#38 reflecting

The same week I turned 38 years old, I have completed my first half-marathon. I am still surprised at this event myself. As I have sent letters to old friends & family trying to raise money for the Leukemia Society, there is one phrase that keeps coming up- “You mean KIM is trying to run a marathon? You mean Kim is trying to do triathlons? This isn’t the same Kim I remember.” (I'm part of the Team in Training for the Leukemia Society, where I have committed to raise $2000 for Leukemia Society before I run the marathon the last weekend in April. This happens to cut into my quilt show in Paducah, my most cherished week of the year, but for the Leukemia Society it is worth the sacrifice. You can see my webpage at www.active.com/donate/tnttn/kimgawrys)

Anyway- that's off track of my reflection. . . and the note I wanted my kids to have.

As I am reflecting back (I’m sure the upcoming 20th class reunion has been a part of this reflection), I realize how much I didn’t turn out how I expected.

I have such a wonderful life- I did expect & hope to have a wonderful life, I just didn’t think it would ever be this good. I know without any bit of hesitation I am at this place in life because of the man I chose to marry. I married Steve only 16 years ago, and I know we have lots of years to still be married. I am not trying to say when I married Steve and everything fell into place, we have had to work very hard at our marriage and raising our kids. We will always have to work hard at both those things. Now, we haven’t always been the best we could be to each other, and we’ve hurt each other’s feelings at times. We have learned to say we are sorry, and we have learned to forgive each other. We have learned to live with each other’s annoying little habits (I could add some smarty-pants line here but will refrain). We have learned what space we each need, and how far to push before we cross that ‘line’. I hope each of my children will be so fortunate to have these traits with their spouse. These are just a few of the items that I needed to note before I explain the rest.

The reason I mention my life is so much better than I expected- and this because of Steve, is because- he believes in me. He has such faith in me. He sees me on higher ground than I see myself. Not just spiritually, but physically. I guess as I have heard the comments of shock & surprise about me doing the marathon this April and the Ironman this November, I realize how my image was never one to be confused by that of an athlete. I am not trying to imply people don’t change their image, or try new adventures and such; I am just saying we sometime keep people in only one ‘image’. I think of how far Steve has come with this running and triathlon sport, and I see all the people he’s gotten involved and started on this same path, and this speaks volumes of his enthusiasm and leadership. I realized having Steve as my husband and friend is the greatest blessing of my life. He wants me to share in his joys, and he wants me to have great joy in whatever I desire. I cannot stress the value of having someone think you are capable of accomplishing something, when you yourself may even have doubt. Steve motivates me, he encourages me, and he hopes for me, he helps me see myself reaching my goals, and not just with the marathon or Ironman, an all areas of my life- even my passion of quilting.

I pray that each of you will find someone who treats you with as much respect and love. Someone like Steve who push you to be better than you are, without making you feel bad for whom you are. One of my favorite quotes is

“Hell is when the person you are meets the person you could have been”. Steve has helped me become the person I should be. I just had to make this declaration to my kids, so when you reflect on us, you will know one of the key reason we are so happy. Steve is selfless, and finds his happiness in me being happy. I am the luckiest girl in the world!