Kerri On Down The Road

"Hope is not a game plan".  I remember the first time I heard that saying and at the time believed it was true.  I mean, if all we do is hope for an outcome, would it ever really happen?  What about hard work and dedication and planning?  Aren't they what is truly required in order to reach a goal?  So I found myself being on high alert for hope and when I started to lean on it too heavily I would course-correct back towards the side of grit and perseverance and toil.  I am finding myself in a different mindset these days.  I am starting to notice that although the discipline and determination I have often relied on have helped me to achieve many goals over the years, I am often left feeling empty.  With only the goal to focus on and the work required to get there in my sights, it can be a bit of a lonely road to walk down.  What I have come to realize is that something important has been missing along the way.  And that important someth...

Hands up if you are part of the generation who remembers how complicated it was to figure out how to hook up your VCR to your TV set.  I remember how excited I was the day I had a TV and VCR to myself and how quickly that excitement faded when I looked at the back of both devices and all of the potential inputs and cables and realized that I would need to make sense of it all.  And sure, both machines came with instructions, but really, who reads those? Trial and error commenced and resulted in many different outcomes - a picture with no sound, sound but no picture, sound with black and white picture and of course, no video or audio display.  Finally after many different combinations of inputs and outputs (including many interesting expletives) like magic, it all came together. Why do I share this journey down memory lane with you today?  I have been noticing lately just how many inputs I have been receiving about life, and how similar this experience is to the TV an...

We are often asked "How are you doing?"  or "What's new?" to which the automatic responses seem to be "I'm good." or "Nothing much."  When was the last time someone asked something deeper, like "What's your story?" This came up in an email conversation I had a few weeks back, as a getting to know you question, and it really made me stop and think.  I honestly didn't know what to say - I hadn't really considered my story in some time and wondered where to even start.  I took it away with me and found myself reflecting on that question throughout my day and the days that followed. While I was on a run that morning I had ample time to turn it over in my mind.  Especially when the going got hard, as it inevitably did.  I was working through some fatigue and starting to notice negative thoughts about the upcoming race and why I was even considering entering it when I could just call it quits for now and focus on the Chica...

I am writing this post two weeks ahead of the upcoming Toronto Marathon.  I started training for Around the Bay and potentially this race back in November last year.  My original goal was to run the ATB race in March and if I felt good to continue on to run the marathon.  What I have found interesting during this journey is how my mental fitness has impacted my physical fitness.   You see, as I write this post I have not yet officially registered for the marathon.  I have never actually left registration this late for any of the events I've participated in and I have been having a hard time pulling the trigger on this race.  My training has gone as well as marathon training ever can - lots of kilometers have come and gone, many early morning runs in the cold and snow, a few physical aches and pains here and there, and many conversations with myself about why I am doing any of this anyways have taken place.  The physical stuff has been remedied (fo...

 Waiting in the wings is never easy.  Speaking from the I, waiting often leads to worry for me...will I actually get a chance?  is there something that I can contribute?  what if I am called on and disappoint?  what if everyone else does it better than I do?   In her key-note speech, Elizabeth Gilbert touched on this topic and it really resonated with me.  She said that we can't all be busy and be call on at the same time.  Much like a ballroom dance, there are some folks out dancing, some who may be helping others to dance and others who are waiting their turn.  When we try to find a way to be always on or always in action we lose the ability to listen and notice the times when our unique skills are actually required.  And I am not talking about purpose here, I am talking about unique, innate skills and abilities that we all have and often we deny exist.  You may not have any idea of what this skill or ability is right now, an...