What a Day

I am frequently reminded during the roughest of times how lucky I am. Today it was the team work put forth during an insanely crazy day of news.

This week our managers are out of town for a big company meeting in Florida. That reduces us by quite a few people who can help get info, talk to reporters, write stories... especially during breaking news. Well today was a doozy!! Explosion in NYC, Hernandez's fiancée set to testify in court, new details in the Germanwings crash, as well as a lot of little shit that kept developing. Granted this makes for an amazing newscast, but when you are short staffed it can feel like hell. Luckily I work with such an amazing group of people that through the stress, we were able to great shows on for our viewers. 

There have been several times over the past couple weeks where I have just felt down, lonely, and really not happy with myself. I'd sit there at my computer, wishing my life were different. Wishing I was back home. Thinking that if I made some different decisions, maybe I wouldn't be so in debt. Maybe I wouldn't be single. Maybe I'd have a home of my own. However there is nothing good in thinking this way. Instead, I have to sit there and work to ignore those voices that put me down.

I know I have done everything right. Life just sometimes takes a while to give you what you want. Before my mind was set on my career. I did anything and everything to get where I am today. Now that I feel good in my job, it's time to start looking at the other things I have put on the back burner.

On a happy note... since I want this to continue to focus on the good... I finally began training for the Overnight in June. Nothing big, but nothing small. I went to the gym and walked 3-miles on a treadmill. It wasn't difficult, but my legs felt it afterwards. I have been terrible and pushing off my training for a while now. Blaming everything from illness, to the weather, to long work days of blizzard coverage... anything to make me feel like my decision to stay home was legit. But when I was done, I felt incredible! With those endorphins flowing, I felt like I could take on the world! Now to keep this up, and push myself to get ready for the 16-miles I'm gonna tackle in a few short months, with family and friends by my side.

Just Dance

As I was driving home the other day, I happened to come across the song "Run Around Sue" on the radio. It was one of the songs my dance partner danced to when I did competitive dancing when I was little.

Listening to it brought back so many amazing memories from those days. The travel, the fun, the costumes, the experiences. How many kids can say they took dance lessons in Las Vegas with legendary jazz dance teacher Frank Hatchett? The one thing that really hit me though was how lucky I was to have such a warm family to support me through it.

You turn on TV nowadays and you see those crazy dance shows with aggressive teachers and snobby stage moms pushing their kids towards greatness. These children are turned into robots that have to be perfect at everything. That's not my experience.

Mom was always happy and willing to help the studio in anyway. She never pushed us to practice 24/7, or yelled when we did something wrong during a performance. In fact, I was harder on myself than she was. I was actually not so pleasant on several occasions, but she was always there... calm and supportive. I didn't win gold medals every competition. I wasn't the best dancer, nor was I the worst. I was however one of the luckiest though, because I had an amazing team supporting me. 

Today was a Good Day

This weekend was a little rough after I got home from Michigan. I had a lingering sickness. Indie also fell ill. Driving home I cracked my windshield. Parking I hit a pole. As you can see, things just weren't going my way.

Today that changed. 

The people I spoke with from the insurance company were really sweet and cooperative. Not stressful at all. 

Then at work, we all were very lighthearted. It was work and shenanigans just like we used to. Jokes, songs, cooperation, and lots of laughter. 

My wonderful cousin Jess hit me up, saying she had signed up to do the Overnight with my team. It's been amazing how many people have chosen to join, as well as how supportive they've been. 

After work, it was time for the bar. Everyone was able to come out, even Siobhan. She drove all the way down from New Hampshire to hang out. It was also her birthday at the stroke of midnight, so we were able to help welcome in another year of her amazing life.

Now with my new meds, I'm not supposed to drink. It can be a VERY bad combo. So I drank water the entire night, and just kind of absorbed in the entire scene. I was in that moment I realized just how lucky I am. I have amazing friends. I'm extremely lucky to have a job, a home, and a loving family. 

I know it is so easy to get down on myself or fall into a pit of despair, but it's days like this when things just come together in a beautiful dance and makes me smile.

"Goin' up, on a Tuesday!"