The Garbage Can

There are so many things in life we take for granted…..

I’m big
I’m fat
I’m brown
I’m shaped like a box
I stink
I don’t even have a name, just a number

Who could love me?
Or even like me?

People trash talk me
They don’t think I have feelings
They don’t think about what they put in me
What they feed me
They use me many times a day
Without even thinking about what they’re doing
Then they take me out once (or maybe twice) a week

They don’t pay attention when I’m full or overflowing
They just shove more in me
They just don’t care
They don’t think twice about me unless i don’t do what they want

No one posts pictures of me
No one talks to friends about our relationship
No one is proud of me or what I do
I’m just there
They don’t care
They shove me behind a wall
Only to be seen when it’s convenient

Don’t you know I impact the environment?
I may be just one thing, but together we are many
You think I’m helping you remove your trash
Do you even know where I send it?
Do you think about what you discard?
What you simply throw away?
What’s the effect of setting me out 52 times every year?
Do you think of others as you think of me?

When you lose me, will you then see my value?
I wonder
You’ve taken me for granted
But what would your life be like without me?

Who Are You?

 Saturday, Sunday and Monday
in my “feed” that means running reports
The rest of the week?
Well, a Hodge podge of things but…
mostly about running and upcoming races

What does this say about me?
I don’t’ really know but I do know one thing
Being sidelined has taught me much
But learning takes time and repetition
Like any habit

I am not running (or in my case, walking)
I am not my accomplishments
I am not my medical degree
I am not my Naval career
I am not my running medals
I am not my house or car
(well, except that both are old like me)

I am a well of experiences and even wisdom
I am full of past mistakes
But also lessons learned
I am here for others
I am a mass of energy that has a purpose

But that purpose differs now
It’s not the purpose that drove me
It’s to be kind and generous now
To help and give to others as much as possible
To be supportive and understanding
To care and comfort when they need it
To hold space for those who are scared

Look deep within to see yourself
Take the time to find what’s behind what you do
You are not just one thing
No one is
You are multidimensional but often don’t know it
Take a chance.
Do something new
Write something new

That comfort zone becomes a prison all too soon
Let other see the beauty within you
Not just the external “things” you do
There is so much to you
I know I want to see inside
I want to enter within
But you must be brave enough

Who are you?

My Upcoming Book

 This is one of the most positive things about my captivity.

My new book is not for everyone. it’s not a fun book like “It’s Not About The Miles”. In fact, it’s pretty deep and I reveal secrets I’ve never announced publicly before. I am taking a big risk with this. But I feel strongly that it’s important.

What I started to write is in no way, shape or form what came out the other end.

It was supposed to be about the transformation from 2021’s Vol State race to my 2022 accomplishment of making it to the Rock screwed.

I guess you could say that’s really what it is…but it’s so much more.

It’s the most important body language book you’ve ever read (assuming you do..lol). But not in the way you think of body language.

It’s my entire life laid out for all to see…in hopes it will help someone else see they are not alone and to know there are things they can do.

The body language you must learn is that of your own body,

For over 60 years I had never once answered a “call” from my body. It got really p*ssed off about that too and in 2017 it let me know that it wasn’t going to take my ignoring it any more.

Most of us ignore our bodies. That is the worst thing you can do.

There are two major reasons behind this behavior:
1) childhood trauma – adverse childhood experiences
and
2) chronic stress

Together we explore mind-body medicine and the neural circuit concept of chronic pain and you’ll see how chronic pain almost caused me to take my life and how I got out of it but still have issues with some types of chronic pain.

Maybe you’re shaking your head ready to scroll past this post. After all, nothing really bad has ever happened to you and you can definitely handle stress, right? Look at how successful you are. That must prove you’re alright.

If you’re free of any of the concerns of chronic stress (right now anyway) and think this isn’t for you, then my book either doesn’t apply to you or you’re just not ready yet. However I will tell you that someone you’re close to has been impacted.

I show you how my life changed when at 13 months old my 6 week old baby brother died of SIDS. You will have a front row seat to watch my life unfold. You’ll be able to find the messages I was sent and shake your head when you realize I didn’t get any of them. Then you’ll be carried along on the lava flow after the volcano erupted. I bring you with me as I discover WTF was my problem all these DECADES and what worked for me to start pulling me out of the quicksand.

It’s NOT a self-help book. It’s a “this is what i finally figured out is going on with me and these things helped” book. I have not gotten all better for sure. I am not an expert. I have just studied this stuff intensely over the last couple of years. I am trying to pass on what I’ve learned

So, if you’re looking for something exciting, this is NOT it. But if you want to see deep inside me, you might like it.

It’s called “From Tipping Point to Turning Point”

Just writing it taught me so much and brought even more together for me to examine and implement.

Coming soon. I finished the comma crusade tonight.