olympics

Weekly Therapy: On fear and Imposter Syndrome

- Mel

the week:
I had my first one-on-one practice counseling session with my professor this week — and it wasn’t a disaster! SUCK IT, NERVES! I started a daily reflection/reading OUT LOUD habit to keep perspective of WHY I am going to grad school at old lady age 40 (OMG my birthday is less than 3 months away, send chocolate). I ALSO started a meditation practice. I’m probably falling victim to “too much, too soon” but I am desperate to exorcise these physiological demon stress responses from my life.

I was re-listening to a podcast with sport psychologist Dr. Rob Bell, and the quote he uses near the end of the episode is SO BIG INSIDE ME right now: Some battles are worth fighting, even if you lose.

I’m not going to let fear or Imposter Syndrome win.

weekend:
Half marathon training is underway, so maybe this Saturday I’ll get my legs over to a Striders run and run some of those Drake hills. My CPR/AED certification expired, so I’ll be getting re-certified this weekend, too.

seven things, seven days:
1. Imposter syndrome, WHAT?! This article does a nice job of explaining it. {via Guardian}
2. Oooh-oooh! Probably not the fun kind of internet quiz you’re used to, but see what type of Imposter Syndrome you have!
3. One more: Feeling like a fraud {via APA}
4. And now for the Olympics! Yes, I have been watching during any allotted free time, and I am currently obsessed with watching the athletes breathe before performing. You may be looking for a triple salchow, but I am watching for evidence of energy management.
5. Life after competition ends is an inevitable:Finding new meaning after The Olympics {via The Atlantic}
6. The amazing: CHLOE KIM {via NBC}
7. And probably definitely the best thing to happen to this year’s Olympic games: Adam Rippon {via NBC}. Did you watch that short program? DEAD. (And he skated to one of my favorite dance songs.)

Weekly Therapy: A post-Olympics haze.

- Mel

the week:
I skipped last week’s update, as I was traveling to Ohio for my grandmother’s memorial service — and basically the biggest family reunion of my life. We also drove to Pittsburgh to spend a little time there (and have margaritas and my favorite burgers!). While in Pittsburgh, my former roller derby league was hosting a 10-year anniversary celebration of its league with an alumni celebration, and I was happy that I went out to be a part of that history.

Oh. This place looks familiar! ?? #lovepgh #roadtrip #timeformargaritas

A photo posted by Mel! (@melliesmel) on

Naturally, I cried a LOT last weekend — returning to Pittsburgh made me miss it a whole lot, while also realizing it would never be the same even if I eventually returned. And then I had a lot of stress at my job (including interviews!), and then my period started five days early (because haaaaaaa OF COURSE!). So I’m trying to find some balance with my emotions again.

weekend:
So much to catch up on at home (I seriously have dead plants all over the place)! But we also plan to take the bikes out on the trails, and then I have another 8-miler. I do plan to have some fun on the golf course on Sunday (after brunch, natch).

seven things, seven days:
1. Catching up with one of my uncles, I found out that he runs 4 miles every morning and is on a 400+ day run streak. It was kind of fun to have someone in my family to geek out over running with (though he is definitely more intrinsically motivated than me).
2. Flew first class for the first time, and now I can’t ever travel another way.
3. I always wondered why cars had heated seats but not cooling seats, and randomly, our rental car in Ohio had COOLING SEATS! They are weird and not at all what I expected.
4. I’m putting races on my 2017 calendar, which means WOOOOO training through winter! (It gets me sincerely so excited.)
5. The Olympics are over, and since I was traveling Sunday night, I missed the closing ceremonies. I also didn’t hear much about them. How were they?
6. So you just won a gold medal… welcome to the rest of your life! {via Washington Post}
7. The myths and realities of doing what you love. {via Lifehacker}

Weekly Therapy: Olympics Edition!

- Mel

Spurred by a (kinda depressing) article about the Olympics last week, I wanted to keep in the Olympics spirit for this week’s post.

the week:
The live Olympics stream has basically been a constant throughout the house this week. Even in the background, I find myself looking up and being completely mesmerized by all.things.sports. Especially the women.

weekend:
We’re having a movie night with friends tonight, as I do enjoy my Rest Days to the max! But I’m also excited for all of the Olympic Track & Field races to begin.

Saturday, Life Time is holding a Foam Rolling Workshop, so I naturally signed up. Hopefully, I’ll get my butt up early enough to join social run club in the morning and foam roll immediately after. I’ll be ruining all that good work by filling my maw at the Iowa State Fair with all the foods on a stick.

seven things, seven days:
1. In the spirit of the Games (and our own Iowa State Fair), we had a corn shucking contest at work. This city girl won the first round, and got 2nd in the second round. WOOT!
2. Meet Simone Biles’ sports psychology coach. {via ESPNW}
3. Why is NBC’s coverage of the Olympics SO BAD?
4. This is kinda weird.
5. Mental tricks that Olympic athletes use to perform under pressure {via Business Insider}
6. Olympics athletes stay poor {via Washington Post}
7. How about that Michael Phelps expression? Definitely best meme on the Internet right now.

Weekly Therapy: Don’t do it to be remembered; do it to be yourself.

- Mel 2 Comments

the week:
My Grandma from my mom’s side passed away this week, so that was really hard — especially because I wasn’t able to be with my family in Ohio. I’m also having a difficult time processing that I have no grandmothers left. I mean, compared to others my age, I feel so lucky that I had my grandparents in my life for as long as I did. But it’s still some heavy stuff. And well, I’m sad.

weekend:
Laying low, running in high temperatures (UGH, yesterday’s heat index was 105. ONE HUNDRED AND FIVE. I don’t live in Arizona anymore, what the heck). Tonight, we’re making a bunch of appetizers like it’s the Super Bowl and WATCHING THE OLYMPICS!!!!!!! (!!!!)

12 books in 12 months:
Quite different than my 52 books goal from last year, my 10th completed book of the year was He Wanted the Moon (courtesy of Blogging for Books). This book was unique, in that it told the story of a doctor who lost everything to his mental illness — mostly told through his own letters, discovered by his daughter years after his death. An impressive yet difficult look inside the brain of someone with what is now commonly known as manic depressive disorder. At times, it was painful to keep pace with the race of Dr. Baird’s thoughts — an uncomfortableness paired with a bit of knowing what likely comes next. It was by no means a “happy” book, so I found the content hard to read every night before bed; but over my lazy weekends, it was an enjoyable read.

seven things, seven days:
1. I got selected to be a BibRave Pro – I’m so excited about this ambassadorship and to expand my running community! More on this in a different post.
2. Oh HEY, are you a Des Moines-area blogger? Buy tickets for the Go Blog Social event at the Hotel Renovo on September 10!
3. One of my cats was hiding from the thunderstorms this week, and we couldn’t find him. He’s 17 pounds and all white. He was in the back of the kitchen pantry. Oh, Rudy.
4. Had my first round of interviews for the job I posted for (phone interview). I think I meet the minimum requirements, so here’s to the next round!
5. OOOOF. This story looks at another viewpoint of Big Goals: Can you survive the crushing feeling of seeing your Olympic dream die?
6. Can personality be changed? {via The Atlantic}
7. RATS! Running doesn’t make rats forgetful {via Science News}

Sunday Lately for this 30-Something:: Week 79

- Mel 2 Comments

Blogger Tribe_Sunday Lately Sunday Lately is a weekly linkup hosted by the Blogger Tribe (lead by Angelica, Meghan, Nicole, and Katy). Catch up and read all of my past Sunday Lately posts and camp out with the Tribe on Facebook!

The prompts for July 03 (Week 79) :: Updating, Remembering, Needing, Wearing, Being

Des Moines Arts Festival blogger
Enjoying a vodka lemonade at last weekend’s Arts Festival (in a perfect-length maxi dress that I got from StitchFix!)

Updating:: my shampoo. Random response to this prompt, but I finally consulted a hairdresser for help with my scalp. I get the worst acne — washing my hair every day isn’t helping to get rid of these painful pimples (neither was NOT washing every day). So I was recommended a product to help balance, and, hopefully, help me out with this 30-something problem.

Remembering:: Well, trying not to remember that we were supposed to be in Belize right now. While we ultimately made the correct (adult) decision to cancel the trip, my friends are still there and I’m feeling kinda bummed out about it.

Needing:: some time off, despite our trip cancellation. How convenient that I kept this week off? 🙂 I was incredibly lucky to get a job so quickly after relocating, but I still have some unfinished business from moving. Also, can you believe that we’re closing on FOUR MONTHS of living in Iowa?! I still haven’t got my new ID here yet!

Wearing:: SWEATPANTS. After having 90+ days for most of June, this weekend’s temperatures in the 60s feel like winter. I’m not mad — it’s going to be gorgeous fireworks weather. Bonus: last night, I watched FIVE DIFFERENT displays from my bedroom window. Monday is going to be so awesome.

Being:: completely obsessed with the Olympic Trials. Did you watch Michael Phelps swim last night?

A necklace fit for an Olympian… well, his sister.

- Mel

THIS statement necklace, as seen on Michael Phelps’ sister at the Olympics:

I was stupid excited to see it on TV that I shouted “I HAVE THAT!” out loud.

This large, beautiful beaded piece arrived in my last CakeStyle box and I KNEW that I had to own it (mine is the white and gold version).

I’ve seen it attributed to a few different designers, so I can’t figure out Who Made it First, but you can purchase the style in orange, white, blue, emerald and pink at, well, an online boutique called red (funny name for a jewelry boutique, no?).