New Year’s Resolutions

Posted byDenysePosted inbucket-list, DALMAC, Happy Little 5K, Physical challenge, resolutions

Honestly, I don’t like making resolutions. It’s too easy to get caught up in the idea that I have to change something I’m doing and report it, then when I fail to do whatever it is for even one day, that resolution is broken. So why write this then? I’m heading into the last quarter of my 29th year for the 28th time. Shortly I’ll be staring down another decade and it’s time.

For the coming year I do want to knock a couple of things off my bucket-list. They’re not huge, just some things I’ve wanted to do for a long time, but didn’t allow myself for whatever reason. They’re things I want to do before the next joint replacement in other words.

The first thing on my list is to participate in a 5K. I’m beyond caring whether or not I win any races; I just want to participate. There are a couple of obstacles to overcome in the challenge – the first of which is my artificial knee. Last year in April I had my right knee replaced, setting me up for some limitations as far as running. A bigger challenge for me is the willingness to move beyond my own fear. Those “what ifs” tend to creep into the recesses of my mind when I’m not looking and include things like what if I look like a fool? In answer to that, I have a friend who continues to ask – “what’s the worst that could happen?” Nobody ever died from looking foolish.

My daughter told me about an upcoming 5K that we can both participate in, that isn’t one of those organized events where hundreds of people line up with numbers, a starting point and take off at the sound of pistol-fire. It’s called “The Happy Little 5K,” and is open to anyone – including those of us who haven’t run in a while. The race is one of those run at your own pace events, and rather than trying to keep up with a pack of people who run marathons, I can walk, run or even hike the 5K over the course of 10 days. It’s completely doable, and would give me the chance to tick this one off my list.

Next on my bucket-list is to ride in one of Michigan’s preeminent bicycle classics the DALMAC (Dick Allen Lansing to MACkinaw) ride. It’s been on my list for years, and for this reason or that, I’ve gotten to the starting gate (registration) and shut it. I have gone so far as to try and get my kids and my husband to join me but have decided, this year, I will go it alone if necessary. Relying on someone else to go along has me putting my bucket-list on someone else’s shoulders. I don’t want to go alone, but I know if I keep putting it off until I have a companion, I won’t go. This year I’m going.

In order to think about riding the DALMAC there are a few things to consider, primarily conditioning. I once spoke with a rider who said to prepare for the five-day event training means riding at least four times as many miles over the course of the intervening months. At that time there were a couple of routes coursing across the state, the shortest of which was about 300 miles. I’d be selling myself short if I decided that the West Michigan Route (338 miles) was too difficult and hilly to attempt. I’d miss out on the Lake Michigan shoreline and tunnel of trees for the shorter, more familiar Sunrise Side (284 miles) route, up the coast of Lake Huron. My plan is to prep for the west route. It will be killer on my knees, but if I make it, all the better for me.

There it is – two of my bucket-list items to tick off this year. There are a few other things on that list, too, but not-to-worry, I won’t be jumping out of an airplane. My list is pretty tame. I want to travel to a few special places, but these physical things mean more. In light of my age – 29x(almost)2, and after the damage I did by carrying 100 extra pounds for too many of those, these challenges are for me to get through and say despite myself, I did them.

What are your thoughts? What are the things on your list you want to accomplish to say you’re an over comer?

Published by Denyse

As a writer, my passion is interviewing people and telling stories. For the past few decades, I've had the opportunity to do just that across a variety of media. Beginning in print journalism, I worked as a contract beat reporter for several years, later getting a Master of Arts in Journalism. I picked up magazine work as a freelancer, writing for a couple of lifestyles magazines, and even joining a graphic artist friend to publish our own city magazine. With the evolution of newspapers into the digital world, I headed back to school again, picking up a technical diploma in Digital Media Arts. There, I learned audio and video editing, content creation, blogging, and picked up part-time work in a couple of radio stations as a reporter and content producer. Later, I moved into television news, where I handled the news assignment desk. Writing is and always will be my first love. I continue writing features, interviewing people living their best lives, and telling the stories of those who trust them to me. I am a mom, a grandmother, and am blessed in marriage and life. My husband and I spend time on the water in the summer on our sailboat, and when I can, I am outside in nature on my bike, or walking my dog. I also think dirt therapy is the best kind, and will usually have my hands full with weeding and tending my flower beds.

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