HAPPY HALLOWEEN!
(Source)
I always liked Halloween. I'll admit, I love it for the candy. Sorry but I'm not sorry. Reese's are freaking delicious.
I always like to reflect on what I have learned at the end of a month. Believe it or not, but each and every month that passes my in my life has some sort of significant meaning. I'm never really the same person I was a month previously. And I am okay with that. Sometimes you just have to roll with the punches. Here's what I discovered throughout October...
1. Never do cleans and deadlifts in the same session. Ever.
I know, some of you weightlifting junkies/experts may yell at me for this. I admit my mistake! I was feeling like I wanted to smash something with this workout. So I did some cleans, and then I was like why not do some deadlifts?! Needless to say the next two days were the most painful days of my life. My butt felt like I had fallen off a cliff and right onto the ground. My back was shrieking with grief whenever I moved. Stick to ONE major lift per workout. Lesson learned.
2. I'm getting a tattoo.
Yes. Maybe some of you mothers are screaming inside at reading this right now. But trust me when I say that I am NOT getting a tattoo because it is the "cool" thing to do. I'm getting it because it has legitmate meaning to the experiences I have been through in life. I'm ambivalent on these four. I seem to be getting mixed reviews on which one to choose:
It's a toss-up. So indecisive...
3. It's okay to not get everything done and instead just take a breather.
From school work to blogging, everything was crashing down on me like a tidal wave, hense my brief hiatus. I used to be so adamant and hell-bent on getting a post up on time but I would just make up posts on the fly without intertwining real feeling into it. If I don't post in a week, the next post you all better expect to be downright amazing (I hope). Sometimes we all just need a mental break and we don't HAVE to finish everything by our perfectionist standards.
4. Cardio is not evil.
Gosh, for so long in my 'muscle-building' mind frame, I shunned cardio like it was the nuts in my trail mix (seriously, does anyone even eat those?! I'm all about dem M&M's...). But honestly, I fully believe that cardio is very beneficial. Sure, if you do too much of it while trying to build muscle, good luck with that. But I've come to realize that cardio is more than just 'fat-burning', it's necessary for one's heart health. I've been slowly losing my endurance and I don't want to. So I've been doing 2-3 sessions of 15-20 minutes of cardio each week and I'm wreaking the benefits. When I do cardio, I eat a bit more to spare the muscle. Honestly, if you keep the calories up while doing cardio, you'll still get the heart benefits. Don't believe the broscience.
You're not really a jackwagon if you don't do cardio. Everyone believes different things. ;) (Source)
5. Life shouldn't be taken for granted.
Okay, so I am the least philosophical or sentimental person I know. I mean really... if you all knew me in real life, you'd think I was the most immature person you've ever met. No shame. But one day this month as I was driving, suddenly a scary thought popped into my head. (Now don't worry guys, I am NOT suicidal!) I thought about how any day, I could die. I could die right now, in this car due to a car accident. Typically death, or anything really, doesn't scare me. But I actually contemplated the thought of me not living anymore and holy cow, it scared the living hell out of me. I have SO much to live for; I have SO many things I want to accomplish. I never appreciated my life like I should have and now I embrace it each and every day. Call me cheesy, but from the moment I wake up, I have a plan to make today memorable. You should too.
I hope EVERYONE has a fantastic Halloween. Eat a piece of candy. I promise it won't kill you. And save the Reese's and Pay Days for me. It would be greatly appreciated. ;)
Questions: What have you learned in October? What's your favorite Halloween memory?
Anything Game of Thrones related makes me smile. :-)
ReplyDeleteLooks like you learned some great things this month! I'm a tattoo person myself (current count is at four) so I'm excited to see what you get!
Sorry, can't save the Reese's for you...I dominate that sh*t. :-D
Oooooh I love that you have tattoos! Girl, where have you been this whole time I've been reading blogs?! And oh darn, I guess I'm just going to have to steal the Reese's. ;)
DeleteSo wise little one :)
ReplyDeleteThank you Kierston :)
DeleteI have the "free yourself" tatt pinned! I love all of my tatts - just be sure it has meaning and you'll never regret it. You should take those pics to an artist and work with them to make something unique to you! Mine girl was awesome about doing that.
ReplyDeleteI love it! I see so many people wanting a tattoo because it's a trend. I want one for MEANING. I will definitely heed your advice. Thank you :)
Deletethis is an awesome reflection, way to go on conquering october!
ReplyDeleteof course I'm a fan of cardio!
ReplyDeleteBroscience, I love it!
and i like the feather-birds tattoo... but i guess it really depends on which means what to you.
Haha maybe because you're only like the best runner out there. ;) And thank you. I really am leaning towards the feather with the birds!
DeleteGood things to learn! As for the tattoo, I LOVE the feather turning into birds one. Where are you going to get it? My best friend has something similarly constructed (a dandelion blowing away) on her side/back and I love it!!
ReplyDeleteI don't know quite yet, but I know it's somewhere in Indiana because in Illinois, you absolutely HAVE to be 18 even with a parent. :/ And thank you, I think I am going to go for that one! :)
DeleteI.love.you. that is all :D
ReplyDeleteI mean seriously, you're SO mature and wise for your age. Heck, most of my college peers aren't as down to earth as you! Why can't we be neighbors?!?! haha
SO stoked about your tatto and that broscience picture? Totally made my day!
I.love.you.MORE. :D Why can't we be SISTERS?! And yes I was cracking up at the broscience picture. I figured you would like it :)
DeleteDude yes, I wish we were sisters so bad! Until science can allow that to happen, I guess we can settle for best friends for LIFE. ;D
DeletePS-- I'm already planning goodies for your Christmas present mwahaha :D
Love the tattoos, but I'd wouldn't get a dream-catcher tattoo, Dream-catchers are very sacred to Native Americans, and to tattoo one on your body would be a form of cultural appropriation. Other than that, I love the blog. You're a great writer and a smart girl!
ReplyDeleteOh wow, I definitely will keep that in mind! If there was one I wanted to throw out, it'd probably be that one anyways, so thanks! And thank you so much for your kind words. :)
DeleteYou're more than welcome! It's just something that's been covered more in the media. I actually really like the "birds of a feather" design (top right). It would look really lovely along the back or side of the ribcage. I think the design really depends on where you want a tat.
DeleteAwesome awesome on the tattoo! Many people will ask you why you are getting it but really if you want it that is the reason itself. Go with your heart on which one you choose, and you will love it :) When I got mine everyone was skeptical but I'm still so very happy with it! YAY can't wait to see it!
ReplyDeleteAnd, no, life shouldn't be taken for granted. It's easy to fall into this trap because our lives are so fast paced and there is only so much time in one day. But we've got to remember what it's all about in the end, and to be thankful for what we have and truly enjoy and embrace the day to day.
Wow, those words really spoke to me, I've been having my doubts about whether I should get one or not but honestly, now I know I am getting it for sure. :) Thank you so much. <3
DeleteAnd YES to embracing each and every day. I could not agree more. :)
I totally loved this post!! :)
ReplyDeleteI actually eat the nuts in the trail mix, thank you very much! And I always put aside the M&Ms. HAHA, looks like you and I can share a bag of trail mix without any problems. ;) <3
And I totally agree with lesson #5! I actually realized that when I was about 9 years old, because I was watching a soap opera. The widowed mother of the hero was dying and told her son about how much she regreted that she hadn't done everything she wanted to do for her child-- hadn't shown him how much she really loved him, given him everything she could have, and fought with him constantly... HAHA, at 9 years old, I was already set on trying to be nice to everybody and trying to show everyone how much I loved them because I was afraid that I'd die at any moment. I was a bit paranoid at that age, but oh well. ;)
And FINALLY for the tattoo.. I know I said I liked the "Be yourself" one before, but now I'm leaning more towards the feather turning into birds... I actually hadn't seen the birds before and just thought that it was a feather coming a part. My bad, but it's soooo beautiful! :)
Thanks girl! <3 Hahaha if I ever buy trail mix I'll ship you the nuts. ;) And that's so cute--love little 9-year-old anecdotes like that :) This is why you're a good person and I cannot imagine even questioning if you had a mean bone in your body. It is simply not possible! And thank you--that seems to be the majority vote so I'm leaning towards it!
DeleteI was writing about my tattoos this morning tootoo :0)
ReplyDeleteIm old.
and curmudgeonly?
Id say WAIT a few years...but no one listens to me so feel free to go forth and ink :)
Ahhh well now you have me curious... why wait? :)
Delete