Looking back, looking forward

Before the year ends, the crazy duo shares with you the year that was for us hoping it would resonate in some ways with yours and encourage you to also pause, look back and look forward.

Hope you had a merry Christmas and wishing you an xPAIRified New Year! 

Tricia's

With just about a few days left till the year ends, I am pausing to think about how my great Lord blessed me and made my life more than awesome this year.

I am grateful that I have a job that challenges me to strive for excellence and make other other people's  crazy lives a bit  sane. I am grateful for the chance to challenge my self and get into a new sport- running.I am grateful for God's goodness that he has enable me to finish my two marathons, 50km trail run and my first road ultra marathon, I am 100% sure that without him, I would have not been able to finish those races.

I am grateful to rediscover rowing and had the chance to compete again.

I am grateful for the victories I had this year- truly they are cherries on my ice cream.

I am grateful for all the DNF, failures and defeats I had this year which allowed me to think about my goal and reminded me that I need to work a whole lot more.  I value such experiences as they allow me to challenge myself more and toughen me.

I am grateful for the experience to go and see different places, experience their culture and most of all, experience God’s wonderful creation.

I am grateful for the injuries that I had to go thru this year – indeed, my God was reminding me that I am not superman and that I need to take care of my body.

I am grateful for vacations which allowed me to rest and recharge.

I am grateful for opportunities that has come my way which has allowed me to pause and reflect which path the Lord was directing me to go.

I am grateful for friends – the new ones that I’ve met this year and whose company I am enjoying and learning. Also, for the friends that I have since way back – they are angels sent by God.  We may have different likes, schedules, etc. but we all know that we have each other’s back covered at all times.

I am grateful for all my aunts, uncles, cousins as they are always a joy to be with.

I am grateful for my brothers.  We hardly see each other but we all know that we have each other – always! 

God knew from the beginning that if I had a sister, I wouldn’t be as mentally tough, responsible and independent as I am now.

I am grateful for Nanny.  Though, I hardly see her as she’s in the province she still checks on me and makes sure I eat right and get enough sleep (plus the reminder to not get fat!)

I am grateful for my parents who love me unconditionally and accepts that their only daughter is one who loves to live her life a little bit on the edge. 

Life has been great because of what my savior, Jesus has done. I am looking forward with great anticipation for the coming year knowing He is with me and will never leave my side.

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Reylynne's

2014 has been one of the most challenging years for me.

The organization that I worked for suffered from 

shortage of funds that left me with no salary for months which meant a lot for my family since I was one of the bread winners. 

It happened at the same time when I had to look for another place. I had to give up my space in the house where I used to live in for the family of my housemate and good friend because they were severely affected by Yolanda.

It happened at the same time when I discovered I was suffering from a chronic disease called hypothyroidism that caused me to gain weight, feel fatigue and palpitations, experience insomnia and everything that a passionate runner and struggling breadwinner would need.

It happened at the same time when running, the only paradise left in my gloomy world, began to mess up and I had back to back DNFs (did not finish) and bad races.

It felt like hell.

So is there anything I should be grateful for?

YES! A LOT..

Because all these happened at the same time when my friends stood beside me, supported and loved me in ways I never imagined they would; when I learned to be humble and receive help from people around me; when my family understood my situation and loved me just the same; when I was told that I could still run; when I was led to another advocacy and job; when I met an unbelievably generous, kind, supportive, loving and amazing friend who patiently journeyed with me; and the same time when I experienced how God has been there for me, loving me, embracing me, healing me, teaching me - all those time, all the time.

I never felt more loved than when I was in 2014. I had the best birthday party ever- a surprise birthday party planned and set up by a very dear friend with many of my good friends as her cohorts. It was the brightest night I've had in a while. It made me feel alive again.

So yes, 2014 was a year of blessings wrapped in a unique way; a year of discovery- of my vulnerabilities and abilities; of my weaknesses and strengths; of darkness and light; of my self and the people around me; of an angel; of God; of that hope and faith that 2015 would be better.