. On your lowest day, your why causes you to rise to the occasion and KEEP GOING!!

Why isn't so much what pushes you, but what are you willing to die for? When we are willing to give our all, no matter the cost, and continue in the pursuit of our beliefs with passion -- you've found your why.

Your reason why will never stop you from living -- in fact your reason why will tell you to NEVER GIVE UP!!

Do that -- NEVER GIVE UP -- your reason why is counting on you.

Imperfectly Yours,

Katie

YOUR SORRY MOM

Dear Gracie,

I’m sorry. 

I’m sorry I can’t give you all that you could ever want. 

I hope you see I do everything I can to give you what you need.

I’m sorry that I can’t be the very best.

I hope you see that I still strive to be in everything I do.

I’m sorry that I've failed more times than I can count.

I hope one day you know that this is sometimes how you learn to succeed.

I'm sorry I can’t provide for you like other moms do for their children.

I hope one day you know that I choose and love being home with you every day.

I’m sorry for the times I’ve had to say no. 

I hope you see that the no days are what make the yes days so much sweeter.

I’m sorry I don’t always get it right.

I hope you see that my wrong days are the days I learn humble humility.

I’m sorry mommy isn’t perfect, but mommy is perfectly imperfect.

I hope you never strive for perfection because you, too, are perfectly imperfect.

One day, baby girl, you will know the sacrifice, the hard work, the heartache, and the guilt that comes with being a mother. One day, I hope you understand that mommy only wants the very best and I try to give that to you in every way possible. 

I’ll NEVER be sorry for having you — you gave me life when I wasn’t quite sure what was left. You give me that every single day.

I hope, one day, you see that love doesn't lie in the size of our house (especially since mommy and daddy have a new dream in mind), the number of toys you have, the amount of clothes we own, but in our hearts.

Just so, Christmas isn't defined by the type or amount of decorations we have around the house, the amount of money we spend on gifts or the number of presents you have under our little 24 inch snowman Christmas tree. ((That flamingo is a whole other story.))

I hope you remember the times that mommy stops to give the homeless man our food, the moments when we go to a drive-thru and purchase food for the woman who doesn't have a warm meal to eat. Those are the memories I want to instill in your little mind and put on your heart. I pray I show you these things each and every day and not just during the holidays.

I love you more than you will ever know and pray I am doing all God would have me do in your life. I don't get it right all the time, but for the most part -- I'd like to think I'm doing alright.

Imperfectly Yours,

Mom

THE WHEELCHAIR OF A CHILD

My heart has been moved, but being a mother — my heart is broken. My eyes have filled with tears too many times to count. Last year, we all know the story of me giving my daughter CPR and her living. However, I can’t imagine the feeling a parent would have when their child is diagnosed with cancer.

Cancer, an ugly word NO ONE wants to hear. Cancer, a cure only found through hope, research, doctors, medicine, needles, blood and trust in people you don’t even know. Cancer, the word no parent wants to hear and no child should have to endure. I had the opportunity to breathe life into my daughter, parents here don’t have that opportunity, they can only hope. While leaving the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital I came across this wheelchair. 

A wheelchair that a child once sat in before taking their last breath. A wheelchair that a parent once broke down in receiving news that their child wouldn’t see tomorrow. A wheelchair that, if it could speak, would tell you the story of the 4-year-old girl who pretended it was a race car through the halls of the hospital, her home. That wheelchair has held the most precious of lives, I feel so small compared to that wheelchair.

Imperfectly Yours,

Katie

A MERE CIVILIAN

Reality.

In 2011 I ran the Marine Corps Marathon. That Marathon was my very first and one I will never forget. We started the race at the Arlington Cemetery and the moment of silence during the pre-race starting line-up was breathtaking. To think that all those crosses were people who died for me and for you. 

So, this morning I was running at a local gym and wore my Marine Corps Marathon in Training shirt. On the back of this shirt reads SEMPER FI. Do you know what that means? Semper Fi is the motto of the US Marine Corps and means ALWAYS FAITHFUL. I find that to be fitting and absolutely beautiful. 

Faith is trusting what you do now know, but our Marine Corps continues on despite those unknowns. They would choose to die for a nation of people they do not know and protect at even the ultimate cost.

As I am running I feel a tap on my left shoulder and see a fairly muscular man standing behind me as he is leaving the gym. He intently sticks out his hand for a handshake and as return the gesture we firmly shake hands as he says, “SEMPER FI!” I’ve never felt so in awe and inadequate all at the same time. 

I quickly correct the misunderstanding and explain the truth behind my shirt. I tell him that I had a brother who signed up for the Marine Corps when he was of age and he tells me that he served for four years. I deeply thank him for his service and part ways. To tell you I was a blubbering mess is an understatement.

It’s been six years since I ran that race and I have worn this shirt countless times. Today was the first time that I have ever been approached in this way and it really convicted my heart. How many times do we pass by people around us and don’t acknowledge them? How many times do we pass by civilians who were once soldiers, but we don’t thank them?

Here I am — A MERE CIVILIAN — being thanked for serving a country I never served!! To say I feel inadequate is only scratching the surface, but I feel it gave me a renewed perspective on the appreciation deserved to our men and women whom have and do serve. Soldiers are some of the most humble human beings I know and they deserve respect. This leads me to one more point.

RESPECT!! We say all the time that respect is earned not given. Sorry, not sorry, if I step on toes, but our military undoubtedly deserves our respect. 

A few weeks ago, when I was getting my running coach certification, the man teaching the course asked me a question. Mind you that this man ran in the Olympic Trials back in the ‘90s so, he was already in higher standing in my eyes. Any-who, he asked me if I had served in the military. 

I told him no, but again spoke of my brother and about the short time I was a “military kid” — that’s a different story. The point of bringing this up was to affirm how the lives we lead as adults are highly navigated by influence imparted to us as children. See, he and I were having a conversation and I kept calling him “Sir.” 

First off, I’m originally from Texas and being that I am a southern woman m’am and sir and two of the first words you learn as a child. I’m currently reminding my two-year-old daily of this and it’s not the most easy task. However, this is a form of spoken respect I will go to my grave saying. 

My question, why is it that the assumption was made I was in the military because of my spoken respect? I see two lessons to be taken away from these scenarios that I hope to forever know and impart on my own daughter, discipline and respect.

Understand that I’m not talking about discipline in the sense of scolding a child or punishing someone for their misconduct. I’m talking about discipline in the sense of humbled humility, that you see your imperfections and take the necessary steps to be a “better” human. I use the word “better” loosely because we all have different views on the meaning and that’s NOT the point of this particular post. 

Waking up EARLY to perform exercises or work duties toward my self-development is not always fun. Discipline is one of the qualities I see in most men and women who have or do serve our country. Sometimes I feel inadequate and unworthy of being better, but by doing so I impart that quality on my daughter. As she gets older I pray she will see that discipline is not saying, “You are bad.” I see discipline as a way of saying, “You have potential and can be better.”  Besides, our nation and world need better.

Lastly, RESPECT. Respect is something taught and learned. We must cultivate respect in every generation, today and tomorrow. Respect is the when we acknowledge someone for committing to lay down their life for a nation of people they do not know — yet they believe in. Respect is saying, “Yes m’am. No m’am. Yes sir. No sir.” Respect is being slow to anger and humbling yourself. Respect is listening when another needs to be heard. My opinion, respect is given EVEN when we feel it has not been earned because you never know how the DISCIPLINE of showing respect will influence someone else’s life, for the better.

Imperfectly Yours,

Katie

**Soldier:

To the known soldier and the unknown soldier, thank you. Thank you for your commitment to our nation. Thank you for protecting not just my own future, but the future of my daughter that has yet to be seen. Thank you for saying no to selfish pride, for your humbleness, your discipline and respect. You are the true heroes, may it never be forgotten. For many have paid the ultimate price that words will never console, but may your life spent always be honored. 

Thank you, soldier.