Some of the things I'm thankful for...

I try to be grateful for my blessings every day, but wanted to write some of them out for Thanksgiving. These are just some of the things that I'm thankful for...

1. My kids, who have taught me the meaning of unconditional love.
2. My family and friends, who are always there for me.
3. Quiet times like this when the kids are sleeping, I'm drinking my morning coffee and I can sort through my thoughts.
4. Having a job that I love with co-workers who I consider friends and an office mailman who brings me candy and throws back a beer with me at our happy hours.
5. Neighborhood parties with some of the coolest people on earth, who are like my second family.
6. My cat Kiki, who knows just when to jump up onto the couch to cuddle with me – She has become a great companion to me and my kids over the past year.
7. All of my races, which have been a great therapy to me - especially over the past few years. They've taught me that nothing is impossible and that I can overcome any obstacle that’s put in front of me. I might come out with a few bumps and bruises (and even maybe a broken bone,) but I can still get through it.
8. Bon Jovi concerts – more therapy for me, but way more expensive than my races and much less frequent.
9. My health – It’s amazing how much stress and sadness can affect our health. In the past, stress has caused me lots of aches, pains and headaches. Removing the negativity from my life was a very painful process, but in the end, I feel 1,000 times better – both mentally and physically.
10. First kisses, breaking down walls and taking risks in search of happiness and love.
11. My ability to think positively and see (or sometimes imagine) the light at the end of the tunnel – It’s gotten me through some very dark places.
12. My ability to speak my mind and not keep things bottled up inside
13. The angels in my life who have appeared out of nowhere to help me through something difficult - and my ability to look for and accept their help.
14. All of my failures and disappointments, which have been great learning experiences. I have no regrets, and know that everything that’s happened to me has led me to exactly where I am right now – and that is a truly wonderful place for which I am very thankful. J

10 Reasons Why I Love Obstacle Course Racing

Tri-State Spartan Super Race, Vernon, NJ

Just some of the reasons why I love obstacle course racing (in no particular order):

1. In a matter of hours, complete strangers become friends, helping each other over, under and through obstacles.
2. You hear comments like this after someone cuts herself on barbed wire: "You just need 6 beers, some duct tape and a Percocet."
3. You keep putting one foot in front of another and before you know it, you're on top of a mountain, looking down at the most amazing view.
4. You get to look at gorgeous, athletic men (and women) throughout the day.
5. The adrenaline high you get is legal in every state and lasts for hours!
6. You can help another runner on the course ease his cramping muscles with nothing more than a smile and a packet of mustard.
7. You get to escape from everything that's bothering you for several hours, because your mind needs to be laser-focused on nothing but overcoming the obstacles in front of you.
8. You reach a state of mental clarity, where you feel like you are invincible.
9. You become mentally and physically stronger, more so than you ever thought was possible.
10. Did I mention the ADRENALINE RUSH?

Why The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge Is Brilliant - And How To Go Viral

Everyone on social media has seen countless videos of people dumping ice water on their heads over the past week. Along with the video, the post says something like this: "I've been nominated to take the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge to raise awareness for ALS. I nominate <Friend 1>, <Friend 2> and <Friend 3> to take the challenge or donate $100. You have 24 hours!"

Critics say it's pointless, because dumping the ice water on your head and posting the video means you chose not to donate. Critics say this does NOTHING to help ALS. I disagree. I think it's brilliant, and the numbers prove it. In this recent article, the ALS Association announces that it's raised $10 Million in ADDITIONAL funds due to the Ice Bucket Challenge. Last year, the association raised $1.7 Million in funds between July 29th and August 16th. This year, it raised $11.4 Million and added an additional 220,255 new donors to The Association during the very same time period!

How can this be if so many people are opting to dump a bucket of water on their heads, rather than donate? The answer is simple. In the beginning of July, a large percentage of people had never heard of ALS. Now, zillions of people are dumping ice water over their heads to raise awareness for the disease. The social media posts have also morphed to encourage more donations - some ask people to dump ice water AND donate, while others offer to donate a certain amount of money for every "Like" their video receives.

The Ice Bucket Challenge has gone viral, and I'm seeing people who typically never even post on social media doing the Ice Bucket Challenge. Singers, athletes and other famous people, like Jennifer Lopez and LeBron James are participating. You can't login to Facebook without seeing videos of people dumping ice water on their heads, and millions of NEW people are now aware of ALS, significantly increasing the chance that they might become a donor.

Marketing professionals from around the world are constantly searching for the secret sauce for "going viral." It's an elusive state of being that's not easy to duplicate and often very difficult to predict. In this case, I think the following factors helped the Ice Bucket Challenge to go viral:

• Fun Factor: Dumping ice water on your head is a fun and funny thing to do in the middle of the summer. The "Fun Factor" increases an idea's chance of being shared with friends on social media.
• Quick & Easy: You can get a bucket of ice water anywhere, and smartphones make it very simple to take a quick video and post it on social media within minutes in just the click of a button.
• Relatable: Who wouldn't enjoy seeing their friend get brain freeze from a bucket of ice water (or trying it themselves?) Everyone can easily relate to this. My 8-year-old son saw his first Ice Bucket Challenge video last night and is dying to try it!
• Public Recognition: When people receive public recognition from a friend (e.g. a friend tagging them on Facebook and challenging them to participate in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge,) they are more apt to take action. This article shows a link between publicly recognizing people and an increase in donations. People are more apt to donate (and donate more money) when there's a possibility that their name will be published recognizing their donation. Similarly, calling people out on social media increases the likelihood that they will respond, especially if it's a "challenge." 

All in all, the factors above for "How to Go Viral" are just my opinion on how the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge gained momentum and went viral. So, for those who say dumping ice water on people's heads is doing nothing for the cause, I would ask them to explain how The ALS Association raised $10 Million in ADDITIONAL DONATIONS and 220,255 new donors in just a couple of weeks?

Let It Go

Last night, my daughter sang the popular Frozen song, “Let It Go” with such passion, my good friend had tears in her eyes. When I went to sleep, I think the words of the song floated through my head and planted a bunch of helpful seeds.

When I woke up this morning, I thought about Karma. I thought about something that was rightfully mine, which had recently been stolen from me by someone who I once loved. I thought about how that betrayal has been eating me up inside and how hard it’s been for me to just let Karma deal with it and move on.

Then, I thought about how I’ve dealt with difficult feelings in the past. I turn them around into something positive. I either focus on anything positive I can find in the situation, or just have faith that it’s happening for a good reason. I reminded myself that I need to LET THIS GO and move on, and trust that Karma would bring something good back to me in turn.

I envisioned myself letting 30,000 balloons up into the clouds, representing what had been taken from me, and in my mind, I watched them all float away into the distance. That thought brought me peace and made me feel like a huge weight had been lifted off of my shoulders.

I thought about how what goes up, must come down and I decided to trust that the universe would bring it back to me someday – possibly in a different form. I thought about the saying that whatever you give away will come back to you tenfold. The person who sends hate and betrayal out will receive it back, and the person who releases those feelings and sends goodness back out instead will receive good things in return. 

Then, I thought of the Frozen song, “Let It Go.” I pictured those balloons floating away again and reminded myself that it was time to move on…

Excerpt from Let It Go:

“My power flurries through the air into the ground
My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around
And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast
I’m never going back,
The past is in the past

Let it go, let it go
And I'll rise like the break of dawn
Let it go, let it go…”

 

Poem For Tenfold (Author Unknown)

Whatever you give away today
or think or say or do
will multiply about ten fold
and then return to you

It may not come immediately
nor from the obvious source
but the law applies unfailingly,
through some invisible source
Whatever you feel about another
be it love or hate or passion
will surely bounce right back to you
in some clear (or secret) fashion

If you speak about some person
a word of praise or two
soon, tens of other people
will speak kind words of you.

Our thoughts are broadcasts of the soul,
not secrets of the brain
Kind ones bring us happiness
petty ones, untold pain

Giving works as surely
as reflections in a mirror
If hate you send, hate you’ll get back
but loving brings love nearer

Remember as you start this day
and duty crowds your mind
that kindness comes so quickly back
to those who first are kind

Let that thought and this one
direct us through each day
The only things we ever keep
are the things we give away.

- Author Unknown

 

 

 

My NEW Online Dating Profile

Hello! I'm looking for a relatively attractive guy who likes to have fun. If you drink excessively, do drugs and/or like to date multiple women at the same time, while telling them all that you want to be in an exclusive relationship with only them, I will probably fall in love with you in about 2 minutes flat. I'm a messy, disorganized single mother of three young kids who likes to get drunk at times and participate in extreme mud adventure races to forget my troubles. I've been legally divorced for about a year now, and I'm looking for that one guy who I can completely devote myself to, while expecting absolutely nothing in return. Still reading? Wink at me or message me...I promise, you'll have the time of your life! ;)