When I set out to accomplish my Top Ten Goals for 2010, I had no idea that I'd set out to change my whole life too. I could have stayed perfectly content with my ten attainable goals, but noooooooooo! I just had to shake things up!
So what else have I piled on my plate? Well, I'll be becoming a volunteer mentor in July, moving to a new place in August and applying to the AUSL teacher training program in September. Each of these require a lot of work and preparation, and just thinking about everything I need to do is quite overwhelming.
BUT, I need to remember there is light at the end of the tunnel. I need to draw on past experiences and remember that feeling overwhelmed and even feeling a little bit of self doubt is part of the process. The important thing is that I push through despite these feelings.
I CAN do this. Repeat.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Friday, June 4, 2010
Confession
So, I have a confession to make. BUT, before I disclose my little secret, I just want to quickly report that I can cross yet another goal off my list! I fulfilled my goal of volunteering at least one time during 2010. Last month, I signed up with One Brick Chicago, a non-profit volunteer organization that assists other non-profit organizations whenever called upon. I chose (from their calendar of endless opportunities) to help out at the Kids Day America event at MayFest. And, a funny thing happened during that singular volunteer experience. I discovered just how awesome public service can be. So, I'm already signed up for another event through One Brick for tomorrow. I will be helping out with kids activities again at a sidewalk chalk festival hosted by a group called Art Therapy Connection. And just last night, I attended an information session regarding the Friends First mentoring program through Mercy Home in Chicago. The Friends First program will match me with an at-risk youth to spend some time with during a few hours for 2-3 weekends per month. It's a pretty big time commitment, which is intimidating, but all I've been able to think about since the orientation is, "How can I not do this?"
***
Ok ok, so here is my confession: I hate my current job. HATE. IT. Most people I'm close with already know this, but it's not something I like to advertise. Until now. *Gulp* While I am very thankful to hold a job in this less than stellar economy, I'm completely miserable. I chose the wrong path in college, and for years I couldn't foresee a comprehensible way to change lanes. Until now.
So, after years of suffering at an unsatisfying job in Cubeville, USA, I have finally found the guts and motivation to change my career. But, it is not going to be easy. In fact, "Nothing of great value comes without great sacrifice." I'm not sure who originated that quote, but I heard it once in a movie, and now I live by it.
Allow me to explain: For years I have known that I have wanted to become an elementary school teacher. I have such an enormous compassion for kids, especially kids who come from unfortunate circumstances and don't have it so easy in life. I'm not sure where this undeniable compassion stems from, but the constant nagging feeling within me urging me to find a way to help them will not disappear. It just so happens that last spring, while perusing the Chicago Public Schools website, I came across a link to another site for the AUSL program though National Louis University. AUSL stands for Academy for Urban School Leadership, and they train teachers to teach in under-performing or failing Chicago public schools that have been newly turned-around. This program, should I get accepted after the rigorous application process, would allow me to obtain a Masters degree in Education.
Don't get me wrong - I'm not naive enough to think that this experience won't be extremely challenging, but I'm also not jaded enough to think that there is no hope for children coming from less than ideal community & home environments to succeed in life.
Last night, before the orientation began, I was speaking with another prospective Friends First volunteer, and we were discussing our backgrounds. After telling her about how I got to Chicago in the first place and how I wanted to become a teacher via the AUSL program, she told me that she thought it was awesome that after 10 years in the work force, I had finally found my calling. I paused for a second because I had never thought of my desire to become a teacher as a "calling," per se, but now I can't think of a better word for it.
***
Ok ok, so here is my confession: I hate my current job. HATE. IT. Most people I'm close with already know this, but it's not something I like to advertise. Until now. *Gulp* While I am very thankful to hold a job in this less than stellar economy, I'm completely miserable. I chose the wrong path in college, and for years I couldn't foresee a comprehensible way to change lanes. Until now.
So, after years of suffering at an unsatisfying job in Cubeville, USA, I have finally found the guts and motivation to change my career. But, it is not going to be easy. In fact, "Nothing of great value comes without great sacrifice." I'm not sure who originated that quote, but I heard it once in a movie, and now I live by it.
Allow me to explain: For years I have known that I have wanted to become an elementary school teacher. I have such an enormous compassion for kids, especially kids who come from unfortunate circumstances and don't have it so easy in life. I'm not sure where this undeniable compassion stems from, but the constant nagging feeling within me urging me to find a way to help them will not disappear. It just so happens that last spring, while perusing the Chicago Public Schools website, I came across a link to another site for the AUSL program though National Louis University. AUSL stands for Academy for Urban School Leadership, and they train teachers to teach in under-performing or failing Chicago public schools that have been newly turned-around. This program, should I get accepted after the rigorous application process, would allow me to obtain a Masters degree in Education.
Don't get me wrong - I'm not naive enough to think that this experience won't be extremely challenging, but I'm also not jaded enough to think that there is no hope for children coming from less than ideal community & home environments to succeed in life.
Last night, before the orientation began, I was speaking with another prospective Friends First volunteer, and we were discussing our backgrounds. After telling her about how I got to Chicago in the first place and how I wanted to become a teacher via the AUSL program, she told me that she thought it was awesome that after 10 years in the work force, I had finally found my calling. I paused for a second because I had never thought of my desire to become a teacher as a "calling," per se, but now I can't think of a better word for it.
Monday, May 24, 2010
Quote of the Day
"Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart." - Winnie the Pooh
My sweet cousin Elizabeth posted this as her Facebook status, and I thought it was totally appropriate for this blog. It couldn't be more true!
My sweet cousin Elizabeth posted this as her Facebook status, and I thought it was totally appropriate for this blog. It couldn't be more true!
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Pura Vida
One of my most cherished souvenirs from Costa Rica has to be the new knowledge I gained of another country's culture. I feel that the ideas regarding the Costa Rican way of living really fit nicely with the theme of this blog too, because they really take the time to enjoy the little, yet important, things in life. And they do this whenever it feels naturally to them, not because it's part of a schedule.
For example, the motto in Costa Rica is, "Pura Vida," which means, "pure life." Every Tico (local resident) I encountered seemed to embrace this idea to the fullest. "Pura Vida" is EVERYWHERE in Costa Rica. On t-shirts, on wood carvings, on restaurant menus, inserted into verbal greetings, etc., but it is probably most evident in the lifestyle of the Ticos.
One example I witnessed of "pura vida" in all of its glory occurred on one of the last days of our trip. We were sipping smoothies at Joe's when I observed one of the surf instructor's at Witch Rock Surf Camp waxing his board. Suddenly, a mango fell from the nearby mango tree and first landed on the board, then rolled & fell onto the ground. Without hesitation, the surf instructor stopped waxing and bent to scoop up the rogue mango. I watched him grab a hose to first rinse it off, then walk in the direction of the beach, sit down on a swing that was tied to a tree, and then fully enjoy his afternoon snack. I mean, this is a human who was pausing to truly enjoy the 'fruits' of life! What a concept! I couldn't help but be curious as to what he was thinking while he was eating that mango on that swing near the beach. I wondered if he was reflecting upon how fortunate he is to live in a tropical paradise. I wondered if he was thanking the heavens for his livelihood as a surf instructor. I wondered if he was gauging the waves for surf-ability. I wondered if he was simply and solely focused on the mango. I wondered if he was thinking about his family and friends, or a girlfriend. But the thing is, I'm STILL wondering these things. How can such a natural human action seem so awe-inspiring to me? Because this is an act not usually observed among city natives, sadly & unfortunately. *sigh*
But, as someone who has never had trouble taking time to smell the roses (I'm often accused of being spacey, in fact, but I swear it is usually just me pausing to reflect upon the moment), I adapted to the "pura vida" concept quite easily and naturally. I was happiest not knowing what time it was or what we were going to do next. We didn't have to be anywhere at a certain time (which probably did wonders for my blood pressure because I'm constantly rushing in my real life). I actually liked not having my cell phone with me at all times and not having instant access to the Internet. Because the distractions were kept to a minimum, I could really be fully present in each moment. I wish everyday life in America catered to this idea more. I think Americans would be a lot happier if so. Well, I bet we'd be a whole lot more relaxed and less stressed, at the very least.
Also, my friends and I discussed more than once during our trip how the people of Costa Rica, though mostly poor, are some of the happiest in the world. There is no "keeping up with the Jones's" concept in their culture. I remember studying Latin America culture in high school and learning that they are deeply committed to their families, and family is what makes them happiest. I also noticed that they really care about the health of their environment. There were recycling bins everywhere and it was easy to tell the ticos took great pride in the landscape. The landscape is indeed their playground, but one they treat with great love and respect.
Another observation I made in relation to the "pura vida" lifestyle in Costa Rica is the pride and appreciation they have for their livelihood, whatever it may be. An example that comes to mind is the conversation we had with our zip line guide, Rudolfo. One of us asked how long he had been working at the Sky Track, and he proudly rattled off, "6 years, 3 months, 2 weeks, and 5 days." Well, I can't remember exactly how long it was, but he included that much detail. And I have a feeling he makes a great living doing that job. He gets to meet new people from all over the world every day, work outdoors, zip line until his heart is content AND make money all while doing so. No hunching over a 13 inch screen for 8 hours a day in a gray cubicle for him!
I'm not trying to say that Costa Rica is perfectly impeccable and the ultimate utopia, as I'm not naive to think the people of Costa Rica don't have their fair share of pain, suffering and social problems. But, it is a breathtakingly beautiful country where the people and their "pura vida" culture simply enhance that beauty.
For example, the motto in Costa Rica is, "Pura Vida," which means, "pure life." Every Tico (local resident) I encountered seemed to embrace this idea to the fullest. "Pura Vida" is EVERYWHERE in Costa Rica. On t-shirts, on wood carvings, on restaurant menus, inserted into verbal greetings, etc., but it is probably most evident in the lifestyle of the Ticos.
One example I witnessed of "pura vida" in all of its glory occurred on one of the last days of our trip. We were sipping smoothies at Joe's when I observed one of the surf instructor's at Witch Rock Surf Camp waxing his board. Suddenly, a mango fell from the nearby mango tree and first landed on the board, then rolled & fell onto the ground. Without hesitation, the surf instructor stopped waxing and bent to scoop up the rogue mango. I watched him grab a hose to first rinse it off, then walk in the direction of the beach, sit down on a swing that was tied to a tree, and then fully enjoy his afternoon snack. I mean, this is a human who was pausing to truly enjoy the 'fruits' of life! What a concept! I couldn't help but be curious as to what he was thinking while he was eating that mango on that swing near the beach. I wondered if he was reflecting upon how fortunate he is to live in a tropical paradise. I wondered if he was thanking the heavens for his livelihood as a surf instructor. I wondered if he was gauging the waves for surf-ability. I wondered if he was simply and solely focused on the mango. I wondered if he was thinking about his family and friends, or a girlfriend. But the thing is, I'm STILL wondering these things. How can such a natural human action seem so awe-inspiring to me? Because this is an act not usually observed among city natives, sadly & unfortunately. *sigh*
But, as someone who has never had trouble taking time to smell the roses (I'm often accused of being spacey, in fact, but I swear it is usually just me pausing to reflect upon the moment), I adapted to the "pura vida" concept quite easily and naturally. I was happiest not knowing what time it was or what we were going to do next. We didn't have to be anywhere at a certain time (which probably did wonders for my blood pressure because I'm constantly rushing in my real life). I actually liked not having my cell phone with me at all times and not having instant access to the Internet. Because the distractions were kept to a minimum, I could really be fully present in each moment. I wish everyday life in America catered to this idea more. I think Americans would be a lot happier if so. Well, I bet we'd be a whole lot more relaxed and less stressed, at the very least.
Also, my friends and I discussed more than once during our trip how the people of Costa Rica, though mostly poor, are some of the happiest in the world. There is no "keeping up with the Jones's" concept in their culture. I remember studying Latin America culture in high school and learning that they are deeply committed to their families, and family is what makes them happiest. I also noticed that they really care about the health of their environment. There were recycling bins everywhere and it was easy to tell the ticos took great pride in the landscape. The landscape is indeed their playground, but one they treat with great love and respect.
Another observation I made in relation to the "pura vida" lifestyle in Costa Rica is the pride and appreciation they have for their livelihood, whatever it may be. An example that comes to mind is the conversation we had with our zip line guide, Rudolfo. One of us asked how long he had been working at the Sky Track, and he proudly rattled off, "6 years, 3 months, 2 weeks, and 5 days." Well, I can't remember exactly how long it was, but he included that much detail. And I have a feeling he makes a great living doing that job. He gets to meet new people from all over the world every day, work outdoors, zip line until his heart is content AND make money all while doing so. No hunching over a 13 inch screen for 8 hours a day in a gray cubicle for him!
I'm not trying to say that Costa Rica is perfectly impeccable and the ultimate utopia, as I'm not naive to think the people of Costa Rica don't have their fair share of pain, suffering and social problems. But, it is a breathtakingly beautiful country where the people and their "pura vida" culture simply enhance that beauty.
Thursday, April 29, 2010
Costa Rica
I can officially cross off another goal from my list! I returned from my big trip to Costa Rica last Sunday. I had zero expectations prior to my trip, and the one word that comes to mind after my vacation is, 'enchanted.' Jennie, Megan, Sara, Katie and I embarked on a week-long adventure, and adventure is certainly what we got! Even more so than prior to the trip, I appreciate my friends for allowing me to be myself, even at my most weird. And traveling with 4 other girls for 8 days is enough to make anyone a little extra nutty. Next to adventure, laughing was the most consistent aspect of our trip. If memories could truly be bottled, I'd need several six packs to contain the week's worth from Costa Rica.
Highlights include but are not limited to:
Day 1 - Sunday:
This day started with our first of many breakfasts at Copacabana. Our tipico Costa Rican breakfast consisted of beef, beans & rice in a tortilla, avocado, papas fritas, frutas, jugo de frutas y cafe con leche.
'Toby' the lizard did his holy business into the condo pool that day. Apparently, he did not like us drinking cocktails and having fun on his territory! This was also the moment we realized we were going to have many, many funny moments on this trip. Katie arrived in the afternoon & quickly realized the slap-happy madness in store for her.
Our first dinner was at a beach side restaurant called, Nibbana. This was also when we discovered that random cats & dogs populate almost all restaurants in Costa Rica (at least almost all the ones we visited!). The first dog and cat we met were, "Champoo" and "Manchas," respectively. We were told by one waiter that visitors bring their pets to the beach and then the unleashed pets wander off from their owners and eventually become residents of the restaurants.
Day 2 - Monday:
First beach day and first encounter with the "Pipas Pipas" man selling coconuts on the beach. This day was also our first of 9 million encounters with the locals selling ceramicas and other goods on the beach to which we constantly were forced to reply, "no gracias." Dinner was sushi at Koi followed by Lady's Night at Aqua Discoteque. Free drinks, dancing and hot surfer dudes?! Si, por favor!
Day 3 - Tuesday:
Today was our fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants drive to see the Arenal Volcano right after a "quick" breakfast at Olga's. I put the word quick in quotation marks because it was right about this time when we realized no service would ever be quick in Costa Rica (Pura Vida, after all!). We rented an SUV, and with nothing but our backpacks and cameras in tow, we embarked on a 4.5 hour road trip.
Several signs along the drive made us giggle. One example was a sign that advertised, "Camping. Cabins. Bratwurst." Another read, "German Bakery - For the Fun!" And after seeing many signs for it, we made a stop at Cafe Macadamia where we enjoyed amazing views, fresh, organic lunch and the most amazing iced tea I've ever had, in addition to macadamias, of course. The roads were super curvy, steep and narrow and when the pavement ended, roads of seemingly endless gravel and dust began. Katie did an amazing job driving and navigating in a foreign country. We stopped for zip line info and made reservations for 7:30am the following morning. Our first hotel attempt failed, so we ended up at Linda Vista Mountain Lodge, which turned out to be incredibly breathtaking - and cheap! While in most ways staying at this lodge seemed like we were "roughing it" (i.e. no TV, no air conditioning), this place had the most amazing infinity edge pool I've ever seen (swim up bar, volcano view, sunset view!). Some of the best memories of the trip occurred in that infinity edge pool. In fact, that was the moment we realized our vacation was 'enchanted.'
At dinner, we watched lava run down the volcano from the lodge restaurant. The restaurant had floor-to-ceiling windows that slid open to a balcony, providing an even better view of the lava. All was dark (very dark, in fact, so as not to impede the lava view), quiet and serene during dinner until Ms. Photographer Katie tried to come back into the restaurant after taking lava photos. We were all about to enjoy our tipico dinner when we "heard" her run into the glass doors. "Is she ok? She seems dazed!" exclaimed patrons at another table while her bff's are laughing so hard they're crying and can't ask if she is ok! Poor Katie! She sure is a trooper though!
Later that evening we had a run in with a little lizard (that Sara frightened into crawling underneath someones door!) a "big-ass moth" and a "big-ass beetle" and continued laughing the rest of the night.
Day 4 - Wednesday:
Up and at em' for EXTREME zip lining with our guides, Rudolfo and Wiemar. We rode a gondola to the top and had to zip down 6 runs. The longest run was 600ft high, 1/2 mile long and we were going up to speeds of approximately 52mph. When it was all over, I paused to reflect on how ironic it was that something so terrifying could also be so liberating.
During the drive home, we stopped at Mamma Pacha's Art Shop to purchase some local art and then stopped at a church in Canaste decorated with in infinite amount of mosaic tiles. I fell a little bit more in love with Costa Rica during every small town stop...
Random outbursts of giggling about Katie's incident continued the whole day, as well as random patches of gravel roads during the drive back. We capped off the 2 day adventure with lunch at Lola's on the beach where a pig (Lola, perhaps?) ran amongst the diners.
Day 5 - Thursday:
Joe's for breakfast and then another beach day! Joe's is located right next to Witch's Rock Surf Camp, so not only was breakfast delicious, but the eye candy was too!
After the beach we decided to head back to Joe's for smoothies. Since Happy Hour and the sunset were quickly approaching, we decided to stay at Joe's -sweat, salt, sunscreen, suits, etc.- for the remainder of the evening for micheladas & nachos. Pura vida, indeed!
Day 6 - Friday:
Breakfast at Walter's then to the beach! Megan & Jennie took surfing lessons from Andres from Witch's Rock Surf Camp. It was so fun to watch them and they did such an amazing job! In the afternoon, a shuttle picked us up and took us to the Lazy Lizard catamaran boat for the evening. We drank Imperial beers & rum punch, snorkeled (well, some of us just enjoyed lazing on the boat), ate lunch and then watched the breathtaking sunset. Later that night, we headed back to Joe's for dinner, then off to Monkey Bar for amazing local salsa music and dancing.
Day 7 - Saturday:
Last day at the beach. Last day for pipas pipas. Last day for smoothies at Joe's. Jennie, Megan & I went souvenir shopping after the beach on what seemed like the hottest day of the week. Megan and I purchased cafe at Olga's (Well, it is Olga's from 6am to noon, then an entirely different establishment from noon until late night. Efficient, eh?). This pit stop is worth noting because it was so unimaginably hot in this place that we were just dripping with sweat. Megan said while we were waiting for the nice gentleman to retrieve our goods, "Well, Stephie, we'll always remember purchasing our Costa Rica coffee."
Dinner at Dragonfly that night. This was a very fancy restaurant in Tamarindo. Located in the middle of a wooded area, Dragonfly's ambiance consists of a concrete floor, wooden beams, a burlap roof, no walls and zero air conditioning. Hard to imagine, but this really was the fanciest and most expensive restaurant we went to in Tamarindo! And just as we were toasting to the end of a week of adventure, little did we know that another adventure was awaiting us. Right when we received our bill, the power went out! How are we supposed to pay if the credit card machine isn't working? More importantly, how are we supposed to see our way back to the condo?? .......So, what did we do? Well, we threw our collective colones onto the table and hiked up our long skirts to prepare for a muddy walk in the dark back to the condo. We used camera flashes to guide our way, and incidentally, got some pretty cool photos out of it! We made it back safely, but not before one of the security guards from a nearby condo complex decided to scare us half to death by making monkey noises. He saw (well, most likely 'heard') us, but we didn't see him! Packing by candlelight was no easy task, but it created even more laughs and made for yet another memorable experience to cap off our 'enchanted' vacation.
Highlights include but are not limited to:
Day 1 - Sunday:
This day started with our first of many breakfasts at Copacabana. Our tipico Costa Rican breakfast consisted of beef, beans & rice in a tortilla, avocado, papas fritas, frutas, jugo de frutas y cafe con leche.
'Toby' the lizard did his holy business into the condo pool that day. Apparently, he did not like us drinking cocktails and having fun on his territory! This was also the moment we realized we were going to have many, many funny moments on this trip. Katie arrived in the afternoon & quickly realized the slap-happy madness in store for her.
Our first dinner was at a beach side restaurant called, Nibbana. This was also when we discovered that random cats & dogs populate almost all restaurants in Costa Rica (at least almost all the ones we visited!). The first dog and cat we met were, "Champoo" and "Manchas," respectively. We were told by one waiter that visitors bring their pets to the beach and then the unleashed pets wander off from their owners and eventually become residents of the restaurants.
Day 2 - Monday:
First beach day and first encounter with the "Pipas Pipas" man selling coconuts on the beach. This day was also our first of 9 million encounters with the locals selling ceramicas and other goods on the beach to which we constantly were forced to reply, "no gracias." Dinner was sushi at Koi followed by Lady's Night at Aqua Discoteque. Free drinks, dancing and hot surfer dudes?! Si, por favor!
Day 3 - Tuesday:
Today was our fly-by-the-seat-of-our-pants drive to see the Arenal Volcano right after a "quick" breakfast at Olga's. I put the word quick in quotation marks because it was right about this time when we realized no service would ever be quick in Costa Rica (Pura Vida, after all!). We rented an SUV, and with nothing but our backpacks and cameras in tow, we embarked on a 4.5 hour road trip.
Several signs along the drive made us giggle. One example was a sign that advertised, "Camping. Cabins. Bratwurst." Another read, "German Bakery - For the Fun!" And after seeing many signs for it, we made a stop at Cafe Macadamia where we enjoyed amazing views, fresh, organic lunch and the most amazing iced tea I've ever had, in addition to macadamias, of course. The roads were super curvy, steep and narrow and when the pavement ended, roads of seemingly endless gravel and dust began. Katie did an amazing job driving and navigating in a foreign country. We stopped for zip line info and made reservations for 7:30am the following morning. Our first hotel attempt failed, so we ended up at Linda Vista Mountain Lodge, which turned out to be incredibly breathtaking - and cheap! While in most ways staying at this lodge seemed like we were "roughing it" (i.e. no TV, no air conditioning), this place had the most amazing infinity edge pool I've ever seen (swim up bar, volcano view, sunset view!). Some of the best memories of the trip occurred in that infinity edge pool. In fact, that was the moment we realized our vacation was 'enchanted.'
At dinner, we watched lava run down the volcano from the lodge restaurant. The restaurant had floor-to-ceiling windows that slid open to a balcony, providing an even better view of the lava. All was dark (very dark, in fact, so as not to impede the lava view), quiet and serene during dinner until Ms. Photographer Katie tried to come back into the restaurant after taking lava photos. We were all about to enjoy our tipico dinner when we "heard" her run into the glass doors. "Is she ok? She seems dazed!" exclaimed patrons at another table while her bff's are laughing so hard they're crying and can't ask if she is ok! Poor Katie! She sure is a trooper though!
Later that evening we had a run in with a little lizard (that Sara frightened into crawling underneath someones door!) a "big-ass moth" and a "big-ass beetle" and continued laughing the rest of the night.
Day 4 - Wednesday:
Up and at em' for EXTREME zip lining with our guides, Rudolfo and Wiemar. We rode a gondola to the top and had to zip down 6 runs. The longest run was 600ft high, 1/2 mile long and we were going up to speeds of approximately 52mph. When it was all over, I paused to reflect on how ironic it was that something so terrifying could also be so liberating.
During the drive home, we stopped at Mamma Pacha's Art Shop to purchase some local art and then stopped at a church in Canaste decorated with in infinite amount of mosaic tiles. I fell a little bit more in love with Costa Rica during every small town stop...
Random outbursts of giggling about Katie's incident continued the whole day, as well as random patches of gravel roads during the drive back. We capped off the 2 day adventure with lunch at Lola's on the beach where a pig (Lola, perhaps?) ran amongst the diners.
Day 5 - Thursday:
Joe's for breakfast and then another beach day! Joe's is located right next to Witch's Rock Surf Camp, so not only was breakfast delicious, but the eye candy was too!
After the beach we decided to head back to Joe's for smoothies. Since Happy Hour and the sunset were quickly approaching, we decided to stay at Joe's -sweat, salt, sunscreen, suits, etc.- for the remainder of the evening for micheladas & nachos. Pura vida, indeed!
Day 6 - Friday:
Breakfast at Walter's then to the beach! Megan & Jennie took surfing lessons from Andres from Witch's Rock Surf Camp. It was so fun to watch them and they did such an amazing job! In the afternoon, a shuttle picked us up and took us to the Lazy Lizard catamaran boat for the evening. We drank Imperial beers & rum punch, snorkeled (well, some of us just enjoyed lazing on the boat), ate lunch and then watched the breathtaking sunset. Later that night, we headed back to Joe's for dinner, then off to Monkey Bar for amazing local salsa music and dancing.
Day 7 - Saturday:
Last day at the beach. Last day for pipas pipas. Last day for smoothies at Joe's. Jennie, Megan & I went souvenir shopping after the beach on what seemed like the hottest day of the week. Megan and I purchased cafe at Olga's (Well, it is Olga's from 6am to noon, then an entirely different establishment from noon until late night. Efficient, eh?). This pit stop is worth noting because it was so unimaginably hot in this place that we were just dripping with sweat. Megan said while we were waiting for the nice gentleman to retrieve our goods, "Well, Stephie, we'll always remember purchasing our Costa Rica coffee."
Dinner at Dragonfly that night. This was a very fancy restaurant in Tamarindo. Located in the middle of a wooded area, Dragonfly's ambiance consists of a concrete floor, wooden beams, a burlap roof, no walls and zero air conditioning. Hard to imagine, but this really was the fanciest and most expensive restaurant we went to in Tamarindo! And just as we were toasting to the end of a week of adventure, little did we know that another adventure was awaiting us. Right when we received our bill, the power went out! How are we supposed to pay if the credit card machine isn't working? More importantly, how are we supposed to see our way back to the condo?? .......So, what did we do? Well, we threw our collective colones onto the table and hiked up our long skirts to prepare for a muddy walk in the dark back to the condo. We used camera flashes to guide our way, and incidentally, got some pretty cool photos out of it! We made it back safely, but not before one of the security guards from a nearby condo complex decided to scare us half to death by making monkey noises. He saw (well, most likely 'heard') us, but we didn't see him! Packing by candlelight was no easy task, but it created even more laughs and made for yet another memorable experience to cap off our 'enchanted' vacation.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Progress Report
Just because you haven't heard from me does not mean I've neglected my Ten for 2010! Oh no sireee! I'm not about to quit now! In fact, I don't like to quit anything once I've started it. To talk about doing something and never do it is one thing, but to start something and not finish it is quite another. The latter causes me unimaginable anxiety.
For example, I've only quit one thing in my whole life and I continue to have recurring dreams -NIGHTMARES- about it. I'm talking about quitting dance class in high school. I had been taking dance lessons for years when I made the cheerleading squad in 9th grade. I continued taking dance classes simultaneously with cheering, but at some point it just got to be too much. So I quit going to dance classes just a few months prior to the big end-of-year recital. I mean, I QUIT! Just like that! Quit! Bailed! Forfeited! Withdrew!
And I have never forgiven myself for quitting ever since. The recurring dreams I have involve me showing up to the recital to perform, but I'm obviously ill-prepared from having not gone to the classes in months. I quickly try to learn the routines just minutes before showtime, but I always end up freaking out because I can't memorize the steps. I've often woken up in a cold sweat as a result of these dreams. And my heart is beating faster just thinking about it!
Phew. Ok. I've calmed down now. But, needless to say, I'm still diligently working on my Top 10 for 2010. Many of my goals are works in progress, so here is and update on the progress of some of my goals:
Goal #1: Run At Least 5 Races
Progress - Signed up for the Chicago Police Memorial 5k on May 1st. (I predict most of my races will take place during the summer)
Goal #4: Read 10 Books & Record Favorite Quotes from Each
Progress - I have read 3 books so far which include, City of Thieves, Loving Frank and Juliet, Naked. (I will save the favorite quotes for when I reach 10 books)
Goal #5: Write in My Journal at Least Once a Week
Progress - D'oh! You know how in reality shows when the producers use the sound of screeching records for dramatic effect when someone does/says something ridiculous? Well, that happened in my head when I got to this goal. I admit I've been slacking on this goal a bit. But to my defense, I realized I can't just write for the sake of writing! I have to be inspired. Or I have to have a problem. Usually, I need to have a problem to really feel the journal vibe. I should have listed my goal to write more often instead of once a week. On a side note, I highly recommend keeping a journal to anyone who has ever felt so 'in their head' they couldn't get out. Journal writing has helped me solve problems big and small since 1994. Writing is also pretty similar to going to a therapist, except I ask myself the routine therapy session questions such as "And how does that make you feel?," etc.
Goal #6: Go on At Least One Big Trip
Progress - This girl is heading to Costa Rica on April 17th!!!!! What distinguishes a 'big' trip from a 'little' trip, you ask? Ummmm, how about the fact that I actually get to use my PASSPORT for the first time ever!?! Wooo!!!
Goal #9: Pay off my 2 Credit Cards
Progress - I am more than happy, proud, excited, relieved to announce that I have paid off 1 of the 2 cards! And the other one is very close too! Please understand, I was never one of those people who got a credit card and went on crazy spending sprees. I have never really been too reckless with my money, and I'm proud of that. But when an old college bill cropped up years ago and I couldn't pay for it out of my own pocket, plastic came to my rescue. Desperate times called for desperate measures, but I'm just so proud I worked so hard to accomplish this very important goal of mine.
For example, I've only quit one thing in my whole life and I continue to have recurring dreams -NIGHTMARES- about it. I'm talking about quitting dance class in high school. I had been taking dance lessons for years when I made the cheerleading squad in 9th grade. I continued taking dance classes simultaneously with cheering, but at some point it just got to be too much. So I quit going to dance classes just a few months prior to the big end-of-year recital. I mean, I QUIT! Just like that! Quit! Bailed! Forfeited! Withdrew!
And I have never forgiven myself for quitting ever since. The recurring dreams I have involve me showing up to the recital to perform, but I'm obviously ill-prepared from having not gone to the classes in months. I quickly try to learn the routines just minutes before showtime, but I always end up freaking out because I can't memorize the steps. I've often woken up in a cold sweat as a result of these dreams. And my heart is beating faster just thinking about it!
Phew. Ok. I've calmed down now. But, needless to say, I'm still diligently working on my Top 10 for 2010. Many of my goals are works in progress, so here is and update on the progress of some of my goals:
Goal #1: Run At Least 5 Races
Progress - Signed up for the Chicago Police Memorial 5k on May 1st. (I predict most of my races will take place during the summer)
Goal #4: Read 10 Books & Record Favorite Quotes from Each
Progress - I have read 3 books so far which include, City of Thieves, Loving Frank and Juliet, Naked. (I will save the favorite quotes for when I reach 10 books)
Goal #5: Write in My Journal at Least Once a Week
Progress - D'oh! You know how in reality shows when the producers use the sound of screeching records for dramatic effect when someone does/says something ridiculous? Well, that happened in my head when I got to this goal. I admit I've been slacking on this goal a bit. But to my defense, I realized I can't just write for the sake of writing! I have to be inspired. Or I have to have a problem. Usually, I need to have a problem to really feel the journal vibe. I should have listed my goal to write more often instead of once a week. On a side note, I highly recommend keeping a journal to anyone who has ever felt so 'in their head' they couldn't get out. Journal writing has helped me solve problems big and small since 1994. Writing is also pretty similar to going to a therapist, except I ask myself the routine therapy session questions such as "And how does that make you feel?," etc.
Goal #6: Go on At Least One Big Trip
Progress - This girl is heading to Costa Rica on April 17th!!!!! What distinguishes a 'big' trip from a 'little' trip, you ask? Ummmm, how about the fact that I actually get to use my PASSPORT for the first time ever!?! Wooo!!!
Goal #9: Pay off my 2 Credit Cards
Progress - I am more than happy, proud, excited, relieved to announce that I have paid off 1 of the 2 cards! And the other one is very close too! Please understand, I was never one of those people who got a credit card and went on crazy spending sprees. I have never really been too reckless with my money, and I'm proud of that. But when an old college bill cropped up years ago and I couldn't pay for it out of my own pocket, plastic came to my rescue. Desperate times called for desperate measures, but I'm just so proud I worked so hard to accomplish this very important goal of mine.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Let's Get Physical
I confess: I do not spend every minute of my life working on accomplishing my 2010 New Year's Goals. Sue me. But in the interim, I thought I'd interject some additional thoughts.
For instance, I wonder if anyone finds it strange that my "Top 10 For 2010" (Why didn't I think of that title before just now?!) doesn't include any fitness goals. I mean, isn't that usually the #1 priority of any one's New Year's Resolutions? True, according to my list I do have 5 races to run, but I don't necessarily run races for fitness. I run races because is the only time I ever feel competitive, even if I'm only competing against time.
I'd say the main reason I didn't include any fitness goals is because I have already made working out an integral part of my life for the last several years. In fact, I'd go so far as to say I wouldn't really be 'me' if I wasn't utterly faithful to my fitness regime. I've always been a very thin girl (my eternal gratitude goes to Grandpa Vel for passing along such good genes), so I think I've confused friends, family and coworkers by becoming such a gym junkie. After all, I can eat whatever I want and not gain a pound (don't worry, even I cringed when I typed that). I think working out goes so far beyond losing weight though! In fact, even though I have worked out six days a week for about 2 years, I haven't lost a pound and I may have actually gained a few pounds of muscle.
I think my obsession with working out began after I graduated high school. Let me be clear, though, it did not begin as an obsession. In high school I had always relied on cheerleading to keep me fit. But after graduation I needed some way to stay active, so I decided to try running on for size. For a while, it did not fit. Running had always been the bane of my existence growing up. I dreaded the required annual mile run in gym class. I remember sweating and wheezing for the rest of the school day after the dreaded run, and I never even ran the whole dang thing without walking the curves and running the straights - well, most of the straights. Just as Dr. Leo Marvin consulted Bob in the movie, "What About Bob?", I knew it was going to take 'baby steps' to achieve my goal, which was to sorta, possibly, kinda, maybe enjoy running. I started out slow - verrrrrry slooooow- but I eventually worked up to running a mile without stopping, and then 2, and then 3, etc. I came to the conclusion that running wasn't so bad and in fact, I liked it. And I wanted to get better at it.
In college I discovered that running was a great way to relieve the stress and pressure of school work. Running became a crucial part of my life even if I could only make time for it once a week. Some of my best college memories include running with Janet, either on the track behind our dorm or through the quaint little neighborhood just off campus. When we weren't exchanging world-altering epiphanies, which are naturally exchanged by students during the college years, we were dedicating laps and miles to our favorite people at Walsh University. Thankfully, having so many favorite people at Walsh only pushed us to run farther.
When I graduated college, I used running as a time to really hunker down and figure out my future without the distractions of every day life interrupting me. During the year post graduation and pre-moving to Chicago, many people tried to discourage me from moving to the Big City, but running always helped me to regroup and stay focused on my goals. Through running and with the support of my family, I found the encouragement to follow my dreams.
By the time I moved to Chicago in 2002 I was running no less than 3 times a week. Since then, I've had many self revelations along the Lake Michigan running path. Oh if running paths could talk...
In February 2006 my company offered a Wellness Plan which would deeply discount a membership to any gym of choice. I chose Equinox. I chose it partly for the convenience (it was located in my office building at the time, along with an additional location in my neighborhood) and I partly chose it because it was unlike any gym I'd ever seen: very modern, very clean, very spa-like. In addition to my running, I started taking muscle conditioning classes twice a week, and my body quickly learned a soreness it had not previously experienced. I'd agree that soreness turns many people off from working out, but being the masochist I am, I embraced it. Soreness is a good thing! Soreness does not mean you are out of shape, per se. In fact, if you aren't sore after almost every session, then you probably aren't working hard enough. It doesn't even matter if you've been weight training for years and years. (True, I should disclaim that it is also entirely possible to work too hard. And it is really dangerous to do too much too soon.) Soreness indicates that your muscle fibers have virtually been ripped to shreds, but the recovery time is when they mend themselves, therefore, becoming stronger. Sounds awful, right? But I know my bones and my muscles love me for it. I know they want to work! By building good bone density and muscle strength, I'm warding off osteoporosis, in addition to other diseases. I haven't been sick for over a year and I credit the immunity-boosting effects of my workouts. Oh yeah, did I mention the muscle definition?? I'm certainly no shoe-in to win any World's Strongest Woman competitions, but just seeing the definition of my muscles reminds me that I'm a STRONG woman, and that I'm capable of handling any obstacle life throws at me.
Also, I'd say I began increasing the frequency of my workouts (5 to 6 days a week, up from 3 to 4) when my job became very stressful (circa 2007). I didn't view working out as a form of escapism from the stress necessarily, but rather a time when I could be totally disconnected from the outside world and instead very connected to the present tense of my body and mind. I learned that working out is a way to fuse body with mind, and I can't think of any other activity that allows for utilizing both simultaneously, besides exercising. Just think how fused all those Olympic athletes must be! Bottom line, muscle conditioning taught me how to shut out the world and focus -I mean really focus- on something that was beginning to reveal itself as a great importance to my life.
My job is no longer as stressful as it once was, but the reduction of stress was in no way indicative of any desire to cease my love affair with the gym, or to reduce the frequency with which I retreated into the arms of my lover, Equinox.
If someone were to ask me the one item I couldn't live without, I'd probably say my gym pass. I've embraced the perpetual challenge of exercising as a lifetime commitment, and I'm thankful for the countless reasons it has made me such an advocate for being active.
For instance, I wonder if anyone finds it strange that my "Top 10 For 2010" (Why didn't I think of that title before just now?!) doesn't include any fitness goals. I mean, isn't that usually the #1 priority of any one's New Year's Resolutions? True, according to my list I do have 5 races to run, but I don't necessarily run races for fitness. I run races because is the only time I ever feel competitive, even if I'm only competing against time.
I'd say the main reason I didn't include any fitness goals is because I have already made working out an integral part of my life for the last several years. In fact, I'd go so far as to say I wouldn't really be 'me' if I wasn't utterly faithful to my fitness regime. I've always been a very thin girl (my eternal gratitude goes to Grandpa Vel for passing along such good genes), so I think I've confused friends, family and coworkers by becoming such a gym junkie. After all, I can eat whatever I want and not gain a pound (don't worry, even I cringed when I typed that). I think working out goes so far beyond losing weight though! In fact, even though I have worked out six days a week for about 2 years, I haven't lost a pound and I may have actually gained a few pounds of muscle.
I think my obsession with working out began after I graduated high school. Let me be clear, though, it did not begin as an obsession. In high school I had always relied on cheerleading to keep me fit. But after graduation I needed some way to stay active, so I decided to try running on for size. For a while, it did not fit. Running had always been the bane of my existence growing up. I dreaded the required annual mile run in gym class. I remember sweating and wheezing for the rest of the school day after the dreaded run, and I never even ran the whole dang thing without walking the curves and running the straights - well, most of the straights. Just as Dr. Leo Marvin consulted Bob in the movie, "What About Bob?", I knew it was going to take 'baby steps' to achieve my goal, which was to sorta, possibly, kinda, maybe enjoy running. I started out slow - verrrrrry slooooow- but I eventually worked up to running a mile without stopping, and then 2, and then 3, etc. I came to the conclusion that running wasn't so bad and in fact, I liked it. And I wanted to get better at it.
In college I discovered that running was a great way to relieve the stress and pressure of school work. Running became a crucial part of my life even if I could only make time for it once a week. Some of my best college memories include running with Janet, either on the track behind our dorm or through the quaint little neighborhood just off campus. When we weren't exchanging world-altering epiphanies, which are naturally exchanged by students during the college years, we were dedicating laps and miles to our favorite people at Walsh University. Thankfully, having so many favorite people at Walsh only pushed us to run farther.
When I graduated college, I used running as a time to really hunker down and figure out my future without the distractions of every day life interrupting me. During the year post graduation and pre-moving to Chicago, many people tried to discourage me from moving to the Big City, but running always helped me to regroup and stay focused on my goals. Through running and with the support of my family, I found the encouragement to follow my dreams.
By the time I moved to Chicago in 2002 I was running no less than 3 times a week. Since then, I've had many self revelations along the Lake Michigan running path. Oh if running paths could talk...
In February 2006 my company offered a Wellness Plan which would deeply discount a membership to any gym of choice. I chose Equinox. I chose it partly for the convenience (it was located in my office building at the time, along with an additional location in my neighborhood) and I partly chose it because it was unlike any gym I'd ever seen: very modern, very clean, very spa-like. In addition to my running, I started taking muscle conditioning classes twice a week, and my body quickly learned a soreness it had not previously experienced. I'd agree that soreness turns many people off from working out, but being the masochist I am, I embraced it. Soreness is a good thing! Soreness does not mean you are out of shape, per se. In fact, if you aren't sore after almost every session, then you probably aren't working hard enough. It doesn't even matter if you've been weight training for years and years. (True, I should disclaim that it is also entirely possible to work too hard. And it is really dangerous to do too much too soon.) Soreness indicates that your muscle fibers have virtually been ripped to shreds, but the recovery time is when they mend themselves, therefore, becoming stronger. Sounds awful, right? But I know my bones and my muscles love me for it. I know they want to work! By building good bone density and muscle strength, I'm warding off osteoporosis, in addition to other diseases. I haven't been sick for over a year and I credit the immunity-boosting effects of my workouts. Oh yeah, did I mention the muscle definition?? I'm certainly no shoe-in to win any World's Strongest Woman competitions, but just seeing the definition of my muscles reminds me that I'm a STRONG woman, and that I'm capable of handling any obstacle life throws at me.
Also, I'd say I began increasing the frequency of my workouts (5 to 6 days a week, up from 3 to 4) when my job became very stressful (circa 2007). I didn't view working out as a form of escapism from the stress necessarily, but rather a time when I could be totally disconnected from the outside world and instead very connected to the present tense of my body and mind. I learned that working out is a way to fuse body with mind, and I can't think of any other activity that allows for utilizing both simultaneously, besides exercising. Just think how fused all those Olympic athletes must be! Bottom line, muscle conditioning taught me how to shut out the world and focus -I mean really focus- on something that was beginning to reveal itself as a great importance to my life.
My job is no longer as stressful as it once was, but the reduction of stress was in no way indicative of any desire to cease my love affair with the gym, or to reduce the frequency with which I retreated into the arms of my lover, Equinox.
If someone were to ask me the one item I couldn't live without, I'd probably say my gym pass. I've embraced the perpetual challenge of exercising as a lifetime commitment, and I'm thankful for the countless reasons it has made me such an advocate for being active.
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