Category Archives: life

Happy First Birthday

Wow, I can’t believe that a year ago today I published my first post! Where did the time go?!

I’ve learned a lot this past year, both about blogging and about myself.

I’ve learned that I’m capable of running. I completed my first 5k and my first 8k, distances that I never imagined myself running before.

I’ve learned that I still have goals that I want to accomplish, particularly a half marathon. I set out on this journey with that being the end goal, and I was hoping that I would have tackled it by now. While that didn’t happen, it’s not a reason to give up. It’s just a reason to keep pushing forward.

I’ve learned that it’s crucial to go outside of my comfort zone. I’m still working on this, but I’m realizing more and more that it’s really important. I don’t want to put myself in a bubble and stay there my entire life. Life happens once and I need to take full advantage of what it has to offer. It’s been challenging at times to publish some of the posts that I have, but I realize that I have something important to say and I should put myself out there. I often fear rejection, but I’ve been amazed at how much support I’ve received thus far.

I’ve learned that generosity is abundant in the blogging world. I met my fundraising goal for the 2013 Northern Virginia Kidney Walk thanks to bloggers that made donations to my team. I’m still amazed at their generosity, and I hope that I can give back this next year.

I’ve learned that I absolutely love to write. It’s a form of therapy for me. I can be creative and express my thoughts and emotions. It’s been really great to document my journey. I realize that writing is a part of me. It’s something I need to have in my life on a daily basis. I’m trying to figure out a way to make that happen professionally. I’m hoping that my time and effort that I put in to blogging will be a stepping stone to help me get there.

I’ve learned that I have so much more to accomplish. I have some great projects in the works that have been thoughts up until now, but I now know that I want them to become reality. I can’t wait to share them with you.

I’ve learned that my dreams are attainable. I just need to continue chasing them. I can’t wait to reflect on what I’ve learned and achieved this time next year.

post workout bliss

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2013 Northern Virginia Kidney Walk

It was a great day for a walk.

NKF Kidney Walk

I had the pleasure of participating in the National Kidney Foundation’s Northern Virginia Kidney Walk today. It was so inspiring to see all of the people come out to support friends and loved ones that have been affected by kidney disease. Some were transplant recipients. Some were currently battling kidney disease. Others were walking in honor of someone currently battling the disease, as well as those who had succumb to their fight. It was truly touching to see so many people unite for this cause.

After Mark got sick last year, I was determined to participate in the walk this year. I was determined to form a team and set a fundraising goal to contribute to NKF’s mission. I know what kidney disease is capable of. I’ve seen it firsthand. It’s something that can be prevented, and I wanted to do something to help spread awareness and possibly save lives.

M&M's Kidney Dream Team logo

I decided to go out on a limb to get the word out. I tend to be on the shy side, but I knew that this was important to me and something I HAD to accomplish. I first spread the word on Facebook. Family and friends donated right away. You know who you are. Thank you so much. I also wanted to reach out to the blogging community to see if I could generate support. I approached Healthy Living Blogs to see if I could purchase ad space to donate to one of my readers who made a donation. Instead, I was awestruck when they donated the ad space for my giveaway. A huge thank you to Heather for your generosity.

The next thing I knew, HLB members made donations to my team. While I asked for a $5 donation to be eligible for the giveaway, these bloggers decided to give more. These ladies are people that I’ve never met, yet they wanted to contribute to my cause. Wow.

Thank you to Natalie from BodyAide.

Thank you to Ashley from Running Bun.

Thank you to Julie from Food Fitness and Happiness.

Thank you to the anonymous person who made a donation.

I continue to be amazed by your generosity.

Because of my wonderful family, friends, and new blogging friends, M&M’s Kidney Dream Team accomplished its fundraising goal. I can’t begin to thank everyone enough for their support. It truly means the world.

Kidney Walk 2013 Goal

Today was a great day. I am most thankful that I was able to spend this beautiful day with Mark. Last year, Mark was laying in a hospital bed close to death. By the grace of God, he survived. He brings joy to my life and continues to make me laugh everyday.

Mark and Megan Kidney Walk

Things in life don’t always go as planned, but I do believe they happen for a reason. While I may write mostly about my running journey, I am truly honored in times like these when I can write to spread awareness about issues that are so important. Kidney disease can be prevented. Learn what you can and do what you can to protect yourself and the ones you love.

If you have it in your heart to become a donor, please do so. All you have to do is check a box on your driver’s license. It’s that simple. It may not seem like a big deal, but when you see someone you love suffering, it becomes a big deal. If you’re not sure, do your research. That’s all I ask. You can save a life.

Donate Life Bracelet

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The Grandest Bucket List Adventure of All!

When I started my blog, Lesley Carter was one of my very first readers. I didn’t know her. She didn’t know me. She “liked” many of my posts, which made me giddy knowing that someone was actually reading what I had to say. It meant a lot!

When I checked out her blog, I was in awe. She is the creator of Bucket List Publications, where she documents her travels and fulfillment of the items on her bucket list. She’s traveled to 34 countries and doesn’t plan on stopping there! She’s been skydiving, base jumping, dog sledding, and biplane flying, to name a few. She also encourages and inspires her readers to create their own bucket lists. She wants you to get out there and create new experiences. Pretty awesome in my book!

5-27-2012 5-50-45 PM        IMG_9634        20110219_LasVegas_0877

Now, she has the chance to go on an amazing adventure! She is competing in My Destination’s Biggest Baddest Bucket List, where the winner gets to choose and visit destinations across six continents over six months…and gets $50,000! In order to win, she needs our votes!

I don’t know Lesley personally (other than the interaction I have with her on my blog). But I do know that she has so much passion for what she does. Not only does she travel and go on thrilling adventures, but she gets to know the people. She immerses herself in the culture. She takes in the experience fully and learns from it. I love that. She inspires me to overcome my fears and accomplish the goals that I’ve set for myself.

I want to help her fulfill more items on her bucket list and send her on this amazing adventure. In order to become a finalist, she needs to be one of the top five voted entries in the next seven days. Let’s get her there!

She created a fantastic video about her trip to Fiji and what she learned from her experience. Check it out and please vote, vote, vote!

I had the opportunity to ask Lesley about her travels and her personal bucket list. Here’s what she had to say:

You’ve entered the Biggest Baddest Bucket List contest – a chance to travel the world for six months and win $50,000! If you win, what destinations do you plan on choosing? I know you have a special place in your heart for Fiji. Do you plan on traveling there again during your BBB tour?

While nothing is set in stone yet, these are some of the countries I had in mind so far:

South Africa
Kenya
China
India
Malaysia
Thailand
Australia
New Zealand
Austria
Iceland
Russia
Turkey
Brazil
Ecuador

These choices are based on places I’ve yet to visit, but I’m certain there will be lots more to add when the time gets closer. Fiji is my favorite county, but I just returned from there in December so I don’t think I’d add it to the list for the MyBBB tour.

On your Biggest Baddest Bucket List entry page, you say that your most essential travel phrase is “Are you local?” What’s the best advice or tip a local has given you?


Locals always know the hidden gems and true cultural experiences. I try to experience each new country as if I’m a local. I spend a few days immersing myself in the culture and environment. That’s the only way to truly get an understanding of a new country. The best way to do that… find a local and hang out with them if you have the opportunity. I’d say that I received more experience based knowledge than a verbal tip from locals.

Many people struggle with staying fit while on vacation or traveling. If you win the Biggest Baddest Bucket List contest, you’ll be traveling for six months. Are there any activities that you plan on doing to stay fit while on your adventure of a lifetime?

I’m a hyperactive tourist. I like to take in every possible opportunity and activity so traveling usually leads to a healthy, more active lifestyle for me. It’s difficult to get out of shape when you’re hiking waterfalls, exploring new territories, and rafting down rapids.

You’ve had the courage to cross off a lot of extreme activities on your bucket list, like sky diving, base jumping, paragliding, bungee jumping, and flying a jet pack (wow!) Of all the extreme activities you’ve done, which is a “must do again” activity?  Is there one activity that you’re glad you tried, but don’t ever want to do again?

I love any activity that involves flying, or falling, through the sky. Piloting a helicopter was one of my favorite experiences and it’s definitely on the list of “must do again” activities. I don’t think it tops skydiving, though. I’d go right now if I had the chance.

There is no activity that I’ve done that I don’t ever want to try again. Each item on my list has been a learning experience. I’m always up for anything.

Now that you’re a mom, do you plan on helping Athena create her own bucket list? What’s one activity that you recommend everyone add to their own bucket list?

I can only hope that she’ll share in my adventurous spirit but I will support and encourage all of her dreams and goals regardless. If she wants to have her own list, I’ll help her make it but let her create her own items.

One activity that should be on everyone’s list is volunteer. There are countless ways to give back; adding it to your list will make it a reality.

What do you say to people who want to create a bucket list, but don’t think they have the courage or resources to accomplish their dreams?

I am no different than anyone else. I didn’t start out rich or famous or with unlimited resources. I just decided what was important in my life and found ways to make it happen. It’s possible for everyone. It’s all a matter of priorities. Find out what you want from life and focus on that.

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Inspire Me Friday

Things that really inspired me this week:

1. Random act of kindness for soldier in Afghanistan and his girlfriend

$40 and a note of support overwhelms soldier in Afghanistan

(source)

2. Danni’s amazing transformation on The Biggest Loser

(source)

3. Family and friends who are supporting my effort to raise money for the National Kidney Foundation’s 2013 Kidney Walk (details in an upcoming post!)

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The Words We Speak

It’s funny how one little unexpected moment can really make you stop and think about things. I had one of these moments tonight.

As Mark and I were cruising YouTube, we came across a clip of an interview that Alicia Keys gave recently.  What she had to say was really powerful. She was talking about the way she used to think about things. She used to verbally doubt herself. She used to say things like, “With my luck” and “This is how it will go for me.” One of her writing partners called her out on it and asked her why she said those things. It made her realize that if she says negative things like that, that’s the way her life will go. She took the word “if” out of her vocabulary and replaced it with “when.”

I realized that I do the same thing to myself. I always verbalize my self doubts and insecurities. Even if I whisper them quietly to myself, the words are still present. They are out there in the universe for myself to hear and believe. I have to stop doing it. If I start telling myself that I can do something, I will do it. If I tell myself that I can’t, then I won’t.

I started thinking about all of the negative words and phrases that I’ve told myself.

Negative Words

Pretty ugly isn’t it?

It’s a reflection of how I treat myself. I need to replace it with something more beautiful. Something more worthy of me.

Words to Live By

Starting now, I’m going to replace the ugly words with the beautiful ones. I’m realizing that the only way to kick start the journey to achieving my dreams starts with the dialogue in my mind.

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Healthy Auntie

I’ve come to a realization. My priorities are not in check at all.

I’ve been putting on a front this whole time. I wanted other people to see me change, but I wasn’t ready to do it for myself. I’m always thinking of other people first. It’s always been in the front of my mind. Worry about what other people think of you. Don’t worry about what you really feel…or what you really want…or what you really need…for yourself.

Time after time, it leads to failure. Maybe I don’t know how to succeed, at least when it comes to this fitness thing. Food is my crutch. I always lean on it when things get rough. I need to learn to cope without it.

In a few weeks, I will be a new aunt. A precious little girl will enter my world. She will look at those around her, including her aunt, as a role model. She will look to me as an example of what she should be. I don’t want her to be me. I want her to be healthy and strong. I want her to be independent. I want her to know that she can set her mind on anything and achieve it.

I need to start being a role model. I don’t want her to grow up seeing a fat aunt who is not only physically weak, but weak minded. I want to show her how to be healthy.

I’ve committed to change before, and it may seem like a broken record at this point. But I feel like this may be the push I need to start moving in the right direction.

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The Contract

Happy New Year everyone!

I finally started a new routine today. After months of moping around, I decided to change my attitude and just focus on the positive things in my life.

While my weight, shape, and body image may not be what I want it to be, I realize that I’m capable of changing it. I have full control. The only way to do something about it is to do something.

So I decided to write a contract for myself. A way to hold me, myself, and I accountable.

Here it is:

My Fitness Contract

Exactly one year from now, January 1, 2014, I will:

Have lost at least 30 pounds.

Have completed the half marathon that I have dreamed of completing.

Love myself, inside and out.

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Lowering My White Flag

I’ve been majorly disappointed in myself lately.

I stopped running.

I stopped lifting weights.

I stopped eating healthy.

I registered for a race and didn’t train for it.

I didn’t show up for that race.

I gained back all of the weight that I lost this year.

I let stress get the best of me.

I let myself down.

I’ve been ashamed to admit it all. When I first started my fitness journey earlier this year, I was reading all of these other fitness blogs and got inspired. These women were accomplishing their goals. Whether it was running a marathon, losing weight, or regaining confidence, they made it seem so easy. I thought I could do it too.

It’s never been easy for me. Ever since I can remember, I’ve had negative body image issues. It started in elementary school. Food was a source of comfort and pain at the same time. It’s always been a huge internal struggle for me. It’s how I’ve coped with any emotions I was feeling. The moments of satisfaction I gained from savoring the sweet peanut butter cup woofing down ten peanut butter cups turned into hours of self loathing when I looked in the mirror and saw nothing but rolls of fat. The closest thing I can compare it to is prison. It feels like my strong, confident self has been serving a life sentence of shame and guilt, trapped in a very unflattering body that I want to break free from.

I thought I was on the path to freedom earlier this year. After years and years of starting and stopping, I ran my first race. Then I ran a longer race. And I finished! I was so proud of myself. I even saw a half marathon (my ultimate goal) on the horizon. I thought I was going to make it happen. But I re-offended.

Granted, it’s been a stressful year. Probably the most stressful year of my life. I have to give myself some credit for making it through. But I’ve realized that I need to learn better coping skills. It’s one of the many lessons that I’ve learned from my struggles lately.

I thought about giving up and just accepting myself for who I am. Maybe I’m meant to be overweight. I’ve been this way for twenty years now, so maybe this is who I’m supposed to be.

But I can’t accept that.

It’s taken a lot of convincing, but I’ve realized that I don’t need to wave my white flag anymore. I don’t have to surrender. I can still accomplish my goals. Obviously this involves a bigger life lesson than I’m presently aware of. I need to see where it leads.

Change is scary. But if I don’t try, I will never know.

So here goes. Take two. Half marathon, I hope to see you in 2013.

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Ten Years Ago

If you live in the DC area, you remember where you were and what you were doing ten years ago today.

This week marks the ten year anniversary of the DC sniper shootings.

For me personally, it was one of the scarier times that I can remember. I was doing my college internship at the time, and I was working in Rockville every day. Ten years ago this morning, I remember turning on the television and hearing about a couple of shootings in the Wheaton/Aspen Hill area (about five miles away). One person was shot at a gas station while pumping gas, and another was shot while sitting on a bench outside of a store in a shopping center. My grandpa would frequent that shopping center all of the time, so once I heard I immediately called him to make sure he was okay (thankfully he was).

That day marked the beginning of a three week shooting rampage that terrified everyone in the area. People were shot and killed at random. A man mowing the grass. A woman walking out of a Home Depot store. A bus driver waiting for his shift to begin. Even a thirteen year old boy outside of his school (luckily, he survived). No one was safe.

I vividly remember people laying down in their cars while pumping gas. Everyone nervously walked from their cars to stores, looking over their shoulders, wondering if they were going to be the next target.

I felt a little bit of comfort knowing that I worked right down the street from the Montgomery County Police command center. Every day I would drive by and there would be a sea of news trucks setting up for the next press conference. Sadly, there were many press conferences considering there was a shooting almost every day. I remember feeling a sense of dread turning on the news in the morning and the evening, knowing that I would probably hear about another innocent victim who lost their life.

Three weeks later, thirteen people had been shot and killed. Fortunately, someone spotted the vehicle the suspects were driving and they were taken into custody.

I often run, walk, and take pictures at Brookside Gardens in Wheaton, MD. It’s a very peaceful park and a great place for reflection. In a serene corner of the park near a lake’s edge, there is a memorial for the victims. There are three pieces of carved stone. One lists all of the names of the victims; the others display heartfelt messages of sorrow, hope, and gratitude that describe what the community experienced during that time in October 2002.

DC sniper memorial

DC sniper memorial

DC sniper memorial

(source)

Even though it’s been ten years, it doesn’t erase the fact that life is short and your life can be taken at any moment. The people who lost their lives were doing ordinary things that are part of every day routines. It reminds me when times get tough, I still have my life and I’m thankful for that.

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Photography 101

Remember when I hinted a couple weeks ago that I was starting something new and exciting?

Well, it’s time to spill the beans!

After years of taking snapshots on auto mode, I finally decided that it was time to take my photography to the next level.

I enrolled in a digital photography class at a local college. Mark and I are taking the class together, and so far it’s awesome! Our instructor used to be the photographer for the Washington National Cathedral. His photographs are amazing, and I can’t wait to learn from someone so experienced.

I’ve always had an eye for composition, but never knew what I was doing as far as exposure goes. I won a few ribbons at the county fair, but never that coveted blue ribbon. ;)

second place photo

second place

third place photo

third place

fifth place photo

fifth place

While I’ve only been in class a few weeks now, I’ve already learned so much. I’ve been learning how to shoot in manual mode, and I can already see a difference in the quality of my photographs. I can’t wait to see how my photography improves as the semester progresses. I have a feeling this is the start of something really good!

Megan at photography class

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