Slow Down #2...Take Notes

For a few years of my early “adult” life I thought I would grow up to be a writer; I have the student loans and a piece of paper somewhere to prove it. The funny thing about me and writing is that sitting down to write was just about impossible and usually done only when a poem or short story was due the following day.

When I started as a G.T. client, my coach “suggested” that I start keeping a daily journal. I started writing in my journal as recommended, initially keeping track of my weight, water intake, exercise and tips that my coach gave me. I didn’t go into much detail but I wrote something down each day. As the weeks progressed, I got more specific with the things that were going on in my days. Before long, writing in my journal became enjoyable and now I am committed.

I have found my journal to be a valuable tool for several reasons. Not only does it provide a record of the basic info, but now I write about the details of my day. My journal is a tool for contemplation and brainstorming and allows me to process things and leave them behind if necessary.

Now that I have been keeping a journal for the last 1 ½ year, I am able to look back and see the changes that I have made physically and mentally, I can look at my weight and reference it with my food from the G.T. food journal and pinpoint things in my diet that affect my body in certain ways. I know that when my weight goes up a few pounds it could be an indication that my immune system is compromised and I may be getting sick or that there may be intolerance to something in my diet.

Not only are my journals packed with information about my body; writing in my journal has become a means to calm my mind and often forces me to stop the busyness that I fill my days with. It is rewarding to look back at the stack of filled journals and know that I set my mind to something and have been dedicated and consistent. There are a few things in my life that I am a bit “obsessed” with and perhaps writing daily in my jouranl is one of them but as someone who shunned journaling for years I am a dedicated convert.

My suggestion is to set a goal and make notes in a journal every day for 2weeks or everyday for a month; whatever feels doable. It may become enjoyable and if that is the case, the information about yourself that you will be able to reference in the future will serve as the material for one of the most in depth and valuable educations available. And who knows, it could be fun!

Clearing The Head

Today I went for a bit of a skate ski. My friends at the Stillwater Mountain Lodge & Nordic Center held their 2nd annual Broken Binding ski race; www.stillwatermtnlodge.com. There was a 48k category and I have wanted to ski that distance for several years. Early this winter I decided that their race would be the perfect opportunity. Sounds easy huh?

I have gone on long athletic outings in my past. I have run a couple marathons and1/2 marathons; I have run from Logan Pass to Waterton Park through Glacier National Park, etc. With those experiences, I have realized that when I sign up for organized events my head tends to get in the way of my fun. As today approached, I came up with a laundry list of why I was not going to participate in the race.
*I am in the “rotation” phase of my Genesis Transformation process www.genesistransformation.com and didn’t want to interrupt my cycle
*I have been feeling pretty great mentally, know my history and did not want to get lost in my head
*The race started at 10 and I did not want to spend an entire Sunday afternoon skiing
*I did not want to feel horrible at the end of it all…(these are just the a few of my reasons)

After going back and forth for days, I realized that alone was creating chaos in my head, exactly what I was trying to avoid. I signed up and decided I would stop skiing whenever I was ready, even if it was less than 48k, I would not get caught up in the competition and I would make sure I felt good the entire time.

The first of three out and back laps I spent in my head, analyzing how my body felt, wondering what it would feel like the next lap, if I could catch the person ahead of me, and so on. The 2nd lap I was able to relax and it was a beautiful day. I was in back of the pack and I didn’t really care, there are a lot of benefits to the back of the pack.
*It is quiet. I had a lot of time, the better part of 3 hours, to contemplate the day, my life, my goals, blog posts, etc.
*No one was breathing down my back or vice versa. The pressure to compete was only as big as I wanted it to be. I chose today to eliminate the pressure.
*When I had to pee, I didn’t have to worry about showing off my bum to the other skiers.
*No one had to listen to me talking to myself and making up songs.
*Meditation…see above…
The 3rd lap, well I was ready to take a break, but by then it did not matter. Once I finished the first two laps, the 3rd was just a formality, deep down I always know that my body can carry me long distances.

Tonight I have a few tight muscles but I skied 48 kilometers, something that has been in my head for several years! The sun was shining the entire time. I had a great opportunity to contemplate the amazing life that I live. I did not let my head talk me out of a really fantastic opportunity. There is a part of me that wishes I had pushed myself harder but more than that, I am so glad that I didn’t let all my “reasonable” excuses take charge. I spent a beautiful day outside, I got to use the body that I was given, I was witness to some amazing athletes and I had fun!

Thanks Stillwater, The Broken Binding was a great start to the week! You all put on a fantastic event!

Here Comes The Sun

This morning seems like a good one for a few sun salutations, a series of yoga poses that flow together with your breath. These poses will target the entire body and help with mental focus for the day.

1. Stand with your feet hip distance and parallel with your arms by your sides, palms facing forward, your shoulders dropped and your core engaged
2. Inhale and raise your arms out to your sides
3. Exhale and "swan dive" forward hinging at the hips bringing your hands to the floor, palms flat if possible, on either side of your feet
4. Inhale and come up with a flat back bringing the chin up and the finger tips to the floor, not standing up completely
5. Exhale bringing your hands back to the floor, hanging in a forward bend, palms flat on the floor if possible
6. Inhale while extending your right foot to the back of the mat, coming on to your finger tips in a low lunge
7. Exhale while bringing the left foot back to meet the right and press back into Downward Facing Dog
8. Inhale and bring your body forward into plank position
9. Exhale and lower to your knees, chest, and chin or into the down phase of a push-up
10. Inhale and come forward into a low cobra position
11. Exhale, pressing back into Downward Facing Dog
12. Inhale, step the right foot next to the right hand into low lunge
13. Exhale and bring the left foot forward next to the right and hang in a forward bend
14. Inhale and lift the arms out to the sides and up, reversing your "swan dive" to stand
15. Exhale and drop your arm back to your sides

Repeat, switching sides. Allow your mind to relax and your body movements to follow your breath!

http://www.yogasite.com/sunsalute.htm
this site shows images of the sequence along with directions if needed!

A Great Quote...

"One of the best actions we can take, with courage, is to relax."
-Unknown

There is always something that can be done, a dish to wash, a sock to put away, a phone call to make. Most of the things in our lives that keep us from really relaxing will still be there and probably won't suffer if they are put off for a bit.

What are the things that allow you to quiet your mind and relax. For me it is fresh air, a yoga class, taking a nap on a Sunday with ear plugs (thanks for the tip Jason) and laying down on the floor when my girls are both asleep and listening to them breathe, to name a few. When I allow myself to relax, for real, I find that I am a better parent and wife, I smile more and I feel better about myself.

I have come to learn that it is impossible to effectively take care of those around me if I have not first taken care of myself. Sounds selfish perhaps but ultimately I am the only one responsible for my happiness and it is easier to be happy with a relaxed mind. Don't get me wrong, my mind is certainly not always relaxed, I was in tears after not being able to hook up to the internet for 2 days last week, it is an ongoing work in progress.

As a gift to yourself, look at your list and pick one! Allow yourself to relax! It is truly an act of courage.

The Irony!

My internet connection is down at home for the 2nd day. When I noticed had quit working yesterday I spent at least 45 minutes unplugging, resetting and restarting, no luck. When I woke up this morning, the first thing I checked was the internet and packed up my things to get to a wireless spot. I also went through the resetting ritual and shared 45 minutes of my day with tech support. My internet should be back up tomorrow and I am still checking all the lights on my router each time I am in the vicinity.

Distracted? Yep. Mindful? Nope. Enjoying the moments in my day? Not really, I have
missed several.

So my thoughts are heading in this direction. What happens when distractions we take for granted are gone? How much of our days are dictated by the convenience of technology? We are living in an immediate world, that is not ground breaking information. What parts of our lives do we take for granted? Immediate information, instant contact, food in a moment, we live for the quick fix.
As I am sitting here wondering when I will be able to surf the internet again, I am also trying to identify the things that I have come to take for granted and what my life would look like if those things were not always available. For now I need to refocus and enjoy the moments without the World Wide Web. The reminders just keep coming.