For 12s Only!

This is a super cool video that showcases my hawks. Worth watching if you want to smile. Copy and paste the link to view it in your browser. Enjoy!

http://www.seahawks.com/news/articles/article-1/Russell-Wilson-Pete-Carroll-produce-trick-shot-video-with-Dude-Perfect/6dc443d8-3466-42fe-bf56-ce7986171010

The Challenge

Two weeks ago I was in my gym and a woman who worked there walked up to me and asked, "Have you accepted The Challenge?"

"What is The Challenge?" I replied back.

Then she informed me that our gym had organized a promotion to help people lose weight. She said the reason was because most people pack on the pounds during this time of year. The Challenge is designed to help stop folks from doing that and motivate them to do the opposite.  At the end of ten weeks, the person who loses the most weight, combined with body fat, wins $500. There are prizes for second and third place too.

I signed up to take The Challenge. I have about ten solid pounds that I've been wanting off my body for some time now. I thought this was a great incentive! I figured, even if I don't win the money, I will be a winner without an extra ten pounds on my body. After I signed up, she put me on the most newfangled scale I have ever seen. There were footprints that depicted where to stand, and finger marks for where I had to put my hands. Then out popped a computer print out of more information than I probably needed to know. Now I am on my honor until January, when we all have to weigh in again to determine the winners.

I am three weeks in. This is my third week of keeping track of my intake, exercise schedule, and weight, and I am delighted to report that I have lost enough weight to be on track for the ten pounds. The problem is my resolve is a little diminished. I still want to win, but I don't feel like my drive is as strong as it was in the beginning. It feels like I am slipping a little, and I am doubting that I can do it.

I figure it might be a bit like one of the Seahawks waking up this morning after a long plane flight home from Kansas City. It looked like the Hawks were back on track... until yesterday, when we lost to the Chiefs. Three weeks into a really good run, and now we are bewildered. Even worse, we entertain the negativity that causes us to doubt we have what it takes to win this thing. We notice those same old insecurities, mistakes, and injuries start to creep back into our game. We struggle a little, get caught up in the doubter's mentality, and lose sight of our goal. We lose just enough of our mental toughness to allow ourselves to slip a little.

But the truth is there are over six weeks left to forge ahead and continue this challenge, and that IS enough time to get the job done. We are not out of this. It is simply time to dig deep and bring ourselves back to that place when we believed. Time to be tough. Time to work harder. Time to prove to OURSELVES that WE are the ones to contend with.

Jersey and the Beast

Coming off of our win at home against the NY Giants, my favorite player, Marshawn Lynch rushed for a record breaking day, making 4 touchdowns, and helping to create a Seahawks franchise record of 350 rushing yards. In celebration, I  have been wearing my number 24 jersey ever since. I wanted to see how long it would take for someone to notice. I wanted to connect with someone who understood. I wanted to hear someone here in my home town acknowledge our local hero.

I knew it was a tall order, but I was hopeful. I've stated this before and I'll say it again. I live in enemy territory. I have exactly 3 other friends/fans, and that includes my husband, who will actually watch along with me. It doesn't make it easy, and I really don't feel comfortable in the jersey, but I was too proud not to. I mean, Marshawn broke records last Sunday, and I wanted to represent.

The ironic thing to me is that this all happened in game that wasn't even aired here in my hometown, nor his - a short BART ride away from me (and coincidentally the city where I was born). But I WAS there in spirit, after recently downloading the KIRO App onto my cell phone. I listened to the first half at home as I tidied up my bedroom. When the Hawks went to the locker room after the first half, I ventured out of my room. I couldn't stand it any longer. I had to get over myself and find that game on television somewhere. 

After an unfortunate experience at a local sports bar during the last game that was not broadcast in my home, and not wishing to return there, I had scouted out two places that might be good to watch the game should this happen again. One was at a nearby golf course and the other was at our gym. I opted to try the gym, because it was only a short bike ride away. I figured, if it wasn't there, I would at least get in a workout. Worst case scenario: I could still listen. So off I went, and it was SO worth it. I got to see our team take OVER in the second half, when out came the Beast Mode in all of his glory. 

I wished I was wearing my number 24 jersey, as something began to bud inside of me that made me feel brave. Brave like Marshawn. And then the jersey grew into something more to me. It meant being brave, like him. So as I proudly wore my jersey on my morning walk yesterday, I practically willed someone to talk to me about our triumph, and I felt brave to stand my ground. Then it happened. I watched as a lone jogger came running towards me, and for the very first time ever, pointed to my jersey and said with a smile, "Go Hawks."  I literally brimmed with tears of joy.