What’s another word for tired?

So I have paid for my bike to make its way to Louisville (cost more to get her there than myself…that’s some bull) and got a letter from the Race Director.  Not personalized, generic, but he had his assistant take the time to type it up, that was thoughtful.  You can say things are getting serious.  I took my relationship with training to the next level, I started uploading my Garmin data and started using Strava.  Strava is for kicks and giggles, it’s kind of to see who has the bigger balls and name your workouts funny things.  Social Media for cyclist and runners.  Don’t come at my with the Garmin uploading, yes it took me this long.  I went old school, excel baby.  It’s gotten to that point in training where I’m just really tired all the time.  This weekend I rode my first 100 miles ever and got off that saddle pretty damn proud of myself.  Superman pose style.  Cuase 100 miles isn’t hard enough lets add lightening, torrential down pour, and a pair of dogs.  Seriously though, race day someone release a pack of dogs after me, I definitely got up there in speed.  The next morning, I wanted to throw my bike off the Key Biscayne bridge…and so did my lady parts.  100 miles on the bike was followed by a half marathon the next day.  Really? Like pause for a moment and let that sink in.  I remember when I use to taper and then recover for 2-3 weeks after a half marathon.  Those were the good ol’days of peace and tranquility.  Needless to say, Monday morning I was in serious distress, and let’s not even get into the status of my hair and attire that day.

 Mother Nature making training easier

The result

I’m getting text from my mother asking me if I’m alive, my grandfather was about to put my picture on the back of a milk carton, and my sister is constantly threatening to disown me (not sure that would be so bad).

My friends are planning on these very exciting outings I have zero energy.  They wonder if I’m drunk or exhausted.  Not to mention they make fun of my tan lines.  Mostly things that require putting on clothes again and looking presentable are quick frankly just difficult.

Social and dating life…that’s cute.  I mean honestly, I can barely squeeze in doing my eyebrows and getting my nails done.  I’m starting to resemble wolverine and it’s not pretty.  Really, how can I go on a date with all that going on?  I live in a city where women put on fake eyelashes to go to the grocery store; it’s hard to be out in public like this.  If someone can share with me a 24 hour nail place, I would be forever in your good graces.

I’m hungry, I’m hangry, I want to eat anything and everything.  Sure, I’m burning thousands of calories but a doughnut or French fries still go straight to the mid-section.   So it’s a constant battle not to stick my face in every dessert that crosses my path.

I’m cranky, very very cranky.  My bed looks heavenly and it’s where I want to camp out.  So the fact that I am forced to get out of it early every morning is painful.  My road rage has reached new levels of scary but atleast I get all those words that aren’t social acceptable out of my system.  If another mom tells me “wait till you have kids, then you’ll know the meaning of tired”, I’m trading her kids for my training peaks, lets see how long she last.  My home feels like it’s a mess (lets not talk about my room).  I’m contemplating putting a sign that says “Excuse the mess, we’re training for an Ironman” at the front door to caution visitors.  But complaining aside, and I’m good at complaining, I’m almost there and still enjoying taking all this in. ~AddingMoMiles

 

 

All in a Moment

We hear a lot that we should cherish every moment, enjoy every moment, live in the moment, etc etc.  For the most part we think these moments create memories, maybe to look back and remember; this may be true. But at the same time it’s the feeling in that moment, even those awful ones we so wish we can forget, that may have the biggest impact in our lives.

There are moments that shake your very soul, you feel a change in your perspective on thoughts you lived by, on hopes that got you through the day in what can be a pretty harsh world. This may be one of the hardest to process.

There are moments you realize how deeply you love someone, that their pain becomes your own.  That moment you realize that they are no longer a friend, but family.

There are moments you realize your own strength, your ability to persist when most people would crumble.  This is a feeling you should keep with you until you’re six feet under.

There are moments you realize how much you truly love your significant other, and it’s usually not this grand exhibition of romance, but when they moon you from the kitchen or listen to Frank Sinatra.

There are moments that change the way you see a person.  At times it’s for the better (this is rare).  Other times, you feel the stab in the back…or worse the heart.  There are few feelings worse than losing respect for someone you cherished. This may sting the most.

There are moments in life where you take a deep breath and think life is pretty f’ing good.  That feeling deserves a good drink and an even better song.

There are moments that you feel a punch in the gut, nauseated and wish at that moment the Earth would open up and swallow you whole.  It’s the time you should refer back to a moment of perseverance.

There are moments of such anger you feel your blood is boiling.  Stop what you’re doing, put the phone down, walk away…words said in anger can never be taken back.  They can be forgiven but never forgotten.

There are moments you are wrong, do wrong, or temporarily become another person. You feel pretty shitty, for lack of a better word.  We are human, ask for forgiveness and forgive yourself. The rest is left up to time.

There are moments you feel overwhelming happiness, you can’t help but do a little dance.  Treasure it, it makes it all worthwhile.

There are moments you meet someone you feel will change your life, sometimes it is nothing more than a mutual love for pizza or for boys that love bikes.

There are moments you feel a sense of clarity, what you’re supposed to do in a given moment, what your next move is.  It may even come on the corner of a street, in the middle of your run.

It’s not always the actual moments that shape us into who we are or change us, but the feelings at that moment.  ~Adding Mo Miles

 

Countdown Begins

 

61 day till Louisville!!! #@%&!!! Now that I have that off my chest…can you tell I’m a little excited. Yes, excited! Surprisingly not nervous, scared or curled up in the fetal position in a corner. I thought at this point in training I would have had some kind of breakdown or sending this race to hell but I’m not. I can honestly say it isn’t going too bad. I would love to bask in the glory that is sleeping in some Sundays and not come close to running a half marathon on a Thursday night that leaves me comatose but in general I’m staying pretty calm and collected. This kind of worries me cause calm and collected isn’t really my thing. I may be making this up, but I’m going to say I feel like I’m finally mentally there; lets light some candles this last until race day.

Life out by Robert’s in Homestead

I think it’s seeing the results that have me in this I will survive moment.  After a lot of frustration, some anger, and a few temper tantrums, my bike is where I want it to be. I’m hitting averages that I have never hit before. They say it’s the borrowed 404’s, I’m saying it’s all my big ol’legs. I’m well on my way to my goal time for the bike in the race. My goal is to cross the finish line but I got a few times in my head to keep me a little motivated on race day. No, I won’t be sharing them. I am genuinely enjoying being on the bike. Maybe not always 5 hours, but I don’t look at it like homework. I was constantly thinking and over analyzing when I would go out on the bike. What if I start to hard and blow up my legs, I don’t like being in the group cause it’s absolute madness sometimes, am I drinking enough water? Screw that. Now I’m getting on that bike, getting all up in the group, pushing myself and it’s a damn good time. If my legs blow up, I just pedal myself back at whatever speed they can go. Obviously this isn’t my race day strategy, but it’s getting me the strength, speed and mental willpower I’m going to need because when you’re 3:30 hours in, you’re legs screaming mercy, and you’re still out there in the middle of homestead, you have no choice but to make it back. My run, doesn’t get a whole soliloquy like my bike (no surprise) but I’m getting thru them. We don’t always see eye to eye but I don’t dread them anymore (progress).

Seriously

There are few things one fears when training more than injury. This past weekend the back of my knee really started to hurt, turns out it’s my calf. So much that I had to take Sunday off. I did bask in the glory that is sleeping in Sunday morning, but it was bittersweet. I wanted to train; I don’t want to put my progress on pause.   But better a few days than a few weeks. I am worried, moments of panic as I limped back to my car when it started to hurt again on yesterday’s run but I’m icing, rolling, and going straight to therapy before it gets any worse. Ain’t no one got time for this ~ Adding Mo Miles

Hello 28

 

I’m turning 28!! I’m still processing the fact that I graduated highschool 10 years ago, but you know what, I still fit into my prom dress so it’s kind of ok. It may sound weird, but I’m enjoying growing older. Early twenties were filled with doubt, awkward moments, and completely self involved. I like where I am at this point in my life, worked hard to get here. I remember birthday celebrations consisted of two week long celebrations, 7 new outfits, an itinerary of events, lots of alcohol and some serious hip hop video dance moves. This year, there may still be small amount of alcohol, but it’s mostly to numb the pain of my birthday weekend training schedule. One thing doesn’t change, getting together to celebrate with my favorites.

Yes, I am still training this weekend. I’m gonna be wildin’ out on my bike poppin’ bottles of Heed.  Why wouldn’t I do something I love to do on my birthday? I mean, secretly I’m wishing it was a little shorter; a 3:45 brick…Happy Birthday MO!! I can’t think of a time in the last 4 years that a birthday has stopped me from working out and that’s not changing this year. This birthday is a little bit special cause it comes with a new job. I’m pretty much starting an entire new chapter and it is exactly what I wanted and needed; a clean slate. I made myself a promise in April that I would not be where I was at that moment when I was blowing out my candles and I accomplished just that. And the plus side, my training has improved! (pause for dance) Mostly where I am mentally, but I can definitely feel myself more focused. Not that I have much leeway, less than three months left!!! (crap)

So what do I want in my 28^th year of my so called life? Lets start with becoming an Ironman. Duh.  Fun, I want this year to be about joy, good times, laughing hard again and just living in the moment (while slightly keeping an eye on my future goals). Unpausing my career and focusing on that new position (on that grind).  Visit somewhere I have yet to go (and Louisville, Kentucky doesn’t count). A PR baby, common I wouldn’t be an athlete if that wasn’t in there. A pull-up! For the love of god I will get a pull-up! Go back to enjoying the little things the way I use to, I felt like my life was on pause. So here’s to a weekend of guiltless large amounts of cake, maybe a cheeseburger, my peeps, and blowing out 28 candles ~ Adding Mo Miles

 

#TRAININGPROBLEMS

I sat in my car this morning and realized that there’s a stench of the jungle. I walked into my room and there is workout clothes, both clean and dirty hanging throughout my room. I open my dishwasher and it’s mostly water bottles and shakers. Not only training for an Ironman, but training period comes with some interesting life changing #fitpeopleproblems you just have to learn to accept. There’s no point in fighting it, it just increases frustration. It’s not only #fitpeopleproblems, it’s #triathleteproblems, #cyclistproblems, #fitgirlproblems, #runnersproblems, you name it…fit people got 99 problems and sometimes a bitch is one. (#haters)

#trainingproblems – your beach towels become towels to cover your car seat from your dripping sweat. God forbid you forget one, cause the next time you sit in the chair, it’s still wet.

#trainingproblems – 80% of your laundry pile is workout clothes. I know those that workout regularly have enough to last like 2-3 weeks but I don’t recommend waiting more than a week cause a nice little stench starts to creep out of your hamper.

#cyclingproblems – I can get up, go out, and ride for hours. But the thought of getting out of bed for the indoor trainer is just too much to bare.

#runnerproblems – No those aren’t calluses on my feet, those are blisters that got blisters on them…and yes I must smear Vaseline all over my feet.

#fitgirlsproblems – I may have calluses on my hands sometimes cause a girls gotta get her lifting in.

#cyclistproblems – Finding a clean and decent way to blow your nose on the bike. Snot rockets may work for men, but they aren’t exactly attractive for a lady. But to be honest, by hour 4, you could care less about being a lady.

#trainingproblems – I have shoes for long runs, races, short runs, cross training, leg day. Yes I need that many running shoes.

#triathleteproblems – I have 5 different colors. I have tan lines from my cycling jersey, my tri top, my racer back, cycling shorts (they all have different lengths), my gloves, my socks, and even my Road ID bracelet. I am a zebra of tan lines. They’re my racing stripes and on most days I wear them with pride.

#trainingproblems – Supplements and recovery. I may need to start selling myself on a street corner to afford recovery, glutamine, whey, powdered substances, electrolytes and my eating habits in general. I spent years avoiding salt, now I am paying for salt filled pills. Ironic.

#cyclingproblems – #dead after a 5 hour ride and your just staring at your filthy bike hoping it somehow cleans itself. Common telepathy.

#trainingproblems – Always assume I’m sore and/or tired.

#triathleteproblems – Compression socks are sexy, don’t try to change our minds.

#fitgirlproblems – I swim, bike, run, and strength train… no, I can’t change my schedule cause you want me to go to dinner at 10pm, meet for coffee during the time you know I go for a run, or talk until 1am cause my alarm is set for 5:20am.

#cyclingproblems – Putting all the gunk on your junk only to open the door and realize it’s pouring rain #fail.

#cyclingproblems – When someone in a meeting points out your chain ring tattoo from your morning ride. Yes I showered but I was running to get to this ridiculous meeting on time and didn’t notice it. It requires serious scrubbing…you wouldn’t understand non cycling mortal.

#fitpeopleproblems – No I don’t want a cupcake, no really I don’t want the cupcake, no I’m not on a diet I just don’t want the cupcake. Would you leave me the hell alone I don’t want your stupid cupcake!!!! Secretly, I want to dive face first into the delicious, icing of the cupcake.

I’m about that life. ~ Adding Mo Miles

To Mom and Dad.

With Mother’s Day in two days and my dad’s birthday yesterday it got me thinking of how much I appreciate what they’ve done for me and what they’ve given me. My parents and I have never seen eye to eye. They are religious, traditional, and conservative…I am quite the opposite. My parents are not perfect, they’ve hurt me (and I them), and I don’t think they always know what’s best for me. They’re human but god knows they tried their best to give me everything and I will be eternally grateful. I can never say that my parents and I had this great relationship. It took years after I left the religion to build something genuine with them now, but that doesn’t mean I am not thankful for so much.

Thank you for teaching me to be independent. I know how to manage my money, do my laundry, cook a full meal and manage my life because you taught me this. I can build and care for a home. My mom still claims I don’t know how to clean.

I know what I want and don’t want from a relationship and a marriage. I now know what it takes to get thru the worse moments, I know when to tough it out and when to throw in the towel and say enough is enough.   My dad has always told me to learn from others mistakes so you don’t make them. I’ve learned the importance of communication and how I want to communicate with my significant other, never belittle them.

Thank you for letting me run around barefoot, climb fences, play football, spend my days fishing on a boat, and just be me. Mom, I’m still upset you took away my toy cars. Thank you for not making me wear pants at home and letting me roam in my underwear. You just let me be a kid. It is always hard to explain to others how great my childhood was.  Some people just won’t understand, they wore shoes.

Dad, thank you for engraining in me the importance of an education, a career, savings, and building a life before I start a family of my own. You taught me it was ok to put these things first regardless of what tradition told me. Mom, sorry, he won.

Thank you for not solving all my problems and not doing everything for me. You prepared me for reality. Thank you for your tough love, never sugar coating, and always being honest. “Life is full of disappointments” is my fathers favorite line. But thank you for being there when I really did need you. It’s like you knew when I got myself in over my head. Thank you for letting me make my own mistakes and not judging me and always managing a good “I told you so!”

I know I have disappointed them, I did not choose the life they wanted for me, and I gave them a lot of grey hair. I, apparently was a “wild” child. But their support has never changed. Even as angry as my mother was with me, she still helped me move into my first apartment.  Mostly she sat on a box in my empty living room with her hand crossed saying my place was old. My mother is crazy and my dad is Rosa stubborn, we still fight, disagree, and I constantly make decisions they’re not happy with but that doesn’t mean I don’t appreciate them, love them any less and don’t listen to your advice. Looking back, the words thank you don’t seem like enough, but thank you.  Thank you for driving me crazy sometimes, I know you’re returning the favor. ~ Adding Mo Miles

Piece of Cake

I would like a piece of cake right now, but that isn’t what this post is about. “This week is meant to break you” words from my very dear friend trying to calm me down on the phone Thursday. I apparently was alborotada (in an uproar is the Google translation). I had spent most of the week with a half-cold. It’s when you don’t feel 100% but it’s not a full blown cold. I attribute it to lots of training and a germ infestation in the office. This was hard for me to deal with because it was suppose to be a build week. I wasn’t ready to be out of commission recovering. So come Thursday, time for a long run and I had a Mo moment. Called it a day an hour in and left infuriated with myself and running. I couldn’t hit the pace I wanted, my knees hurt, my stomach was bothering me, I was just pissed. After about a 10 minute call, rational words (surprise, surprise, I was being irrational), and some calm words of motivation, I was better. I was still very frustrated, but tomorrow would be another day.

(Thank you Ryan)

The weekend was approaching and we were putting in some hours. I knew it would happen, but it was still kind of daunting that I was almost late for a 3pm appointment from training that I started at 7am and that I was having breakfast at 1:30pm, it’s become tradition, breakfast after training ❤ . So we set off on our 4:30 ride, in a nice little cloudy drizzle. About an hour in we were layered with street gunk and dirt. Kind of made you feel like a bad ass and really gross all at same the time. The last 4+ hour ride I did, the last hour was painful and my speed was a little embarrassing. This time, I felt strong, kept pace above my race goal, and wasn’t desperate to get off the bike. We finished covered in dirt, smelling like wet dog, and feeling pretty good about ourselves. A big breakfast, compression socks, a burger for dinner, and some quality couch time and I was feeling good for Sunday.

Wind, wind, and more wind. It’s the story of living in Miami and that’s exactly what we got on Sunday. The ride is usually easy for me on bricks because my focus on Sundays is getting through the run.  I’d been having trouble reaching 1:30 on the run and I was suppose to run longer than I’ve ran to date in Ironman training, and the longest I’ve ever ran on a brick, 1:45. So I set out with the usual, looking at my pace, focusing on my speed and by the time I hit the Key Biscayne bridge I knew I wasn’t going to make it thru this run focusing on pace. This time I focused on keeping my mind strong and my spirits high. So I stopped looking at my watch and just ran, from water fountain to water fountain. I even started smiling at anyone who made eye contact, some smiled back, and some looked at me like I was a serial killer. I don’t exactly smile when I run…ever. I played some serious jedi mind tricks. High fiving friends I saw along the way (yea we’re cute like that). Checked out all the bikes (ok and maybe some cyclist), designed my own road bike in my head, chit chatted with strangers. If there’s any time to talk to a stranger it’s on a run.  Tried to make friends with the homeless man that guards a water fountain, he wasn’t a fan. Breaking the run down in 30 minute intervals, cause in my head I can run 30 minutes. My feet started to hurt and my muscles started to cramp, but seeing that I had made it comfortably to an hour and half, I was getting those last 15 minutes in.  It hurt but a weekend that was meant to break me, didn’t (that’s what’s up!). I was proud of us. So on the next week. Piece of cake no? ~ Adding Mo Miles

What If

So I got a question the other day, “what if you can’t finish the Ironman?” The first thought in my head was, thanks for the vote of confidence guy.  My second thought, not possible. My third thought, I’ve asked myself that a few times.  My fourth, I sign up for another one and another one and another one until I do. So my inner badass would say it is not an option, not finishing is not possible. I will make it to that finish line crawling if necessary. But I also have to face the reality that it is a possibility. It’s a long, hot race and many things can go wrong.

So hypothetically speaking (cause it won’t happen), what if? There will be tears (a lot), disappointment, and a whole lot of anger. There will also be a new found determination because you could bet your ass I will be researching the next Ironman to sign up for from my hotel that night. But I also look at what preparing for this race has given me, regardless of whether I cross the finish line. It’s given me confidence as an athlete, in my ability to push thru in moments where I would have usually stopped, given up. It’s given me back something I lost for the sport. It came to a point last year where I wanted to sell my bike and I just wasn’t enjoying it. Lately, I’m tracking my workouts, preparing to really start using my power meter, uploading my Garmin info (yes that’s a huge step) and really itching to sign up for a race. Preparing for this race is helping me through other aspects of my life, some difficult moments. So the constant support I receive in my training is a support for other things also. Kind of weird how that works, people don’t really know how far their support goes for an athlete. So if anything, the experience of preparing for this race is something I can look back on fondly. It has been great so far and I know it will continue.  So if the race doesn’t go as planned, I have to look at what I gained to get there…and the fact that I got to eat a lot more without feeling guilty. 🙂

All I can do is prepare and train.  I like to think I’m training smart, building, and getting stronger. Whatever happens on race day happens on race day but I know I am going ready. But I will tell you this, they’ll have to drag me out on a stretcher before I get off that course. I will cross Ironman off my bucket list. ~ Adding Mo Miles

 

 

Ponle Cabeza

So I am currently a little beat up. Muscles hurt, legs heavy, swollen, sleep walking and I’m starting to discover bruises where I never thought I could bruise. None other than the result All4Cycling Camp. This weekend we packed up our kits, helmets, bonk breakers, some chamois cream and caravanned our way up to Clermont, FL. It’s the only place in Florida where we have rolling hills, the fun street of Buckhill, and the infamous (now conquered) Sugarloaf Mountain. We left Thursday night and came back Sunday. Yes, we took a vacation day to go suffer. We have issues like that. I’ve been to Clermont before, I’ve strolled thru Buckhill once and made my way up Sugarloaf but this time was different. This was a trip with 15 hours of scheduled riding. I’m not going to lie, I was downright scared. Not only that, but I was heading up with what I like to call seasoned riders and some seriously strong cyclist.

Let me introduce you to Sugarloaf:

Day one I kept up for a good amount until we hit about three hours and then people kind of started to get smaller and smaller as I fell back. I was a little proud that I wasn’t the first on the van but I did end up there about 3 miles away from the hotel. I was angry, frustrated and just broke, for the last few miles every turn was a climb, I just felt like I had nothing else left. Who put the hotel on the top of a hill? I’m sure this was on purpose. I realized after this ride how grueling the course is going to be. As I shampooed the hours of sweat out of my hair, I genuinely started to worry about the race. Regardless of how disappointed I was in myself for getting on the van, I got great encouragement for what I was able to do. I would not get frustrated with myself the next day (I did).

I started Day 2 with the goal of riding longer than I did the day before, 5 hours. But it was the ride I realized exactly what I can do and how much I can push myself. It wasn’t all about the time and distance but the amount of support I received this ride, it’s beyond words. Pulling while going up two hills and hearing a group of 16 people or so root you on to make sure you made it all the way to the top. To have someone coaching you thru the climbs, pushing you (literally someone pushed me up the last climbs), telling you it’s mental (ponle cabeza became the theme), how proud they were to see you fight thru the pain, to hear them calling your name up ahead to make sure you get there, and just have a group who wanted to see you make it thru the end of the ride as much as you did.  Regardless of my attitude, I got a little cranky and boy did I bitch, they were pushing me. They know what I’m capable of more than I do most of the time. For those that were there reading this, thank you…thank you for everything.

 

Unfortunately by the third day I couldn’t handle the saddle, there wasn’t enough A&D in the world, but I got dressed and rode as long as I could. I finished the weekend with almost 13 hours and about 200 miles of cycling (gotta check the Garmin). Never in my life did I think I was capable of that. The weekend was full of laughs (ab workouts), pain, sweat, wind, rain, hills on hills on hills, adventures, good food and better friends. It was grueling, it was mentally challenging, but if anything I left Clermont a stronger athlete and ready to keep training. ~ Adding Mo Miles

Two Cents

A lot of people seem to love to giving their two cents and for the most part no one really cares for their spare change. Yes, pun intended. I can count the people on my hands whose opinion and advice I actually appreciate and take into consideration. They aren’t trying to change what I want to what they perceive I should be doing. Plus, they usually have this keen sense on when I want advice and when I don’t. So here’s my honest answer on a lot of the “cents” I’ve received lately, without asking for it.

Most comments or “advice” revolve around my training, how I balance it, my relationship status, lack of husband or future child. I can honestly say growing up my goal in life was never to get married, buy a house, and have 2.5 children. Everyone has their own goals. If that’s what you want, I’m supporting it. My goal was to create a life that I was genuinely satisfied with, become a good strong woman on my own. Build a life I was happy with; enjoy the process of doing this and when the time was right that relationship, the marriage, and the home would come. I never set an age for this or a determined time because I don’t think you can; it will come at the right time.

I’m training too much. Well, it’s the same amount of hours you sit on the couch, playing video games, or doing whatever else you fancy. People feel the need to impose their way of living on others. In general, I don’t tell you go wake up and train at 5:30am if it isn’t what you enjoy. I will tell you this; a little exercise goes a long way.

You don’t go out enough, you need to get out more, and you aren’t going to meet new people. In general, people suck, so I don’t feel the need to meet new ones. I go out every day with my friends, its called training. We talk about our lives, we tell jokes, and we laugh. Isn’t this what you do when you go out with friends? We even have a few drinks, protein shakes, recovery, and the occasional mimosa to celebrate a good training. Why would I give up doing something I love, to do something I occasionally enjoy. But thank you for your concern with my social life.

You can’t be friends with your ex. I think you’re wrong, but what do I know. If there was a close friendship before the relationship, that doesn’t mean that aspect needs to end because the relationship didn’t work. It is one of my most cherished friendships and I don’t feel that it should be thrown away. Real, sincere, and honest friendships are hard to come by, they mean so much to me. It may take me longer to move on, yes but I’m in no hurry.  To me the hardest part of the end of a relationship is the loss of a friend. It beats being filled with anger, hate, and sadness. Forgiveness and move forward.

I sit and wonder what makes others have the need to dictate others lives. Everyone has their own chosen path and we may not agree with it but we should respect it. What religion or societal norms say I should do with my life is not important to me. It’s the kind of person I am and surrounded by that are. As the girls say, haters gonna hate. ~AddingMoMiles