thankful – Sherri Ross

Tag: thankful

18
Nov
2013

All I need is me and my girlfriend

Note: I’m not sure why this post didn’t publish yesterday from my iPad, but it didn’t so here it is a day late, but I’m still counting it because I wrote it YESTERDAY. lol.

Today’s #bloglikecrazy writing prompt is about celebrating friendship. Though I’m not single (and a lot of my girlfriends aren’t either), I’ve loved this song since the 90s and still feel this way today:

Growing up I got along better with guys than girls. Girls were catty, manipulative, superficial, and cliquish. Guys didn’t seem to have those hang ups, at least not that I saw. I had a few very close female friends and, thankfully, still have a few from childhood to this day. And as we got older and matured, I found out that girls became less cliquish outside of school and more open to new friends.

Since graduating, I have formed an impenetrable circle of women around me that have proven time and again they are true friends. I started with a small group in Montgomery around 1996 and we’re still tight today, including the few I grew up with during school and all my adopted moms. Once I moved to Virginia, I gathered a few more into the fold and miss them everyday. Since moving back to Alabama, that circle has grown exponentially and I’ve got the greatest group of girlfriends that one could ask for.

Every group from my history brings something different to the table and I feel well-rounded and complete with them in my life. I know exactly who to go for during certain situations and when advice is needed. These women have helped me blossom from a young, immature girl into a focused, intelligent woman who values friendship more than most things.

With that being said, thank you to all my girls who have seen me through tough times, given me a place to live, a bed to sleep on, help when I’m in trouble, support and encouragement when I have a hare-brained idea or need a shoulder, pushed me to do more outside of my comfort zone, and have given me more laughs than I can count. (I really should have six pack abs as much and as hard as I’ve laughed with them. Go figure!)

You all are a huge part of my life and world – I wouldn’t be where I am today without you. For you girls: (note: adult language)

Love yourself.
Find peace inside.
Share happiness.

28
Jan
2013

Monday Funday (Thank You!)

categories: birthday

I’ve had the most wonderful day. It started with glitter hair spray (again) and gold glitter ballet flats. Those just put a gal in a great mood, ready to take on whatever the world might throw her way on a Monday. Then I received an email notification that my dad had contributed to my Birthday Bike-O-Rama Begathon. WOO HOO! Thank you, Daddy-O! You have no idea how much I appreciate the support and love – I know you’d rather me try out a cheaper bike to make sure I like it and it’s going to “stick” – as any parent would. But, even with that logical concern, he donated and proved, once again, that he’s Father of the Year. After that, quite a few of my wonderful friends followed suit like Mary Jean, Randall, Robin, Wade, Jennifer, and Clair not to mention Cyndi, Bill, Lauren, Erika, Suzy, and Emily who kicked things off. My heart is about to burst from the love I am radiating and the gratefulness I am feeling right now. Not to mention that I did 2 workouts today so am pretty shredded and STILL feeling wonderful inside and out. Thank you! I will post more about the workouts and weight on Weight Lost Wednesday, but it’s going very well. And the bike momentum is definitely pushing me even harder to GET FIT and RIDE THAT BIKE! If you would like to contribute, here is the link: http://www.youcaring.com/help-a-neighbor/Birthday-Wish-A-Bike-/39870

Any money raised over the bike and helmet costs will be donated to the Crisis Center of Birmingham, one of the most wonderful organizations in our city.

Hugs to you. Sweetest dreams!

Love yourself.
Find peace inside.
Share happiness.

21
Jan
2013

Ride Like the Wind

categories: birthday

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rowdykittens/8335280678/in/photostream/ — Image by Rowdy Kittens via Flickr/Creative Commons

In honor of my goal #3 for 2013 – and my birthday wish fundraiser – here are the lyrics to one of my favorite songs – “Ride Like The Wind” by Christopher Cross. It is even more pertinent now, even though I’m not going to Mexico. 😉

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank my first two supporters – Emily from Magic City Post and Erika E. Ladies, I can’t thank you enough for kick starting this fundraiser. You both get tons of hugs from me, bike rides galore, something handmade by me, and a link in the sidebar of my blog. If you can think of anything else you might like, just let me know. It’s yours!

And with that, I leave you on this “Blue Monday”. Come on, be honest, was it really that blue? I think not! It was a glorious day to serve in the MLK Day of Service, more of which will be in a post to come.

Ride Like The Wind
by Christopher Cross

It is the night
My body’s weak
I’m on the run
No time to sleep
I’ve got to ride
Ride like the wind
To be free again

And I’ve got such a long way to go
To make it to the border of Mexico
So I’ll ride like the wind
Ride like the wind

I was born the son of a lawless man
Always spoke my mind with a gun in my hand
Lived nine lives
Gunned down ten
Gonna ride like the wind

And I’ve got such a long way to go
To make it to the border of Mexico
So I’ll ride like the wind
Ride like the wind

Accused and tried and told to hang
I was nowhere in sight when the church bells rang
Never was the kind to do as I was told
Gonna ride like the wind before I get old

It is the night
My body’s weak
I’m on the run
No time to sleep
I’ve got to ride
Ride like the wind
To be free again

And I’ve got such a long way to go
To make it to the border of Mexico
So I’ll ride like the wind
Ride like the wind

Love yourself.
Find peace inside.
Share happiness.

06
Jan
2013

The Beginning of the End

categories: 2013, goals, weight

First of all, I cannot thank you all enough for your comments, e-mails, texts, and phone calls yesterday after I revealed my biggest skeleton. The outpouring of support and love that I received throughout the day brought me to tears more than once. I am, however, a total sap so it wasn’t a long trip. I have realized that I’m full of love that I want to share with everyone. And yesterday showed me that you all are exactly the same and your words meant the world to me. I carried them with me all night and am still thinking about them. I am forever touched by your kindness and encouragement. I have the greatest team of friends and family behind me and I can’t wait to get started. I want to show you all, but more importantly myself, that I CAN do anything and I will. I hope you will join me for this ride. It will be bumpy and there will be bad days and setbacks, but there will be far more happy days and success stories.

Secondly, yesterday we were to revamp our ‘About’ page on our blog as part of See Jane Write’s 31 Days to a Better Blog challenge. I have done just that and you can find my new page here. Please let me know what you think and if you have any input, ideas, or edits, I welcome them. I love feedback and it helps me learn.

Lastly, we were to redesign our header image. That’s going to take me a bit longer as I am still thinking about it…deciding what should be reflected in my new image..my new me. We are changing everyday – hopefully for the better – and growing inside our skin. I am not the person I was at 18, 25, or even 35 (two years ago). I’ve evolved so much in the past few years thanks to reflection, hurdles, love, and friends that guide me through thick and thin. This is the beginning of the end of my old self. As many of you noted in yesterday’s comments, we are not defined by a number, but rather what’s inside. I will always be me on the inside – goofy, youthful, intellectual, talented, loving, happy – but I assure you that the outside is changing. And so I’m letting it go….the end of old Sherri’s limitations. I am going for it – everything I’ve ever wanted. I am going to lose the weight, I am going to start a business or non-profit in Birmingham to help the city I love so much, I am going to get as involved as humanly possible with people, events, fitness, writing, charities…everything this city has to offer. As my dear friend Sarah said to me yesterday, “We got this!” She’s never been more right (and she’s right a lot). 😉

Tomorrow is the start of my first planned week of 4+ work out days at Iron Tribe Fitness. Wish me luck! And I’m sending lot of luck and love out to you with your new slate. Let me know how you’re doing with your goals…writing, fitness, professional, whatever you’re working toward. Keep me updated on your progress and share your strengths and weaknesses. We are in this together and I’m here to help you with yours just as I know you’re here to help me with mine.

We got this!

Love yourself.
Find peace inside.
Share happiness.

23
Nov
2012

How You Like Me Now?

categories: mantra, music

Ayeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! How was your Thanksgiving? Mine was FANTABULOUS! We had a delicious lunch with my dad’s side of the family in Clanton (our norm) and spent time teasing my uncle, playing with tots and teens, and giving my dad and brother heck for anything and everything. I love Thanksgiving. lol! Then we had friends come up for the weekend from Mobile and grilled out another fabulous feast last night. We were all asleep by 9 p.m. It wasn’t the tryptophan…there was no turkey at any of the tables. It was ALL mashed potatoes. My mashed potatoes. With goat cheese. You’re welcome. 😉

Now the boys are playing Call of Duty and Black Ops on the Xbox (friend brought his up…I’ve never really seen or played with one before) and his wife and I are geeking out on laptops and tablets. It’s been a wonderful Thanksgiving already and the weekend has just started. We love these friends and consider them family. I met them through Daniel and they’ve been along for the ride ever since he and I met. We couldn’t ask for better (or more sarcastic – yay!) friends and we adore them. It’s wonderful to spend the holidays with friends and family you hold dear to your heart. I hope you all got to do the same.

Today’s #bloglikecrazy writing prompt makes me soooooo happy! It’s ‘Music Mantra.’ I can tell you right now what my Music Mantra is and has been for a few years now…”How You Like Me Now?” by The Heavy. I first latched on to this song when I was interested in moving back to Alabama (from Northern VA/DC) and landed my current job. It was the first one I interviewed for, it was an amazing opportunity with a great company, and when I found out I got it I was beside myself. As a matter of fact, I was in the car driving home from work when they called to tell me and as soon as I got into my apartment complex I pulled over, got out of the car, and did a happy dance in the parking lot. Then I finished the drive to my apartment, went inside, and squealed and yelled for a good 10 minutes. Then I called everyone I know. I heard the song the next day on the way to work and THAT.WAS.IT. It was mine. I still consider it my song and if I’m ever having an off day or not feeling great about myself or my achievements, I fire it up and I’m instantly transported to that day and time and how amazing I felt about. I also cranked it up to 10 in the car on the way out of Virginia the day I moved back to Alabama. Here you go…crank it up!

Love yourself.
Find peace inside.
Share happiness.

(Author’s note: I will admit that I haven’t listened too closely to all the lyrics or looked them up. I enjoy the chorus and that’s what I use for my mantra – just in case the lyrics are less than stellar. lol.)