Letting Go of Perfect

As I pull myself out of bed this morning, I take my time.  I  move my legs slowly off the bed and hold onto the bedpost as I stand up, ready to wince as my feet hit the floor and I go to take my first step.  But, there is no pain.  Today I wake up feeling only wonder at what our minds and bodies are capable of.  The limits they can be pushed.  And when you do push your mind and body, the accomplishments you achieve are endless. In three weeks, I will run my 3rd marathon.  Yesterday, I ran my 20 miles and I kid you not that I thought I might die a few times along the way.  In fact about 2 miles until the end, 18 miles into it I thought for sure I'd have to sign up for the half marathon instead of the full.  I was dehydrated, out of water, and sore from my neck down to my second toe that kept jamming against the front of my sneaker.  Sneakers I purposely buy a size and a half larger my normal size. As my friend and I began the last 5 mile trek of our long run, I said, "Okay,

Sitting down to dinner with my favorite little man.  He's calm.  He's engaging in conversation.  Most importantly, he's eating his vegetables.  I notice however that he seems kind of far from the table.  As I go to push him in, I recognize that he has something in his pocket.  That something looking like the outline of my chap stick.  Little stinker!  He must have taken it out of my purse when I was getting my haircut this afternoon.  So, I give Jack the "mommy knows" look and I asked what's in his pocket.  Suddenly, his face turns serious.  "No mommy" he says.  I think to myself, what is going on?  I say to him, "bud take it out, what is it?".  Out comes what I was sure was going to be my chap stick, but chap stick it was not.  Jack had a toy with him.  So I just asked, "where did you get that?" "Who gave it to you?"  With that, he bursts into inconsolable tears.  What is going on? I take Jack away from the table to t

Cruising down the highway. Windows down.  Radio blasting.  Sun shining.  Feelings of freedom.  This is it.  This is the place I've been waiting to be, right on the edge of glory.  That feeling when everything seems to be falling into place.  With moving, a sense of hope for a good life has transformed into action, life IS good.  I've moved into a new home, my home.  A home I've made for Jack and I.  A place that is ours, all ours. When you move and pack up an old house, you rid yourself of so much more than duplicate toys, clothes that haven't been worn for over a year, kitchen gadgets never used, and hallmark cards that have lost their sentiment.  It's a bit like "detoxing" your life.  You rid yourself of things unused, unnecessary, and without meaning or meaning lost.  It could be compared with losing those extra pounds you've been carrying but know you don't need.  Moving takes pounds off your life.  It's a literal way to start anew, ref