Frodo Effect

I have what my friend calls the Frodo Effect. It is the perfect description for how I feel. I just competed in the Theater on Ice National competition over the weekend. This was the culmination of a two year plan. It was amazing. But now I am in the post event let down phase. I have new goals and adventures planned but I just don’t want to leave this moment behind yet. I miss it already. 

It probably doesn’t help that I am super tired this week. Or that I have almost no motivation to do anything besides my have to dos. I have no fun projects at work. In fact, this week was all grunt work. I have no fun plans at home. The only real highlight was my DD coming home. But even that was bitter sweet as it just added to my schedule fun. 

It also doesn’t help that I just want to spend all of my time reliving the moment. I want to blog about why I started skating. I want to blog about my teammates and the fun we had. I want to blog about the event. I want to blog about how I realized over the weekend that we all struggle with something. I want to blog about becoming National Champs and being selected to skate in Spain!  I want to blog about all of this and I know I will soon!  

But for now, I am just getting through my Frodo moment. I understand his reaction at the end of the journey so much better now. The journey changes you. You can never be the person you were before the journey again. Adventure demands a price and it takes it. Your heart cannot be unchanged by that. 

I am so lucky though. My adventure gave me so much more than it ever took. Unlike Frodo, my journey let me finally see me at my best. I am proud of who and what I have become. I just need to rest and recoup so I can begin the next grand adventure.

I wonder what it will be…..

Blah

Have you ever had a blah day?  It is not really bad but it isn't great either. It is just kind of blah.

I had a blah weekend. I had a great run on Saturday but that was over pretty early in the day. I had a fun time at rehearsal on Sunday but the rest of the day was a repeat of Saturday. It was just kind of blah.

I came to work this morning feeling blah. I just couldn't shake it. I couldn't put my finger on what was wrong or why I felt this way. I really tried hard to get over it. I mean does anyone want to feel blah?

On my way to lunch, I realized that it just was what it was. I was not being ungrateful. I was not being demanding or unrealistic. I was just in an in between moment. I have a big competition coming up this weekend. My DD comes home next week.  So today is really just a get it over kind of day. The good stuff is coming later.

As soon as I took off the pressure, I felt better! It is still not a great day. But it is no longer blah! How crazy is it that I can turn what type of day I am having into some type of pressure filled situation for myself? I really need to learn to lighten up. :)

What about you? Do you have blah days? What do you do to make them better?

Perception

Is it just me or do you have a hard time seeing yourself a new way?

I am a lifetime couch potato. I LIKE to lounge. I love my bed. I know it misses me when I am gone because I miss it. So it is hard to even imagine that I am athlete. It is even harder to see myself that way.

I still giggle when I tell people I run or I skate. But I rarely say I am a figure skater or I am a runner. Why?? How can I get up at 4 am to do both sports but refuse to call myself an active participant in either.

I think for me a part of it is the kooky standard I have applied to the definition of an athlete. My DD is an amazing figure skating. So when I think of a figure skater, I see her in my mind. I don't skate like that. I also have a ton of adult friends that skate. They are so fast and smooth. They just seem so fluid. I don't skate like that either. So if my baby is a skater and my adult friends are skaters, what am I? I am not a skater because I am not doing what they do. Right?

Let's not even talk about running. I am the living embodiment of Phoebe in real life. I either look like I am having some type of fit or that I am just walking fast. Haha... I even have pictures that confirm this!! Also, I just recently, after 9 months of running finally run a mile under 10 minutes. I know Boston Qualifiers. They are running. I am jogging for long distances. lol.

But the problem with not seeing the new me or acknowledging what I do is I lose the power of the process. See I am a runner and a skater. I have been working very hard to become both. This process has redefined me. It has helped me find new strength. It has shown me a side of myself I have never seen. If I don't acknowledge that I am being ungrateful for the process. I am denying the gift!

This week I had someone ask me if I was a dancer. They were impressed with how I moved. Haha!! Not only am I NOT a dancer, I as moving on the ice. I have come so far in my skating that I can be somewhat fluid in my movements. Woot! Woot! I am making progress.  Then to make it even better, I mentioned that I run as well. This angel on earth told me, "oh that explains it. You have the body of a runner." Seriously, I think this person is my new favorite person in the world. Not just because she gave me two huge compliments. But because she helped me see the new me!

So how have you changed recently? Have you embraced your new you? Or do you need someone to introduce you to the new you?