comfort zone

Laying the Next Brick

It’s been a while since I last wrote. Life happened, as it always does. And in the whirlwind of “to-dos” and “what ifs,” I let this space collect dust. But today, I’m ready to pick up where I left off—still asking questions about legacy but with a new perspective and a new challenge ahead.

Legacy is a funny thing. Last time, I talked about it in terms of what we leave behind for others. But lately, I’ve been thinking about what we leave behind for ourselves. The stories we tell ourselves. The proof we give ourselves that we did the thing—that we showed up, took a chance, lived intentionally. That we didn’t let fear or time or excuses win.

I’ve set a goal that feels impossible right now: to qualify and run the NYC Marathon the year I turn 50. That’s 26.2 miles of sheer determination. I’ve never run a marathon before, though I came close once. I was training for the Disney Marathon in 2020, but a foot injury stopped me cold after I hit 19 miles. It crushed me at the time. I let it linger as another story of unfinished business.

Not anymore.

This time, I’m writing a new story—and this one ends with me crossing that finish line. I have a plan. In 2025, I’ll tackle 5Ks, 10Ks, and a half marathon. In 2026, I’ll push further, with more half marathons as I continue to focus on strength and mobility. But the goal isn’t just the NYC Marathon in 2027; it’s what this journey will teach me—and my kids—about living with intention.

Because isn’t that what legacy really is? It’s the life we live now, the example we set. It’s deciding, every day, to take one more step, to embrace the struggle, to be scared but go anyway. My kids won’t care about the finish time; they’ll remember that I didn’t give up, even when it was hard.

This blog is part of that journey too. Sharing the wins, the setbacks, the lessons—because legacy isn’t a destination, it’s the path we choose to walk every day.

So here’s to starting again. To laying the next brick. To writing our legacy one bold, messy, beautiful step at a time.

What’s the next brick you’re laying?

2017: Kicked out of the “Comfort Zone”

Uncomfortable. 

Yes…at a quick glance, “uncomfortable” is the word that sums up my 2017. I mean I freakin turned 40, I lost my job and found myself unemployed for 3 months, I didn’t get the original role I interviewed for when I finally found employment, we have a toddler, a high school kid and a college kid and did I mention I turned 40?!? And I am trying to help others take control of their health…oh…and get this blog thing going.

So why uncomfortable?

Because to start, I had a hard time facing the fact that I turned 40 (if you haven’t figured that out yet and I will be 41 a month from tomorrow). Why did it bother me, because I came in believing that I had nothing to show for it, that I should be somewhere else in my life at this point, that I should be more “successful”, have a “bigger title” in my career, that I should be BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH BLAH! Yep, that was my first lesson this year! And then it hit me…”BITCH! You ARE 40 and SO WHAT!” First and foremost my 3 kids, hubby and I are healthy! I have a wonderful husband that puts up with my crazy and supports my ideas and indecisions. We have a beautiful home and though they may be few…I have quality friendships. Oh yeah, and I rocked out a 40th birthday photo session with the one and only Photos by Lulu!

Then, as previously mentioned in my blogs, I lost my job. I had NEVER been unemployed in 23 years! I had to take my son out of daycare, I couldn’t help my husband with our bills, I sent out resumes and completed endless applications and NOTHING for 3 months! Despite my years of experience, I couldn’t get the roles I longed for…but God has a funny way of doing things and after finally becoming employed I realized that title was NOT everything and that the title should not determine the quality of my work or the effort I put into everything I do. I can make a difference no matter the title on my business card…

And yes, our 3 kids are our hearts…and are represented in every gray hair that has entered and reentered my scalp this year, but I wouldn’t change a thing…ok, I’m lying I might change one or two things, lol…but I would still keep all 3.

This year has taught me how to “grow and learn” in that uncomfortable space. It taught me that I can overcome hard times, that when I put my heart in it I can do hard things, it taught me to overcome self doubt and just put myself out there (as I do in my blogs), it’s taught me to own my faults (but yes hubby, I am still learning to master this one) and it’s taught me to believe in myself even when the results are not immediate and take time.

This year I freakin turned 40, started a new blog, started my new IG and Facebook page for my fitness journey, started a new job, kept all 3 of my kids alive and well, celebrated another wedding anniversary and started to believe in me. Yes many uncomfortable moments and maybe in the scheme of things, it doesn’t look like much success but I do believe that 2017 has set me up to KICK ASS in 2018. So if you had too many IF ONLY…THEN moments in 2017….recognize it, let it go and let’s get this 2018 PARTY STARTED!!!! It’s either “one day or DAY ONE!” What will you choose?