Big Spring Clean

The past few years of my life have never had a dull moment, and the same can especially be said for the past 9 months -- yes, it has been almost 9 months since The Hubs popped the question (almost 6 that we've been married!), and since getting engaged, I've also planned a wedding, prepared my house to sell, gotten married, opted to rent my house, moved out, got the house ready for a renter, fixed up Mike's house, maintained some semblance of a social life, family life, and a workout routine -- and oh yeah, also worked a 40+ hour workweek in a high pressure department within a Fortune 50 company.

I'm not gonna lie -- the thing that probably took the biggest toll was my job.  Right around the same time we got engaged, my role at work also changed significantly, and we started going through a bunch of organizational changes, including the departure of both my boss and of the director of my department, both of whom I absolutely adored.

From there -- well, I've been with Target for just under a year and a half, and I've had 5 bosses.  So I'll let you do the math on that one. 

I am one who adjusts well to change, but at the same time, I wilt without strong leadership.

(I was wilting.  Big time.) 

...until about 2 months ago when, as a result of MORE changes happening, I started reporting to a woman who had been with Target for over ten years.  And then, under her guidance, experience, and leadership, I began to flourish again.

But it is during the hardest times that you are forced to take a long look at yourself and prioritize -- and believe me, there were times when I almost turned tail and ran away -- I have a great resume and a husband who would have supported ANY decision I made, so the temptation to bail was often extremely tempting.  

I was in a bit of a fix, and I just didn't wanna fix it.  

I was just so... tired.

But then, the new boss helped me to do better -- to BE better.  And the frank guidance of a trusted friend and co-worker ("Quit?  Oh no honey.  That's not what girls like us do."), coupled with my own sense of needing to "right the ship" kicked in, and I was re-engaged, re-invigorated, re-committed, and renewed.

And starting tomorrow, I'm re-assigned.

I've been interviewing for a new position within Target for the past few weeks, and I found out last Friday that I got the job.  I start tomorrow -- I'm working again in an industry I love -- digital signage / in-store media -- focusing once again on an in-store television network.  I know a lot of the players in the industry from my time with PRN / BBY, and I absolutely cannot wait to get back into a role where I truly feel like I know what I'm talking about. I'm excited to start anew; to dive in head-first and really make an impact.

What does all this have to do with my running blog, you ask?  Well first of all, it isn't easy to admit when you're totally screwed up -- so "spring cleaning," in this case, means coming clean about my own mistakes - not only in regards to work, but wellness.  For the past month, my food, exercise, and drink choices have been... uh, less than stellar.  Usually if I have the presence of mind to THINK about my actions, I can swap a good workout for any other coping mechanism (eating, drinking, shopping, sloth), with obviously better results - but in the past month of stress, presence of mind was not really there.

That ends today. 

With a(nother) new job comes another sense of starting over -- new habits, new routines, and new choices.  Today, after two amazing nights of perfect windows-open-sleeping-and-snuggling weather, and a 2 hour nap this afternoon*, I feel like a new woman. 

A sense of calm has taken over.

I got up this morning and went to the grocery store as usual -- but this time only spent $50.  I'd overbought on protein sources last week and frozen them, so all I needed was produce, dairy, and a few ingredients.  I spent some time prepping meals** for the next few nights -- one of which we just enjoyed*** -- took a walk, took a nap, and took the time to actually think about my plan for the week - where I can fit in exercise, and where things will have to give.  I journaled my meals today, for the first time in weeks, and passed on a diet soda with lunch, sticking ONLY to crystal clear water all day long.

There's always a sense of renewal each spring - in Minnesota, we've been blessed with an early spring after an unusually warm winter.  I'm going to take that as a symbol that my personal renewal should also kick in early.

And just like that - I'm back on track. 

Prepped dinners.  Pre-planned lunches.  Journaled choices.  3 workouts minimum this week.

OH, and perhaps a Labor Day 10k****.

Off and running,
Jessica

*I never take naps, so this is sort of an amazing occurrence.

**Pot roast tomorrow in the crock pot.  Bowling (leftovers) on Tuesday. Brown sugar & garlic glazed chicken breasts on Wednesday. Shrimp stir fry on Thursday. Panko crusted walleye and baked onion rings on Friday

***Honey & Sauce sauce glazed pork chops -- very simple - marinate some bone-in pork chops in a mixture of soy sauce, honey, garlic, and scallions for a few hours.  Sear on HIGH heat for 1 minute per side, then reduce heat, cover, add the rest of the marinate, and cook for 10-15 minutes.  Delicious.

****Purely an IDEA at this point... but with calendar-quality firemen handing out champagne at the finish, how could I resist?  Hell, that's enough to maybe even run the full 26.2.