We are all the same - how often we forget!

Today I had someone approach me with a personal problem. This someone is not someone I would normally place on the same level playing field as myself. Prominent, well-to-do, etc... Someone you look at and think - "GOSH, if only I had that money or those opportunities, my life would be so perfect!"

Anyway...... I won't go into details of what the family problem is - but the weird thing is, I rarely talk to this person and today - this person came right to my door and just began to spill his guts. On a very personal level!!

The irony of the situation is this - what he began to tell me about - I have personally been through! And I was able to help... He didn't know that walking through my door. He just knows what I do in my job and thought maybe that I would be able to point him in a direction. BUT little did he know - what he's going through - I have been through on a personal level and was able to share more than he ever expected.

Now I know there are many many many reasons why things happen in our lives. And at the time we never understand those reasons. But I can tell you - today - today reminded me of the many many things I have been through in life.....and never understood at the time.

But those things, those days that made me CRAZY and left me wondering where I was in life.. those experiences make me who I am today and make me ABLE to do the things I love! I'm a giver, a helper, a friend, a listener, a supporter......that's what I was put on earth to do. it's what I'm good at! It's who I am and what I love to do....Therefore more times than not - when my friends or acquaintances are going though life's challenges, I'm able to be there for them.......to listen, to help, to cry, whatever they might need!

THESE are the days that make me proud to be ME and happy to have experienced life in the crazy way that I have lived it!

So - on the days when you feel bad about a decision you have made or you feel like the world is out to get you OR you look at someone and ENVY their life or all they have... remember - we all have a purpose and a road to follow.

People come in and out of lives for reasons.... we have good days and bad days for reasons! SMILE and know that one day it will all make sense.

Someone will always be prettier; Someone will always be smarter; Someone's house will always be bigger; Someone will drive a better car.

So let it go and love you and your circumstances.

The prettiest woman in the world could have hell in her heart.

The most highly favored woman at work may be unable to have children.

The richest person you know might be the loneliest!

LOVE you! Love who you are!

and remember.....

To the world you might just be one person - but to one person you just might be the world!

a gray night....

There are alot of times when I CRAVE alone time....I need it for my sanity.
So why is it that some nights....that alone time just makes me lonely and sad?
BOOOOO!
I could just sit here and type all night, but since I have had about a total of 10 hours of sleep this week, I think I'll take a hot bath, have a glass of wine and crawl into bed.
*sidenote: the gym kicked my butt today!

The athletic gray

OK all you boys out there.......I need some advice/opinions....

Since I am the mommy AND daddy at my house, I get to make all the athletic decisions myself right?!?!

So here's my dillema....

My son has played baseball literally ALL of his life. And though he is MY son, let me brag - he is VERY gifted. He was on the Little League team last year that make it to State and was one game away from the Little League World Series. He plays short stop or 2nd and can lay a bunt down like none other - right?!?!

He also plays basketball......and has for years. He is small (short) and white (haha) but talented at basketball nonetheless.

OK - rewind back to the beginning of baseball season, he's transitioning up to highschool....at the beginning of the season this past February - he decides he doesn't want to play baseball anymore - and in fact - now HATES the sport. and is FURIOUS with me for making him play. (sidenote: he had already tried out and made the team before he decided this....yes - I forced him to finish out the season because I did not raise a child to be a quitter! not to mention RUIN any chances of any future high school endeavors) SO - he finishes out the season reluctantly, the entire time claiming basketball to be his sport of choice. (he wants to BE Tyler Hansbrough)

Fast forward now to the present - and now it's time for basketball. Conditioning has started and GUESS WHAT - he doesn't want to play!!!!!!!!

WHAT THE HECK?!?!?!

He goes on to tell me last night that he in fact would like to start weight training with the football team and maybe try to play some FOOTBALL with the freshman team. Apparently ALL of his friends are telling him what a GREAT running back he'll make!!!! (he is quick.......and as I mentioned before, talented at whatever he does....it's those "Green genes" again!) ha ha

ANYWAY - so here I am.... NOT forcing him to play basketball? right? or do I? It's his freshman year at BGHS and I'm afraid that if he doesn't stick with it this year, he'll be out of the whole basketball circuit (should he decide that is his sport of choice again, which I'm very worried will happen)

So - I'm just curious as to what others think?

force the basketball issue? let him play football or at least weight train with them? don't let him do anything now and see how he feels in the spring when baseball season rolls around again.

WHY are teenagers so fickle??! Was I that way??? ;-)

The G.M. (aka gym)

I have never been one to be much into fitness or worrying about weight, it just always came natural I guess to be small (those good "Green genes") But as we get older, I find this to be more and more of a focus for me.
At first it was a chore and I refused to take the time - because I didn't have the time (excuse) to go to the gym. But let me be the first to tell you that once you take the time and start going, your body begins to crave that experience. Recently I have had alot going on, school started back, I played softball (which is another story for another day) - anyway - life got crazy and I have been missing my workouts!
TONIGHT - I finally got to get back (shout out to: Get Toned Fitness) and I can't even begin to tell you how much I needed it! My trainer David is great and if you have ever thought about going - I highly recommend him as a personal trainer.
ANYWAY -the point of my blog tonight is.......for years I was in the "gray" about working out... did I need it - didn't I need it - would it be worth it etc.
Let me just answer that for everyone.....
it IS worth it for sooooooo many reasons. Not just for the obvious reasons: healthy body, more in shape and toned body, longer lifespan etc. - but if you have ever had a bad day/week etc, there is NOTHING better than heading to the gym, throwing on some headphones, running on the treadmill and then lifting weights with no concept of time or the world around you. I have definitely found it to be the most therapeutic outlet and escape from reality out there!
Lord knows we all need a little break from life from time to time!

Go work out!!! :)

oh and to add a little humor to my story - you'll notice my post title is "G.M." Please allow me to explain...
My mom works at GM and when my youngest brother was in elementary school and they would meet in the "gym" - he called it the "GM" because that is all he had ever heard.
My family still calls the gym the "GM" today!
LOVE you Jeffrey :)

new leaf

So - as I stated before - I'm a 33 year old single mother. Based on whatever you want to blame it on - the whole being single thing "stigma" is for the birds. Sooo.... for the past however many years, I have focused on "finding the right man." Some of those stories I'll share with you soon, but for now - I believe I have opened a new chapter in my life.

I met one of my best friends last night for fish tacos and margaritas..... and somewhere in the midst of tequila, I decided I'm wasting my valuable "ME" time!
Now - granted - I do have a 14 year old boy at home to worry about - but WHY oh WHY am I looking for someone else to compromise with. Right now I am blessed to have the best family and the best friends in the whole world and we should be traveling and having fun and living life! NOT sitting around every night discussing boy problems and wondering why we are all still single. Simple answer is, we are single right now: TO ENJOY LIFE!

So - last night at bedtime, I played "Taps" and said goodbye to my "man search" and hello to living life and PURPOSELY not dating anyone seriously until I'm at a place in my life where a man will fit. (and it will take a VERY special man to fit....) Right now - who are we kidding - I don't have the time patience or tolerance to date anyway! LOL

A glimmer of black or white at work

Most days, my job is the epitomy of gray.. I rarely love it, it's just there to pay the bills. In other words, it's not the epitomy of what I "dreamed" of doing when I grew up - right......
Today however, for one fleeting moment, I stepped outside of that little gray box. My boss says to one of the other execs while I was present, "she's on top of it. I knew she was". And I was! And it felt good....For a split second, I stood taller and I loved my job.
& I smiled a little on the inside.

for all the unanswered questions...

I'm 33 and I'm single. I have a 14 year old son. EVERY day of my life, in every aspect, is full of unanswered questions.....
this blog will portray my open arms to the world of unanswered questions that leave us sitting in the "gray"

By gray - I don't mean depressed. By gray I mean, all those questions or decision making moments you come to in your life when you just don't really know where you stand. In dating, in school, in your child's life or your parents life or whatever cross road you might come to.

Please feel free to chime in and share your "gray" stories OR your advice on how to get out of the gray! :)
I will have TONS of old and new stories to share .... as my life literally is "EVERY day in gray"

Black or white
yes or no
wrong or right....
we all just crave one or the other...the in between is what leaves us all so confused!

stay tuned :)