One of those days...

This morning was one of those mornings where you wish you could crawl back into bed, turn off your brain, and see if something better turns up tomorrow. It wasn't that anything bad happened. No one said anything mean to me. It wasn't even a bad day of traffic on the way to work. I chalked most of it up to pregnancy hormones, but that didn't make me feel any better. About midway through the morning I went outside to do an errand I realized it had been several weeks since I had taken my usual lunch break walk. For a number of reasons, it just hadn't been happening... the week before Thanksgiving I was sick, then it was Thanksgiving, then the weather turned cold and rainy, then I got sick again, and so on. I put two and two together and realized that I just needed to get back out there and soak up some chilly sunshine. So at lunch time I zipped up my jacket and put on my boots and it was wonderful!
I really enjoy walking because it gives me a chance to clear my head. I spend a lot of time praying; telling God what's on my mind; working through confusing or stressful situations. And today, I think that was exactly what I needed. It had been too long since I had gotten out there, of my own accord, and just walked.

This line of thinking reminded me that it's going to be important to do the same thing once Baby Z arrives. I'll need to spend time alone, exercising, processing -- any, or all of the above! And in recent weeks I've also been realizing how much I miss my regular running/exercising routine! Truly! I know many people who would laugh at that, but I honestly can't wait to get back out there and run! Walking HAS been a nice change of pace and I've enjoyed being able to take a day off if I feel like it, walking slowly, trying some yoga for the first time, just the more leisurely pace of exercising while pregnant. But I can tell I'm starting to get the itch to start up again. And if things are mostly "on schedule" I should hopefully be able to start up again in March which will be a nearly perfect time of year to get out there again!

Making these connections and processing my thoughts, I also realized in just over a week it will be time to ring in 2012! I haven't given my New Year Goals much thought, but I think over the next week I will start combing over what I've accomplished this year and see what I can come up with for the next. I love writing down goals and achieving them. I don't think I've ever had a year where I've achieved every single one, but that bothers me very little. Because accomplishing one or even a few of them feels successful in my book! Have you thought of anything you might try to achieve next year? Maybe you can join me in the coming days with reflecting on this past year and gearing up for the next one. I know our lives are about to change immensely in 2012. What does 2012 hold for you?

To life... full of changes!