Tag Archives: Tough times

Writing With Your Marker

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Did you draw on your mom’s walls and in inappropriate places with markers when you were a child?  I bet you were in a ton of trouble when you did so.  I know you were because, let’s face it, we all did it.  I am now 40 years old and can tell you I often write on my bathroom mirror or on myself with a marker… a dry-erase marker.  What do I write?  Well…

I believe everyone should have a mantra; a saying; a quote that inspires them each day.  I actually have all three. Your mantra should be something you can lean on during the toughest of times.  When you are faced with adversity, your mantra is something that should have the ability to give you the kick in the butt you need.  My mantra comes from my marathon training team, Pink Nation.  It is “All Go No Quit Cowboy Up”. It means suck it up and finish what you started.  My saying is one that I use absolutely every day for every aspect of my life: work, home, fitness & health, personal, volunteer work, etc… My saying is “Be > Yesterday” (Be Greater Than Yesterday).  I don’t think I need to explain that one. Your selected quote should be the one that inspires you to get through tough times, gears you up to get ready to face adversity head on or is a quote you can rely on to put things in perspective, stay positive and get through the ugly. My quote is “Spes et Fortitudo” (hope and strength).

So, what do I write on my mirror with my trusty marker?  Sometimes I write things I need to add to the grocery list as they appear in my mind while brushing my teeth. Sometimes I write work thoughts or presentation ideas.  But, everyday I see two things on my mirror written with my trusty marker: “Be > Yesterday” and “Spes et Fortitudo”.  To me, these two statements keep me pushing forward.  They keep me thinking about being better every day.  But, they also remind me of the positive.  There’s so much “yuck” in our every day lives that being reminded of the positive in so important.

I also write on myself.  Yes, I am a grown adult and write on myself.  I am a runner.  Any race I run, whether it’s a 5K up to a marathon, I pick a person or persons to dedicate the race to and write the names on the top of my left hand right next to my watch.  Every time I look at my watch to check my pace, distance or time, I see the name(s), the reason I am running the race.  It is my motivation.  But, I also write “I Am My Hero” on my fingers.  I believe there are times in your life that you need to stop relying on others and become your own hero.  You need to do “it”, whatever “it” is, for you.  I use my trusty marker for these writings as well.

So, what are you going to write with your marker?  Where will you write it?  What is the meaning behind what you will write?

Your Mantra

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Mantra is a mind projection created in either a spoken or mental manner. Mantras can be a word, phrase, syllable or sound. They can be recited, sung or repeated silently in the mind. It is a technique for regulating the mind. There are many mantras each one having its own quality, rhythm, and effect. For thousands of years, mystics, meditators and yogis have used mantras for mental and spiritual transformation.  If you search the web you will find web site on top of web site full of inspirational and motivating quotes; mantras, if you will.  Well… here begins the story of Pink Nation and our mantra.

“In rodeo, to ‘cowboy up’ means to suck it up in times of adversity and carry on when you are injured or down and the prospect of doing whatever you’re about to try is so bleak that the best you can hope for is to live through it.” ~ Tuff Hedeman, World Champion Bull Rider

Mantra: any sacred word or syllable used as an object of concentration and embodying some aspect of spiritual power.  I am a proud card-carrying member of the Pink Nation Marathon Training Team.  We begin our “family reunion” each year in June.  We hold “church” each Sunday morning to get our sweat on and push ourselves towards a goal in November that most would never even consider attempting… start and finish 26.2 miles.  We have a phrase we use when faced with adversity when we head out for training runs, during our lives and especially on race day when we set out to conquer 26.2 miles. Our mantra is “All Go, No Quit, COWBOY UP“. 

You see, Pink Nation is not just a running training team; it’s a family.  We take care of each other and look out for each other.  We welcome new members into our family every year in June.  When one of us has a tough road ahead in any aspect of our life, team members shout our mantra from the roof tops (well comment on social media and other forms of communication, but you get the point).  Throughout the year many members of Pink Nation take part in other races around the stated and even throughout the country; races of varying distances.  No matter the length of the race team members are always there with a rousing “All Go, No Quit, COWBOY UP“.  It sticks in your head.  It becomes your “wingman” never leaving your side during a race.  When you are feeling beat up it is comforting knowing there are people out there who know just what to say to make you suck it up and keep pushing ahead. They know what to say that makes you not quit.

We all need a kick in the butt every now and then to keep us pushing forward in life, in work, and in reaching goals of all kinds.  What is your mantra?  Do you have a phrase that keeps you going? What gives you the kick in the butt you sometimes need to “get through it”, to make it across whatever finish line lies ahead of you?  If you do not have a mantra, I think it would be okay with my fellow Pink Nation family members if you borrowed ours.  But, be careful as it is a powerful phrase.  There’s no telling what you might accomplish once you use it.  “All Go, No Quit, COWBOY UP“, my friends. 

My Maddie-Boo

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It was your world that I was fortunate to exist in. I miss the mornings rubbing your eyes and your gentle nose nudge to let me know I wasn’t finished yet. No more saying your prayers at night, no more dinner time “let’s say grace”, and no more drool on my leg when I say “Amen”. I miss your snoring and noises while you sleep. I see a shadow of you belly up on your sofa. Sticks are piling up and my yard clean up crew isn’t here to help me.  Your fire pit movie night blinkie collar blinks no more.

Your baby pool is dry, your lion hasn’t roared, your Kermit hasn’t croaked. Your Booda sits where you last tossed it at my feet.  My routines have been turned inside out. No more tail wagging in circles, butt throwing side to side “welcome home, Mom” greeting when I walk through the door.  Your collar sits with no one to decorate, your golf balls haven’t been touched. No more guarding presence next to the shower, no more night time snuggles and morning massages to give.

I miss my stretching partner, my escort to the mailbox and my back seat driver.  I haven’t said “eat your breakfast”, “want some dinner”, “load ’em up”, or “I love you, Maddie-Boo” in 2 days. Your bed is empty, as is my heart.  No more greeting the neighbors with the biggest stick you could find.  No more watching you sniff the same old tree, no more barks at the back door saying “doorbell!” and no more closet doors to open and squirrels to retrieve.

My office assistant is gone, my grill mate has left me.  Morning coffee just isn’t the same.

No more silent glares to let me know it’s time to get up or go outside. Your life was full of friends, both puppies and humans. No more phone calls asking if you could come over to play for the day. My house is empty, yet full of the love you left.  My world was made the day you entered my life.  My face lit up and my smiles were big each time someone asked, “How’s Maddie?”.

No more watching you jump off docks, swim in the pool, raft surfing and climbing the ladder to get out.

You had more friends than you ever knew, some never actually met you.  Your life, personality and love of all things in the world were evident to all who saw your pictures. People you never met have shed tears for you.  You left a mark in this world like no other before.  Your pictures and videos are reminders of your amazing life and love you had for all and the world.

Your final resting place is here with me among the trees, the sticks you carried, the path we walked, with Moose snuggled next to you.  You are in heaven now surrounded by those who have gone before you.  All your friends are with you. All of you are happy, healthy and will play together forever.  Your pool is open forever now, your raft is always afloat. The sun will shine always for you, your water bowl will forever be full.

Your last breath, your last heart beat… the most precious moment in my life.  There will never be another you.  “She was special” said by so many. Rest easy, my baby girl.

I love you, Maddie-Boo.

Cowboy Up

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“In rodeo, to ‘cowboy up’ means to suck it up in times of adversity and carry on when you are injured or down and the prospect of doing whatever you’re about to try is so bleak that the best you can hope for is to live through it.” ~ Tuff Hedeman, World Champion Bull Rider ~

For our Pink Nation Marathon Training Team, our mantra is “All Go, No Quit, Cowboy Up”. We use this phrase when faced with adversity in our lives and when we head out for training runs and races. When one of us has a tough road ahead, team members shout it from the roof tops (well comment on Facebook and other forms of communication, but you get the point). In a way, it is comforting knowing that when you are feeling beat up, there are people out there who know just what to say to make you suck it up and keep pushing ahead. They know what to say that makes you not quit.

Do you have a phrase that keeps you going? What gives you the kick in the butt you sometimes need to “get through it”?