8k run....Shamrock Shuffle

My day started this morning with an 8k run in the windy city of Chicago. This was actually my friend Amanda's idea and since i like to run regularly i thought why not...sign me up! here in Chi city you never know what the weather will be. Everyone knows the weatherman is wrong 90% of the time, so when they were calling for snow i wasn't holding em to it. Amanda however prepared full force and bought out the entire Under Armour store, lol (well close to it, she was dressed in it from head to toe). I did go and get myself a pair of gloves from there because i had an incident back in January where i got frost bite during my morning run...so needless to say it was time i invest in a solid pair of winter running gloves. As we drove into the city and sat in traffic on Michigan Ave, Amanda kept sayin "i can't believe we are doing this, it's so cold out!" "Kas, what if i don't make it?".."I'm so nervous, i haven't ran 5 miles since December!" The poor thing was freakin out( she is the cutest damn chick too) i reassured her she would be fine, and that i wouldn't leave her behind, EVER. So we got in line at the 10 min mile mark...There must have been thousands of people. This is however the biggest 8k in the world ya know :) As i look around at everyone i start to wonder why are they here? Do they really just love to run? Are they running in remembrance of a lost loved one? Was this something on their "bucket list"? Do they love St. Patty's Day that much and run so they can get that free beer at the finish line (no joke ya'll..there was beer at the finish line, am i the only one that thinks this is bizarre??, lol) There were people of all ages, amazing really. At one point Amanda looked over at a man who must have been 80 somethin and said to me "ok, if he can run this then i think i will be ok. lol" I have been in an organized walk before for breast cancer and mother's day but this was my first run. So here we go....all lined up and ready to go! Music..check, chewing gum..check, gloves and hat..check, shoes tied..check, lol. Thankfully it was not snowing nor raining, just cold. Eventually you warm up after the first mile so really it's no biggie as long as it's dry in the sky. As 'im running, weaving between people, checkin on AB to make sure i see her pretty face next to me, i notice one thing...there sure are a LOT of different asses out there (hahah! i mean peoples rear ends of course) So many shapes and sizes, from big to small, firm to a little jiggly, heart shaped to tear drop shaped, uplifted to saggy, wide to narrow( ok, ok, you get the point) I mean really though, i had nothing else to stare at for the next 45 minutes, so i just couldn't' help but truly examine what's out there in this world. Then i started to wonder what does my ass look like to the dude behind me right now? of course I'm hoping he thinks it's tight, bubbly and just plain old cute ;) lol. So everything was going great til my shoe lace came undone at the 4mile mark. However, i was NOT about to stop to tie it now with only a mile left. Heck no, i kept my happy feet shufflin all the way to the finish line. We ended up crossing at46min40sec. Not bad, but that just gives me a new goal for next time. So i cannot begin to tell you how happy my girl AB was that she finished in such good time, without stoppin or slowing down. I was excited as well, but to tell you the truth, my happiness came from seeing that smile of achievement on her face. I always feel as good as Amanda did when i run weekly. But today was different. Because i ran with so many different people, who all ran for their own personal cause. It felt like we were all connected. Like we were all there for the same reason. Achievement!! I swear there is nothing like that rewarding feeling that makes you so happy you can't stop smiling :) Amanda's happiness made me happier, and everyones support on the side lines made me feel important. So whatever the reason all of us thousands of people decided to run 5 miles today, it was an overall empowering experience, and i can't wait to do it again! ( so , the funniest thing is that once you complete a run you just wanna sign up for another one without thinking twice, which could be trouble seeing how the next few runs of the year are longer and longer distances, yikes! good thing i didn't jump to any forms just yet, hahah)
So i leave you with this...next year if you are not busy the weekend after St. Patty's Day come join me for a quick 5mile run through the fascinating city of Chicago. Wheather it will be on the side lines cheering me on, or next to me dressed in Under Armour attire. I promise you that the feeling you will get is so positive that it will stay with you forever. Don't ever doubt yourself until you try. Don't give up without a fight. The sence of accomplishment is something that can't be taken away from you. And it helps make you a stronger person! live well, and RUN!!!

The show must go on....

It's been a while since i have blogged any thoughts to you all...and that is solely because i have sooooooo much on my mind that i don't even know where to begin! My life is a bit of a roller coaster these days. I'm 28 years old and i am about to start round two of the fabulous life of Kasia. It ain't over til the fat lady sings ya'll, haha.
Did you ever think you had it all planned out? Well i did, until a curve ball came my way January 1st 2010. People change, so just when you think you know someone and trust someone.... be very careful. Two and a half years ago i never would have imagined i would be sitting here blogging, with a For Sale sign in my front yard, in an almost empty beautiful single family house. i was sure this would be where i would start a family. I could have given you names of children that i imagined would sleep in the two smaller rooms next to the master bedroom. I have a deck so big that it can hold two patio sets and two grills and still have room for a chase i can lay on to get a tan on those hot summer days. I have a walk in closet and a bathroom that connects right to my room (if you have ever lived in a small Chicago apartment, you know this is a big deal, lol). My oak staircase that i decorate in lights and garland at Christmas time is what i have always dreamed i would have one day in a home. Yep...my house made me happy very happy actually.... but relationship did not. My marriage fell apart after two and a half years. Things like this aren't planned or expected. How quickly things change is still unbelievable to me. i am learning a lot while i go through this divorce. Learning about myself and about the person i though i was going to have a life with here in this home. I am growing stronger everyday from all of this chaos. Because as the saying goes...WHAT DOESN'T KILL YOU ONLY MAKES YOU STRONGER. I have no room for fear in my life right now. For fear is only a sign of weakness. I am not weak nor will i let anyone make me think that i am anymore. As i start to empty out of my life all negative people, i will only leave room for the positive and optimistic ones. I have realized that this house is not my home, and therefore i am ready to say goodbye. I have not gone this far in life just to have someone think that i will now fail. this just gives me the ammunition to succeed even more. I now have higher goals then i ever had. There is nothing wrong with wanting to be happy and that's the road I'm headed for. I don't care if i end up in a one bedroom basement apartment for a while when this house sells..because at least i know i am doing it on my own. I will survive this and end up on top no matter what!! I have the best support system anyone can ask for. I have my health and i have the strength from God to keep going. This is so far one of the hardest things i have ever had to go through.....But it's just a bump in my road of life ( well more like a mountain really, lol) My mother always taught me to be independent..and i have her to thank for my success thus far. She s my angel and she doesn't even realize it.
If you have ever thought that you had it all figured out and then things didn't go your way, or plans got destroyed... don't be discouraged. Just think of it as another opportunity. Another chance to show what you are made of. Some people don't get second chances in life and some don't bother trying to make a change with the life they have.Well not me, I'm not about to give up now. I will not settle and watch my life just pass me by (cuz we all know it goes by too fast) So if you are unhappy and feel like you are worth more, then make it happen. Only you have the power to make that change happen.
I will leave you with words of encouragement because that is what i live by. Positive attitudes get positive results. Put a smile on your face and you will feel better. Give someone a compliment and you will see that you will get one back. Believe that it will be ok..and it WILL be ok!
Well, it's late and i need my beauty rest. The gym is calling my name at 6am tomorrow. So goodnight for now and always remember "The show must go on.."

Sisters

So i don't think i have introduced to you all my sister Ania yet. Well let me tell you a few things...she is my 15 month older sister and one of my best friends.
If i told you that i had the best childhood because of her you probably wouldn't believe me. Most people think that sisters fight all the time or are competitive with one another, maybe even jealous of each other...well not here! Me and my sis have been there for each other since i could remember. We were both born in Poland (the highlands to be exact) but raised in America. So you can imagine two little foreign girls in a mostly Latin neighborhood (back of the yards) trying to think we know how to speak English as well as the rest, lol...yea, we made up a lot of words.
Ania was my protector since i have been born. When i was learning how to potty train she let me push her off the toilet just so i could get on. When i was in 3rd grade and some kid whacked me with a 2 by 4 on the top of my head, she showed em who was boss. When i was afraid of the trick or treaters who wanted to spray shaving cream on us, she held my hand so we could both RUN LIKE HELL!! When i was too timid to place an order at McDonald's she slready knew what i wanted and ordered for me. When i had my heart broken for the first time, she wanted to kick that sorry boys ass, lol. When i ( well more like WE) got drunk for the first time and had such bad hangovers that we actually thought it was our last day on earth...she made sure Mom and Dad didn't find out. When i drove without a lisence, got arrested and gave the cop her lisence, she didn't even think twice about what i did and came to bail me out. When i decided to quit college and pursue my passion as a hairstylist, she was my number 1 client and still is my number 1 supporter of it. When i would have a bad fight with my boyfriend she was there listening to sad songs and cry with me. When i got married she became the world's best wedding planner (while having kids and a hubby to worry about...i truly wouldn't have had the wedding i did without her). And now thru my divorce, when i need her the most...she lives hundreds of miles away and still manages to be there in a matter of a second. Whether it is thru a text or phone call, or a package, she is my rock. I truly hope she knows how much she has helped me in my life. My sister is amazing in so many ways. I wish this little blog can express to her even a smidge of how much love and gratitude i have for her. Because honestly i don't even think words can do me justice right now. My brother-in-law is truly the luckiest man on earth to get to have what i had beside me for so many years. Cherish her my brotha...if you are reading this. So as if she hasn't done enough for me..i forgot to mention that she has given me two great gifts in life, my nephew Paul and my niece Nadia. I love you!!!
So this one' s for my sista!! For all that have a sister out there, if she has been to you what Ania has been to me...Tell her how you feel, because you never know when it can be too late. My sister had a cancer scare when she was 18...had a couple of surgeries and is just fine, but that was probably one of the worst times in my life. To see her in pain, was unexplainable. So i think to myself, that the stress i am going through now doesn't even compare to what she went through at those times. She makes me believe in myself like no other and with her by my side i will get through everything just fine...THANK YOU my darling ( did i mention how beautiful she is??) my "twin", my all. I LOVE YOU more than you will ever know
your little sister, KAS

Love...

ahhh, Love> what a wonderful thing isn't it? It's the only unexplainable act left on earth. Because really...can you explain to me why we fall in love? Why we fall out of love? Why we have no control over love? Why love hurts? Why love feels amazing? I ponder these thoughts and can't come up with an explanation for any. Because LOVE just happens.......
I love, Love. I think it can be the most incredible thing that one person can feel for another. Do you remember that Young Love, when you liked a boy and you didn't know if he liked you back? lol, I just told my girl AB this today. It was so much easier to have your friend talk to the boy for you so you can save yourself the embarrassment in case he doesn't like you back. Love was so easy then. As we get older we experience a First Love....the one that might possibly break your heart in so many pieces that you think you can never mend it back together again. You think that you are ruined FOREVER( and become so dramatic about it) and nothing or no one can possibly make it ok. Yep we have all been there haven't we? hahhaha That first love can also be the one that you end up marrying and live happily ever after with (in a fairytale that is....lol) Moving right along to a True Love. Yes this is the one ya'll...the one that is your soul mate, your best friend, your perfect lover, your everything. This is the one that i think exists for us all. I believe there is a true love out there for everyone, but not all of us are lucky enough to stumble upon that person. For those who do...you are truly lucky people. Waking up and going to bed with the person you can call your soul mate is really a blessing. When your heart is fulfilled in such a way that you can't imagine anyone else in it, you know that you are going to be happy growing old with each other. I'm not saying that love isn't a battlefield...But when it's worth the fight on that field, then you know it's real.
I wonder to myself is it better to be in love and not be loved in return? Or to be loved and not love in return? Hard question to answer isn't it? you can sit and think about it for hours, and no answer will make sense...because love sometimes doesn't make sense.
I really do love Love...as crazy and unexplainable as it may be! I can sit here drinking my tea with a candle lit next to me and just blabber away about what i think and feel about love (but that would make you get bored and want to read someone elses blog, LOL) So i am going to end my thoughts here...
So let me ask you this... do you believe in True love?