7 days to a 10 mile walk…..

Dear Readers,

Next Sunday I will walk and run in a 10 mile race. So scary to see that in black and white.. but its the truth, I put my money down, I have trained and prepared and am on the cusp of accomplishing a BIG HAIRY AUDACIOUS GOAL.

In the history of the world, at one time or another there was time that something had not yet been done.

While running a 10 mile run is not on par with discovering a cure for cancer (as yet undone but any day now someone is going to wow us with that one) for my life it recommends a sea change in activity, lifestyle, health and overall goal-setting.

I invite you reading this to approach any goal or change in your life in the same way. Just this morning, one of my running buddies helped me see how important it is to take stock in what you have done, are doing and have yet to DO.

Think about it!

Texting and Driving is Stupid!

Dear Readers,

Yeah it sounds harsh because its TRUE.

Texting and Driving is stupid. I know, I know. You only do it when at a red light or in traffic and stopped or when you are SURE its safe. Why risk it? I know, you are busy and this time is really important to be sure you have multi-texted your way through a red light. Heaven forbid, you actually be present in your own life and ENJOY traffic, yep I said enjoy traffic. Seriously, think about this.

When was the last time you were bored? Really, no phone, no facebook, no emails to read. Just sitting and staring into space. I bet you can’t remember. We are so caught up in that next post, what’s next fever that we can’t even bear to be bored.

It’s actually important to take this time- Studies show that spacing out inspires creativity and deep contemplation. Be present. Text or Drive. Do not do both!

We are so wrapped up in being connected, we sometimes miss out on real connections.

Marcelo Gleiser a world-renowned theoretical physicist and cosmologist said this-Technology should serve to enhance how people experience our world, and not as a substitution for experience itself.

Just two weeks ago I did my favourite kind of research. Unintentional Research .. its called life. My husband and I had carpooled to an event but I didn’t think about needing my phone or purse or anything until later that night when I realized I did not have my PHONE! The horror! My pulse quickened and my breathing was labored. My panic was literally going into overdrive.. I need my phone, I can’t text anyone about running tomorrow and how am I going to get up in the morning to run and on and on on.. So my husband said, I will wake you up and we will get up their earlier to get your car no problem. I realized that next day that the phone I was so concerned about was sitting in the console as we argued. If I had just stopped and thought about it, I would have realized, I could have sent a message on social media to my friends to confirm running the next day and used his phone or God forbid, an old-fashioned alarm clock to wake up. It’s a beautiful and terrible thing we have done to ourselves..

So this post is aimed to do two things..

One and most importantly- IF you text and drive, I beg you. STOP. The internet is populated with so many PSA’s about why its stupid, but the life you save could be your own.

Two. Find ways to be bored. Don’t depend on facebook or your phone to fill your life. Go outside (especially today, its GORGEOUS!) go talk to a stranger or go soak up the sunshine and just revel in the joy there is in being alive.

Think about it! notext

What a difference twenty minutes can make!

Dear Readers,

I am prepping to walk/run a 10 mile race in 24 days.. AIYEEEEE .. that is a very scary thing in black and white but its the truth and one of my running buddies said, you know I know you are busy at work but you really need to get on it to make that 10 mile race count.. I agreed with her (grudgingly) and she said.. start walking twenty minutes on your lunch. I have been at this two weeks now and I have to say it makes a world of difference in my outlook!

It truly refreshes the soul to walk away and be outside (okay its 40 degrees so I didn’t stay out there but I did walk up and down the stairs 7 times in 20 minutes)

This post is not to brag on myself, its to tell you that baby steps are crucial. I have said it time and time again. Meet yourself where you are. If you are tired today, walk for five minutes. If you are having a good day, walk for twenty.. Strive to do better tomorrow but don’t beat yourself up for what you “didn’t do” today.

Go, Do, BE! Go be Awesome — whatever that looks like for you TODAY!