The Fountain of Youth...

I have total Spring Fever. It doesn't hurt that the weather has been amazing!

It may also be my renewed commitment to running, my time spent with my baby playing in the playground, or my recent outlook. However, I am filled with an expectancy about Spring like I haven't felt in years.

I just committed to running a relay leg in the Pittsburgh marathon.  YIKES! I just started running again. What made me commit to running in a race where teammates are relying on me? It sounded like fun.

The running may have a lot to do with my mood. If you're not careful, after you finish college, and graduate school, life becomes a series of uninterrupted sameness. You go to work, you come home, you may fit in some socializing or dating in between. Your life can begin to coast and nothing distinguishes one day from the next.

You get bored. And boredom makes you feel old.

Recently, I have had a lot of exciting things going on. In some ways I feel as if I have found the fountain of youth that so eluded Ponce de Leon. Because I have great affection for anyone who reads this blog, I will share some of my secrets.

1) Don't get in a rut. Keep things fresh by not being afraid to try new things. Get active. Not everyone wants to run a marathon. However, since rigor mortis is a consequence of death, I think that it follows that movement equals life. So, take a walk. Get the blood flowing. Your outlook will improve.

2) Take care of yourself. Fatigue and illness make you feel old. However, if you're well rested and in good health, you may find that you feel like a teenager. I've been taking my vitamins and generally get a good night sleep. And, I feel really, really good!

3) Fall in love with something or somebody. Sometimes he gets on my nerves, but Andre and I are really in love. And our love enriches my life in so many ways.  Also, words cannot describe how much I love our baby! As someone told me once, life is more than work and family.  My renewed love of running has given me something personal to enjoy. I have a new running partner, Serina, who is training for the 1/2 marathon.  I look forward to running with her and my runner's high.

4) Get passionate about your life: Let's face it, a lot of our jobs get mundane from time to time, that is why they call it work and pay us. It is difficult to feel young, if everything you do seems like a chore. Find something that you enjoy so much that you want to do it for free. And, then do it! You may even find a way to get paid for it. Wouldn't that be the best thing ever?! For me, it's writing this blog, public speaking and supporting and advocating for other women. Many bloggers have turned their blogs into their careers. Time will tell how this turns out for me!

5) Have fun: What most of us miss about high school are the activities, the revelry and the time spent with our friends. Not many of us miss the school work, insecurity or the acne! Commit to being present in your life and enjoy the time that you spend with your family and your friends.  Laugh everyday and smile at strangers.  You may be surprised at how laughing and smiling improve your mood and make your days more fun.  My baby makes me laugh every day. I am certain that the laughter keeps me young because with the lack of sleep and constant activities I could look like a hag!  (However, I do have good concealer so that will never happen!)

As they say, you are only as young as you feel.  Right now, I feel younger than I have in years.  Here's hoping that continues and I am able to achieve my goals!

"Staying active is key to feeling young": http://www.reuters.com/article/2009/03/06/us-staying-active-idUSTRE5253EU20090306