We're Only Half-Crazy

Around June I suggested running the Disney Princess Half-Marathon to my mom. Completing one was on both of our bucket lists. If we are going to run one, we decided we might as well make a vacation out of it and run with Disney princesses.

Over the last five months we have been training. It wasn't always fun, and it wasn't always easy.

The next photos were taken after a ten mile Christmas run and a 6 1/2 mile run in the rain.

I'll admit that I have never been a huge fan of running. Leaving for the race (at 3:30 am), we shared a cab with a woman who is a serial marathoner. She said they are addictive. I just smiled, keeping my opinion that she must be crazy to myself.

As it turns out, she might be right.

Couples old enough to be my grandparents were dressed as Cinderella and Prince Charming. Four sisters who ran next to us had a brother who came and surprised them at the finish line with a carriage. People who did not even know anyone in the race were holding signs saying things like, "Hey stranger, I don't know you, but I'm proud of you!"

So much pride and energy surrounds a marathon. My mom realized that earlier than I did. She was crying before the race even started.

She cried after, too. Crossing the finish line with my mom is one of the greatest memories I will ever have-- we even had our own personal cheerleader (my dad definitely deserves a shout out for his support and superb foot massages). How could I not want to repeat that?

Two Weeks Notice

"Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be."-John Wooden

The past couple of weeks I have been trying to decide if moving to Nashville is the right decision for me. I would be leaving the security of a job with excellent benefits, my family and the city I have known all my life.

While the thought of leaving my family and missing my nephews play basketball certainly makes me want to cry (and did during a weak moment leaving a game last week), I don't want to be the person who stays somewhere forever due to the fear of failure while stuck in a stagnant career. I want to be the person who takes risks, makes changes and is able to tell crazy stories about my adventures when I get old and gray.When I went to Nashville three years ago, I fell in love with this bench. I always said if I ever lived there, this spot would be my second home. It looks like it will.

I turned in my two weeks notice this morning fully ready to start a new chapter of my life. 615, I'll see you soon.

What I Wish They Taught in Business School

I just had my one year anniversary at my current job. It made me start thinking about what I have learned while working here. I also thought about what I learned throughout my four years at UT and how I have actually applied that knowledge in my current position. Here's what I figured out:

1. Business school should require all students to take psychology and sociology classes. I have come to realize that to be successful in a business environment, the ability to communicate to all employees and adapt your communication efforts on an individual and group basis is just as important, if not more so, than knowledge and abilities.
   
2. They should teach you how to operate a deluxe copy machine. I know this sounds crazy, but I didn't know how to fax, scan, add ink, etc. to this gigantic printing machine in the copy room. I could have developed the Theory of Relativity, but without this secretarial knowledge, I would still have been viewed as a moron.
3. They should tell you to have a candy dish and to keep it stocked. It's the fastest way to make friends, I'll tell ya. Beware though, run out of candy and they sometimes get angry.
4. They should tell all students that Casual Friday does not mean wrinkled jeans and tennis shoes--no matter what anyone tells you. We have had several interns who come in on a Friday in just that, and it is bad news. Luckily, I was raised by a man who wore a tie no matter the day and a woman who always wears a blazer. I didn't have to learn this lesson the hard way.
5. They should tell you to hang interesting, meaningful things in your office. I currently have a large painting of a magnolia by my favorite artist, my grandmother, directly behind my desk. It always sparks conversation on local artists, the movie/play Steel Magnolias, etc. I also have a photo with Warren Buffett, UTK memorabilia and three framed quotes displayed. Having my office decorated with personal things certainly creates easy conversation. It also just makes me happy to come to work.

You know how I was able to convince a colleague to take that picture of me holding up the #1 sign? Bribed her with candy. Business students should seriously be learning this stuff.

Holiday Wrap-Up

I had the best Christmas and New Year's I remember in a long time.

Unusual gifts that express a person's individuality and eccentricities are the best. My Christmas was full of them:

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This is a ring crafted from a man through Etsy. It's the symbol of the Deathly Hallows from Harry Potter. It's also small enough to fit my child-sized fingers. Another plus.

And I got to eat red velvet pancakes Christmas morning before a 10 mile run with my mom.Post run.

I don't think a better Christmas day has ever existed.

While I love Christmas, I am not a fan of New Year's. At all. For some reason it always ends up an emotion-filled disaster. Not this year though. I stayed in, turned off my phone, ate fondue and watched movies with my family. It was perfect.

In case you're wondering about my New Year's resolutions, they are to be more open and honest with others, have a little more adventure and less caution and wear red lipstick more often.

I hope y'all had a happy Christmas and fabulous New Year's.

The Time to Be With People You Love

Christmas is the time. I watched Love Actually last night with my parents, and this was quoted several times throughout the movie: Christmas is the time to be with people you love. I couldn't agree more.

Inevitably, each Christmas I am asked what I want this year. I never have a good answer. I hate knowing what I get, and I don't need anything. If I ever do, I'm the type to just buy it myself. Only live once, right?

After the movies (we watched The Family Stone, too), we sat around, sang, and danced to music from my dad's iPad.

When I finally crawled (I ran 8 miles yesterday, so crawling is pretty accurate) into bed, I realized I had my answer to the yearly question. I want as many last nights, filled with singing, dancing, movies and people I love, as I can possibly squeeze into one lifetime.

I wish this for you, too.

Keely the Elf

I love Christmas. It gives me the opportunity to listen to Christmas music without people looking at me like I'm crazy. It also gives me a chance to answer phone calls from fellow employees with the greeting, "Keely the elf, what's your favorite color?" Not a single person has actually told me a favorite color. It doesn't matter, I still get a kick out of it.

In case you aren't sure where I got the idea, it's from the movie Elf. It's just one movie on my holiday to-watch list:
1. Love Actually (multiple times)
2. The Family Stone
3. Elf
4. The Santa Clause
5. Four Christmases
6. Miracle on 34th Street
7. The Holiday

I plan on watching all of these before the 25th. If you want to get in the Christmas spirit, you should, too. Happy watching!

Thankful

I realize Thanksgiving was six days ago, so this post is late, but I try to avoid technology when I am around family.

I am thankful every day. I have family and friends who I trust, love and respect; I have a job and am able to be entirely independent; I have an apartment with a spare bedroom so that I can have my family and friends come visit; I still get to work at Fossil and be around such special people while fully enjoying the discount; I get to grow and learn about anything and everything even after graduation; I live close enough to work that I can go home for lunch and squeeze in an episode of a favorite show; I get to see my nephews play in almost every basketball game they have; I am healthy enough to be able to train for a half-marathon, even if I don't always enjoy it; I wake up happy.

I am the luckiest girl in the world, and I am so very thankful.