Why bloggers share their lives

March 7, 2012

“People are balancing virtual and real-world relationships in the moment. Perhaps they need a constant sense of belonging and outside reinforcement to reinvigorate the here and now.” – The End of Businss as Usual by Brian Solis.

I’ve been blogging for years now. I started doing it as a hobby and then was fortunate to be chosen as a regular contributor for momaha.com. So, now I blog as both a hobby and a profession. Granted, I can’t quit my full-time job on my blogging salary. The extra income simply means I can buy a new outfit or get my hair done with little to no guilt now, which is nice.

When I think back as to why I started blogging in the first place, it honestly started as a creative outlet for me. It allowed me to document the craziness of raising three kids with my husband of 12 years. For a woman who detests scrap booking, it gave me confidence that my children would at least have something to look back upon when they’re older. And finally, the unexpected icing on the cake, it gave me a chance to connect with people.

No matter what a blogger’s niche is, I think we all share that desire: to connect with people. I don’t have to be able to relate to your lifestyle to find you interesting. In fact, I enjoy reading about people who are extremely different than me just as much as (if not more than) people who share my passions.

I’m fine with my here and now. In fact, I’m incredibly satisfied with nearly every aspect of my life. There’s something about sitting down at my laptop, though. I don’t need anyone’s approval before hitting the “publish” key. I can virtually escape without leaving the comfort of my home. I can imagine people who I’ve never met in person reading my words and nodding their head in agreement.

Despite the fact I haven’t stepped foot into a classroom in more than a decade, I continue to learn about fascinating people and the drive that motivates them. The lessons that bloggers provide can’t be found in a text book.

So, tonight, I challenge you to leave me a sentence or two in the comments section that define who you are. I’ll start: I am an evolutionary woman who refuses to put anything above my family. Living in Nebraska, I love experiencing the world outside of my own little bubble but I always yearn to return home at the end of every journey.

In Awareness, Belonging, Inspiration, Passion, Stress release
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My Crazy Crossfit Family

March 1, 2012

I got my backside into gear a couple years ago and started working out fairly consistently. Up to that point, people who bragged about their fitness regimens annoyed me…especially when it was on Facebook.

At one point, I actually updated my own status to read, “I am getting tired of hearing how healthy everyone is. Tonight, I wanted to let you all know I drove to a movie theater, bought buttered popcorn, and never stepped foot into the theater.”

Yeah. That showed them.

I’m proud to announce I’ve done a complete 180. I am now that annoying person who loves to talk about my workouts. You can choose to “x” out of this blog right now. I won’t be offended.

(OK, have the slackers left yet?)

Have the rest of you heard of Crossfit? The program is totally nuts and I would never subject myself to this sort of pain if left to my own individual choosing. However, after watching a group of my coworkers workout for a couple of months together, my competitive nature kicked into full swing.

I needed IN.

Now we have formed a crazy Crossfit family. We’ve suffered together, shared goals, and are determined to help push each other to extreme levels.

If you are looking for a challenge or just want to mix up your workout routine (I need this in the colder months when I can’t get outside because I have a hate/hate relationship with the treadmill), I encourage you to check out Crossfit.

Their website posts a new Workout of the Day (WOD) every 24 hours so you never perform the same moves back-to-back. I rarely understand what the workouts are based on description alone so I reference the online videos to learn proper technique.

Thanks to my new gym rat support group, I hope to lose 10 pounds and conquer at least one unaided pull-up by May 6, which is also the day I will run Lincoln Half Marathon. Enjoy the pics.

Getting ready to do sets of box jumps.

Feeling pretty good about myself.

Until I witness this freak of nature.

I increased the height of my own stack after watching him.

The more I lose, the easier this will get.

Right now, I am having 50 lbs of weighted assistance.

Not only do the guys make this look easy, they widen their grip to make it harder.

My badge of honor.

In Crossfit, Fitness, Lifting, Support , , , , ,
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I admit it. I use my kids.

February 26, 2012

First comes love. Then, comes marriage. Then, comes baby in the baby carriage. Then, come two more babies. Then, there goes your social life.

I’m not exactly sure when it happened. I remember my husband and I partying at the intersection of 72nd and Dodge Street after the Nebraska Cornhuskers reclaimed the national football title (1997). I remember receiving phone calls from friends and strangers alike asking me to sub on their softball and volleyball teams. I recall making last-minute decisions to go road tripping without having to line up anyone to take care of our belongings.

But then I blinked. And now everything is different. Not worse…just different.

We just completed a weekend (that’s two days) of watching our boys play seven basketball games with an under-the-weather toddler in tow. And a dog at home to feed and walk. And a whole slew of other responsibilities that, well, just had to wait.

This weekend was not unlike the past three months’ worth of weekends, except for one thing: This weekend I stopped the blender known as our family downtime for a few minutes to reflect. I looked around and realized that our two boys, in their whirlwind of activities, have naturally welcomed new friendships into not only their lives, but also in their parents’ lives. I have used my kids without even realizing it…to make new friends.

Every season starts the same way. We, as the parents of the players, cart our boys to and from countless gyms. We rarely pause to exchange more than a cordial smile and brief hello with one another before our attention is diverted to our children’s inability to keep their shoes tied, drink enough water, and pay attention.

But then the season progresses and we spend countless hours with the same group of parents on the bleachers yelling at our children to hustle and reminding the referees of all the calls they’ve missed. We collectively cheer when everything’s going our way, and conversely commiserate when we struggle.

I have gotten to know more than the names and numbers of my children’s teammates. I’ve come to appreciate that each of their teammates has remarkable people in their lives who care as deeply for their sons as I do mine.

I am thankful for the mom who, despite raising her two boys as a solo parent until her husband comes home from Afghanistan, always remembers to bring my daughter a treat.

I am amazed by the mom and dad who both religiously attend every single game AND practice together, not because they need to, but because neither wants to miss a second of watching their boy learn and grow.

I am in awe of the parents of twins who must congratulate and comfort two boys after every competition.

I am humbled by the mom of the superstar who always plays down her own child’s unbelievable talent in support of the team’s overall good.

I can’t believe that after all these months on the sidelines, after all of money I’ve drained on entrance fees and concession stands, and after all of the wear and tear I’ve put my van and body through carting these kids to B.F.E. and back, I am sort of sad to see the season winding down.

We have had some good memories this year.

Little guys with the huge hardware.

Big boys and bigger smiles.

In Fitness, Friendship, Inspiration, Kids, Memories, Passion , , , ,
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