run, baby, run.

source

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: I've always had a love/hate relationship with running. When I was younger, it was mostly the hate part. I didn't have the right mental attitude and running has so much to do with your mindset. I also wasn't running the right way. It sounds weird, but once I did figure out how to run "the right way" at least for me, it has definitely worked wonders. I also felt like I wasn't flailing around and out of breath after 10 minutes.

Last year, I ran my first 5K for a great cause, Accelerate Brain Cancer Cure. At my old job, we shared office space was them, so my job had a team, and it was great motivation for me to get into shape. So I did, and I ran the whole 5K (which isn't a lot to some, I know this), but I felt really proud of myself. But as usual, once the race was over, I fell off the bandwagon and stopped running again altogether, save for some sporadic spurts of motivation.

This time around, the 5K was much more unexpected. I signed up for the Hoboken Resilience Run about 2 weeks before, and had been running sporadically up until that point. However, my boyfriend and main motivator, pushed me to the point where the week leading up to the race, we ran 5 days in a row, and 4 of those days were before work. Now, anyone who knows me, knows that I am lazy, and I like my sleep, so this alone, was a huge accomplishment for me. It's even gotten me to the point where I want to run. I've learned to sink into my core, and not put all the stress of running on my shins, I've learned it's okay to go my own pace, know when to slow down and when to speed up. Needless to say, my second 5K was another success and since I ran again the day after, I think running is definitely something I love now and I'll definitely be doing it more often.

busy bees.

source

I'm busy, you're busy, we're all busy. But are we really? I read an interesting article in the summer of last year, called "The Busy Trap," which you can find here. It basically says that we have an affinity for the word "busy."

Want to grab dinner tonight? "I don't know, I'm pretty busy."

What does that even really mean? Don't get me wrong, I have said this myself countless times, or have been told that as an excuse numerous times. It's something we all seem to be obsessed with these days. It's a buzzword, that easily fills that gap for other things we don't want to say, like "I actually have other plans," or even the more harsh reality of "I don't feel like hanging out with you tonight."

 It relates to even more than just trying to make plans with people. I find that the word busy gets in my own way. For example, I'm at work most days from 8:45 AM - 6-6:30 PM, or sometimes later, depending on the day. You add in my commute and I get home somewhere between 7-8. Then, I just want to relax, "I was so busy at work today." And I know, we all have those crazy days where we just want to come home and unwind.

However, what about feeding our creativity? Or the things we are passionate about on our own time? I have this blog, for example, and have struggled for so long to really keep up with it. But why? It's not that hard to choose to go in my room to blog, or read, or do some other activity that is a fun release for me rather than mindlessly watching TV for 2 hours before bed, and/or staring at my phone.

I think we could all use a little help of pushing the buzzword "busy" to the side. Whether it's to make time to talk to a friend or family member, feed our creative juices, or finally nail down a time to grab dinner with your girlfriends. I myself need this desperately. So who wants to stop the glorification of busy with me? Next time you're prepared to say or type, "I'm busy," really pause and think if you are, I feel like we'll all be surprised as to how many times we aren't, and we can make time for the things that are more important. I know I will be trying to implement this!

weekending.

This weekend was definitely a solid one. On Friday night, Josh and I had a double-date with my friend Jenn and her boyfriend Lenny. We got vouchers for a (sort-of) cheapie dinner at this Italian place as well as vouchers to a comedy club show at the place right next door. Dinner was good, although the service was slightly lacking. But my first comedy show? A huge success, very funny and it was a great night. Saturday was the first dare I say it, warm, day in what has felt like literally forever. So what did we do? We went to Central Park of course and had a lovely stroll. We ran into two of Josh's friends and spent the afternoon enjoying tasty brews in the upper west side. Easter Sunday was relaxing, went on a morning run, followed by a big breakfast with eggs, bacon & pancakes with m&m's in them. All in all it was a very relaxing, solid weekend & I definitely felt very New York. ;)

it's going to be fine.

(source)

I love this quote so very much and I think it's important to remember throughout life, and especially in my 20's. I find these days, more than ever, there is always so much going on. So many plans, so many options, so many things to do and see, we feel so much pressure to do every little thing all of the time. It's an everyday occurrence that in my head, I remind myself of this quote. It's perfectly fine, if on a cold Saturday, I don't want to go out and drink, that I'd much rather stay on my couch and continue this Disney movie-marathon (not to mention being able to wake up the next day and be a functioning human being). Sure, my friends will have fun at that bar, or party, or trip. But there will also be other bars, parties, and trips. Not everything is the end all be all. I don't have to do what everyone else is doing.

I know it can also come across on a much more personal level. Why does everyone have a boyfriend. She's 24, married and pregnant with her first child. Why is everyone engaged? I can promise you, not everyone is engaged (or pregnant or with a significant other for that matter.) I get that at times, you can log into Facebook and see 3 different statuses or a slew of in your face photos of someone else's shiny new ring or bundle of joy, but that doesn't mean it's everyone. Slow it down, things will happen when they are supposed to. You don't have to do what everyone else is doing.

Needless to say, this is usually my daily mantra, something that I will always need to remind myself of, and try to point out to others (not in a preachy way of course.) It's just important to know that majority of the time, everything is happening just as it should. So, in other words, stop having FOMO so damn much. ;)

sunday's were made for oldies.

I mean, right? Whether you're just bopping around your apartment (or house) cleaning or cooking, or just want to have an impromptu afternoon dance party, oldies are goodies. They just make me feel happy. Below, I've shared a link to my personal oldies playlist that I have on Spotify, but I want to know, what are some of your favorite old school songs to listen to?

Playlist:
Old School