Handbook to Life

G'day Salty Sweater-ers. I feel like I'm always copying Peanut Butter Fingers with my posts because I take so much from her blog, but she really knows what she's talking about! After all, she is one of the reasons I decided to start this here blog so, PBF, if you're out there, please take my copy-cat posts as a compliment :)

Anyway, I was going through some of her old posts and came across the Handbook to Life. I feel like every one of the things on this list is what I've been trying to work on over the past year. I've also highlighted my personal favorite pieces of advice.

Health:
1. Drink plenty of water.
2. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a beggar.
3. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4. Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy.
5. Make time to pray.
6. Play more games.
7. Read more books.
8. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
9. Sleep for 7 hours.
10. Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:
11. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12. Don’t have negative thoughts over things you cannot control. Instead, invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13. Don’t overdo. Keep your limits.
14. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15. Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
16. Dream more while you are awake.
17. Envy is a waste of time. Be grateful for what you have been given.
18. Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
20. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
21. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away (like algebra class) but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
22. Smile and laugh more.
23. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

Society:


family members

 24. Call your family often.
25. Each day give something good to others.
26. Forgive.
27. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
28. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
31. Do the right thing!
32. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
33. God heals everything.
34. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
35. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
36. The best is yet to come. 
37. When you awake alive in the morning, thank God for it.
38. Your inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

This nugget always makes me happy

I feel like I am a happier, calmer, more real version of myself by doing some of the things on this list. My sister Kate was visiting from New Jersey a few weeks ago and one of the first things she said to me was, "you seem so much happier since the last time I saw you" which was October 2010. I didn't really realize how taking time to really focus on myself and change certain things about my life can be so noticeable to others. That being said, I ain't perfect, and I am fully aware of that. But I think remembering the things on this list will help me continue to grow in a positive direction. And hopefully it helps you too!

New Ink

I have finally gotten my fourth tattoo that I've wanted for about 6 months now! The design has gone back and forth over that time period but the intentions were the same: new ink! As I'm sure you've heard and/or said, tatts are addicting. I love the idea of coming up with something all my own and having it on my body forever. I'm a firm believer of having each tattoo mean something unique to the tattee (cool word, I know) and I love when people ask me about my tattoos so I can tell them the meaning of each. I've always said that I would most definitely get a sleeve if it was practical for my lifestyle. Sadly, it is not, so I'll have to settle for smaller tattoos all over in more discreet locations. Plus, let's be real. I could never pull off a badass sleeve.

This most recent one is a quote from "Oh, The Places You'll Go." I hinted about it in a past post because I wasn't sure what exactly I wanted from the Dr. Seuss book tattooed on me but I knew I wanted something related to the message of the book. I didn't quote the book exactly, but I tailored it to the message I want to remember. It reminds me a lot of where I am in my life, both personally and professionally, and I know I'll always look back at this tattoo and appreciate it for what it is.

I don't care what anyone says, your 20's are a difficult time. You are just starting your post-school life, creating a career, and it's the first time everyone in your life, particularly your friends, are all in different stages of their lives. Up until this point, most of my friends, both from high school and college, were all on similar tracks. In high school, we were all experiencing more or less the same things, and we all knew after high school we would be going to college. In college, it was the same thing: we were all working towards a similar goal. Now that we've all been out of college for three-four years, everyone is all over the place. I am single, living alone in my home town, working at a company that I've been with since I graduated, and really figuring things out on my own. Some might say this is the best time of my life because I really don't have anything keeping me in one certain spot and I have a lot of options available to me. However, in my opinion, all those options are intimidating, overwhelming, and overrated. With so many options, how am I supposed to know which option is the best one or if one of those options is a huge mistake? It's not like there's a book out there I can open up to a specific page and read, "when you're 26, you do this." Believe me, I've googled it. I also have friends that are married or getting married, working on creating this life with their partners, and have many decisions and choices they must make as a team. Some of the choices or issues the marrieds have (as I affectionately call them) I can't relate to because I have no idea what it's like merging lives with someone else, especially if that someone else is of the opposite sex. So, where we used to have things we could talk out together, it gets a little harder since we all have problems the others have trouble relating to.

So, that's why this tattoo has so much significance to me as I get ready to enter my mid-to-late 20's (let's not get carried away and say late 20's yet.) It reminds me that no matter what choices I make, I have enough brains and experience to make the ones that are best for me at the time. And that's all we really can do in life, isn't it?

Wherever you fly, you'll be best of the best; whatever you do, you will top all the rest

When I told my lovely friend Jessica about what I was getting, she said, "well that's a little cocky, isn't it?" Good ole Jess, always keeping me grounded ;)

The New Digs!

Hello cyber friends :) This weather is freakin' amazing. I bet you know what season it reminds me of....I'll give you a hint, it sounds like schmall... :) I set my alarm early this morning with the intent of getting my run in before work, since I've been seriously struggling through my afternoon runs as of late, but, well, that didn't happen. I'm kind of bummed I didn't just get up and go because it would've been perfect weather! Oh well...such is life.

I've been looking forward to my runs lately because I have new surroundings to explore! About three weeks ago I moved into a new apartment in Grandview and now I'm living by myself for the first time ever! I've always had roommates but I decided it's time for me to live alone. My job, like most, requires me to be nice all the time, which sounds bad, but I realized I needed some time at the end of the day by myself where I'm not required to smile or talk to anyone. I moved to Grandview because all my family and friends are around here and I was driving back and forth so much from my old apartment in German Village that it just made sense to move to this area to be closer to the places I go to regularly.

I've had to buy a lot of things because, as I mentioned, I've always had roommates and it just worked out that all my past roommates had a lot of stuff that was used in the common rooms (things for the kitchen, living room furniture, etc.) It's been fun buying new things or looking around to see what's out there although my wallet is a little lighter. I still have a small list of things left to buy but my place is slowly coming together. My location is great too because I have so many restaurants and shops within walking distance that I really have no need to drive anywhere other than work!

living room

right side of dining room

left side of dining room



I'm really excited about this new beginning in my life and can't wait to see what Grandview has to offer.

New playlist!

TGIF! Am I right?!?!

Not gonna lie...I'm looking forward to having zero plans this weekend. I feel like every weekend this summer has been jam-packed with some sort of event and now I can see the end of the summer tunnel. The only thing I want to do on the weekends in the fall is sit back, relax, throw on my jersey, and watch some soccer.

JUST KIDDING!

I'd like to start your weekend off right by sharing with you one of my favorite playlists as of late. This one features songs that you can sing at the top of your lungs in your car with the windows down and not even care what passersby think. In fact, I've actually looked over at the car next to me and seen the driver singing along with me while this playlist is booming. So, if you're looking to make friends out of strangers, I strongly suggest you play one or all of the following songs:

"No Diggity"-Blackstreet & Dr Dre
"Whatta man"- Salt-N-Pepa

"...Baby One More Time"- Ms. Britney Spears

"No scrubs"-TLC (RIP Lefteye)

"Motownphilly"-Boyz II Men

"The Boy Is Mine"-Brandy & Monica

 "My Lovin' (You're Never Gonna Get It)"-En Vogue

"Womanizer"-Brit Brit

"Case of the Ex (whatcha gonna do)"-Mya

"It's Tricky"-Run DMC
"Promiscuous Girl"-Nelly Furtado ft. Timbaland
"It's Goin' Down"-Yung Joc

"Ridin' Dirty"-Chamillionaire

"Fireman"-Lil Wayne

"Let It Rock"-Kevin Rudolf ft. Lil Wayne
"Still Fly"-Big Tymers

"Tick Tick Boom"-The Hives

You'll notice that I included not one but TWO Britney songs in honor of her coming to Columbus tomorrow. Lip sync Sing your heart out B!





The Comeback Kid!

On a completely unrelated note...because I want to be able to look back on this at any given moment and posting about it on the blog is a convenient way to find it again and again, I am mildly obsessed with Mark Titus and Club Trillion (yes, I even have the shirt.) You can read about him and the creation of Club Tril here. He posted a few days ago about things that make you look like an a-hole if you're not very good at it but can also make you look like a badass if you're a pro at it, and I decided to send him my two cents on the issue and, well, not to brag or anything, but, he POSTED it (scroll to the bottom)! Cha-ching! I'm everywhere folks!

Weekends bringing you down?

[source]



I love me my weekends. Love them so much so that they're bringin' me down (Bruce!) I touched on this a few months back in this post, but I wanted to talk more about it because it's something I struggle with weekly. I formed a habit I'm still trying to break when I was at my lowest weight the first two and a half years of college. I would eat almost nothing all week and then binge on Fridays and Saturdays. Since I kept losing weight, I kept doing it. Until, as I've mentioned, I eventually just never stopped binging.

Before the start of this year, I would at least attempt eating healthy and working out during the week but literally do nothing athletic on the weekends and eat whatever I wanted. Over the last 6 months, I've transitioned to at least doing some sort of physical activity one of the days, whether it be a long run or a bootcamp class at That Gym (which is AWESOME, by the way, if you want more information!) However, my eating still needs a kick in the butt and my girl over at Peanut Butter Fingers just so happened to write about this topic on the website Fit Bottomed Girls. As I read these tips, I realized that these are easy changes to make in order to not feel like I've totally un-done all my hard work during the week but also feel better about indulging a little more than I would on, say, a Monday or Tuesday.

Tips to Avoid Overeating on the Weekend

1. Eat a healthy breakfast. Start your day on the right foot by eating a breakfast that includes healthy carbs, fat and protein.

2. Take time for snacks. I am often busier on the weekends and won’t eat my mid-morning and afternoon snack like I normally do during the weekdays. Make it a point to eat your snacks to avoid extreme hunger (and possible overindulgence) come mealtime.

3. Assess your surroundings. If you’re truly at a special event (like a wedding), indulge (but don’t overindulge) in something special like wedding cake. If the event is a routine barbecue or a simple get-together with friends, don’t use it as an excuse to down copious amounts of chips and dip.

4. Fit in fitness. My days off from the gym put me in lazy mode. Even on rest days, get out of the house and go for a walk to remind yourself that healthy living occurs on days away from the gym, too.

5. Keep your hands busy. I tend to head into the kitchen when I’m hanging out around the house simply because I like to be doing something. Watching TV or a movie can make me antsy. Keep your hands busy with something else (file your nails, pet your dog, exchange hand massages with your boyfriend, flip through a magazine) while watching TV to avoid the urge to wander into the kitchen.

I also get a little caught up in "other people" and it's also a habit I've become very conscious of breaking. I've heard other people say this and I feel the same way: I see everyone around me eating whatever they want and I think, "if they can do it, so can I! I just ran a freakin' half marathon!" Well, stfu self, because they may not have the same goals as me nor do I know what else they've eaten that day/week/month/year. So, how do I know if they "eat whatever they want"? Besides, I need to worry about myself and what I can control (i.e. eating 1 piece of pizza instead of 9) and remember that I won't be hurting anyone but myself if I continue to over-eat on the weekends.

Do you struggle with healthy eating on the weekends? What are your tips for maintaining healthy eating habits over the weekend?

Join me, won't you?

I receive weekly emails from active.com with tips on everything from training to hydration to increasing speed to nutrition tips for runners. Last Friday's email included 13.1 reasons to run a half marathon. Almost all of these reasons are why I'm now addicted. After setting a new PR in my race yesterday (2 hours, 7 minutes, which is 7 minutes faster than my race this past May) I thought I would try to get some more peeps to join the running bandwagon.

1. It's a challenging, but manageable distance. The marathon has the appeal of scaling Mount Everest, but just as in preparing to scale Mount Everest, preparing to run 26.2 miles is no walk in the park. If you're brand new to the sport, you're likely looking at six to nine months of consistent marathon training including long runs of 3 hours or more.

The half marathon may lack the "sexiness" of the full marathon, but most new runners with three months of training can conquer a half marathon. Long runs likely won't exceed two hours. There is some commitment involved with half marathon training, but it doesn't have to consume your life.

2. You're not ready for a full marathon. There could be a variety of reasons why this is the case. Maybe you didn't allow enough time to train. Maybe it seems too daunting. Perhaps a slight injury compromised your training. Your work schedule is too demanding. Whatever the reason, the half marathon is still a challenging distance and 13.1 miles is nothing to sneeze at.

3. There are countless races to choose from.  The number of half marathons taking place throughout the year has simply exploded the past few years. It's the fastest growing race distance out there and unquestionably the most popular race distance. Virtually every weekend you can count on one or multiple half marathons taking place within driving distance of your home.  So, you've got no shortage of options when it comes to a half marathon race.

4. You have a thing for bling. Many races include all kinds of perks and amenities to draw runners to the starting line. One such amenity is the ubiquitous race medal. The bigger the race, the bigger (and gaudier) the medal you'll typically receive at the finish line. Medals now double as coasters, bottle openers and more. If you complete more than one half marathon in a particular race series (for example, the Rock 'N' Roll Marathon Series), it's likely you'll get a special medal for your multiple efforts. So, if you've got a penchant for the bling, half marathons will hook you up.
---> (not gonna lie, racking up medals is a very nice perk of the sport!)

5. You're contemplating ramping up for a full marathon. Before signing up for a full marathon, you should probably have at least one half marathon under your belt. You can run most of the 13.1 miles at your target marathon pace and gauge how far you are from swinging this pace for 26.2 miles. An alternative approach is to go for broke and use your race result to project a theoretical marathon time. If you've never participated in a race, and a marathon is on the calendar, a half marathon can be a nice dress rehearsal for the full.

6. You want to recover quickly. It can literally take weeks to fully recover from a marathon. It's not uncommon to feel a bit flat, fatigued, and a bit off long after you've completed 26.2 miles. The half marathon is taxing, but even if you run a hard half marathon, the recovery window for 13.1 miles is much shorter than that of the full.

7. There is less injury risk with a half marathon versus a full marathon. Injuries are the bane of any runner's existence. One of the big factors that contribute to running related injuries is training. To be more specific, overtraining increases the risk of running related aggravations and injuries. The higher the weekly mileage generally the higher the risk of running related. Needless to say, you're not going to log nearly as many miles gearing up for a half marathon versus a full marathon.

8. You like to party. As mentioned earlier, the perks and amenities at races today are staggering. Aside from the gaudy 'bling' one typically receives, there is almost always some kind of post-race party or celebration. Destination Races sells out all practically all of its wine country-themed events to some degree because of the post-race wine tastings following the race.  The anti-oxidants can speed recovery and augment the runner's high. Live music often accompanies the imbibing of said anti-oxidants. If you like to party, the half marathon may be your distance.
---> (also very enticing.....hehe)

9. You want to take your running fitness to the next level. The 5K and 10K are wonderful entry-level distances for new runners. But, stepping up to the half marathon distance from the 5K or 10K distance will result in a veritable quantum leap in running fitness due to increases in mileage and the likely addition of one (or more) days of running.

10. You want to burn some extra calories. A mile generally burns about 100 calories. If you're currently logging mileage consistent with running 5Ks and/or 10Ks, you're burning some decent calories. But, upping your mileage will not only take your running fitness to the next level, it will also boost your caloric burn.
--> (This was my main reason for joining TNT but now I have many others reasons to continue doing races!)

11. You want new kicks.  If you are stepping up from the 5K or 10K distance, logging a few extra miles each week will undoubtedly necessitate the purchasing of an additional pair or shoes or two. So, if you've been eyeing the hot new pair of Nikes at your local running specialty store, sign up for a half and pull the trigger as you'll likely need them soon.

12. Your wardrobe needs upgrading. If you're going to be logging more miles, that may very well mean you're running more days per week than you have previously.  These extra days of running will make it easy to rationalize upgrading your running wardrobe.

13. You like to travel. Given the range of half marathons out there, there are ample opportunities to parlay a half marathon into a running-infused vacation. Do you want to see what New Orleans has to offer? The New Orleans Rock 'N' Roll Half Marathon in early March is only a flight away. Want to explore a more tropical location? The ING Miami Half Marathon in late January might be right up your alley.
---> (Team In Training is a great option for out-of-town races. They'll take care of your airfare, hotel, and race-day transportation! Central Ohio TNT has taken teams to Florida, Nashville, San Diego, Alaska, and San Fran, to name a few)

Ultra-fit Half Marathon 8.14.11

13.1. It's there. Runners are explorers at the end of the day. As soon as we conquer one running goal, it's almost inevitable that we'll look toward the next one. Once you've logged a 5K, a 10K, and/or a 12K, it's almost inevitable the half marathon will beckon you to the starting line. Then, it may very well be on to the marathon.

If you don't want to physically support me (i.e. run with me) but still want to show me how much you love me, you can donate to my fundraising efforts here!

In a Glass Case of Emotion



my 16th birthday, 2002



I'm getting ready to run my second half marathon on Sunday. I signed up for it the day after my first half in May and I can't believe it's already around the corner! A year ago, I was struggling to run 6 miles and here I am about to run a total of 26.2 miles in races (not all at one time, but hey, we're getting there.) It's amazing how fast time goes when you think back about where you were/who you were just one year ago. This second half marathon has special significance because it is also the day my mom would be turning 60. Such a milestone birthday that she won't be able to celebrate.

I haven't talked to many other people who have lost a parent at a young age (I was 22 when my mom passed, she was 56) so I don't know if this happens to others, but sometimes I catch myself feeling like I need to see her, like she's just someone I haven't spoken with in a long time and need to re-connect with. Or, I see something that reminds me of her and I feel the need to tell her about it: the great book I just finished or the awesome piece of furniture I came across that she would love. That's probably the hardest part about not having her around; I feel like I have so much to tell her but can’t.

I do have a lot of fond memories of my mom, but when I really reflect on those memories, they were all before I was 10 years old. I don't have any of when I was in high school or college. She died my senior year of college, yet she never came to OU once, never saw where I was living or my favorite restaurants, never met my college friends, barely met my high school friends. When I start to get sad about her, I just remember that she is in a much better place now, both for herself and for our family. As bad as this may sound, I feel like her passing when she did, too soon for any of us, was actually a small blessing. It brought my family closer together because we all suffered such a tragedy that only we can relate to. Also, I don't think it's any coincidence Ella came around when she did or that she is female. I wear my mother's engagement ring and every time I have it on, Ella plays with it.

There are many things I feel I missed out on by not having my mom around when everyone else did, and things that I will continue to miss out on. She wasn't there for my high school or college graduations. She will never meet my future husband (whoever he is..). She will never get to shop for wedding dresses with me. She will never get to see me pregnant or meet my future children. But, even if she was alive, she wouldn't be able to do those things anyway. And she has taught me many things that make me the person I am today. I don't think I would be as driven, independent, or confident if I had grown up under different circumstances.

So, instead of Sunday being a sad day, I really think it’s going to be a good time to remember all the great things about my mom and the reason that my brother and I are the funny, smart, tremendously good-looking, humble people we are today J

smitten with smoothies

Go Bucks!

Hello there world! I can't believe it's August! I'm SO ready for fall. Why, you ask? Fall is pretty much the best season ever for the following reasons: my birthday (a.k.a the best day of the year), football, tailgating, falling leaves, hoodies, open windows and pumpkin-flavored everything.

Even though I love the fall and am very excited for it to arrive, I have to admit that I will miss my almost daily smoothies that I enjoy so much in the hot summer months. It's the perfect treat before/after a run or any time I'm not starving but still need something in my belly. Smoothies are so versatile too; it's impossible to get bored because you can put pretty much anything in them! There are a few staple items each smoothie needs but after that, the possibilities are endless!

All smoothies must have some sort of liquid such as juice or milk. I prefer unsweetened vanilla almond milk. For a thicker smoothie, any flavor of yogurt can be added, however I usually don't have yogurt in mine and they still turn out pretty thick depending on how much frozen fruit I put in it. It also may need some sort of sweetener, like honey or peanut butter (for an extra protein boost.) From there, you can add any type of fruit you have on hand. I like to use frozen fruit; I just buy a big bag in the freezer section or freeze a banana to throw in there, but you can use fresh fruit if you'd like. If you do that, I suggest adding some ice cubes to the blender to make that sucker cold.

I've been adding one-two handfuls of spinach to my smoothies lately; it sounds weird but I swear you can't even taste it! It adds extra nutrients and makes it a nice green color :) I've also been adding a scoop of vanilla protein powder because I am obsessed with the flavor of my vanilla protein powder. It is a-mazing.

What are some of your favorite smoothie flavors?

 Happy blending!

Oh, The Places You'll Go!

The inspiration behind my next tattoo: Dr. Seuss's last book, Oh, The Places You'll Go!

Congratulations!
Today is your day.
You’re off to Great Places!
You’re off and away!
You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.

You’re on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who’ll decide where to go.
You’ll look up and down streets. Look ‘em over with care.
About some you will say, “I don’t choose to go there.”
With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,
you’re too smart to go down any not-so-good street.

And you may not find any
you’ll want to go down.
In that case, of course,
you’ll head straight out of town.
It’s opener there
in the wide open air.
Out there things can happen
and frequently do
to people as brainy
and footsy as you.

And when things start to happen,
don’t worry. Don’t stew.
Just go right along.
You’ll start happening too.
OH!
THE PLACES YOU’LL GO!
You’ll be on your way up!
You’ll be seeing great sights!
You’ll join the high fliers
who soar to high heights.
You won’t lag behind, because you’ll have the speed.
You’ll pass the whole gang and you’ll soon take the lead.
Wherever you fly, you’ll be best of the best.
Wherever you go, you will top all the rest.

Except when you don’t
Because, sometimes, you won’t.
I’m sorry to say so
but, sadly, it’s true
and hang-ups
can happen to you.
You can get all hung up
in a prickle-ly perch.
And your gang will fly on.
You’ll be left in a Lurch.
You’ll come down from the Lurch
with an unpleasant bump.
And the chances are, then,
that you’ll be in a Slump.
And when you’re in a Slump,
you’re not in for much fun.
Un-slumping yourself
is not easily done.

You will come to a place where the streets are not marked.
Some windows are lighted. But mostly they’re darked.
A place you could sprain both you elbow and chin!
Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to go in?
How much can you lose? How much can you win?
And IF you go in, should you turn left or right…
or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite?
Or go around back and sneak in from behind?
Simple it’s not, I’m afraid you will find,
for a mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

You can get so confused
that you’ll start in to race
down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace
and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space,
headed, I fear, toward a most useless place.
The Waiting Place…
…for people just waiting.
Waiting for a train to go
or a bus to come, or a plane to go
or the mail to come, or the rain to go
or the phone to ring, or the snow to snow
or waiting around for a Yes or a No
or waiting for their hair to grow.
Everyone is just waiting.
Waiting for the fish to bite
or waiting for wind to fly a kite
or waiting around for Friday night
or waiting, perhaps, for their Uncle Jake
or a pot to boil, or a Better Break
or a sting of pearls, or a pair of pants
or a wig with curls, or Another Chance.
Everyone is just waiting.

NO!
That’s not for you!
Somehow you’ll escape
all that waiting and staying.
You’ll find the bright places
where Boom Bands are playing.
With banner flip-flapping,
once more you’ll ride high!
Ready for anything under the sky.
Ready because you’re that kind of a guy!
Oh, the places you’ll go! There is fun to be done!
There are points to be scored. There are games to be won.
And the magical things you can do with that ball
will make you the winning-est winner of all.
Fame! You’ll be famous as famous can be,
with the whole wide world watching you win on TV.

Except when they don’t.
Because, sometimes, they won’t.
I’m afraid that some times
you’ll play lonely games too.
Games you can’t win
’cause you’ll play against you.
All Alone!
Whether you like it or not,
Alone will be something
you’ll be quite a lot.
And when you’re alone, there’s a very good chance
you’ll meet things that scare you right out of your pants.
There are some, down the road between hither and yon,
that can scare you so much you won’t want to go on.

But on you will go
though the weather be foul
On you will go
though your enemies prowl
On you will go
though the Hakken-Kraks howl
Onward up many
a frightening creek,
though your arms may get sore
and your sneakers may leak.
On and on you will hike
and I know you’ll hike far
and face up to your problems
whatever they are.

You’ll get mixed up, of course,
as you already know.
You’ll get mixed up
with many strange birds as you go.
So be sure when you step.
Step with care and great tact
and remember that Life’s
a Great Balancing Act.
Just never forget to be dexterous and deft.
And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)
KID, YOU’LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!
So…
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O’Shea,
you’re off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So…get on your way!