Everything is a phase.
Yesterday I was asked to give a new mom some advice, and this is what I say at those moments. Everything is a phase. It helps me realize that no hard time lasts forever, and also to savor the good phases.
But it’s not just about parenting or motherhood, it really holds true for life in general. Life is constantly changing and evolving, and so are we as humans. Hopefully evolving towards becoming better humans – better friends, partners, citizens of the world, along with finding our happiness and pursuing our passions along the way.
So far in 2018, I have had new phases beginning in my life as old ones have ended. I had a birthday yesterday, and it’s been a great chance to reflect on the year and update here about how things are going. I felt fortunate to be physically able to start my 45th birthday with a 6 mile run – 3 solo, then 3 pushing my 6.5 year old in the stroller.
Everything is a phase… in career
Career-wise, I’ve made a huge transition in recent months. This has certainly been the reason for my silence here as I’ve transitioned from the phase of my life where I work full-time at an organization to a new self-employed phase of life. I’m able to spend more time pursuing projects that I’m passionate about, in the arts and also in the triathlon and fitness world. I had really enjoying my “side business”, but juggling a more-than-full-time career along with a side business, blogging, IRONMAN training, and kids was challenging. So I’ve flipped the work-life balance and the result is that I do not work so many hours, weekends, and nights, which means I see my kids more, and can dig into new professional challenges. More on that to come!
Working as a Show Manager at the Special Olympics Opening Ceremonies in Seattle, June 2018. It was broadcast live on ESPN/ABC and was a fantastic experience to be a part of the production.
Everything is a phase… in motherhood
As a mom, it’s been a lot of new experiences this year. My kids have ended one school year and are about to begin another. The past year’s phase of parenting a middle schooler has been an interesting change, and I’ve learned and grown a lot as a mother and a person.
My youngest has finished kindergarten and is really growing and learning, after challenges with speech and other issues in the past. My middle is a baseball-loving active boy, who asks deep questions about the world.
Everything is a phase… in triathlon training
So far in 2018, my triathlon training has been going in phases – some good and some not so great.
I have a brand new bike, a Quintana Room PRFive. I had a rough time when I bought the bike, as it was damaged on a flight the very day I bought it. I will tell that story another time, as I’ve learned a lot about what airlines cover, don’t cover, and protecting your bike while flying.
Photo credit: mybikeshop.com
I still do most of my training on the bike trainer, as I juggle a busy life as a single mom half the time, and a busy schedule the other half.
I’m trying to fit in more swimming these days, and get my running back to where it used to be after a broken toe derailed me this winter. I really got out of my run-groove with that experience, and it took a while to find my love of running again. I’m really feeling slow and sluggish and the hot and humid weather doesn’t help, so hope to get into a great running phase again soon.
Everything is a phase… in weight loss and health
My weight went up a bit in the off-season and it’s been slow to come off. I’m hoping that phase ends soon and I go into lean, mean, racing machine weight someday soon. Last year I did Metabolic Efficiency Training but this year I’m eating a little looser, and that’s impacting my race nutrition as well. I have to dial that in now, as I am training for IRONMAN Maryland and need to finalize my race nutrition so I can practice it on long rides.
Everything is a phase… in life
Personally, I have great friends, and a supportive family. That phase hasn’t ended, thankfully! I love to connect with people in person and online, and so I’m excited to be back in the phase of blogging regularly, and want to write more about my current and upcoming adventures.
I hope that your phase of life is a good one and I look forward to reconnecting regularly!
– Cynthia
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