I start this post with the quote that is on the main picture. I love this quote it has so much meaning for me, especially recently. I feel like this semester, my second year as an Assistant Professor has been full of setbacks................ as in things don't progress as fast as I want them to. I am still learning, I can not do everything, I do not know everything, I don't claim to and to be honest, I am irritated daily by people that think they 'know it all'. Most of the time I hold my peace, sit back and hope that they become 'grounded' again and fall back into reality. I am in no way saying that I do not sometimes fall into this category, but I hope that I can remain grounded and learn from these experiences.
In addition to being an Assistant Professor I qualified for 'World Championships' in Half Ironman, which is coming up really soon. This is my second time, but this time has been a challenge for me because I am constantly in conflict with what comes first....... is it me, my work, my training or my relationship. Athletes are extremely selfish people, especially endurance athletes, they are happy to be alone!!!..... for a reason, but at some point you will realize that 'Life' is so much bigger than you are and your priorities begin to change. I love what I do, and I am thankful to be surrounded by people that share similar interests and give me immense support.
When you live each day racing against the clock to find time that isn't there, it is easy to lose yourself. Last night I was hit with sad news about an old friend of mine. Because of careers, relationships and life changes we don't always get to see or speak to our friends or family as often as we would like (mainly because of that race against the clock). Or maybe your priorities shifted too much in one direction............. but it doesn't stop you caring or continuing to think about them. If you find yourself suddenly 'brought back down to reality' thats ok....... reach out, lend a hand, share a smile, give a hug............ I believe my friend will be ok, she is a young, strong healthy beautiful woman and when I find myself struggling I will think once again about people that have a much bigger task that finishing a Half Ironman...... or completing some research or writing a paper and remember 'its so much bigger than that'.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Motivational Quote
I like motivational quotes, not only for my training and competitions, but for life too. Here is one of my favorites!! Feel free to share more :)
"Pain is Temporary,
It may last a minute,
or an hour,
or a day,
or a year,
but eventually it will subside
and something else will take its place.
If I quit, however, It lasts forever."
Lance Armstrong
"Pain is Temporary,
It may last a minute,
or an hour,
or a day,
or a year,
but eventually it will subside
and something else will take its place.
If I quit, however, It lasts forever."
Lance Armstrong
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Today my heart ached
Today my heart ached for someone I don't know.
I have a few friends that blog about their lives and so on, more often I read updates about their triathlon training and other adventures. I like reading these blogs, they inspire me, motivate me and keep me in the loop. I have this one friend down in Bloomington and I was reading her blog today, she is training for Ironman Wisconsin and I know she is going to be amazing. Her blogs are very upbeat and exciting and she allows her friends to experience the excitement via her blog. Today I read a new update and in addition to the usual there was one paragraph about a very close friend of hers being diagnosed with breast cancer - my heart ached, because I realized that this is a woman who recently lost her son to lymphoma (you can read the story here www.teamzachary.com). She now has her own story to tell and hopefully you will follow her here www.INgratitude.posterous.com. Why would you want to follow a blog by someone you don't know and have never met - because I truly believe that people become stronger knowing they have support even if they don't know you and may never meet you.
So today my original plan was to get up this morning and do what I like to refer to as 'the epic workout' - a 1.2 mile swim, 20 mile bike TT, 4 mile run, 20 mile bike TT and a 6 mile run. It takes a few hours but my plan was to get up early and just get it done. Usually if I wait until midday, I don't want to do it. Today though I got up, ate breakfast and changed my plan, I went to watch my friends husband compete in a Mountain Bike Race. We got there a little after it started, hung out with her adorable twins, checked out the parade. It was a really fun morning. We didn't get home until 12.30pm, I was hungry, tired and last thing Jesse and I wanted to do was the epic workout, Jesse fell asleep and I started to think of all these reasons why maybe I would wait until tomorrow and so on.
So instead of going to workout, I started playing around on the internet and read my friends blog.................. and my heart ached. I sat for a while thinking about it and then got ready for my workout. My whole attitude towards the 'epic workout' changed. It was 3pm and I knew it was going to take a while but I didn't care. I approached it with a different type of aggressiveness and I did not for one second of that workout today stop thinking about this person that I don't know.
Today when I struggled with the wind and wanted to come up out of my aero bars for a break, I told myself that some situations don't allow people to take breaks no matter how much their body is begging for it. On my runs instead of weakening with the distance I got stronger and faster, I battled my pain and kept going.
I don't know what its like to have a life threatening disease, and I am not going to pretend that my training pain comes close to that type of pain. But I do know, that today this person I don't know helped me get through one of my best workouts yet, she never left my thoughts and I hope you take time to follow the blog and show your support from afar because we all gain strength knowing people care.
I have a few friends that blog about their lives and so on, more often I read updates about their triathlon training and other adventures. I like reading these blogs, they inspire me, motivate me and keep me in the loop. I have this one friend down in Bloomington and I was reading her blog today, she is training for Ironman Wisconsin and I know she is going to be amazing. Her blogs are very upbeat and exciting and she allows her friends to experience the excitement via her blog. Today I read a new update and in addition to the usual there was one paragraph about a very close friend of hers being diagnosed with breast cancer - my heart ached, because I realized that this is a woman who recently lost her son to lymphoma (you can read the story here www.teamzachary.com). She now has her own story to tell and hopefully you will follow her here www.INgratitude.posterous.com. Why would you want to follow a blog by someone you don't know and have never met - because I truly believe that people become stronger knowing they have support even if they don't know you and may never meet you.
So today my original plan was to get up this morning and do what I like to refer to as 'the epic workout' - a 1.2 mile swim, 20 mile bike TT, 4 mile run, 20 mile bike TT and a 6 mile run. It takes a few hours but my plan was to get up early and just get it done. Usually if I wait until midday, I don't want to do it. Today though I got up, ate breakfast and changed my plan, I went to watch my friends husband compete in a Mountain Bike Race. We got there a little after it started, hung out with her adorable twins, checked out the parade. It was a really fun morning. We didn't get home until 12.30pm, I was hungry, tired and last thing Jesse and I wanted to do was the epic workout, Jesse fell asleep and I started to think of all these reasons why maybe I would wait until tomorrow and so on.
So instead of going to workout, I started playing around on the internet and read my friends blog.................. and my heart ached. I sat for a while thinking about it and then got ready for my workout. My whole attitude towards the 'epic workout' changed. It was 3pm and I knew it was going to take a while but I didn't care. I approached it with a different type of aggressiveness and I did not for one second of that workout today stop thinking about this person that I don't know.
Today when I struggled with the wind and wanted to come up out of my aero bars for a break, I told myself that some situations don't allow people to take breaks no matter how much their body is begging for it. On my runs instead of weakening with the distance I got stronger and faster, I battled my pain and kept going.
I don't know what its like to have a life threatening disease, and I am not going to pretend that my training pain comes close to that type of pain. But I do know, that today this person I don't know helped me get through one of my best workouts yet, she never left my thoughts and I hope you take time to follow the blog and show your support from afar because we all gain strength knowing people care.
Thursday, August 12, 2010
My First job
I swam with a friend today who mentioned that she wanted to know more about life in academia. Initially it took me by surprise, no one has really asked me that before.... I needed some time to think and figure out a response.
I realized I rarely discuss my life as an assistant professor, its not because I am not proud of what I do, I am, I just don't talk about it. Partly because I keep my personal life close to me, partly because I don't want to force people to listen about life in academics, and partly because I am still surprised that this is the career path that I chose to walk down. It was never my intention to 'teach' or do 'research'.
I wanted to coach swimming, I love/d coaching swimming, its easy for me to coach swimming. I know it inside out, I can look at someone in a pool and determine in seconds what they need to do to be more efficient. I can look at someone standing on pool deck and know what their body position will be like in the water. I am at home in a swimming environment. Can I say the same regarding my position as an assistant professor? ......... the answer is to be determined I guess. It takes years of deliberate practice :) - for anyone to become an expert in their field.
Doing my PhD kind of happened by accident (whaaaaat), I stumbled upon it in my quest to find out who I was. Somewhere along the way I decided coaching would be for me, I interviewed at several school, was offered jobs at some of these schools, but something inside of me told me 'no' don't accept. So I stayed at IU to complete my PhD. I was close to finishing and I applied for jobs as an assistant professor in a poor economy. Luckily I found a great job at MTU - thankfully they liked me enough to give me my first real paying job - I know you graduate students know what I am talking about here.
Am I in my comfort zone - ha!!!! absolutely not. I am challenged everyday to be a better teacher, better advisor, I am still learning - I feel like a graduate student more now than ever........ I call my advisor from IU ALL THE TIME!!!!! - Do I still want to coach - absolutely, I think about it everyday, BUT, I like what I do now too. I like the diversity of the students, I like finding ways to make learning fun. I am not a professor that wants to make a students life difficult, I don't want to 'put them through hard times, just because I experienced it', in fact I go out of my way to make sure I don't do that. I seek those that avoid me, I want each of them to engage in the learning experience. Some 'wiser' professors tell me I will change - that I put in too much 'effort' but right now it doesn't seem like effort and I hope I don't change to that 'bitter' professor that forgot why they wanted to be in academia to start with.
I am gearing up for my second year at MTU, I am coming off a good year and I am hoping the second year will be better.......... one thing I have learned this year as much as I hate to admit this - it is a challenge for women in academia, is it better than it used to be? I don't know I am assuming so.......... its not something I have experienced until now and so I feel I can't accurately comment on it. I certainly haven't really experienced anything negative but I do listen and learn from other female faculty from MTU and other Universities. Do I think some of what I have heard is 'over the top'? Ha!! absolutely, but unfortunately there is merit to some things!! (more on this another time)
all in all, my life in Houghton is fun and exciting, my friends are fab and I like my job!!!!!
I realized I rarely discuss my life as an assistant professor, its not because I am not proud of what I do, I am, I just don't talk about it. Partly because I keep my personal life close to me, partly because I don't want to force people to listen about life in academics, and partly because I am still surprised that this is the career path that I chose to walk down. It was never my intention to 'teach' or do 'research'.
I wanted to coach swimming, I love/d coaching swimming, its easy for me to coach swimming. I know it inside out, I can look at someone in a pool and determine in seconds what they need to do to be more efficient. I can look at someone standing on pool deck and know what their body position will be like in the water. I am at home in a swimming environment. Can I say the same regarding my position as an assistant professor? ......... the answer is to be determined I guess. It takes years of deliberate practice :) - for anyone to become an expert in their field.
Doing my PhD kind of happened by accident (whaaaaat), I stumbled upon it in my quest to find out who I was. Somewhere along the way I decided coaching would be for me, I interviewed at several school, was offered jobs at some of these schools, but something inside of me told me 'no' don't accept. So I stayed at IU to complete my PhD. I was close to finishing and I applied for jobs as an assistant professor in a poor economy. Luckily I found a great job at MTU - thankfully they liked me enough to give me my first real paying job - I know you graduate students know what I am talking about here.
Am I in my comfort zone - ha!!!! absolutely not. I am challenged everyday to be a better teacher, better advisor, I am still learning - I feel like a graduate student more now than ever........ I call my advisor from IU ALL THE TIME!!!!! - Do I still want to coach - absolutely, I think about it everyday, BUT, I like what I do now too. I like the diversity of the students, I like finding ways to make learning fun. I am not a professor that wants to make a students life difficult, I don't want to 'put them through hard times, just because I experienced it', in fact I go out of my way to make sure I don't do that. I seek those that avoid me, I want each of them to engage in the learning experience. Some 'wiser' professors tell me I will change - that I put in too much 'effort' but right now it doesn't seem like effort and I hope I don't change to that 'bitter' professor that forgot why they wanted to be in academia to start with.
I am gearing up for my second year at MTU, I am coming off a good year and I am hoping the second year will be better.......... one thing I have learned this year as much as I hate to admit this - it is a challenge for women in academia, is it better than it used to be? I don't know I am assuming so.......... its not something I have experienced until now and so I feel I can't accurately comment on it. I certainly haven't really experienced anything negative but I do listen and learn from other female faculty from MTU and other Universities. Do I think some of what I have heard is 'over the top'? Ha!! absolutely, but unfortunately there is merit to some things!! (more on this another time)
all in all, my life in Houghton is fun and exciting, my friends are fab and I like my job!!!!!
Memorable quotes
Sometimes life can be rough and you wonder 'why?' - after watching a 'Rocky' - yep I said 'Rocky' movie last night I thought about this quote alot - to some people it may seem silly, but for me it gets the message across.
"The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're better than that! But until you start believing in yourself, ya ain't gonna have a life."
"The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're better than that! But until you start believing in yourself, ya ain't gonna have a life."
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Happy New Year (a little late)
Happy New Year and welcome to 2010, (sorry it’s so late). One of my new year’s resolutions – to update my blog more !!!, starting from now.
I travelled home to England for the Christmas Holidays, time always goes by so fast when I am there, I don’t have enough time to recover from the epic journey it takes to get there, and always wish I could spend more time there. This year more than anything I longed to live back in my home country. I miss my family, especially seeing new addition growing up, and I miss my friends. I miss the amazing countryside that I know I took for granted when I was growing up. I miss road signs that tell you when the next castle is (where do you see that here), I miss the history of what we have……………………..But, when I am there I miss this country too, I miss the convenience of having anything you need whenever you need it. England is not like that at all. The stores all close at 5pm, rarely is anything open 24 hours (it’s amazing what you suddenly want and absolutely can’t wait until 9am the next day when you find out that you really can’t just go and get it). I missed not being able to go to the pool for 4 days because come December 24th everything is closed until the 28th. I miss the laid back everyday life of American culture. I wish I could make the two countries just a little bit closer so I could back and forth easier.
Anyway, Christmas and New Year came and went, and I am back here in Houghton, Mi……………………….. I came back to snow, lots of it, but there was lots of it when I left. It’s really not that cold here which surprises me every day. So far this year I have hiked with my dogs (lots), they both like the snow now which makes it more fun, although I think Blue (my chocolate lab) would rather have green grass to play on that white fluffy snow!! I have downhill skied at the ski hill we have on campus……………. Yes MTU has their own ski hill. It’s fun, I had a good time……………………. Well minus a little hiccup I had a good time. I bought boots and bindings for my snowboard, which I hope to test out next week!!! Oh and work, I started work again, teaching Motor Learning and Development. I am still getting used to the fact that I am no longer a grad student, I have my Ph.D. …………….. It’s weird and it took me a week or so to get back into professor mode, but once classes started again, it was ok.
This week I have two grants to draft for a February submission, and sort out my research lab!!! 2010 is off to a flying start.
P.S. still training, planning a race schedule………….. more to come on this!!!
I travelled home to England for the Christmas Holidays, time always goes by so fast when I am there, I don’t have enough time to recover from the epic journey it takes to get there, and always wish I could spend more time there. This year more than anything I longed to live back in my home country. I miss my family, especially seeing new addition growing up, and I miss my friends. I miss the amazing countryside that I know I took for granted when I was growing up. I miss road signs that tell you when the next castle is (where do you see that here), I miss the history of what we have……………………..But, when I am there I miss this country too, I miss the convenience of having anything you need whenever you need it. England is not like that at all. The stores all close at 5pm, rarely is anything open 24 hours (it’s amazing what you suddenly want and absolutely can’t wait until 9am the next day when you find out that you really can’t just go and get it). I missed not being able to go to the pool for 4 days because come December 24th everything is closed until the 28th. I miss the laid back everyday life of American culture. I wish I could make the two countries just a little bit closer so I could back and forth easier.
Anyway, Christmas and New Year came and went, and I am back here in Houghton, Mi……………………….. I came back to snow, lots of it, but there was lots of it when I left. It’s really not that cold here which surprises me every day. So far this year I have hiked with my dogs (lots), they both like the snow now which makes it more fun, although I think Blue (my chocolate lab) would rather have green grass to play on that white fluffy snow!! I have downhill skied at the ski hill we have on campus……………. Yes MTU has their own ski hill. It’s fun, I had a good time……………………. Well minus a little hiccup I had a good time. I bought boots and bindings for my snowboard, which I hope to test out next week!!! Oh and work, I started work again, teaching Motor Learning and Development. I am still getting used to the fact that I am no longer a grad student, I have my Ph.D. …………….. It’s weird and it took me a week or so to get back into professor mode, but once classes started again, it was ok.
This week I have two grants to draft for a February submission, and sort out my research lab!!! 2010 is off to a flying start.
P.S. still training, planning a race schedule………….. more to come on this!!!
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