And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been. -- Rainer Maria Rilke

     I did it....2017 miles in 2017.  It was a close one this year. Stay warm, and happy new year everyone.

End of Year Stats:  Today completes run streak day 1211, total run streak miles 6833.6, miles run in 2017=2021.6.


And I got this in the mail just in time for 2018.  This is the medal I will be working to earn.  This will be my 4th year of running the year, thus 4 legacy coins.  WooHoo.

Carrying my grain of sand in the sacred dust of my home.....

     I was away over the holidays, so I didn't get the chance to post this reminder at Christmas. It applies as well to a New Year at Midlife.

Christmas at Midlife

I am no longer waiting for a special occasion; I burn the best candles on ordinary days.
I am no longer waiting for the house to be clean; I fill it with people who understand that even dust is Sacred.
I am no longer waiting for everyone to understand me; It’s just not their task
I am no longer waiting for the perfect children; my children have their own names that burn as brightly as any star.
I am no longer waiting for the other shoe to drop; It already did, and I survived.
I am no longer waiting for the time to be right; the time is always now.
I am no longer waiting for the mate who will complete me; I am grateful to be so warmly, tenderly held.
I am no longer waiting for a quiet moment; my heart can be stilled whenever it is called.
I am no longer waiting for the world to be at peace; I unclench my grasp and breathe peace in and out.
I am no longer waiting to do something great; being awake to carry my grain of sand is enough.
I am no longer waiting to be recognized; I know that I dance in a holy circle.
I am no longer waiting for Forgiveness. I believe, I Believe.

-Mary Anne Perrone

I especially love the line about my children's names burning as brightly as any star.  My grandchildren's do, too.

The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been.....
                 Madeleine L'Engle

New year on the horizon....WooHoo!

Were our ancestors nearly all vegetarian?

     This article, based on a post published in Scientific American, thinks so.

http://www.lovely.tips/roamed-earth-us-nearly-vegetarian/

running

People fall forward to success.....Mary Kay Ashe

     I have been trying Chi running.....using gravity as my friend.....using a lean to fall forward with each step to "make running easy."  It isn't working for me yet, but I found the above quote funny and applicable, so felt the need to explain.

     I ran in the Santa Stampede 10 k yesterday.  First there was a little kid's run, then the 5 k which had lots and lots of families entered.  Of course Santa was the master of ceremonies, and there was a costume contest. I can see why it is such a popular event. 

     As I've said lots of times, I am not a good runner at all, just a runner.  But I loved seeing the age group winners.....men and women 75-79 looking decades younger than their ages.  There were no winners in the 80+ category, so maybe if I hold on for 14 more years I will have a chance....LOL.  Not that age group winners actually win anything.

     I was ill yesterday....just a cold and cough, for which I blame my dentist and dental hygienist who had their hands and sharp implements in my mouth on Tuesday. 
     However, being under the weather gave me the opportunity to stay home, sip tea, eat soup, and read a good book cover to cover.  I read "My Grandmother asked me to tell you she's sorry," by Fredrik Backman, and do recommend it.
     It's the story of a 7 year old and her crazy grandmother.  The grandmother, after her death, leaves clues for the 7 year old for a treasure hunt of sorts.  It does involve real-life princes and princesses, monsters, dragons, superheroes, and learning courage to defend your castle at all costs. This is not a  fantasy story.
     I felt a bit like the sick-kid in the "Princess Bride," whose grandfather read him the book by the same name, and wants to hear it all again the next day.

Good news for the Davidson/Johnson clan....

     Big-headed babies are more likely to be intelligent.
https://www.simplemost.com/big-headed-babies-likely-intelligent/?partner=scripps&partner-sub=KMGH&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=scripps&utm_content=KMGH

     I guess that having trouble finding hats that fit well is a good thing.

Written by an anecdote---

     Your doctor should be telling you this.....
https://nospringchickpea.com/2017/12/12/your-doctor-should-be-telling-you-this/

“Either you run the day or the day runs you.” – Jim Rohn

     This is important for me to remember at this busier time of year.  Happy Holidays!

The beauty of the morning and the radiance of noon are good, but it would be a very silly person who drew the curtains and turned on the light in order to shut out the tranquility of the evening. W. Somerset Maugham

     
       I skimmed the book, "Run Strong, Stay Hungry" by Jonathan Beverly.  A quote of his I really enjoyed, because it is so whimsically written, follows below.  I imagine it applies to all runners, not just those in cross-country:

     Cross-country is the Statue of Liberty of sport, proclaiming to the world of athletes, "Give me your skinny, your weak, your huddled outcasts yearning to be cool."  The sport gives these misfit toys an island where they find that by applying dogged persistence, they can improve and eventually contribute--even succeed.

     I love this...running being the Statue of Liberty of sport and all of us weak, huddled, outcast runners being misfit toys given an island.  Whimsy at its best.

Live kindly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvm7xymgk_k

     I found a great source of Soul and Inner Spirit quotes.  I loved these and thought I would share in case you are also searching for a life fully-awake. (My favorite is the last quote).

“You are the Universe expressing itself as a human for a little while.” ~ Eckhart Tolle

“You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.”  ~ C.S. Lewis

“Find yourself, and be that.” ~ Anon

“Stop acting so small. You are the Universe in ecstatic motion.” ~ Rumi

My Christmas gift to myself....

          Shoes are my weakness and these are snazzy.  (Will wear around the house for a few days to make sure they fit well....hope they work out).  It doesn't take much to make me happy, and new shoes make my day.

   

    "Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks, shall win my love."......Washington Irving

     Mr. Irving, this applies to men, too.  Compassion is key!

Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children's children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance. ~ Theodore Roosevelt

Rumble--Native influences on American music, continued.

     Today I moved on to the music of the "Black Eyed Peas."  I'm listening for the Native influences. I've never appreciated anything labeled as RAP before, but I'm really enjoying the drums.
     Next, I'll be getting some Jesse Ed Davis, with some Jimi Hendrix to follow.
     I'm enjoying this educational experience. I just wish my library carried more.

Rumble

     I happened to watch the new documentary, "Rumble: the Indians who Rocked the World,"  about the Native Canadian and American Indians and their influence on American Music.  It was informative. I have so much to learn.

     Where was I in the 70's to have missed out on the band "Redbone".  I listened to their "Best of" album on my run today and really enjoyed picking out the native drum/guitar influences.

     Look what I found when I got home from my run.  This is my neighbor's front yard.

     This is mine.  Guess which I like better!

What's chasing you today?

     Run group this morning with coffee/bagels after at Einstein Bros.  I just realized I have to run 182 miles in December to reach my 2017 miles in 2017 minimal goal.  This is going to be tough. (I've already signed up for the Run 2018 in 2018 group).

Excellent!

Happy December 1!

     It is a new month.  All things are possible.  There is no need to wait for a new year to start. 
     Ok, Ok.  I will get off of the computer and get to it.