Somber Thoughts

Today I stumbled upon a thread in a discussion that announced the unexpected death of a classmate from high school. This particular girl was an acquaintance. We were friends in middle school, but in the high school years, we existed mostly in different social groups. Our paths would cross every once in a while, but for the most part, we were friends from a distance.

When I read of her death, I was flooded with a myriad of thoughts. It is strange how despite working in healthcare, I continue to think myself invincible.  Completely capable of doing anything I want without any real consequences. And though I am too young for many of the pathologies that I work with, I am not immune from car accidents, head/spine trauma or otherwise. This young girl passed away "from natural causes". What does that include when you are 26?

We graduate high school mostly assuming we will see all those people in 10 years at the latest. We graduate thinking of the degree(s) we will obtain, lives we will change and the families we will have. We dream of traveling the world, beginning lives in cities near and far and being a part of something great. Death seems inconceivable...

So today I am taking a moment to remember life is not guaranteed. It is a gift. I will spare you the soft, sappy cliché words of wisdom, but I hope today to hug your loved ones a little tighter, because you just never know.

Here is a similar post I wrote last spring about a life taken too early...

Weekend update!

I promise I will blog more than a weekend update on here soon, but this weekend was just too good not to go documented. My family was in town and I truly loved hosting them and running around the city with them. I especially loved spending sweet moments with my little nephew. Thank you for traveling all the way to Portland to spend time with me.

Wednesday:

Parents arrive from Montana 

Dinner at Caps and Corks so my dad could try one of their 100 beers

Thursday:

First dentist appointment in 3+ years :S

Positive: Only had a small cavity

Negative: Need my wisdom teeth out

Shopping with my parents :)

Dinner at The Ram with Tony and my parents 

This kid is too much

Friday: 

Worked all day... 

Early evening in with the boy

Saturday:

Brunch with Jenny, Kaitlyn, Shayne and Elyse at City State

Quite time at Sister's coffee

REI with Burk, Lyds, James and my parents

Walked around the Pearl

Shopping! Got a new swimsuit and coat from The NorthFace 

Bubble tea at Tea Zone

Sweet moments with my nephew

Dinner at Bridgeport Brewery!

Games and brews with the family at home

Walking in the Pearl

His Lion Face!

Sunday:

Dad's home made hash for brunch!!!

Zoo with family and the baby!

Made Tony's dad's chlli from scratch

At said chili :)

Watched the AMAs and hung out for a quiet evening 

At the Zoo with James

Siblings :)

Family

April Already!

Cherry Blossoms at UW campus last weekend

I can hardly believe it is already April! We are 1/4 of the way through 2013! It really seams like just yesterday I was just making my new years goals. Since I am home sick today, I thought it would be an appropriate time to write an update on my 2013 goals and possibly adjust them if necessary :)

Here is my list!

Personal Growth:

-Carve out time with God daily (why, why is this always so hard?)

-Sunday night church, no budge

-Establish and stick to a budget!!

-Write more

-Keep plugging away at my 1001 list 

-Read the Bible in a year with this plan (added Jan 10th)

-Add at least $300 per month to my savings account

I was not great at creating daily time with God, though I did get better at this and feel more accomplished in setting a routine.  I am doing a better job at daily short prayers and feel more connected to God when I am able to do so. I traveled a fair amount the last three months so Sunday night attendance as been hit or miss, but I have been staying caught up via podcasts. Bible reading plan has also been going slowly, but continuing to press-on through the old testament :) Budget has been a work in progress (see here), but certainly made some huge steps these past three months. I have seriously failed at writing more.  And my list continues to be updated (26/101 things crossed off!!)

Health/Fitness:

-Drink at least 20oz of water per day

-Schedule yearly doc visits and find a dentist!

-Cardio at the gym 2-3x/week

-Start a lifting program Lift at least 2 times per week 

-Pilates and Yoga classes 1-2x/month

-Start a fitness blog started one here Write more about my fitness journey  

-Ride my bike to work 7-10 times per month

I have seriously improved at drinking more water, but some days it is still hard to get >20oz drank! I have completed my yearly doctor visits and have my dentist appointment on Thursday. Cardio at the gym went well in January (19 gym visits), struggled through Feb (9 visits), continued to decline in March (6 visits). That being said, I did start a lifting program and have completed it at work several times even if not going to the gym that night. I also had several "non-gym" workouts including some longer bike rides and several long walks around the city. I have yet to attend a yoga or Pilates class at the gym :( 

Knowledge/Work:

-Finish Level 1 of Rosetta Stone-Spanish by March July 1st

-Read at least 1 research article per week

-Pay for parking less than 2 times per month

I failed at rosetta stone by a long shot. Lets adjust that date :) I have been staying up to date with research articles for the most part and attended the Parkinsons' course in Denver which provided me with a lot of new articles to read. I have done a much better job at paying for parking (only allowing myself twice per month the past three months)! 

So, not a bad start to the year. I would like to be a bit more dedicated to my workout goals these next three months and also incorporate the new goals (added in blue). As always, they are goals and they serve to continue to motivate me.