impact

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I’ve seen people tackle goal-setting in many different ways. Some write down very clear, concise goals and others (like myself) enjoy setting intentions.

This year, I have been thinking long & hard about what I want 2014 to be for me, and what kind of legacy I’d like to leave behind. Who do I want to be this year? What kinds of things do I want to accomplish, and more importantly why?

It got me thinking all the goals I have set for myself over the years (both dreamy + extravagant and simple), and what those goals mean to me. Sure, goals are a great tool for getting sh*t done, but lately I’ve been wanting to go deeper.

I think it’s important to reflect upon WHY you set those goals for yourself in the first place, and what the meaning is behind those goals.

Then there are also those goals you’ve had forever…that you’ve failed to meet. WHY did you set this goal in the first place, and what is holding you back from achieving it? And just as importantly, is it even something that you really desire? These are the questions I’ve been asking myself…and am now … Read More!

Life Wish List

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I recently started a “Wish List” board on Pinterest featuring all things I want, from elegant  yoga-inspired jewelry to the Canon G9 PowerShot camera my sister has that will enable me to take much prettier pictures of food/life/everyday beauty. Perhaps that will finally encourage me to bring out my inner photographer? One can only hope.

During the process of “pinning” I realized I was a little bit constricted as everything I posted were just things, you know objects. And in reality, there are a lot of things on my “wish list” that don’t necessarily have a price tag, a fancy package or a tangible image. There are many things I wish for in life that involve events, actions, and happiness and these are the big things I’d like to focus on this month.

So yesterday during my two-hour bus ride home to Connecticut, I decided to make a list of things I both want and expect from myself. I call it a wish list, but it’s more or less a list of desirable goals I’ve had for myself for a while now and just need to implement.

Here’s What I’ve got on my plate:

Personal Wish List:

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The Road to My First Half Marathon

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[source]

So if you’ve been reading my blog for the past few weeks, you’ve probably seen me mention that I’m training for a half marathon…that is my first half marathon ever. To this date, the farthest I’ve ran is a 10K back in September. But now I am taking it a step further, and am in the midst of training for the More /Fitness Women’s Half Marathon on April 3 in Central Park, NYC! 

I wasn’t really planning on signing of for a half marathon; it just sorta happened. A friend of mine (thanks Pao!) posted the link on my Facebook wall, and at first I thought “HA, that’s crazy,” and went on with my day. Then I clicked on the link for shits ‘n’ giggles and immediately felt inspired. An all women’s race? Sponsored by More Magazine and Fitness Magazine? Right then and there I knew I had to do it. 

I just dove right in, so I wouldn’t have time to look back. I ripped the band-aide off, entered my credit card number and did it. Sometimes in life, that’s the best way to get things done! I also convinced a few other friends … Read More!

Personal Records are the Best Kind of Records

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[Morgan & I pre-race]

Confession: I take my personal records very seriously (in all parts of life), so much that I nearly knocked down ten Santa Clauses and a few men in Speedos to beat mine at yesterday’s Jingle Bell 5K Run. I had my arms flailing, my legs moving faster than ever and I think I even boxed out a few Santas (oops). According to the timer on my iPod, I beat my PR of a previous 27:11 with a record-breaking 27:05. However, according to the online race results, I got 27:15, but I’m going to trust my iPod and celebrate anyway. If I had a clear pathway at the end (sans reindeer, Santas and fat men in Speedos), I totally could have broke 27 minutes. That’s all I’m sayin’. I was on a roll, baby!

But whether my time was 27:05 or 27:15, I am more than proud of myself. I am also ecstatic for my best friend who completed her first ever 5K! She hasn’t ran 3 miles straight in ages, yet finished the entire race like a champ just a little over 30 minutes. (Good job Morgs!) You see, her goal was simply to finish

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November Goals & Feel Better Butternut Squash

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Sorry my post was cut short yesterday with just a recipe. I wish I had a cool story like I was on a hot date, traveling overseas or pampering myself all day, but unfortunately it was quite the opposite. I had a terrible case of …dun dun dun…food poisoning. It was downright awful. For someone who hasn’t thrown up since I was 12-years-old after Oreos (minus that one time in college), it’s safe to say I was in complete misery. All I wanted was to be at home like a little kid where my mom could take care of me and bring me dry toast, crackers, and ginger ale. Well, the morning after my body is still recovering but I can at least get up to write a post, so I figured I’d share with you my November goals. It’s a new month, hence I feel there should be new goals. And if you know me, I’m always making little lists and personal goals for myself, so here goes!

1. To go on a date: Seriously it’s been too darn long. November is going to be the month of love for Rachel. OK, maybe not the month of … Read More!

First 10K=a SUCCESS: 10 Inspirations for Your First Race

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So I completed my first 10K this morning. Yup, the girl who couldn’t even run two miles a few years ago, cried in the middle of a 5K once and has never ran more than five miles ran an entire 6.2 miles today! The best part? I couldn’t have felt more alive, energized and motivated during the race, and feel absolutely amazing now! (Well…my legs could use some hardcore hot tub time, but other than that life is good) Oh and I beat my goal time of 60 minutes…59:34 baby! Anyway, I know first-time races can be a little scary, intimidating and a heck of a lot of work, so I put together a little list of inspirations to get you through your next race. Whether it’s your first 5K, your first 10K or your very first run EVER, these little mental motivations got me through the race today and hopefully work for you too: 

1. “I’m going to pace myself and go at a rate I feel comfortable with and know that I can maintain. If I get tired, I will slow down. If I feel good, I will speed up.”

2. “It’s just me and the road. Everyone Read More!

How to Charge Through a Morning Workout (Or Any Workout) Pain-Free

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I’m a morning person. I always have been. My roommates in college used to envy the fact that I could wake up right when the sun came up perkier than ever. They also used to loathe the fact that I’d stomp around the apartment with my sneakers slamming cabinets and shuffling around pots and pans to make my morning omelet, as they tried to get their beauty sleep (sorry girls!) So yes, I’ll admit that getting up in the morning is a tad easier for me than the average human being.

However, I am not Superwoman and I too have my days where I want to throw my Blackberry out the window as the annoying alarm rings in my ear. Take this morning for instance. I set my alarm for 7:30 a.m. because I wanted to get my morning run over with before the horrendous 100-degree weather hit. However, I was angry when I heard my alarm go off this morning. Not only did it interrupt a good dream (don’t you hate that?) but I also was not ready to get up. So I sat there for a few seconds debating whether I should go back to sleep or not, … Read More!

Make your life all about "me"

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So in the past month I’ve done quite a lot: I’ve lost a few pounds, learned to love running, quit my job to pursue my dream as a writer and dyed my hair brunette. And I have to say it feels pretty darn good. It’s refreshing to make some healthy changes to your life once in a while, and I felt that I was well overdue for some.

Of course I’ve made changes in my life before, but this is the first time that I’ve done all of it for me, myself and I. Yes, while that sounds a little selfish, I think we all need to take some time to live for ourselves once in a while. Not for anyone else. And that’s exactly what I’m doing. My more in shape, running-obsessed, free spirit, brunette self are all things I did for me, things that that define me. I didn’t make any changes for a guy, my family, or a friend for once. This is all about Rachel.

So my advice to you is to break that habit of living for someone else and go out and get what you want. Tackle it and make it your own. … Read More!