Challenging

**From March 2011** At work I overheard someone tell a person on the other line of his telephone that your thirties are great. You grow a lot as a person and in the end you are better. As someone who continually strives to be better than I was yesterday, I am looking forward to it.

I've gotten pretty good at challenging myself physically. I'm sure I'm forgetting stuff, but here is my running total (pun intended):
5k: 10
10k+: 5
Half marathon: 4
Marathon: 1
Mud run: 1
Warrior Dash: 1
Training miles: too many to count
Miles hiked: numerous

Maybe it's time for another type of challenge. Lately I've been thinking that it's been easy to be tomboyish and aggressive in my life, but that I'm not sure if I'm good at being a refined lady. When couples dancing, I have a tendency to anticipate and lead. When on a road trip I like navigating AND driving. I love fixing things. It can be kind of emasculating when I can change a tire for a guy.

I could be less crass. I could build my repertoire of dishes I'm good at cooking/baking. I could be more feminine (as the social construct defines it). I could listen better. I could be more compassionate. Not that these are only things that and person should be or do, but they are things that I could be so much better at doing.

I have decided that my next challenge will be to wear a skirt (or dress) for the whole summer season, which I have arbitrarily designated as starting on Memorial Day and ending on Labor Day. I think this exercise will require more discipline and planning than any running has in the past. The skirt will remind me of all the things that I am working on.

(to be revised and updated)

Elephants

If the elephants have past lives / Yet are destined to always remember / It's no wonder how they scream / Like you and I they must have some temper / And I am dreaming of them on the plains / Dirtying up their beds / Watching for some sign of rain / To cool their hot heads / And how dare that you send me that card / When I'm doing all that I can do / You are forcing me to remember / When all I want is to just forget you / If the tiger shall protect her young / Then tell me how did you slip by / All my instincts have failed me for once / I must have somehow slept the whole night / And I am dreaming of them with their kill / Tearing it all apart / Blood dripping from their lips / And teeth sinking into heart / And how dare that you say you will call / When you know I need some peace of mind / If you had to take sides with the animals / Won't you do it with one who is kind? / If the hawks in the trees need the dead / If you're living you don't stand a chance / For a time though you share the same bed / There are only two ends to this dance / You can flee with your wounds just in time / Or lie there as he feeds / Watching yourself ripped to shreds / Laughing at as you bleed / So for those of you falling in love / Keep it kind, keep it good, keep it right / Throw yourself in the midst of danger / But keep one eye open at night / RACHAEL YAMAGATA - ELEPHANTS