Support Systems

This meme came across my feed recently. It's message has been rattling around my head the past week and I've really been reflecting on the meaning as it applies to my life. I am so blessed to have such a supportive system around me.

This to me boiled down to these questions:  Who takes care of you?  Who do you allow into your life? How do you let them help you?

For me the answer fell into many buckets:

My family: I am blessed with an amazing family. My wife and I just celebrated the 24th anniversary of our first date. We just watched our older child start college and our younger one start 8th grade. We all have different goals and dreams, and we all support each other. I have some crazy ones: between my ultra running, my teaching schedule, and my American Sign Language class, so many hours of my week are consumed by non-family events.

My wife and kids have similar craziness: work schedules, orchestra, college, my kid's home baking business... the list is exhaustive. It would be easy for everyone to say "sorry too busy" when one of us had a special event.

But we don't. We make sure to sit down and have dinner most nights and family game nights a few times a month. We get to school events. We attend all of the children's concerts. There is never a question of "are we going" but more of a "what time do we have to be home to get there on time?"

My school: I work at a school that encourages me to develop myself professionally. I really want to present more, and so the leaders of my school encouraged me to apply to present at AMLE 2019 for a third time. When we found out that my proposal was accepted, they celebrated as much as I did. When we discovered that the conference would happen the same week as our trip to Washington D.C, they looked for any way possible for me to attend. When that didn't work out, they said they expected me to present in 2020.

The administration challenges me to improve my craft and lets me develop the leadership skills I want to evolve and expand. When I have an idea or observation, I'm comfortable bringing it to my team leaders.

see you in Baltimore!

My friends: There are so many people in this category. I have friends that can join me on a long run and process my school day or some activities I have in mind. I have friends that I can go out to dinner with to vent or chat. I have friends that enjoy game nights and friends that I can just talk to over instant messenger since they are no longer local. Some of them I've only known a year or so, and others I have known since I was in high school. I value all of them and hope I bring as much value to their lives as they do to mine.

My #PLN: I can't count the number of times I have logged onto twitter with a question or idea and had replies within the hour. I don't understand why more teachers (or other professionals) do not take advantage of this resource. We build ideas on ideas, develop thoughts, and help share what worked for us. I'm launching my FlipGrid lessons this week SPECIFICALLY with feedback from people in my PLN. When I have a bad day, lesson, or idea, these people help me get back on track.

As we are getting into the opening stretch of the school year, I'd encourage you to think about your support group and how they will make your year amazing.

Marathon Update - Goals, Parties, and Children - OH MY!

So much has happened since my last marathon training blog post.  To start, I am running about 20 miles per week with long runs of 10 miles.  That may seem like a lot (and it certainly is), but I still have over 350 miles of training to go before my marathon on October 18th.

First, I want to thank more than two dozen people that have donated to Nationwide Children's Hospital through my run.  I have reached both my original goal of $750 and my stretch goal of $1000.  These funds can buy 10 weeks worth of infant blood pressure cuffs, or four new mattresses for patients at the hospital.

I tell my students that when you reach a goal, you celebrate and then set a new goal.  That is what I have been doing.  Each time I reach my goal I celebrate by thanking those that helped, then set a new goal to reach.

Last week I also got to celebrate by attending RunFest - the kickoff to the Columbus half and full marathon.  It certainly was a party atmosphere with plenty of booths and displays!  It was at this event that we were also introduced to the 24 Children's Champions for the 2015 Marathon.

Each one an inspiration

My younger daughter joined me during this event and she was not disappointed either!  We received so much free stuff from so many vendors including a water bottle, shoe-wallets, girl scout cookies (not a cookie, a FULL BOX!), and a wicken shirt from Girls on the Run.  All of that free stuff got us pretty hungry.  Luckily they also had plenty of free food.

Alexa and I sat down at a table for lunch and began digging into the bratwurst and creme puff from the Schmidt's booth (an amazing local German Restaurant.)   A few minutes later another family sat down, and they were joined by a camera crew.

I asked if we needed to move and everyone said no, so we stayed and enjoyed our food.  We also listened to the interview.

Here is what I learned: I was sitting with Gunner - a 2 year old with a rare type of muscular dystrophy - and his family, an older brother and sister, and his mom and dad.  It was amazing to hear the parents talk about their child, their family, and what their son has gone through in his very young life.  You can see part of the interview on the RunFest 2015 kickoff video. (Highly recommended viewing!)

Can't wait to see him at mile 9!

Gunner is one of 24 children that will represent the Children's Champions.  These are the children, along with SO many others, that I chose to run this marathon.  These are the children and families that need the help.

When I started this journey I used the word perspective.  This is still true to me today.  If you are having a bad day, I strongly encourage you to read about the Children's Champions.  There is a short bio of each of them on the Nationwide Children's Website. It really will give you some perspective.

If you are able to donate, please click the link below.  After you click, select the orange 'give now' button on the right side of the page.  As a reminder all donations are 100% tax deductible.

Donate to Nationwide Children's Hospital

If you donate $25 or more  (I've been recommending the symbolic $26.20 amount) you get to pick a song for me to add to my playlist!  It is a way for you to 'run along' with me - when that song comes on I'll be thinking of you and how you helped someone in need.   A few of you that donated $25 or more still owe me songs!  Here is the current list of songs as selected by donors:

If you are not in a place to give - you can help by forwarding my message to someone you know can help.  As always, my goal is never to 'guilt' anyone in to giving - I know there are thousands of causes out there and nobody has the means to support them all!

Thank you for reading and all of the support!

My Latest Endeavor: Will You Help?

I'm proud to say that I will be running the full Columbus Marathon this October 18th. While that seems like a bit of time from now (about 28 weeks) I've already begun training, running about 17 miles per week with long runs of over 6 miles.

Wait... A marathon?  26.2 miles? At once? Why?  It's a pretty legit question, especially since I swore I'd never run another half after my 2013 run.  I mean I was never a distance runner - before 2012 I had never run more than 3 miles at once!

It's all about perspective.

Perspective is very important.  We've all had long days - hard days at work, tough days in a relationship. It's part of life.  Bree and I would go to dinner at a friend's house.  We'd talk about work, life, and the likes.

This friend was a doctor at Children's Hospital here in Columbus.  Specifically, she worked in hospice.

Hearing her stories really put my life in perspective.  While I would complain about an issue at school or Bree would talk about a client that no showed, she would talk about a 3-year-old child that is on her 25th session of chemotherapy.  She'd talk about having to work with the child and talk to the family.  And she'd explain how that was a good conversation compared to some of the others she had to have that day.

Perspective.

I ran the Columbus half marathon back in 2012.  I wore my Angel Mile shirt in honor of those that are no longer with us.  I will be wearing it again in 2015.

My goal is to raise at least $750 for the hospice program at Children's Hospital. Here are some of the people I am hoping to help:  Patient Stories

I've also decided to institute some incentives as a way to say thank you.

$10.00 :  periodic e-mail updates on my training
$26.20 : come run with me! suggest a song and I'll add it to my play list.  You'll be with me for that part of my run :)
$50.00 : 4x6 photo of the finishers medal along with a personal thank you note.



If you are unable to donate, you can help by forwarding my message (either this blog post or the link below) along to someone that you feel is in a place to give.  My goal is not to 'guilt' anyone into giving.  I know that circumstances are different for everyone.  I appreciate the time you take just to read this.

If you are able to make a financial donation, please click the link below.  After you click, select the orange "Give Now" button on the right.

Donate To Nationwide Children's Hospital

If you are not comfortable using an online system, click the link below for a mail in form.  Please e-mail me if you mail in a donation so that I can thank you personally!

Mail in donation form

All donations are 100% tax deductible

Thank you for reading and for any support you can give.