True Colors

I discovered The Color Run over a year ago, cruising the web for exciting events to fill my run card in 2011-2012. Low and behold, shortly thereafter a San Diego date was announced. Woohoo!!! If you know me at all, you know that I'm basically obsessed with COLOR. It's bursting out of the artwork on my walls, the patterns on my pillows, the curtains on my windows, and the clothes that I wear. LOVE it. SOoooo...what better running experience than to get with your girls and be sprayed, doused, sprinkled and dusted with a fine powdery rainbow? None. SOLD!

I sported a bright pink streak in my hair and one of the retro sweatbands (pictured on my gal pal above), along with a white longsleeve T, black shorts and tiedyed socks to prove my cool factor. Without the timing chips there were plenty of booty shakes and a host of high fives. I have to say, while my idyllic route fantasy of a lush green meadow and a rusty dirt trail did not materialize in the industrial grey parking lot of Qualcomm stadium, being color bombed in this urban setting sort of worked. I played a rockin' soundtrack in my head of Beastie Boys, Beyonce,. and Cyndi Lauper, so if there was an area for improvement it would be MUSIC. We needed it. It CALLED for it! Maybe next time. Until then, I'll be saving my whitest whites for next year's baptism of color.

I Gotta Be Me

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Ever since reading Gretchen Rubin's The Happiness Project, I've been simmering on one of her "commandments". Be Gretchen. The idea is simple, but it was refreshing to hear a personal account of this awful human habit of forcing ourselves to be/like/do things that are simply inauthentic, for the sake of (perceived) approval and acceptance

In the wave of this new appreciation for BEING SARAH, I had to post this pic of model Abbey Lee Kershaw, with gorgeous pink ends. I started changing the color of my hair when I was 13, much to the horror of my mother. For a while it was the L'Oreal color mousse, then I moved to hydrogen peroxide and Sun In (welcome to the '80s!). But for years, I've wanted to have some pink in my hair. Unfortunately, my 9-5 would not appreciate this application of authenticity. Still, there are many more ways to keep true to myself and the lyrics from this little diddy, Hit or Miss by Odetta, serves as a soulful reminder.

Sitting here All by myself Trying to be Everybody else

Can't you see I gotta be me Ain't nobody just like this I gotta be me Baby hit or miss

Sarah's Commandment #1. I Gotta Be Me

Power of Positive Thinking

Image I firmly believe that our thoughts and passions (for better or worse) can be channeled to fruition. However that does not mean I live my life passively, depending solely on optimism, visualization, magic spells and meditation. I'm ready to grab it, and take action, with the following rules guiding my steps:

  • Think positively.

Yes! Think and act with optimism and gratitude, and you will attract the good stuff. The opposite is true if you are negative, bitter, and trapped in your ego.

  • Believe in magic.

BELIEVE. Have faith in what you cannot see.

  • Work hard.

You cannot be lazy and passive. You must act and be proactive. Good things DON'T just happen to those who WAIT. Are you kidding me? Get up.

  • Play well with others.

We need to love our families, respect our neighbors, adore our friends, and tolerate our enemies. It works. The nicer you are, the more amazing the results. I know sometimes it hurts. But try it.

  • Document your dreams.

Write it down. Yes, a vision board is lovely, but it's been proven to me time and again, writing stuff down is so important. Did you know it's been scientifically shown that WRITING your goals (dreams and desires!) contributes greatly to their actualization. This works in combination with accountability and commitment. Shocking! right? Okay, now grab a buddy and get on program.