community – Briana Ledesma

Thanks Harborview!

A week ago Daniel’s dad had a stroke while he was driving to work.

I won’t go into too much clinical detail, but thanks to quick response and an amazing team at Harborview he seems to have made a full recovery.

What I will say is that it was terrifying. When Daniel called to tell me, so many things ran through my head and it’s not easy to keep your mind from going to the worst case scenario.

I’ve spent a lot of long days and nights in hospitals and SNFs with my grandparents and as my parents have had outpatient surgeries. It was easy for me to switch into that mode, but it is a type of stress that is hard to explain. You have no control over the situation and you can never have the same level of knowledge that the medical staff has. For me, the only way to deal with that is to ask a thousand questions and gather as much information as possible.

The American Heart Association has been a huge help! There are a bunch of resources about stroke rehab and dealing with Hypertension, Cardiovascular Disease and High Cholesterol. In the past, we’ve done the Heart Walk, but I plan to volunteer more this year and help give back so others have access to education that could prevent these conditions!

March 13, 2018March 16, 2018 by briledesma Categories: UncategorizedTags: community, volunteering Leave a comment

Hot Chocolate Run

This was my 4th time doing the Hot Chocolate Run!

I skipped last year after I tore my meniscus, but doing the 5k this year reminded me why I love races! (It also helped that it wasn’t pouring rain like it has been in the past!)

This one is especially fun because they have great swag and of course Hot Chocolate at the end!

I would definitely recommend this race for any level! Here are my quick tips:

When you register choose your fastest possible time: Don’t sell yourself short! Plus this is a huge race so the slower you are the further back you start. This time we started in Corral C and that was perfect because everyone started at a running pace, but there was plenty of room and time to jog as needed.
Don’t burn all your energy on the hills: If you haven’t run here before, the hills might be daunting and there’s no shame in jogging or speed walking! You’d be surprised at how much time you make up on the downhill parts.
Set up the night before!: This is a must for most races because they’re usually pretty early, but this one you can actually sleep until the last minute because you pretty much just show up and race!
Make a plan for transportation to and from Seattle Center: In the past I’ve taken an uber or a lyft and that’s worked pretty well! You can also hang out in the armory and charge your phone or grab some coffee or food. There’s also decent street parking around Queen Anne (free on Sunday) and parking lots ($10-20). The one thing to remember is that if you do the 5k they block the road after your race for the 15k so you’re trapped! It’s easy to get around, but it could add about 20 extra minutes especially if you need to get into the city.
After the race take an Epsom Salt Bath: This is one of my guilty pleasures and it is the best thing to warm up after a cold morning and soothe your muscles so they don’t ache. I usually buy Dr. Teal’s Pre/Post Workout, but I love the foaming bath too!

March 6, 2018March 16, 2018 by briledesma Categories: UncategorizedTags: community, fitness, races, ready Leave a comment

Grace Notes Gala – 2018

Each year I volunteer at the Susan G. Komen Grace Notes Gala! It is such a joy to be around such a supportive community.

They always pick a great theme and everyone goes all out! This year the theme was the Roaring 20s and it was so fun to see all the flapper dresses and pearls!

My favorite part is always sneaking peaks at all the amazing survivors getting their photos taken. It’s such an inspiration.

Volunteering with Komen is something that I try to do at least a couple of times a year because they have such a great presence here in Seattle. They have opportunities in the office or for events and any time commitment you can make is valued. I would highly recommend checking it out!

March 6, 2018March 16, 2018 by briledesma Categories: UncategorizedTags: community, komen, volunteering Leave a comment

VaLENTine’s Day!

This year we had a unique Valentine’s Day because it fell on the same day as Ash Wednesday for the first time since 1945!

On one hand, it took a lot of the pressure off. We didn’t have to plan a fancy dinner or anything extravagant. On the other hand, I was hangry. Usually on Ash Wednesday I go to work and put on a happy face and politely decline invitations to lunch and coffee. Then when I go home, I have a bowl of soup and crochet or do something alone.

It is WAY different when you’re fasting with a significant other. First off, I can’t thank Daniel enough for coming with me to mass (even when I was not a happy camper), taking me on a scenic flight and braving the grocery store at the end of the day when we were starving. Secondly, we’re buying soup ahead of time for Good Friday, duh!

The most notable thing from the day was that no one at work knew I was Catholic! The mass we went to before work at St. James was packed and there were several lunchtime masses in the area so it was surprising that I was the only person at work with ashes.

A few people asked me if I was comfortable talking about being Catholic and telling them what the ashes meant. Of course, I’m totally open about my faith and I would love to help others find their path if they are exploring religion.

When I told Daniel, he had a ton of great advice for how to respond to questions and how to share without being overwhelming. He also reminded me that we don’t live in a place where the majority of people are catholic or even religious. In the past we’ve managed to find communities of like minded people through school or our parish and I guess I didn’t realize how much I missed those connections.

This Lent, we’ll be trying out Alpha and I’m really hoping to meet some other couples that are like-minded in our ‘Engaged Encounter’ next month.