December | 2012 | sporty mama life.....

~All of us are born for a reason, but all of us don’t discover why. Success in life has nothing to do with what you gain in life or accomplish for yourself. It’s what you do for others.

I had to sit down and write a little post today, after my Facebook status about kindness. This #26 Days of kindness challenge has just been stuck in my mind, since I read about it. And the more I read, the more it bothers me.

I, like everyone in this country, have had a heavy heart since the tragic act of last week in Newtown. The heartbreaking and senseless act of what happened that day is still spiraling around in my mind. A fog of sadness that will be there for some time. I have children of my own, and I cannot even begin to grip what this community and these families are suffering through. I also cannot wrap my mind around, the torment, hatred, and agony the young man was suffering from, who took such innocent lives.

That being said, when I read about this #26 Days of Kindness, it kind of struck me as strange. Although, a nice sentiment, and a nice honor, what I do not understand is the fact, that when faced with tragedies such as this…why is it THEN, that people find it appropriate to do Random Acts of Kindness? This should be every day living, people. Every single day of our lives, we should be kind, thoughtful and doing things for those we love, as well as, for perfect strangers.

I think I must live in a different World in my mind…. This is not a one-day deal…or #26-day deal. This is a current, happening (or should be) every-day deal. Why would you NOT??

And then…to post Facebook statuses and Tweet about your “act” Are you joking? Please say you are kidding me? What good is that? Is that bringing honor to anyone other than you? Leave it to the media, to come up with that senseless idea!!

“Oh…look at me…I mowed my neighbors lawn!!” Yay, ME!! “Look at me, I paid for someone’s groceries!” “I committed a random act!” Really?

A random act of kindness should be just that…. And the notoriety of the act should be held in your heart…. not bragging about it on social media, the news, or in the paper. People…..you should be ashamed of yourself. Bragging about your good deeds is ridiculous, selfish and egocentric. And for me…would kind of ruin the warm fuzzies in my heart.

A true act of kindness is heartfelt. It comes from within…FOR the other person to love and hold on to. It is the act of friendship, love, consideration, passion, forgiveness (sometimes) mercifulness and humaneness. And should come from a place of humility and humbleness!

And as far as 26 days goes…how about 365 days? How about the rest of your life? How about one small gesture to brighten someone’s day without even thinking about it… on a daily basis, a monthly basis, a yearly and life-long basis. Not to brag or make yourself feel good (even though it does) or make people think you are kinder than you actually might be. Maybe, because as humans that is what we should do. Period!! I do realize that it does make you feel great to do for others, but it is unnecessary to be a braggart. Trust me, you still get the great feeling, even without the news following you around!

I challenge you all. Go out into the world and do something nice. Without needing notoriety. Without being boastful. Without needing the spotlight turned on you.

I see the problem as more of an un-kindness of people. If you cannot have the media turned off, or have the spotlight OFF of you, then it is really a selfish act…and out of no kindness at all. Maybe, that’s the real problem, isn’t it?…. selfishness, not lack of kindness. Maybe people’s need for attention and being complete “media whores” is the real issue. The fact that people cannot get out of their own way to do something nice for one another, without notariety…that is the problem of our societal lack of kindness towards people. Or the mindset of, “Well, they haven’t done anything for me….” Get over yourself!

***What I DO love is hearing about these Random Acts from the vantage point of the receiver. It is always fun to hear, how someone’s heart was warmed, their day was made, or something put a smile on their face by the kindness of a stranger or friend.

So to Ann Curry and all of media out there…how about an “#everyday act of kindness” how about “#365actofkindness. “ How about a country full of kindness for everyone. Imagine the country and or world we could live in if this were the case. That if every single day, every single person paid it forward, did a kind act. Just one teeny-tiny thing! Wow! Not just when tragedy strikes. Not just around the holidays, and above all NOT to use it as a tool to draw attention to yourself or to expect something in return! Or is this just too much to ask of all of you “kind” people??

Now that’s a social media movement!!

~“Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.” ~Luke 6:38

~“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.” ~Luke 6:27-31

~“Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant” ~1Corin 13:4

Ready to Rock!!

Have you ever run in Paris near the Eiffel Tower? In New York City, Hollywood & Venice, Italy? Ran next to pyramids, flaming, hot volcanoes, sweeping, palm trees, and next to spectacular fountains? Have you ran with Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Captain America, Spiderman, Winnie the Pooh, the Transformers, Danny DiVito, Jack Nicholson, Kermit the Frog, and Zach Galifianakis? What about with gorgeous showgirls? AND…have you done this all on ONE DAY? Or should I say…NIGHT!

This is exactly the kind of fun you can have when you run the Rock n Roll Las Vegas Marathon. The Strip at Night!

This was my last ½ marathon of the season. It was a quick-minded decision, spurred by a couple of friends that were registered to run it. They invited me along, and I gave it about 2-seconds of thought before I said, “I’m in!” I mean…C’mon, friends, Vegas, running and a ½ marathon at night! How could I ever say No?

From the time we arrived in Vegas, we knew the 4-day weekend was going to ROCK! And we were excited to “get this party started”

The expo was remarkable! We picked up race packets, numbers, grabbed swag bags and T-shirts at the front end of the expo. It was quick, well organized and we moved through with ease. Then we entered into Running Mecca. We all wandered through, wide-eyed, sampling products, playing games, buying running gear, seeing new shoes, socks, and wicking clothing. We spent a good part of our afternoon there ogling all things running. One of my <personal> biggest highlights of the expo was getting the honor and privilege to hear a talk from the amazingly, talented, US Olympian and winner of the NYC Marathon Meb Keflezighi. What an extraordinary career this man has had. Afterwards, we patiently waited, to get up close to Meb for pictures, and to have him autograph his book, and our race bibs. I really wish he were my running partner. The expo got us more excited to be participating in another Rock ‘n’ Roll marathon!

Elvis was even at the Expo

With Meb Keflezighi

Our group that was running (the race) and running around Vegas until all hours of the night…er….the morning consisted of 2 girls who are RnR veterans, and have ran 3 R n R’s this year (I cannot wait to see their extra Heavy Metal BLING for doing more than one in the year) 3-NEWBIE runners, 2 that have done some smaller races, and 1 that this was IT…the first race EVER! Out of the 3 newbies however, this was their first Half Marathon!…and there was little ol’ me…just along for the fun!

Being around the newer runners was like seeing kids at Christmas. It was so exciting! It was fun seeing their nervous energy, and taking everything in about the race and expo.

Race day came, and it was so bizarre to wake up at 9am-ish (after our second night of being out until 4am) and not have to be in a frenzy to get ready to race. And well, at 9am, we would’ve already missed the start of most races. But not in Vegas. This race starts at night. 4:30pm. Being that is was a late start, we really had to spend the day off of our feet (HAHAHA, that didn’t happen) and really had to watch what we were eating (HAHAHA that didn’t happen either) So, we spent the day in regular Vegas fashion, out shopping, and walking. In fact we are pretty sure we easily covered a marathon and a half-marathon the three days we were there before the race. (No, I’m not joking) There is so much to see and do, that you just cannot sit still. And although for other races, we would’ve opted to stay in and play it safe…this is Vegas after all, and all bets were off. We threw caution to the wind. Besides all of the walking, we danced our little legs off, ate Vietnamese food (for dinner the night before the race) we drank, we danced some more, we shopped our wallets dry, we became Mission Impossible agents, we rode roller coasters, we laughed and loved and lived everything we could of Las Vegas.

As the day went on, we got more and more excited about the race. We walked down to the start and were giddy! We cheered for our first-timers, and made plans for meeting at the finish. And then we were off, with 30,000 other runners, running the Las Vegas strip at night. I only wish I would’ve stopped one time to take a picture of how this looked. The lights, the runners, the crowds cheering us on. It was all so exciting. It made the run go by so fast. Running block after block next to towering casinos and hotels. I ran past the Bellagio as the fountains we spraying. We ran from one end to the other, towards the Stratosphere and though a part of Vegas that I have never been to, the infamous Fremont Street, past street performers, and fantastic bands, and before I knew it, I was heading back down the strip to the finish. I kind of had that feeling of…”is this it?” Not meaning I was dissatisfied with any part of this race, but that it seemed to fly by.

FINISHED!

I waded through the finish-line chute where I received my medal. This MEDAL!!! Now…this, is a medal. Heavy, and full of bling-y, shimmery, glitter, with the Las Vegas skyline…and, AND…wait for it….it freakin’ GLOWS IN THE DARK! What!!??

True story!

I continued my way through the chute, having my photo taken, getting all sorts of yummy post-race food. There was definitely a lot to choose from. I wandered in my space blanket to the other end, and waited with a friend (we ran in together) to cheer the rest of our crew in! It is always so amazing and almost tearful to see a first-timer finish. There is just something magical about it. They think they can’t make it, they feel undertrained (jeez, don’t we all) they are in pain, convinced the finish is too far, and then…they cross that finish line! It never gets old. We hugged and took pictures together of our finish, and then all went back to our condos, cleaned up, ate, and guess…WENT out, again…for another 4am night of celebrating and dancing!!

I vote: one of the most fun races EVER!! Great race for first timers, veterans, young and old! Great course…flat, and you cannot beat the scenery. Great crowds. If you want thousands of people cheering for you your entire way…then Vegas is it! Plus….you get to run..with Elvis in Paris!!