Hey Hey Everyone!!

  Welp, we are just a few days away from the sweet day of Thanks to the Give...or Thanksgiving.  This is such a wonderful holiday of the 3 great F's...Family, Friends and most importantly FOOD!!!  YUMMM!!  I want you all to take the next two days and really think about what you are thankful for in your life.  You can write it down, and then share it at the Thanksgiving table...when you spread the 'thanks' cheer; you really are embracing and celebrating what Thanksgiving really means.

 

  Guess what everyone...The Philly Half-Marathon is done and over with, but I must say, my passion for life has been renewed!!  The night before the race, my running bud Wayne (SHOUT OUT WP!!) and I were sitting around after 'carbo loading', and said 'Yup, this is really going to happen."  We both knew this day was bound to come, but we didn't fully comprehend it.  I believe that if you really want to do something, you absolutely can.  The only person holding you back is yourself.  For example, 3 months ago, I literally could not run 35 seconds without stopping.  This past Sunday, I ran 13 miles!!  Now, I am nowhere near special for doing this, anyone can do it!!  You just have to take control...life passes by, and while some thing do fall into your lap, you can't expect everything to happen on it's own.  We all have desires and passions in our bellies for a reason.  Whatever you believe or don't believe in, (God, the Universe, food, unicorns...whoever or whatever, remember we don't judge), these desires come from somewhere.  If you say 'I wish, I should, I want to' do something, go ahead and do it!!  No one will laugh, and if they do, it's because they wish they had the courage to be doing what you're doing. 

   I saw something so great on Sunday while I was running.  An elderly man wearing a shirt that said on both sides "Attitude of Gratitude".  After running along side of him for a few miles, I realized this shirt wasn't just a random saying; he was actually living this 'Attitude of Gratitude'.  He thanked every police officer that was mandating the traffic and every volunteer giving out water/Gatorade.  It was so awesome to see someone living what they believed in.  If you want to be a runner, go run; if you want to be a chef, go cook; if you want to be a shark enthusiast, by golly, watch shark week till your eyes fall out of your head. (Yup, I just said golly??)  What you have to remember is that what you want will take some time, just like my running experience for the past 3 months.  My first week, even my first 2 months, there was no way I was able to run 8 miles...but by the end of the 3^rd month, I ran 8 miles.

This life is what you make of it.  Sometimes we feel depressed, sad or angry.  These feelings come about when we aren't in balance with fulfilling our desires.  Don't get me wrong, there are days, when I lay around when I know I have to get a run in, but I just don't feel like it.  Remember what I said before about consequences??  I know that after the run, I will feel like a million bucks, but it just seemed easier to lie around and be depressed because I didn't feel like running.  We have a choice...and my advice to you; take the choice where you know the result will make you feel good.  Don't let anyone conduct your life; it's in your beautiful hands.

This is an awesome quote to stick by... "No one else can sing your song; no one else can dance your dance, no one else and write your story."

 

I leave you with this little example, for when you are feeling down and not so Smile-lution or inspired U.  One of my favorite songs from The All American Rejects is 'Move Along'.  As I was running the halfie this past Sunday, I was at the 8^th mile and my legs and feet started to really hurt with every step.  Mind you, the next quarter mile was all up hill and all I just felt like resting for a second.  As soon as I approached the hill of death, 'Move Along' comes on my Pandora Radio (which is a total random station that can play anything at anytime).  Someone was looking out for me, b/c the words are "...even when your hope is gone, Move along".  This was the perfect song to keep me going, bc the only way to make it through the tough times is to just keep on moving along.

 

I hope you all have such a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Please take all your thanks to the table and share it with your family and friends.  That is the reason for the season...:-)

Thank you all for reading this, and inspiring me to keep going!

 

Love you all!!

-Liz Dugan

xoxo

HAPPY WEDNESDAY to you all!!  I hope you had a wonderful weekend, and you're enjoying this beautiful fall weather we are having.  Like I said before...go jump in those leaves!!  I never thought I would say this, but I am so happy I can walk to work.  I am lucky that I get to see all of the great Holiday displays on 5^th avenue.  I was thinking, it is entirely too early to start with the Holiday stuff...but then realized it's already well into November!   Sometimes when the holidays come, you feel like they came too early and too fast...soon enough they are OVER.  I say, decorate for the Holidays as soon as you can... get into that Holiday spirit!!  We all love the warm, fuzzy feeling you get inside when you can anticipate time with family, friends, fireplaces (for some of us, it's the yule log on DVD) and delicious food...OH yea and spreading the Holiday cheer :-) 

 

This is a nice little lead into my word of the day, appreciation....AHHHHHHHH!! (Pee-Wee's playhouse reference anyone??)  How many times have you felt that you appreciate (AHH) something or someone only after they are gone?  This is just human nature; when things are readily available we don't see a NEED for them.  Once they are gone, then we truly realize the impact they have had on our lives.  Let's change it up a little bit, and do the opposite.  Overly appreciate the things you have, so you don't miss them...OR even worse, regret what could have been.  Remember, we don't like regretting...FORGRET. (That's 'forget' and 'regret' meshed into one word...I like to simplify.)

 

I was running last night through Central Park, and all I wanted to do was stop...it just felt WAY too hard...blah, blah, blah.  Here I go again wearing my complaining pants.  Just like clockwork, there was a man in a wheel chair being pushed by his nurse and his golden retriever jogging along side.  When I say clockwork, I mean every single night they are circling the park at the exact same time.  The person in the wheelchair is in complete awe of the colors of the leaves, the fresh air, and literally smiling at every person he passes.  I felt awful, I am over here complaining about not wanting to run, and there are people out there who don't even have the option.

 

When you cringe at the sound of horns honking or your alarm going off in the morning, be thankful that you can hear them.  When you are sore because you had a hard workout or accidentally ran into something (ahem, that happens a lot to me.), be thankful that you can control how your body moves...well sort of :-)  All of these daily things like brushing your teeth, laughing and even crying; are things that some people don't have the luxury to do on their own.  Be thankful; be grateful every day when you wake up...and appreciate what you have NOW.

I have said this in past Smile-lutions, and I am going to say it again...tell those around you that you love them.  Don't wait until tomorrow to start taking care of your body (hmm diet starts tomorrow...), don't wait to do the things that you love just because you are scared.  Take advantage of your health, family and friends. 

 

I leave you with this little nugget of wisdom from Ralph Marston, only because I LOVE YOU!! 

 

"Make it a habit to tell people thank you.  To express your appreciation, sincerely and without the expectation of anything in return.  Truly appreciate those around you, and you'll soon find many others around you.  Truly appreciate life, and you'll find that you have more of it."

 

We all have to be reminded every now and then of how wonderful life is, especially when times are tough.  This quote rings true, when we send out good vibes sincerely, more good vibes will be sent to you.  Feeeeel the good vibes :-) 

 

I hope you all have a wonderful day!!  Make good use out of it because you will never have another day exactly like today.

 

Love you all!!

-Liz Dugan

  xoxo

HAPPY TUESDAY!!!!  I hope you're all having a great week so far.  Have you looked outside lately?  The leaves are falling and the sun is shinning!!  It really is fall, so go out and enjoy.  When I was wee little lady with my sweet bowl cut (yup, you read that right), my sisters and I use to rake leaves for my grandma.  Instead of first putting in piles, big seester (shout out to Christie! Woop!) would use the leaves to create lines to outline a house.  So, we would have different rooms to play.  It's no wonder she is on the road to becoming an interior designer/architect. 

Take my advice, go out and jump in some leaves!!  Make sure you wear padding though; you make hop on a stick.  That could ruin the party for everyone.

 

Today's theme is...NEVER GIVE UP!!  I yell this point, not because I am mad at you, but because I love you. :-)  I actually need to yell at myself right now.  I am just at the 3-week mark when the Philly Half Marathon intends to rock my world.  Yes, it's actually going to happen.  I know...I am surprised too!  I feel completely unprepared.  Will people laugh at me if I have to stop, will they snub me if I can't finish?  (Just like Michael Scott in the 5k race for rabies)  I am nervous, and all I want to do is give up because I don't feel like dealing with any of this.  Then the reality of finishing the race kicks in.  I have come a long way from the beginning of training.  Before training, I was never able to run a mile with out stopping; now I can run 8 miles!!  This is a huge feet for me.  Every time I run, I over come the urge to stop...every run is a small battle.  My body CAN accomplish this run, my dome just wants to be funny and play tricks on me by trying to convince me that I am tired and need to give up.  Giving up would be the easiest thing to do, but the tough part is actually going through with the race.  However, the sweetness here is when I am done, the sense of real accomplishment will be MINE!  Well, until my next race.  What is life without pushing yourself a little??  The only way to find your passions in life is to try things that may make you uneasy.  That's because they are new and exciting.  The only way I can get through this is with my friend WP (shout out to Wayne ooo OOO).  Since he has been through this before, he's been guiding me along the way.  You need to have those friends who can be there when you feel like giving up.  They have a clear, outside perspective, and that's what I need right now.  Sometimes you need a little boost, and your friends and family are there to booster you up!!

 

Last night in Game 5 of the World Series, Philadelphia proved my point of never giving up.   The Phillies are down 3-1, and could easily give up to finish the series...but guess what...THEY WON!!  I was talking to, aheeem, not naming any names, but this person said 'Ahh I'd rather have them just lose this game tonight to get it over with.'  I say "NAY", what's the fun in that??

 

Hold strong in those times when you feel like giving up...try to think in future tense.  Think of how wonderful it will be in the end when you complete the task at hand.  Life isn't all sun and fun, there are times when it gets tough and you must push through.  These experiences will only make you stronger!!  It's so easy sometimes for me to try and give advice...but right now I have to use my words and push forward.  November 22 will be here very fast, and all I can do is prepare as much as possible.  I can't wait till the minute I finish the race, I am sure I will have a great Smile-lution that day :-) 

 

I leave you with this on this BEAUTIFUL fall day...

 

"Anyone can give up, it's the easiest thing in the world to do. But to hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that's true strength."

 

I hope you have a great day!!  Remember to challenge yourself; one day those challenges may become a routine. 

 

Love you!

-Liz Dugan

xoxoxo

 

It's that feeling on the inside that shows on the outside,

Life is a lot like a baseball game. There are two teams, one who is the favorite one who is the underdog. There are fans for each to support them along the way, commentators who judge their every play and coaches to guide them through a nine inning journey. As a player, you interact with the ball. You can catch it and be the hero or strikeout in a crucial situation and be the villain. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. One season you are the champion, next season you are in last place. However, the true beauty of the game is that with every new season, every new pitch there is opportunity. That is of course, if you keep swinging the bat.