Feelin' Good!!

I survived my first year as a teacher and managed to remain feeling good mentally and physically. I noticed that the overwhelming majority of the work force gets through each day on coffee and sugar. I got plenty of weird looks as I ate my staple of quinoa and kale each day for lunch. This has been the first time I have had to really balance all aspects of life in order to feel happy and I know nutrition plays a huge part in the mix. Feeling inspired and full of energy to run or surf before and after school has been the mission at hand. Drinking yerba mate’ has been a real joy for me and helped me sustain energy. I feel like drinking the leaf helps me whether I’m delivering a lesson, gardening, running, or just relaxing.



Sometimes maybe it brings too much joy, like when I hear students saying “Mister must have been drinking his special tea, he is acting crazy again.” That’s when I try to explain what it means to be feel happy and passionate but I guess that is not much different from crazy? I really like Guayaki mate’, they use the highest quality leaf, practice good business ethics, and are doing great things. Lots of cool info at:
guayaki.com

Patagonian International Marathon

When I was in high school, I declared at a family gathering that I would never have a regular job. My uncle’s response was “just wait, not only will you be well into a career but you will be listening to country music by age 25."(At the time my music of choice was loud punk) When visiting recently he remembered the day and said, "I’m impressed you held out this long , age 28." (But I’m still not into country)

Looking back, my declaration had nothing to do with angst. Really it was about not wanting to compromise my beliefs or values and I just didn't quite know how to express that at the time.

Along the way I have learned from each job I've held from being a lifeguard, baker, selling running shoes, and working in a therapeutic garden. I have always found ways to be on mountain tops, under the stars and in the ocean for extended periods of time. Now that I’m teaching high school full time it takes more effort to find the right balance but I’m living a life dedicated to passions and joys.I may be clean cut but still feel wild as ever!







I’m excited to be taking part in the 40 mile run through a place I have dreamed of visiting for so long, Torres del Paine National Park in southern Chile. Conservation is about all the small choices we make on a daily basis, sometimes convenience must be sacrificed for the greater good.



"The event,continues to support the mission of calling the world’s attention to the conservation of Chilean Patagonia and contributing to the sustainable development of the region."


September 28, 2013
Check out race information!!:

http://www.patagonianinternationalmarathon.com/marathon/

Upstream

Join us for three days of rapids, trails, and talking story on the majestic Rogue river!!


Momentum River Expeditions:
Rogue River Trail Running Trip


"Join Momentum River Expeditions and ultra runners Jenn Shelton and Billy Barnett on a 3-Day raft supported Trail Running Trip along Oregon’s Wild and Scenic Rogue River. Combine the world famous Rogue River Trail with comfortable raft supported river side camping and gourmet meals."

http://blog.momentumriverexpeditions.com/2013/03/12/rogue-trail-running-trip/

"This is what you shall do;
Love the earth and sun and the animals,
despise riches,
give alms to every one that asks,
stand up for the stupid and crazy,
devote your income and labor to others,
hate tyrants,
argue not concerning God,
have patience and indulgence toward the people,
take off your hat to nothing known or unknown or to any man or number of men,
go freely with powerful uneducated persons and with the young and with the mothers of families,
read these leaves in the open air every season of every year of your life,
re-examine all you have been told at school or church or in any book,
dismiss whatever insults your own soul,
and your very flesh shall be a great poem and have the richest fluency not only in its words
but in the silent lines of its lips and face and between the lashes of your eyes
and in every motion and joint of your body." -W.W

Exceeding

I could hear the cadence quickly approaching from behind and it was much quicker than my own rhythm. I was fading fast after running the 28 miles and 4,000ft. up from Hilo to Volcano. After running the 50k four years ago I swore I would never make the run along the highway again. This year I found myself at the start living on the edge of mystery. I felt I had something to prove to myself physically and mentally. I just wanted to see if I could complete the run and feel good. It has been seven months since I injured my head and I have been experiencing lingering effects, especially when running. It has been a long but patient road recovering. The lightheadedness, headaches, and metallic taste in my mouth are finally fading away and I have my taste and smell back! Through it all I have maintained a sense of humor, even while slogging through four mile runs while having to walk. I realized how much I took for granted, running injury free the past seven years. Over the months I have taken it easy, gradually increasing the mileage while listening to my body. Some nights I could not even start running until 10pm because the demands of teaching high school have been so great. Those surreal full moon runs along the coast into the mist of crashing waves while being completely exhausted have been the most fulfilling. Realizing that it’s all a dream, all we have is the moment. With all of that I had no expectations going into Saturday's run, just the mystery. At the start, the familiar manic excitement was there and I was off running hard into the unknown and not thinking twice about it. The miles were melting away and my only hold up was freaking out as the sun was rising by shouting Journey lyrics which caused me to become out of breath. I quickly settled into the rhythm, up and up towards Volcano. Around mile 20 I was starting to deteriorate. Then I saw the beautiful smile of Amy who was there to give me water and support. Seeing her lifted my spirits and I am so thankful she was there. Mile 28 was when the wheels completely fell off and my hamstring locked up reducing me to a lightheaded hobble. Dave Carlson and his quick cadence pulled ahead. As I hobbled along, I still held on to a glimmer of faith. “Faith is an act of freedom, of independence of our own limited faculties, whether of reason or sense-perception. It is an act of ecstasy, of rising above our own wisdom.” This was the moment I was wondering about and it was about far more than the desire to win or compete. I have been wondering if I could break free from my own self-limiting thoughts about competition. In the past I would have just let up and walked it in saying screw it who cares. The competitive side of running is just a distraction from the true joy and something I will never care about. I still enjoy participating in events for other reasons and I try not to let the structures of my mind limit my experience. Sometimes it’s hard to break out of the bullshit of our own reality and reach a greater state of being. I took a deep breath and a flood of past thoughts and moments flashed through my mind in an instant: The inspiring bleakness of night three on a solo vision fast, the exhaustion of paddling miles out into open ocean, the breathlessness of seeing Amy for the first time. I then said out loud, “there is no way in hell I am ending like this with 3 miles to go.” With that I tossed my water bottles and took off as hard as I could not easing up until I crossed the finish line. I felt like I claimed something within and don’t quite know what that something is just yet.

The Practice of Simplicity

“Oh what a catastrophe, what a maiming of love when it was made a personal, merely personal feeling, taken away from the rising and setting of the sun, and cut off from the magic connection of the solstice and equinox. This is what is the matter with us, we are bleeding at the roots, because we are cut off from the earth and sun and stars, and love is a grinning mockery, because, poor blossom, we plucked it from its stem on the tree of life, and expected it to keep on blooming in our civilized vase on the table.” - D.H. Lawrence

(Andrew Hara Photography)

Planting, Watering and Growing

Shadows are clapping to thunders rapping

While phantoms are screaming to seedlings dreaming..

Sun bells ring as the spirits sing

Climbing to the sun, this life has just begun..

Tambourine sounds of laughter fill the void well after

The scars are faded into thoughts once jaded..

Rising is this life inside

Magic rising as the circles wide..

It is true that

Love beckons while the soul never reckons

Shaking Off The Cobbwebs

It’s the tough times that make me grateful for everything I have. This past week I have been thankful just to be able to sweep my porch. The simple act of sweeping has been a morning meditation and an act of cleansing to get myself ready for the day.

Last week I was riding my skateboard down a hill and took a spill, landing on my head. Upon reluctantly going to the hospital I learned I had a fractured skull and was bleeding in my brain. I had to be air lifted to a hospital on Oahu, one of the most terrifying experiences of my life. Not knowing what would happen to me and having tubes and electrodes plugged in all over my body did not feel pleasant. Luckily the bleeding stopped and I was out of the hospital in a few days but will be out of commission for a while. Initially I was told to not do any physical activity for months but I am optimistic it will only be a few weeks. I have been relentlessly focusing on recovering, eating mostly super foods and leafy greens.

I feel like I have learned a lot about the psychology of healing and the power of positive thoughts. The hospital is no place for healing, with crappy processed food, even wearing a gown made me feel like I was not well. I wanted to be out of there immediately. After leaving, I felt so much better returning to the fertile grounds of my home under a mango tree. To me mango trees symbolize abundance, life, and growth. Salty breezes flowing in with light filtered green through the branches have been just what I need.





I have been taking heavy doses of turmeric, noni juice, and spirulina which have helped me recover quickly. I have been viewing all of this as an opportunity to practice patience and self awareness. It’s easy to think of myself as patient and aware when things are going good. Times like this really test where I am at. So far I am happy with where things are at, I accept that I will not be running or surfing for a while and that is ok. There are many other outlets to channel my inspiration and motivation.



I have always believed that being balanced in Mind, Body, and Emotion lead to happiness and health and there are plenty of things I can do in each area. I have definitely appreciated all of the support from my family and friends by checking on me. I am down but not out and will be fully back in no time!