Just like mom

I never understood why she did a lot of the things that she did; now i find myself doing the exact same things. "Why are you cleaning for Granny and Granddady to come visit, they're your parents they don't care what thehouse looks like" i would say to her. Whenever my parents come to visit the week leading up to their arrival i'm vacuuming the apartment, doing laundry, scrubbing toilets- just like my mom did. When i would pull out my lunch at school that my mom had made i was horrified to find the Kroger brand pudding, or Kroger brand pretzels in my lunch box. "Why do you have to buy the generic brands" i would ask my mom, everyone else has name brands {yes, at this stage in my life i was kind of a bitch} Every Monday - Friday that i pack my lunch at work most items are Harris Teeter brand just likewhen my mom would pack my lunch.

When i was younger i would try to hide certain things from my mom, or avoid answering questions when she would ask. Now that i am older i can't wait to tell my mom things; often times calling her late at night or early in the morning because i have things that i want to share with her. My mom is one of my best friends. Someone i know that i can tell anything, and not be judged for what i say. She listens with a mothers heart.

My mom has always been there, something that i tended to take for granted growing up, because the last thing that a teenage girl wants is for her mother to be around all the time. Now, that i'm an "adult" i urn for quality time with my mom because it is few and far between.

It was not until i got older that i saw my mom as a person, and not just "mom" she's stronger than she gives herself credit for, wiser than i ever gave her credit for, has such a pure heart, and to have put up with my brother and me for all of those years the patience of a saint. I can only hope that one day i will be just like my mom.

CoWorkers

Dictionary.com defines a coworker as: a fellow worker; colleague. Over the past almost three years, I have formed a completely different definition of the word, coworker. Infact, I hate using the word coworker because of what it implies, simply someone whom you work with.

For me, the people that I work with are more like family. I spend more time with them than my own blood family, roommates, or friends. Some might say that we're an unlikely group, but we fit together like a puzzle. Sarah, Sarah, Nikki, Carrie, & I compliment each other. We all have our own qualities and attributes that others don't, but enough similarities that brought us together and keep us laughing day after day. Because of them I push myself to try new things, to be more open-minded, and over all just a better person.

Most people try to keep their distance at work, not divulging too much personal information, but not us. I love the fact that I know I have these girls to confide in, get advice from, laugh with, and eat lunch with every day. What's most important though is I know on any given day I have someone here who has my back, and cares about me outside of the professional environment.

As time moves on, and so do our careers I know the bond that we've created can't be broken. So dictionary.com I suggest you revisit that definition of a coworker.

Houston, we have a problem... here comes Hadley!

The Girl Scout National Council Session is like the Super Bowl of Girl Scouting. Every Council across the Country sends representatives who descend on a city, this year it's Houston. For four days there will be booths, speeches, celebrations, sessions, and of course the kick- off to our anniversary year, and I will be right in the thick of it!

"I have already been communicating with several councils; they'd be able to put a pretty face to my name. I have wanted to participate in a National Council Session since I heard about the Indiana session that was in progress when I began work here in 2008. I promise to arrive with a smile on my face and ready to work." An expert from my essay on why I think I should be selected to go to convention. It worked, because Houston here I come!

HRH

I didn't do it for a family member, friend, coworker, or for work. I did it for me. I was told by a friend that I have a fighting heart, just like a lion. I joked with my roommates that when I got the flu that the "mighty lion had fallen", but thankfully this mighty lion ultimately came out victorious.

13.1 miles was so much more than the 2 hours 17 minutes and 42 seconds that it took for me to cross that finish line. It's been 25 years in the making. When I thought I couldn't do it, I could hear my parents voices in my head telling me how proud they were of me, or my friends voices telling me keep on moving Bubba. I had fuel from homemade pasta the night before, and comfort in knowing that three of my friends were running as well. Not once did I walk and not once did I stop.

Pink and black, that was my color scheme for the race, which I'm sure comes as no surprise to most. Unfortunately, that was the color choice for most of the other girls who ran the race as well. Runners were to report to the starting line at 6:15 to get in their respective "corrals" at 6:55 I was still in my car fighting through traffic to find somewhere to park, praying to God that I would not miss the start of the race, taking off layers of clothing and pinning my bib to my shirt. At 7:02 the first tears streamed down my face as I still sat in my car. I can't miss this race, I've trained too hard for this, and not to mention four of my best friends were en route to cheer me on as a crossed the finish line. I made the decision then and there that I would park my car, illegally and take the fine or imminent car tow, to complete the race.

I put my iPod on and ran the mile + to the stadium armory, full bladder and all, determined to run this race. Twenty-six minutes after the initial gun was shot, I began my journey to 13.1 miles.

I did the YMCA with Howard University students, high-fived complete strangers, grabbed water from enthusiastic volunteers, and "ran through history" But on Saturday, March 26, 2011 I made my own history. HRH- Hadley the Runner Hines

I used to be fat

The New TV show starts tonight on MTV, I used to be fat. It follows overweight teens who have just graduated from high school, and gives them the tools that they need to overcome their weight problems. http://www.mtv.com/shows/i_used_to_be_fat/series.jhtml

Well, I used to be fat. I was always the heaviest girl in my class, and many times I was heavier than most of the boys in my class. I always had friends, and never got down on myself like so many overweight kids do. Maybe it's because I had an amazing family and friends who never criticized me for my size, but instead encouraged me to get healthy with family workouts to Richard Simmons sweating to the oldies, and an exercise chart where we earned stars for our healthy habits.

My Best Friend Stephanie and I circa 1997

It was not until my weight became a health concern that my lifestyle changed. I remember spraying pam into my mouth because it had no nutritional value and no calories. But again, my family ate what I ate, well aside from spraying Pam in their mouths. I was never singled out.

Sure, I got made fun of: I remember vividly, walking up the stairs and one of the older boys making a loud beeping noise, simulating the noise a large truck would make when backing up, or walking down the hall and someone saying mooooove implying I was as big as a cow. Instead of getting down on myself, or doing something harmful I think that all of these things softened my heart. It made me more cognoscente when I went to say a mean or hurtful thing to someone, and made me want to be a friend to all.

Years later I can look back on all of these things and laugh. Being fat never defined who I was because I didn't let it, and those around me wouldn't have allowed it. Even at my heaviest I was still out there on the soccer field playing my heart out, or in the middle of the sleeping bags at a slumber party, and of course the first one to ask for seconds at a birthday party.

I've come to accept the fact that i will never be the skinniest of my friends, and that's ok. Body image will always be something that hits close to home with me, but also a victory for me and how far I've come. In March, God willing, I will complete my first half marathon, and I can proudly say, I used to be fat, but not anymore.

faith

Some people say I have too much, some say I fall too hard, and love too deeply. they're usually the ones picking up the pieces when my faith gets the best of me.

I believe in God, I pray every night, but I'm not so sure I would consider myself to be an incredibly religious person. Yes, some of my faith does come from religious virtues, but a lot of it comes in other forms.

A simple good deed done by a stranger, neighbors helping neighbors in good times and in bad gives me faith in humanity.

knowing that no matter what I do, or have done - whether it be rack up some pretty hefty credit card bills, or lying about getting my ears pierced, I've got family and friends who love me unconditionally gives me faith that undying love exists.

I have faith in my dreams and in my future for what lies ahead because of those who have done it before me, do it with me, and for those who stand behind me.

I believe in happy endings, that some dreams really do come true, and the ones that don't make room for new ones. I believe that it's easier to see the good in others, until the bad is just too blinding, and even then sometimes it takes being in complete darkness to really see the light.

my faith is what gets me into trouble, what keeps me going, and what I can't live without.

"a little faith will bring your soul to heaven,

but a lot of faith with bring heaven to your soul."

Monkvember

Diet Coke is my crack. I would rather have a diet coke than anything else to drink; I crave that bubbly goodness.

Patience and Self-Control are both virtues that I do not possess, or at least so I thought. A few weeks ago, my good friend Sarah { Sarah of Goldman/Hines Productions Inc} was telling us about Monkvember. Kind of like lent, but it's a month to not only give up certain things but also to do things that better yourself.

I've never successfully completed lent. I've tried giving up chocolate or swear words, and I find myself eating a piece of chocolate without even thinking about it and them damning myself for doing so, thus ruining lent in one, no pun intended foul swoop. I liked the idea of Monkvember because I saw it more of a challenge than penance.

So my list of Monkvember is:

Limit myself to no more than one Diet Coke a day

Run at least 15 miles a week

Cook at least two legit meals a week

talk to my grandmother at least once a week

Read at least 75 pages

As you can tell by my list I opted for the better yourself choices as opposed to the do without choices. All of the things on my list were carefully picked. They are things that I want to do, but sometimes need an extra push to get them done. Luckily for me, my friends have got my back so if we're out and I go to have another diet coke it's " We're going to tell Sarah" or " haven't you already had a diet coke today". I'm hoping to keep up with my choices even beyond Monkvember.

Half way through with the month and so far each week I have stuck to my Monkvember. I can successfully call myself a recovering diet coke addict at this point. Now, maybe someday I'll work on getting rid of the self tanner.