icicles drip from their eyes

I would like to be the most successful person I know. I'll just come out and say it. However you choose to define success, I think deep down everyone feels that way. But, I do not begrudge other people success or happiness, and frankly it really gets my goat, so to speak, when other people do.
I have people in my life who I know will try to undercut my successes and find joy in my failures. Why are they in my life, do you ask? I have no freaking idea. What I also don't know, is why I find myself adjusting to their wackiness- for instance skimming over the bad stuff that I know they will eat up, and downplaying my glory moments when I really want to shout them from the rooftops.
I understand that everyone has their insecurities and their moments, and sometimes months, of being in a funk when you really try to be happy for someone else succeeding where you can't. But you suck it up and smile through your gritted teeth, because you know that's what friends do. Sometimes that's a little easier said than done, I know. But when this is a constant trend over years and years... well there is no excuse. So what do I do about this? Cut that person out? Call them on it every time in hopes that they smarten up? So much drama...
If you are my friend, or if we are even casual aquaintances in good standing, you have my solemn vow that I will always cheer on your successes and try my best to empathise with your pitfalls, however big or small, and brighten up your day with a stupid joke afterwards. That means I'll have to come up with a few new ones, cause nearly everyone has heard the elephant joke... But that's a small price to pay for friendship. :)

Somehow that's neither here nor there

A few weeks ago I decided to run a 5k. I've wanted to for a while, but never really thought I could do it. I've always been a good sprinter, never much of a distance runner. But, believing in the mantra that you can do anything you put your mind to, I decided to pick a race and sign up, so I'd have a goal to work towards. So I did- and for the last 2 weeks I've been training. Today I hit a milestone- and I'm pretty excited about it. Probably more than I should be. :) I finally bought a sports watch so I could time myself and work on my pace. Right now I'm doing about 2.25 miles each time I run, and thanks to my new watch I've discovered that my current pace is just over 9 minutes/mile (approx 9:08). Obviously I have a long way to go... but my inital time goal is 35 minutes for the 5k- if I can keep up this pace as I increase my distance I should be able to do it easily. Yay!

Like I said, probably more excited than I should be. But it's a big deal for me. I'm actually really starting to enjoy running- that's something I never thought I'd say. But there is something so peaceful and intimate about it. Maybe intimate is the wrong word... but I can't think of a better one at the moment. Right now I am enjoying it WAY more than the gym stuff that I've been doing for the last couple years.

It's the little victories in life... :)