I am proud to be

an American! I can't believe I am even saying it. Don't get me wrong. I am also proud to be Chinese, but yesterday for the first time, I am proud to be an American to witness the ultimate American dream - our first black president.

Not only does this symbolize that anything can truly happen in America, but also, for the first time I was inspiring by our President elect. I don't actually care what color he is. What I care about is he is direct, personable, gracious, inspiring, and action oriented.

Jaime and I even went to a celebration rally in Oakland because of the excitement in the air. It was great to be there and watch history in the making. To my surprised, I was for the first time moved by a political speech. I thought I was watching a movie because the only time I have ever been moved by a President was ones played in movies like Dave or American President.

You can feel the hope and inspiration in the air after Obama's speech. For the first time, so many people who have been apathetic about politics, like Jaime and I and many of our friends, were glued to the TV for the debates and the voting results. It's time for a change and I am so glad we finally will have a president that is eloquent and inspiring and will make us proud to be Americans.

- Lei

Inspired

Last week, I started doing Windsor Pilates at home. It's only a 20 minute work out, so I thought it was a good place to start my exercise routine.

I was shocked to find out during my first try that I couldn't do a single roll up (a slow sit up that requires you to use your stomach muscles to curl up your back all the way to sitting). I knew these were hard but I was still surprised when all I could do now was lift my head. I had no stomach muscles! I ended up using my hands to push myself up through the exercise.

Afterwards, I was sad and wanted to cry. I guess I didn't really understand how much a pregnancy and a C section would affect my body. That same day, I came across a story in my Stanford Magazine about Ben Wildman-Tobriner, a Stanford alum and an Olympic swimmer who is destined for a medal in 2008. He had the worse injury of his life last year in the fall. He torn his left pectoral tendon completely off the humerus and had to have surgery. I can't imagine how he must have felt with the Olympics less than a year away. Did he sit around and mope? No way! As soon as his surgery is done, he started training his body again "arm in sling, running sprints next to the pool while breathing out of a snorkel with half of the snorkel hole covered" For the full story, click here

Long story short, he only looked ahead and trained one day at a time until this May when he almost recovered his full strength and is ready to compete in August in China. Needless to say, I was inspired, like Ben, I must look ahead. I may not be an Olympian, but I have determination and a fresh perspective now.

I already made so much progress since giving birth. I couldn't even get out of bed without help the first day I came home. 11 days later, I only could walk outside for 10 minutes and very slowly. Now, I can walk pretty much any where including hills in my regular speed. I realized that everything takes time and baby steps. As long as I don't give up, I will get there.

Since then, i have done the Pilates work out three times - still using my hand to do the roll ups and I am planning to attend my first Bikram Yoga class today. I know it will be hard but just to show up for class is another baby step forward. :-) I am also planning to take Isabel to a baby yoga/massage class this Thursday and perhaps I will try the Bar method in a few weeks.

I am looking forward to getting my body back!

- Lei