There isn't much time left before my half marathon. And because I lost a month of training thanks to my fractured toe, I realized I needed to ramp up the runs. I knew I could run 9.5 miles, and that would probably be good enough to get me through. But I don't want to just make it through my race. I want to feel okay after.

So last Saturday, I left the house and started running toward town. When I got to one particularly lonely stretch of road, I called my husband and told him to get in the car to come get me. I said I didn't think I'd get all the way into town before he reached me, but that was okay because I was tired.

I kept running and was shooting for a big group of trees off in the horizon. I looked at the ground and started counting footsteps to make the time pass. As I ran, I kept hoping my husband would come up behind me and rescue me. But when I got to the trees, I looked ahead and saw it went downhill . My spirits were lifted and I flew down the hill all the way into town.

I ran 14 miles that day. But I had to push myself past the mindset that I couldn't do it. I wonder what I would have done if I got to the trees and it was uphill?

Last week I failed to write. And the reason is really stupid--I didn't think I had anything to say.

Everyone who knows me knows I never run short on commentary. But what I did, was convince myself there was nothing to write about. I put up a fence in my mind that I couldn't get over, under or through. I let myself believe I was meant to be silent.

I thought about this when I watched my Rottweiler, Sami, walking through the living room. He can walk around the ottoman going one direction, but not the other. For whatever reason, he decided the floor is scary in one spot.

I usually push my way through the scary spots in life, and so far it's worked out well. I rarely believe I can't do something. But last week, I fought my muse and I won. It wasn't a victory--it was defeat by the mind.

Isn't it amazing how we learn things and sometimes have to unlearn them to move forward in a different direction?

For example, I was practicing a sales call on the phone, and jumped right into the nuts and bolts of the call. I had to stop and start over because I wasn't creating rapport. I've never had to do the nice touchy feely chit chat before. It's so different, but so vital to my new career.

I'm having to transform myself in a lot of ways. I have to bite my tongue. I have to know that my customer is always right. I have to play nice in the sandbox. In my previous life as an attorney, those things weren't mandatory.

But it's good for me to step out and have a whole new perspective. I think it's going to make me grow in many ways and make me a better person.

I was thinking the other day about how my problems seem enormous and sometimes they overwhelm me.

Then I hear a news report that says 1 in every 8 people go hungry. And I read about people who can't find work and their unemployment has run out. Then there are those who lost their home. And those who go to great extremes at great risk to provide for their families.

Every time I think my life is bad, I need to stop and take a look around at true suffering of others.

I am incredibly blessed.

So many things have happened over the past week, it's crazy!

First, I lost out on both jobs. BUT, I am now in coaching and feeling pretty good about it. I think I'm taking a huge step forward, even though it's setting me way back monetarily. I have to be positive and believe that what I'm doing is going to pay me back thousands-fold! It's scary to walk into a new venture with peer critiques, but I've got to take that leap of faith and know I can.

I did get some great news--the Pocatello Arts Council is going to engrave my poem on a paver and embed it in the sidewalk in Historic Old Town. I'm really excited! It's like having my own "star" on the Walk of Fame. I am thrilled about it!

I'm steadily making progress on the edits of my novel. I've got to get some help to make sure I've got facts correct. But I did set a date of July 31 to have the editing done, so I've got to get moving.

Karate was a blast last night. We're making progress there too! I like learning the moves, but actual combat with someone else is a different story. We were practicing blocking, and I didn't do so well. But practice makes perfect, and practice is what I need.

Hopefully next week will be great too! I really need to be patient and learn and perfect my skills. It is all going to pay off in the end!

It's been a great week . . .

I tried going for a little run to see how my toe felt even though it's still bigger than a sausage. It was a great 2 miles. I felt free, I felt happy, I felt alive. Then I paid the price. My foot is in a little more pain, and the dogs keep stepping on it. But this too shall pass and I'll be back on the road.

I had a fun interview then lunch with two fantastic friends. When did interviews ever become fun? If nothing else, it was a great experience. I love answering questions on the fly. I also found out I'm in the running for another job that would be the greatest opportunity I've ever had in my professional life. And another thing that made me smile--I got a new writing assignment from a client I absolutely love.

Like I said, it's been a great week!

My husband and I did a triathlon last Saturday. I was worried he would come in dead last, which he did, but I came in next to last only because he pushed me over the finish line before him.

I thought I could swim 1/4 mile with no problem. I got halfway out and caught a jet ski ride back. I didn't dare to put my face into the water because it was really dirty, and I couldn't swim in a straight line on my back. My legs got tired too, and I can see how easy it would be to drown. Water is powerful.

I thought about how easy it is to drown outside of water. Too many bills, too many activities pulling us in every direction, too many stressors that take over. Pretty soon, we don't control our own lives, but let our circumstances control us. I don't like living like that, and I don't want to drown.

It's hard to put ourselves first when so many other things seem more important. But just like the flight attendants tell you, put your own oxygen mask on first before you help anyone else because if you become incapacitated, you're no good to anyone.

This past week, I scheduled "me" time into my days. No, it's not time I devote to other activities such as my workouts. It's time I can just sit and play Solitaire or read or watch television--whatever suits my fancy. The first day I thought I was wasting time, but by the third day, I realized I like having 30 minutes to goof off.

I'm not going to drown. How about you?