Month: March 2012

This Black Girl is Running a Marathon!!!

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I distinctly remember when I decided I wanted to run marathons.

I attended two marathons in the span of six months while working for a political campaign. But that wasn’t when I decided I wanted to run. Nope, at that time, I thought those people were nuts to be running outside in the cold, hours before most people even roll out of bed on a Saturday morning.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always had an interest in physical fitness. I love that I can transform my body simply by exercising and eating healthy. Unfortunately, my workout consistency ebbs and flows, but whenever I’m working out consistently, I can feel myself getting in shape and jeans that normally take me three hops to get into only take one (maybe one and a half!). So, I like working out - running in particular - but I still had no interest in marathons. I assumed marathon running is for African men or for white people who wear flip flops year-round and walk in the rain without an umbrella. Continue reading →

144955-Alissa@Joe

Getting Married Despite the “What Ifs?”

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When I was in high school, I couldn’t buy a pair of shoes until I looked at every single shoe in every single store that sold shoes in the entire mall.

Why?

I was crazed by the thought that I would find a better pair of shoes at another store, or the same pair of shoes at a better price someplace else.

This, of course, made me a terrible shoe shopping partner as I would be horrified if one of my friends walked in a shoe store and bought the first pair of shoes she liked. “Don’t you want to look in any other stores?” I’d demand. She would shake her head and reply “Nope, I’m getting these.” To which I’d ask incredulously “What if you see that shoe somewhere else for cheaper?” She’d casually answer, “I’ll live. Besides, what if I don’t and these shoes are gone?” I would eventually relent and allow her to spend her own money on what ever she wanted, but I would secretly think she was nuts.

Older and wiser, I realize that saving a few bucks is not worth walking around the mall for an entire day, nor driving all over the city trying to find a better deal. I also realize how much this “What if I find something better?” mentality permeates so many other areas in life and keeps too many of us from the love that we want. It almost kept me from the marriage that I desired.

I recently got married and a friend, who is considering marriage himself, told me his biggest reservation against asking his girlfriend to marry him is the question: “What if we don’t work out?” Continue reading →