Comments on: Sometimes Less Is Best

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 18:52:24 +0000

“Strive for Less.” “Less work”. “Less Stress”. “Just Less”. I love it. I am a full time mom of 2 (well 3 if you count my husband =) active, witty, and energetic boys! I also work full time outside of the home. My workouts are my sanity — even when it means I must fit them in between 5-7am 3-4X/week. Which I have become dedicated to for the last 4 years and still going strong. During these unprecendented and challenging times, I find I am often drawn to my priorities and make decisions about them every day. Those 3 priorities are My Family, My Health, and My Work. In that order — having a busy full time job outside — contstantly makes me think — how do I simplfy? Reading your blog gave me a simple statement to keep reminding me and looking for new ways to “Strive for Less”; and that is a good thing with the right priorities!

By: Anna Hite

Anna Hite — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 13:53:38 +0000

Way to go, Amy! You are one heck of an inspiration for us all. I can’t imagine how hard it is to quit smoking, but schooching athletic endeavors into one’s life, I believe is the key to overcoming virtually anything. That’s why my 41/2 and 6 year olds girls are going to live sports like I did.

I caught the sport bug early on in my life in Colorado Springs. Sadly, although the U.S. Olympic Training Center was there, in the days of my endeavors my sport wasn’t really a focus down there. Sure, the OTC hosted tons of volleyballers, runners, table tennis-ers and even boxers, but no gymnastics. In fact, there weren’t any elite gymnasts in my town at all, although there were several gyms. My mom drove me and my three buddies to the gym 40 minutes away (both ways uphill in the snow…you know the drill!) every day after school. We went to Broadmoor Elementary, then it was into the car for workouts every day of the week from 4-8 pm. To this day, I am convinced that I put my homework under my pillow and it was done for me by homework fairies in the night. Thanks fairies! Dinner was alone every night, and my folks were so supportive that by the time I was 13, they allowed me to answer an ad in International Gymnast for tryouts for Bela Karolyi’s team he was forming at the Univ. of Oklahoma after defecting from Romania. Well, long story short, I made the team and left home at 13 to live with a family of another gymnast in Norman. Although I only stayed 9 mos., the experience was a life-changer for me. Those middle school years are pure hell, but I always had my sports to differentiate me. I didn’t get mucked down in the mire of teenage angst like many of my peers because I was always at the gym! When I got back to Colorado, I continued some gymnastics, but also joined the dive team, played high school tennis on a team full of state champs (not me though!), and of course, resumed skiing my rear end off. The OK experience was sort of extreme, but the importance of instilling confidence through sports is in my veins. Now that I have two wild women of my own who see that sports and exercising are a part of our lives, I’m hoping the gift of being active will serve them well. Long Live Sport!

By: Amy Thomas Buscaglia

Amy Thomas Buscaglia — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 00:00:55 +0000

Wow! Thanks for your thoughtful and generous feedback, ladies. I’m delighted that many of you can relate to and draw encouragement from some substantial nuggets of my life. It’s yet another way that sports can provide a point of sharing, this time among athletic-minded women. I, for one, am grateful for the opportunity to share my experiences with gals like you.

But sharing goes both ways. I want to hear your stories. A few of you have shared a bit in your comments, for which I thank you, but I’m greedy for more. Please, I encourage you to click the “What’s Yours?” link at the end of the article and tell us about the mountains you’ve climbed, the hurdles you’ve leapt over, and how athletics are a meaningful part of your life. Who knows, the next amazing woman featured in this space could be you!

Thanks again for reading and sharing.

-Amy

By: Elaine

Elaine — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 18:46:53 +0000

Count me inspired! I’m 51 years old and working on being able to simply complete a one mile run. This story has given me a role model to envision as I pursue my goal: to run a 5K! Thank you, Amy, for your honesty about the difficulties you have encountered. I have a sense that I’ve turned the corner fitness-wise and I credit this article for it!

By: Mina

Mina — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 03:56:55 +0000

Dallas sounded good to me. It was where Amy began her “quest for less”,
quit smoking, found her competitive drive in her love for running, and became
happy. Not bad! Part I liked best, crossing the finish line first in the stroller
category. I wish I played tennis well enough to join my daughter, Amy, on the
court.

By: Twylia Westling

Twylia Westling — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 18:48:57 +0000

What an inspiring story! I ran the Portland Marathon in 2000 and loved it. I have wanted to do it again, but life has tended to get in the way…but recently I have felt this intense fire to get over myself, to get the message that less is best and to realize that time is precious! Thank you for sharing!

By: Lisa

Lisa — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 15:51:35 +0000

“Strive for less”… I love that. As a mom of two, working part-time and constantly feeling stressed and frantic about getting everything done, I can really see the merit of this idea. I enjoyed your article. Thank you!

By: Vicki Anderson

Vicki Anderson — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 22:48:11 +0000

You make Dallas sound sub-par. Go Cowboys!