Lessons Re-Learned.

There was a time where I would wear a race shirt only if I had participated in the event.  That perspective has changed.

This fun blue shirt is the shirt from our registration at the Ogden Marathon - of which I registered and was in the midst of training, but about 5 weeks prior broke my foot. I'm a goal setter. Give me a challenge and something to reach for and I'm in! I had my chart and was crossing off the miles to run each day in preparation for this. One March morning, my foot had enough. I couldn't walk on it. Oh no! At first, I was hopeful that it wasn't broken. Confirmed it was broken - seisamoid fracture. Then, I was hopeful that it would heal quickly. It is still healing - however, I am back to running 3 miles and this morning the pain was minimal... yes!! I was hopeful that I could still run a marathon later in the year and the doctor and physical therapist both said no. Maybe next year. Patience.

Let me tell you some of the lessons re-learned that this shirt represents:

Gratitude. Appreciation. I have reflected back to our last marathon and recognized that I didn't stop and say thank you feet for carrying me all that way. I have been reminded that everything is a gift.

Learning Patience. I thought I had patience kind of mastered with adjusting to RP ... haha! I wanted my foot to heal quick and having a break that takes ... "a good year before you should run long distances" is teaching me further patience.

Surrendering and celebrating the joy. I recognized as I let go of my set goal (that isn't physically possible at this time) and accepted that it was unclear when I would be able to run a long distance again; it felt great! I wasn't fighting what I wanted but instead being open to what is - surrendering and celebrating the joy all around. Celebrating the joy of running three miles this morning instead of being frustrated that it isn't a longer distance.

Creating New Space. I also recognized when I let go of how I wanted things to be I have had a lot of space for new creativity and ideas.

Its the journey not the destination.  Perhaps on this one I didn't arrive at the destination of the end of the Ogden Marathon, however, there were so many wonderful memories on the journey.  Some pretty amazing runs with my friends in the cold winter.

Empathy.  I have such empathy when I hear someone now talk about their sore feet or finding special shoes, etc.... Yesterday walking to church I realized a pair of my sandals were no longer going to work for me.  Good bye cute sandals as I work on walking without pain.

As I type these in, I am aware that I learned these lessons well with Retinitis Pigmentosa (and so many other experiences in life) but this foot has given me a refresher course and of that I am grateful!!

A setback paves the way for a comeback :).  A broken foot is an opportunity for a refresher course :).

Pink or Silver? Beautiful either way

Cricket and I had a little time in between clients ... we probably could have been a little more productive but instead we opted to decide which princess crown was most suited for Miss Princess Paws.  It was a sweet little moment as she sat there patiently letting me put princess crowns on her.  I was reminded the importance of being in the moment and not the doing.

Pink or Silver?  

A client shared that in the last month after her morning prayer, she has begun to start each day taking three minutes and writing down all she is grateful for in that moment ... such a beautiful way to start the day!  

Happy Friday!

Guide Dog Trio escape car on sidewalk

Following is what I received in an email. Take a moment to read and watch this clip . WOW!

Dear GDB Graduate,

Greetings! I am writing to let you know of a situation that occurred yesterday in downtown San Rafael, that gratefully has a very happy ending. Training Supervisor Todd Jurek, Apprentices Danielle Alvarado and Hanna Belyea, and summer intern/puppy raiser Emily Crisp, narrowly escaped harm when the driver of a car attempting to parallel park jumped the curb and continued to drive along the sidewalk where all four of them, plus O'Neil, a guide dog in training, were at work. Thanks to very quick reaction times and smart thinking, Todd was able to steer O'Neil and Danielle (who was under blindfold) down a side street; Hanna did the same with Emily (pulling them to the safety of an alcove - Hanna and Emily were observing Todd, Danielle and O'Neil at work further down the block near the point of the car's entry). Video was captured of the entire incident from the security cameras from one of the buildings on the block; you can view the footage at this link: http://www.dropbox.com/sh/co9xojovrmlgm0e/J6fyx3-WIG; it is also posted to GDB’s Facebook page here: www.facebook.com/guidedogsfortheblindfans.

Video description: There is no sound in the video. It is comprised of three clips: the first showing an overhead view of the sidewalk, with Todd, Danielle and O'Neil entering from the bottom of the frame and walking toward an intersection at the top of the frame. O'Neil glances over his shoulder; Todd quickly does the same. You then see Todd grabbing Danielle and pushing her and O'Neil around the corner, all three of them are running. A split second later, you see a car careening in reverse down the sidewalk, knocking a garbage can along the way and entering the intersection. The second view is taken from around the corner where Todd rushes Danielle and O'Neil to safety. It shows a car parked at a red light, and a perpendicular car moving through the intersection through the green light. Suddenly Todd, Danielle and O'Neil enter the scene on the right hand side of the frame as they round the corner, running, from the sidewalk parallel to the traffic flow. Once again, in a split second after they round the corner to safety, you see the car speed along the sidewalk in reverse behind them, then burst into the intersection narrowly missing the car parked at the red light. The moving car eventually comes to a stop after traversing the entire intersection and slamming into the side of a building on the other side. The third clip is another overhead shot taken from the direction of the intersection. It shows Todd, Danielle and O'Neil walking toward the intersection; they eventually move out of the frame, but you see the car entering the sidewalk at the top of the frame and then careening down toward the intersection, hitting a storefront window along the way. If you look closely, you can see Hanna and Emily rush out of the way at the top of the frame, right at the point where the car enters the sidewalk.

First and foremost, I am so very thankful that this incident has a happy ending. No one was hurt - Todd, Danielle, Hanna, Emily and O'Neil are all safe; the driver and passenger of the car were not injured; no other pedestrians were affected. Certainly those involved were understandably shaken, but calm heads prevailed in this situation. I would like to commend and thank both Todd and Hanna for their heroic actions. It speaks to the professionalism of our instructors that they are always on the lookout and aware of the need for safety at all times when working with our dogs, students and each other. Certainly no amount of training could ever prepare them for what happened yesterday, but their reactions and swift decision-making led to the most positive outcome possible. Also, please know that O'Neil will be thoroughly evaluated to ensure that this incident hasn't negatively affected his ability to continue with guidework; his puppy raisers have been apprised of the situation.

Finally, GDB will be honoring both Todd and Hanna for their actions; we are very proud of their life-saving efforts and hope you are too!

Sincerely,

Paul Lopez. President and CEO

http://www.today.com/video/today/52189843#52189843

Then, there is this story: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/headlines/2013/05/guide-dog-chases-burglars-from-blind-womans-home-in-philadelphia/

These guides, the trainers and all involved are my heroes!!

Bright Skirt

Funny story about my bright skirt in this picture. (If you need a description it is turquoise, yellow, navy flowers, right?)

So, I was at a setting where assistance is very helpful. I waa in the dressing room and I hear the lady that was just going off her shift tell the lady coming on the shift -- She's in a really bright skirt - you can't miss her :). Yep.

Love to Pedal

Just sharing one of my favorite places: on the back of our tandem bike! I prop my phone just so on Steve's back and know I will get somewhat a view of our journey! Beautiful St. George, Utah has amazing trails. We cycled near 70 miles this weekend! It was super hot so we had to get up really early before it climbed to 107!

Happy 13 years old dear tandem!!  We talk of getting a new one .. but this soft ride seat is amazing!  They no longer make this seat so ... this bike continues on providing us with so much fun!  

This morning we climbed to get to the top of this hill and cycle around this trail.  We chatted about how happy we are we both love cycling .. because we are both needed :)!  

We are a great team ... in many ways :)!  

We were going down a pretty steep hill and I said .. Steve I'm scared - he said I am too ... yikes!  

Cricket found it waaaay too hot for her liking and seemed very happy to send us on our way to ride the bike!  She stayed out on this hot patio about one minute and then was back on the cool tile floor!  

Crepes at Tifiny's.  Yummy!  I chose fruit (raspberries, mangos and kiwi) with lots of whipped cream and white chocolate sauce.  Steve had ham, avocado and cheese.  

I have a new friend; the ap... MapMyRide - she announces our cycling updates every five miles.  Love her! We haven't decided what to call her except our new friend :).  Also, we saw the movie Internship ... funny!

What do you think?

We finished the NBA Finals game ... little tricky around our house because I am rooting for the Spurs - Steve is cheering on the Heat :).  Its all good :). What a game!  The Spurs barely won.  Steve left to do some office work and Jimmy Kimmel came on.  He's generally good for a laugh or two.  Will Smith was his first guest.  I have enjoyed him  in movies ... one of my favorites is the Pursuit of Happyness.  They started to play a clip and I recognized that he was going to be a referee who was blind.  I am the first to find humor in some of the funny things that happen with blindness.  I can easily laugh at myself.  However, I was SO disappointed in this clip that they had created.  Perpetuating ridiculous stereotypes.   I don't want to give it any more views by linking it.   However, I guess you need to see it to know what I am talking about.

http://www.doobybrain.com/2013/06/06/blind-ref-exclusive-will-smith-movie-trailer-with-jimmy-kimmel/

I can tell you I won't be going to another Will Smith movie.  I reflect back on Kendall's third grade teacher that told them fun isn't fun unless its fun for everyone.  We talked a lot about that in our family.  We don't ever want to do something to be funny when it will hurt someone else in the name of funny.  When it is hurtful to someone, it isn't funny.

I also reflected back on one of my courses in school talking on the power of movies and media on reinforcing or debunking stereotypes.  Dumb clips like this can impact and be a negative for all the positive and hard work that individuals who are blind -- in this instance --  do on a daily basis.  As this clip has him crashing into things, I reflected back to an earlier employment position.  One of their concerns literally was me crashing into things.  I sat there in an interview with a master's degree not discussing my credentials but educating on blindness.  It is said that one big concern is that often stereotypes are formed and then in this instance an employer may not dare ask questions.  I was grateful that questions were asked and it was discussed. We talked and I worked there for six wonderful years.  Will Smith crashing around with a cane and a guide dog is ridiculous - not reality at all, but unfortunately, we live where there is still much much education that needs to be done.

I haven't found the link yet to leave a message on Jimmy Kimmel's show but I plan to.   I think we can channel situations like this into a positive educational moment.  I am sure they didn't think about it ... but as another great teacher encourage our kids to do,  STOP and THINK before you SPEAK!

I wish Will Smith you would have read your lines and thought ... wow, this seems to have a negative message - let's do something that is funny but doesn't hurt or feed into stereotypes.

I also believe if there is something that is a concern we have the right to speak up and share our voice.  Our voice matters.  I feel better now :).  Thanks!  I'd love to hear your comments!

Smile

Both of these girls are having oral surgery today ... wishing them well and that they will be back smiling soon!!

Natalie and Dahlia - so cute!!!!  

Cricket kept trying to get in the picture but she just didn't have a matching outfit :).

Hope you have a wonderful weekend with those you love!