Be A.W.A.R.E.

So I took a break from my quest for new style today to take a self defense class from the Denver Police Department. (Although side note, I dropped five HUGE boxes and bags of clothes from Book Club Clothes Exchange off at Goodwill today... That felt good!)

Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Years ago I got pretty into kickboxing. Not the Billy Blanks Tae Bo kind, but the real deal with wraps, gloves, strike pads and all, and I LOVED it. Unfortunately I moved too far away to make the classes feasible, and I fell off the kickboxing wagon. What I learned today, however, is that once you know the basic moves they do not go away - and they can serve you really well!

I'm admittedly out of shape, but when it came time to act out some self defense moves today at one point after I kneed the instructor a few times and then threw a crazy hammer punch, he said, "Well - okay then!" and gave me a big smile. I've still got it.

That's not to say I'm ready for an attack (who is?) but I feel way more prepared today than before. Here are some great tips I came away with today - all around the acronym A.W.A.R.E.:

• A(lert): be alert to your surroundings all the time. Get off the phone when you're walking around downtown, make eye contact with someone you pass on the street, don't sit with your back to the door... be alert.
• W(ary): be wary. If a nice-looking person approaches you randomly and tries to strike up conversation, ask yourself what he (or she) wants. If someone knocks on your door and asks to use the phone, offer to call 9-1-1 for them.
• A(ttitude): ladies, it's okay to be come across as a bitch. When you're talking about your safety, who cares if someone you don't know thinks you gave them a dirty look if they approached you a little too quickly? Let them know you mean business.
• R(esponsible): you have a responsibility to yourself and your friends/family to stay in control and make good decisions. Don't give away your power. You have to respect yourself, too.
• E(mpowered): pay attention to the news, practice your self defense moves, have a plan in case something happens. An expert can give you all the tips in the world, but you need to empower yourself to put them to use.

If you've always wondered about taking a self defense class I highly recommend it, and the police trainers were awesome. These guys live out self defense every day, and they have the benefit of learning from lots of situations, so I recommend you contact your local police department if you're interested in a quick course!

Images...

Image: Michael Elliott / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Ten years after 9/11 I still have a problem with images from that day. For some reason I can't look away when they come on TV - but looking at them brings back every emotion. Then, I was a single 20-something working hard and living in my first condo. I was in the process of breaking up with my college boyfriend (it's never that easy, right?) but somehow the events of the day brought us back together, at least for a few more days. I was terrified that a similar attack would be forthcoming, and had trouble sleeping for a few months.

Today, I'm, 30-something, happily married to an amazing man, still working hard, living in my first house and now I'm mom to a fantastic little boy. On this 10th anniversary of the attacks, it's bittersweet to look back at how many things have changed in my life for the better, but one thing remains the same - particularly in light of the news of more threats around the anniversary - I'm scared of another attack. Especially now as a mom. What if something happens and I'm away from my little boy and/or my husband? How will we find our way back together?

My reason for staying positive.

Sometimes when the images seep into my mind I get carried away in the fear, but today I've seen so many amazingly strong and positive people and families highlighted on TV or on the radio that I'm inspired. One woman on NPR today told the story of how she and her husband, a pilot on United flight 93, were just days away from celebrating their 5th wedding anniversary. Before that fateful day, he had ordered a baby grand piano that played their wedding song as an anniversary gift. The story she tells about how the piano arrived, days after his death, and what it meant to her then and what it means now, is amazing. While it clearly wasn't easy at first, she gave a parting message of living every day like it's your last, as her brave husband did.

So, while I have an underlying fear that probably won't go away - and it will probably ebb and flow like it has over the past 10 years - I'm holding on to the positive images and trying to be strong, particularly for my little boy. The day will come when he's old enough to want to know about 9/11. It's crazy to think that he will never know life before. I'm not sure if that's better or worse. Either way, I'm going to work hard to teach him tolerance and provide the happiest life I can - no matter what happens around us.

A CO PSA

This morning at about 4:30 we were startled awake by the carbon monoxide detector in Baby F's room. At first we didn't know what it was, and spent some bleary moments stumbling around looking for the source of the beep. We finally figured it out, and immediately checked on Baby F to make sure he was okay. Believe it or not, he slept through the whole ordeal...

The beeping was intermittent and we quickly learned that the alarm had simply malfunctioned, but it was scary nonetheless, particularly given that carbon monoxide is odorless and can be deadly.

Tonight on the way home I stopped by Target to buy two new carbon monoxide detectors. The CPSC recommends that ALL homes have a carbon monoxide detector. Whether you believe your home is at risk or not, isn't it worth a small investment for some peace of mind?