Superstitions

Just because it is SO much fun and  you can't help yourself, let's jump up and dance with Stevie Wonder on Soul Train first!!

                                                                     

I'm not superstitious. I don't believe that certain days or animals or actions intrinsically have bad luck. I do believe you can think  your way into creating bad circumstances, but that they exist on their own in the universe -- no.

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My mother (bless her heart) kept a running list of things that would bring disaster down upon us. You couldn't talk about a dream before breakfast or it would come true. Black cats crossing the road in front of you were portents of evil to come. Never, ever walk under ladders and don't open an umbrella in the house. Breaking a mirror would give you 7 years' bad luck. If you spilled salt, you had to pick it up and throw it over your shoulder. The list went on and on. It was wearisome trying to keep up with everything, and I realized early on that following all the mumbo-jumbo took a great deal of time and sure did keep you from living life.

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So, I hereby declare ArmsWideOpen a superstition-free zone.

That said, I want to unveil on this Friday the 13th our first Famy Friday. I wrote about this in my very first post:

All negatives will be relegated to the "Infamy Netherworld" and you won't find them here. Only famy found here! I'll be having "Famy Fridays," where I'd love it if you would share the positives that happened to you during your week, or that you did for others. I firmly believe it enriches us all to be reminded of the good things in life and share our gratitude for them.

I'll start off:  I signed up for my first half-marathon! I am absolutely terrified, but incredibly excited at the same time. I'll be running May 19 in Jacksonville, NC, home of the Camp Lejeune Marines. The race is Run for the Warriors, which raises funds for service members wounded during the war on terrorism. It's a tremendously good cause, and an inspiring race. One year ago, I ran my first 5k there. That route led through a neighborhood next to the town high school, and the streets were lined with people sitting out in lawn chairs in their front yard, waving American flags and cheering us on. It made me feel I was doing something good and brave and patriotic. I can't think of a place more perfect to run my first half marathon.
                                                               

                                                                 
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It absolutely amazes me that one year ago I ran my first 5k and now I'm going for a half marathon. I say it again, I never exercised AT ALL, and now my life has been transformed. If you want to do something, you can. Don't be afraid. I'm proof that you can achieve things that you never thought were possible. Take that first step!!

So, what wonderful things have you done or seen this week? I'm eager to hear from you! Have an active weekend, and don't go walking under any ladders today. Not because it's Friday the 13th, but because that's just not a smart thing to do under any circumstances.

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