I'm Back!

After Boston, I guess you could say that life got pretty much turned upside-down. I really wasn't sure where I stood with anything, so I decided to take a step back from blogging, and life in general, to figure out who I am, what I want, and what is really most important to me. The last part of that question was easy; my boys. Always and forever, Ryan, Nick, Connor & Bailey will have my heart. To see them happy, healthy & following their dreams always has been, and always will be, my #1 priority. The first two questions were a little more challenging though, and the path to finding the answers has been a long, and at times scary, journey.

In the end I realized that I crave independence. Running has taught me that I am capable of accomplishing things that I never dreamed I could do, in large part because I was living my life according to everyone's else's expectations, and never even stopped to consider what I might be passionate about. Experiencing the tragedy in Boston, and then going back to finish the race a year later taught me so much about what is possible when you surround yourself with positive people and have a positive mindset. It taught me that I can do hard things, and the satisfaction that comes from overcoming fear and negativity is truly priceless. In the end, it gave me the courage to take the steps I needed to take to lead a happier life.

Life is simply too short to put happiness off. Dream big, and begin chasing those dreams now, even if the road to achieving those dreams includes hurdles you'd rather avoid. Believe me, I am a master at avoiding conflict. Once I finally believed in myself enough to jump those hurdles though, they became less of an obstacle, and more of an incentive towards a new happy ending that I alone have the power to write.

So write I will. I'm giving this blog thing another shot. No promises on how often I'll post, but if my running, parenting, or reading adventures can inspire, or simply entertain someone else, then it will be time well spent.