spiritiality on a stairmaster... I re-learned something about myself today. That being that physical activity is essential to my inner-dialogue. It's important in my inner-reflection, not to mention an ultimate calming and cleansing effect on my body and mind. I used to take long walks over my lunch break back when I was a paralegal. These walks were important times for me and it seems important things come into my mind while I'm either walking or pushing myself on the stairmaster. I remember lots of inner-struggles. Oftentimes during my workouts, I spend a lot of energy trying NOT to cry.

Yesterday I worked out over lunch and again felt the urge to pray. I think I talked to God for at least 15 minutes while I climbed. There were some things I needed to get off my chest, but more importantly, I needed to express thanks for everything I'm lucky enough to have. I'm trying to get the words to explain how different my life is today than it was one year ago. If you remember, it was about this time last year when my world turned completely upside-down. But out of that chaos I've been given many gifts. The most important, though, being my husband and my daughter. Nothing will ever again come close to being as meaningful as these gifts. Every day I fall more in love with both of them. Here, protected and safe in the middle of the United States. While at this very moment, war in Bahgdad. But we have taken over...

I started out opposed to this war, but have since changed my mind. Those people need to be freed from Saadam and his aweful sons. I learned this weekend that in addition to the "torture clinics", Saadam's hideous sons also run "rape camps." So why, now, are we opposing this war? Do we really think we can come to any sort of honest compromise with these types of people? How can anti-war activists continue in their plight when Iraq's very own people are cheering in the streets, thanking our troops and crying, "Thank you, Mr. Bush." Never have I changed my opinions so extremely, but the simple fact is, Saadam and his followers must be stopped. I saw an image of an American soldier handing a baby over to American doctors and wondered if Saadam would have done this? I'm glad we're helping out. It sounds so cheesy and I can't believe I'm putting this down in writing, simply because it sounds so extremely commercial, but I'm proud to be an American these days.

Stepping off my soapbox until next time.