Morning Classic(s)
Posted: August 28, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: bikramyoga, blogging, crossfit, exercise, family, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, friends, gluten free, happiness, Hatha yoga, health, hipster, hope, intensity, kettlebell, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, Omaha, passion, perspective, pilates, Poetry, Religion and Spirituality, running, whole foods, WOD, yoga 11 CommentsIt takes courage to grow up and become who you really are-
As a little dude, I grew up doing what I was supposed to do (this is my side of the story), when I was supposed to do it, following a largely unconscious – persistent script about what it meant to live one’s life. Not just play but excel at sports, go to school and become edumacated, start a rewarding and vibrant career, get married to the woman of my dreams (this happened) and have a few kid(s) for good measure…
As a self-described “athlete“, I did a lot of running, picking up heavy things and moving them around, competing at all costs, ignoring injuries, bragging about results, sticking within the status quo like many of the blogs we will read today … However a string of serious injuries in my mid 30’s made me rethink everything I had thought about both competing and what I was doing with my life more broadly.
At the same time I had discovered seva, karma yoga, mindfulness, rediscovered my love for cycling and enjoying nature. As I began to play – not compete outdoors, my friends and family would often say “let’s ride here, swing a kettlebell if we like or maybe a spot of yoga?” and most importantly: Smile, Laugh and have Fun. And that’s all I’d want.
Being authentic hasn’t come easily to me, and I’m still working on it, although it’s changed how I think about this inspiring world we call home.
Notes:
Being open to new paths, new ways of doing things, formulating new perspectives, creating your own melodies: these are the “things” that life has truly taught me, and continue(s) to teach me to this wonderful day.
Una Pizca de Perspectiva
Posted: August 27, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, compassion, exercise, family, fitness, gluten free, health, hope, kettlebell, kindness, life, love, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, Omaha, paleo, passion, perspective, philosophy, pilates, running, simplicity, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, writing, yoga 3 CommentsA good question is never answered. It is not a bolt to be tightened into place, but a seed to be planted so it may bear more seed toward the hope of greening the landscape of ideas-
Imagine if you will, that you are riding along a country road and your full attention is focused on the movements of your body, position of your hands on the bars, each up and down stroke of the pedals, the air flowing past your ears and the countryside rushing by. There is no room out here in your “awareness” for errors or contradictions; most of us know that a distracting thought or emotion might get us buried face down in a hedge, conveniently packed with stinging nettles for our future enjoyment.
If cycling on gravel roads during extreme heat does not resonate with you this morning, the complete immersion in an experience could occur while you are patiently waiting in line for a latte, practicing yoga, picking your nose, or reading an old issue of Good House Keeping magazine. If your passion is running (injury free mind you), it could happen during the descent of a tricky trail course or even two miles out from finishing your first 10k.
Notice that moments such as these provide flashes of intense – vibrant living against the dull, mundane events of everyday life.
Vibrant living, rather than happiness, makes for enjoyable experience(s) in this thing called life. We can be happy experiencing the passive pleasure of lying on the couch watching the Red Zone Channel, trudging along head down, ear buds in, tuning out the world around us. Although this kind of happiness is dependent on favorable events beyond our control: Mainly the wife or husband letting you veg on the couch all day and the weather outside dictating your daily activities.
Notes:
The happiness that we surrender to, the happiness of our own making, what truly makes us happy without any outside factors? Opens many doors to personal growth, without ever counting miles, cadence, split times or reps …
If Only (for) a Moment
Posted: August 26, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: biking, blogging, Blue Jay, compassion, cycling, exercise, Faithless, family, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, friends, Gravel Worlds, happiness, health, hipster, Horticulture, kindness, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, nebraska, Oak, Omaha, passion, trail running, Tree, Walk, walking, whole foods, Willow, WOD, writing, yoga 12 CommentsFaithless is he that says farewell when the road darkens-
Often in my writing, I’ve mentioned my thoughts about nature and exploring the world outdoors. For me, there are few things as inspiring as gazing at a white tail fawn taking a drink from a stream or witnessing someone riding along on a trail with the wind dancing in the leaves, the branches of the willow trees playing a velvety note …
Do you have a space that sings to your heart as much if not more now than in the past? What created the change for you?
When I finish a long ride, I often sit and gaze out at the view I had come to love one last time. Then, suddenly I take notice … the bluest of Blue Jays confidently perched in a nearby oak tree. In all my years of being outside, looking, I had never seen his equal, in both color and presence. I watched him for what seemed like a long time, seconds in all actuality … and then he dropped from his perch, hurtling at top speed toward the earth before catching a gentle breeze and ascending to the tree tops.
I sat in this spot for a long while, appreciating the gift nature generously brought it to me. In this moment I traveled back through the years, the many miles I have ridden, run, walked … To the many opportunities that nature had presented kindly to me. Often I answered, more times than naught I didn’t.
Notes:
Driving to work this morning, gazing at a different face of natures beautiful presence. I’m reminded of the Blue Jay I recently met and the message he shared with me. We are here only for a moment, surrender to it.
Be well and have an A1 day!
Gravel (U)pdate
Posted: August 25, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: biking, blogging, compassion, cycling, freshly pressed, friends, Gravel Riding, Gravel Worlds, happiness, health, hope, kindness, life, Lincoln, love, lululemon, musings, natural, nature, nebraska, Omaha, passion, recovery, trail running, walking, WOD, writting 21 CommentsI felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, “This is what it is to be happy”-
Mountains?!? Who said anything about mountains? Especially here in good ole’ flat Nebraska.
Is having to explain what you love to others tearing away the fabric of your happiness – your being, like enjoying a leisurely 150+ gravel bike ride around Lincoln, Nebraska? Or a quaint 100k Trail Run through Breckenridge, Colorado? Or even meditating and walking?
Often we are asked to explain the reasoning for our choices, let’s be fully open with one another this morning shall we: It’s easier to blog and talk about our decisions at a logical and snarky level, “Why do you like cycling on Gravel Roads?” I enjoy being outdoors in a non competitive environment, enjoying the company of other folks that are there for very similar reasons…
There’s a catch to throwing out the “easy – polished” answer. Doing so, over and over every time we meet like-minded folks erodes our ability to formulate a decision based on “emotion” or a “gut feeling.” These emotions are rather hard to put into words and to explain to someone looking at you in the eye, wondering why you look like a damn mess, covered head to toe with dirt, sweat, snot dripping out your nose and a ridiculously shaped tan line (cyclists know what these look like).
“I like ultra distance gravel rides because they connect and ground me to the earth, they make me feel whole. They allow me to tune into myself, listening attentively, no distractions, just myself – on my single speed bike, chugging along.”
Enjoy the pics folks as this ride was one of only a few where I carry a phone, let alone a camera thing!
Notes:
One of the main undercurrents that keeps this CultFit machine moving along is that we often ruin our enjoyment of the simple pleasures in our lives due to the fact we try to rationalize, at every turn, why we like doing what we do or we want to prove to ourselves why our decisions are correct and superior to others.
The only “thing” that matter folks? Is that we like “whatever” because we like it, period.
Will (you) Still Love Me
Posted: August 23, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, compassion, exercise, family, fitness, friends, god, happiness, health, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, Omaha, passion, relationships, running, walking, whole foods, yoga 5 CommentsGod gave you a gift of 84,600 seconds today. Have you used one of them to say thank you-
As the week comes to a close, my wish is that every passionate soul reading on this brilliant morning will be able to take some time to reflect and look ahead with enthusiasm to this coming weekend, despite whatever challenges we may anticipate encountering.
As one week ends and another begins, we have been afforded the opportunity to make choices, our own personal choices, and it’s my sincere hope that each one of you is committed to practicing mindfulness, tiny little “baby steps” that will enable us to live with kindness, with purpose, beautifully, and in so doing, living more fully.
Notes:
Introduce yourself to something new this weekend, a brisk walk, meditation, a few new friend(s), your spouse/lover … Be inspired this weekend and please take care!
CultFit 