Crummy Stuff
Posted: April 15, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, Boston Marathon, crossfit, exercise, free range, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, kettlebell, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, motivation, musings, passion, pilates, running, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 8 CommentsThere’s a lot of difference between listening and hearing-
When was the last time you engaged in a conversation in which you truly listened to the other person, sat eye to eye, connected?
People today are so pre-occupied with their own thoughts, bursting in their lululemon seams to interject with a story of their own, simply too distracted, disinterested that their eyes are searching everywhere but in your eyes.
“Did you see what she is wearing … Didn’t mean to interrupt, what were you talking about again?”
This sort of “thing” happens all too much. One of the most simple gifts to present to someone is to be there with them completely, with focus, with intent.
Notes:
Listen, attentively without interrupting, take in perspective, allow others to express themselves. Remove yourself, step back and listen.
**Anne is trotting around the streets of Boston right about now sporting Bib #21069. Check out the Boston Marathon website to track her real-time race results.**
Ahead of my Time
Posted: April 10, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, crossfit, exercise, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, quotes, running, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 18 CommentsThe best is the enemy of good-
Why do we allow others to inflict the burden of excellence upon ourselves when we’re not even sure what it means? The broad discussion I am asking you to contemplate this morning: Is the quest for “elite” performance – results, eroding our true inner ambition, our true talents?
We should not be pushed away from developing enthusiasm, passion for our talents. We should not be trapped inside what is regarded as potential by the supportive folks around us. In essence: We are being caged by possibility. We are being driven towards developing an “excellence” that might be better called “obsession.”
Notes:
“Excellence” shouldn’t be a burden every time you click in, go for a run, step with presence on your yoga mat; achievement shouldn’t be a weathered rope around your neck in the gym(box) or a weight tied tightly around your waist. Doing well, just being you. Should be a choice, a gift, a chance, a pleasure … a chance to be free.
Born Again For The Last Time
Posted: April 8, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, crossfit, exercise, fitness, free range, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, jogging, kettlebell, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, paleo, passion, pilates, Random thoughts, running, Walk, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 13 CommentsIn the end we shall have had enough of cynicism, skepticism and humbug, and we shall want to live more musically-
Living in the moment’ rather than being trapped inside a hazy daydream, we fully experience more of life.
Without ever realizing it, most of us spend much of our time trapped inside of our daily lives. We are unconscious to the world evolving around us, sleep walking through the day.
Are you piloted by the daily routines that force you to live inside your thoughts rather than in your “life“?
Our journey in life is A to B, our lives seem longer as they slow down and when we begin to ‘show up – being fully present’, but happier too. A classic win – win situation!
Here are a few ideas to help the “slowing down” process:
Walk- Walking is hands down one of the purest forms of exercise/movement available. Need a way to relive stress and give your sloppy mood a boost? Walk. A flowing walk puts the world in perspective, walking is also a brilliant way to feel alive no matter how dreary the start of your week has been.
Breathe- Breathe: Whenever you become angry, stressed, anxious, or when you feel a pissy mood coming on. See breathing as a breath of fresh air into the now. Breathe.
Notes:
Happiness is looking at the same “things” with a different set of eyes. Life only happens here (not on this blog), at this very moment, snuggled up in your jammies, enjoying a glass of wine.
Everybody Pass Me By
Posted: April 5, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, crossfit, Envy, exercise, free range, gluten free, Greed, Guilt, happiness, Hatred, health, hipster, hope, Jealously, jogging, kettlebell, life, love, lululemon, lust, marathon, meditation, motivation, natural, paleo, perspective, pilates, pride, recovery, running, Shame, trail running, Walk, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 4 CommentsHow many things one should disregard in order to act-
Preface: The post that follows evolved from a discussion between some dude and a highly motivated yoga fashionista/passionate runner …
We see it everywhere: More and more well-intentioned, active people who use “data” to solve the “problems” in their life. More specifically: Using the endless amounts of data we collect from our gadgets to help us run, bike, swim and supposedly live a better more fulfilling life.
Here are a few ideas that have been lost in the space-time continuum, hidden under the centre couch cushion … let me flip it over for you.
“My lap times are abysmal! I need to shave off at least ten seconds a lap to compete in my next triathlon!”
Look at the “problems” you face not as problems but as challenges. Difficult experiences and situations in life can be excellent opportunities for growth, exploring new possibilities. Most importantly perhaps, do not run (swim) away from your problems. It’s impossible to run away, analyze downloaded data and grow simultaneously.
“I’m supposed to get 35-40 miles in per week to maintain my training schedule for my first ultra-marathon this September … ”
Be gentle, take care and be kind to yourself. As humans, parents, lovers, friends and somewhere way down the list: Athletes .. we always have something that needs a little work, some tweaks here and there and improvements to be made. The process of becoming who we want to be, starts with acceptance of who we are, right now.
“Racing in this new age group is rather intimidating. It’s like my 9am yoga class.”
By focusing on the right attitude for “life” and paying little attention to differences? We are afforded the ability to carry over lessons we learn within everyday life. Completely accepting of the fact that differences exist between all of us and these differences always will. If we continue to stay focused on what divides us instead of what unites us? Our ego will inflate in such a way that our thoughts will change from being positive to being negative.
Notes:
Data can be really useful to us, there’s no doubt about it. Although I passionately feel that if we fail to address and discuss: Envy, Shame, Guilt, Pride, Lust, Hatred, and Greed … These emotions lead to a negative emotional state, one that provides little gain, much like the data we use to comfort our soul.
Be well this weekend.
Don’t You Evah
Posted: April 3, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: Attention, blogging, Breathing, crossfit, exercise, fitness, focus, free range, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kettlebell, life, living, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, passion, pilates, Playing with Lego's, running, Spring, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, writing, yoga 8 CommentsWe are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be-
Delicacy and intentioned outcome. Could we be talking about: Walking, Yoga, Breathing, Love, Playing with Lego’s? Possibly, let’s narrow our attention on meditation this morning. If meditation is so not cool enough for you? Feel free to empower yourself to change it to whatever you like.
Why meditation talk again? Well, you can do all of the above and more while meditating. Our thoughts shape our reality in ways we all too often take for granted (post from yesterday), the effectiveness of our meditation practice hinges upon our state of mind. Not getting the results you seek through meditation … Take a look at your attitude, paying attention to our attitudes towards meditation and how we meditate, is critical. Some attitudes are especially powerful in hindering the positive and beneficial effects of meditation: Vanity, Ego, Competition. Yet it seems that far too often we fall into these thought-patterns, resulting in us having a unfocused meditation experience with undesired results.
Be at ease, present in the moment
Meditating is not a marathon, warrior dash or whatever competition suites you the best. Meditation is one of those “things” in life where the quicker you try to get it done, the worse the outcome is (any other areas in life where this is true?). Slow down, relax and chill in a tranquil state of mind. No need to rush, study, read up on meditative techniques and time yourself in the act. Time, does not exist in a meditative state. The truly productive “things” in life take longer than a few moments to blossom.
Notes:
I’m hoping the messages here are starting to settle in a bit, making you uncomfortable and vulnerable. Be forewarned: Friday’s post is going to pithy, rich and basically? It’s going to expose what we are all doing wrong in regards to health, fitness, whatever (clues are buried in the prior two weeks posts- FYI).
CultFit 