Jumpin' Off the Edge

I stared at the computer screen for almost two hours watching the countdown until registration opened. After finishing my first half-marathon last year, I made the statement that someday I wanted to run a full one. Yesterday, I saw a post from a friend on Facebook letting us all know that registration for the Marine Corp Marathon, one of her favorites, would fill up quickly. I went to the website and decided to run the half-marathon instead. But something kept pulling me back to the full marathon. Could I do it? Me? The last person always picked for sports teams back in school? Me? Almost 50 years old and a bit overweight? “Well, duh! Of course you can do it!” the voice inside of me screamed. “You thought the same thing about the half marathon and you did that.” I looked over at my 10 year old niece Grace, “26 miles. Should I?” She giggled. We talked about it some. I wish I could remember our conversation. Instead, all I hear is her giggle and the commen

Time goes on, every day comes to an end, and new beginnings start. Change. Scary, yet liberating. The end results of change can bring about strength, confidence, and new experiences. Even when it is for the best, the transition that comes as a result of change can be difficult, painful at times. A few months ago, Tony and I determined that the best thing for our family would be to change its structure. (The how or why is not important for this forum.) Not only were we all coping with the changes happening in our family, individual changes are happening. Sean continues to be engaged in war in a far-off country watching people he cares about getting hurt and doing what he can to keep others safe. Sana is ready to graduate from high school with no idea of what will happen next. Patti recently changed schools. We are engulfed in change. Change can bring pain. The other day I was talking to Sean about the overwhelming loneliness that comes from separation. I didn’t tell hi