About this blog

Why SoPossible’?  I often goof around with my son by doing horrible impressions.  One day, I told him I loved him.  His response was “I love you more.”  I turned to him and in my best worst French accent said “IMPOSE-BLE’!!!”  He simply looked at me and said “SO Possi-ble’!”  This became our “thing” day after day.  I twist my imaginary mustache and keep making my bad french accent even worse.

When I decided to do the triathlon, I was telling my son about how they would write my number on me with markers so they could identify me on the swim portion.  I told him I wanted him to write something on my hand.  Something that I could look down and see when I needed some encouragement during the race.  We decided on “SoPossible’!”  It would serve two purposes.  It would remind me that it was so very possible to finish the triathlon.  It would also serve as reminder of my son’s love.  It was perfect.

I had been writing blog posts in a document and dating them because I knew I wanted to start a blog but I had no idea what to call it or what to do with it.  It all just seemed to come together.  I searched up the name and so it began.

My original purpose for this blog was to put myself out of my comfort zone.  I’ve been doing that for about a year now, and came to realize that even when I fail, it pays off.  There will be more on that in the “about me” part below.  Then I realized, it’s more than that.  Yes, putting information about myself out to the world is definitely taking me out of my comfort zone but there are so many things I can do with this blog!  For one, as my son gets older he can read through his mom’s “adventures.”  He may learn a thing or two about me that he would not have otherwise.  That sounds crazy at first, since we talk every day, but how often do I tell him my hopes and fears?  Probably not often enough.  He might learn a few things that embarrass me too, which I am sure he will enjoy!  And, if ever the day comes that I am no longer here, he can read through these posts and remember.

As I mentioned, it’s been a year of putting myself out of my comfort zone.  If there is just one reader out there that reads any of my posts and it encourages them to do something amazing for themselves, well then that alone would make me glad I did this.

About Me

This is so uncomfortable for me.  I am a very private person.  I often ask myself why I am doing this blog.  If you have never written an “about me,” I highly suggest you do.  Go ahead, this page should be here when you get back….  ok either you did that and came back (thanks), or you called me out on trying to get your focus somewhere other than on me (gee, thanks).

So, about me.  My name is Cristina, but most people just call me Cris.  I am headed into my forties feeling better than I can ever recall feeling in my adult life.  I have an amazing husband (Darin) and son (D2).  (You will hear about them often if you come back for more.)  I call most things like I see them, and most people would say I am a smart ass.   I’m a self proclaimed Star Wars nerd, and geek in general.  I love to read and love my boys more than anything.

Most of my friends and family would attest to the fact that I generally can’t stand social media.  I have a Facebook account, but I was more of a voyeur than a poster.  I have an Instagram account but only share with my son and husband (until now).  All that is going to change with this new venture in blogging and that both terrifies and excites me.

About two years ago, I started gradually making some major changes in my life.  I was working in a job that made me miserable.  I didn’t like the way I looked or felt and could not figure out why or what to do about it.  I decided to see a psychologist and get a professional opinion.  I was told I was suffering from depression.  I didn’t fully understand what that meant, I just knew I didn’t like it.

After a few long sessions, the doctor told me that I had two options.  I could make some major changes in my life, or I could get on meds.  My response was “seriously!?”  Yup.  He said that everything I told him stemmed back to my job and my devotion to that, and neglect of everything else.  I was terrified!  Don’t get me wrong, medication is needed when it is needed but I certainly didn’t want to medicate to numb myself if there was another option.

I took some time to really start to observe my daily life.  This is something I recommend everyone do.  I literally started trying to track when I was happy and when I was completely miserable.  I realized that the bad times were way more than the good.  My psychologist put it well. He said I was putting everyone’s wants over my needs.  I also realize that I was sacrificing my and my family’s true happiness for a paycheck.  I knew I needed to make a change.

After long discussions with my husband and son about what leaving this very high paying job would do to our finances, they both agreed it was what needed to be done.  It just so happened that shortly after that discussion, something went down at work and that was the last straw.  I did it.  I quit my job.

So many feelings came over me in those next few days.  Regret.  I made a lot of money, spent a lot of money and was now going to be out of a job.  Guilt.  How could I have put my feelings over everyone else’s?  Pride.  I did it!  I really quit!  Uncertainty.  I had done that job for over thirteen years.  What was I going to do?! I was beating myself up.  It took a while to finally get through all those feelings.

I eventually found a new job in a totally new line of work.  It pays half what I was making before, but every day I go to work and I’m not full of dread anymore.  I leave work for the day and don’t give work a second thought.  We are able to pay the bills and are still able to take vacations.  Things have changed for the better.  We have a greater appreciation for what we have, and my husband says that he got the “old me” back.

Since then, I changed my diet, lost some weight and started running.  I eventually decided to get a bike to have a lower impact exercise that would help me be a better runner.  Somewhere along the line, I got the crazy idea to do a triathlon.  Oh, and a marathon.  Mind you, the most I have done is a half marathon, but hey I am putting myself out of my comfort zone!

So, I am documenting my journey and training experiences.  I am doing that for me but as I mentioned earlier, if it helps someone else, I would be thrilled.  I don’t have the most amazing story to tell, I am just an average mom trying to start putting myself first sometimes (as hard as that is).  In the end, it’s just like the flight attendant tells you:  If the pressure changes, put on your mask and make sure you can breathe before you try to help someone else. 🙂