It's been a long time...

we shouldn't have left you without a dope beat to step to, step to, step to....

Sorry...I was channeling a little Aaliyah featuring Timbaland there for a moment. For anyone who doesn't recongize it, that is the beginning of the song 'Try Again' from the Romeo Must Die soundtrack. I am a huge nerd who loves her Aaliyah (yet another artist that died way too young). But now that I started singing the song in my head, I realized how applicable the song has been in my life. The chorus goes, "If at first you don't succeed, you can dust it off and try again, just dust yourself off and try again." How true is that?

I like to consider myself somewhat successful. Most everything I have put my mind to in life has turned out the way I planned. I graduated high school, then college, I passed my F.E. and P.E. exams the first time. I am now a licensed professional engineer.

Then, after working my engineering desk job for two years, I had successfully put on nearly 30 pounds. Enough was enough and over the next year, I successfully took it all off and have maintained this weight for over two years now. In fact, I put my mind to losing the last 10 pounds I wanted to reach my goal and I have taken off 2.5 pounds in the past few weeks. My weight loss was not a linear path. I have had setbacks and weeks on end where I plateaued and thought I would never get past. But I would give myself a bit of a break, then dust myself off and try again and because of that, I am where I am today. I honestly feel stronger and healthier than I ever have in my life.

I've never been overly athletic. I just don't like how nasty people get when they start to compete. I like to have fun. So this past year, when a group of friends mentioned joining a co-ed recreational softball league I was a little hesitant. In fact, I agreed to play only if I was a sub. I missed the first game of the season due to work, but started going game 2 and have only missed one game due to a rolled ankle since then. I'm still not overly athletic, but I have greatly improved over the season by practicing at throwing, catching, and batting. I am proud to say that I have not struck out once this season. I have either been walked or I hit it! I have missed a play or two, but overall, I have gotten over my fear of getting hit by the ball and, in fact, will put myself in the path to make the play even if it means a bruise. I have to admit, part of my fear in the beginning was probably fear of performing badly. Nobody likes to feel like a failure. But I swallowed my pride and have been rewarded greatly for doing so.

I guess this random post after a long absence from posting is just to say that life is good. I have my ups and downs like everyone, but I just keep dusting myself off and trying again.