¿verdad?
Posted: April 24, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: Awareness, balance, blogging, Comfort, crossfit, exercise, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, gluten free, harmony, joy, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, musings, natural, paleo, passion, pilates, running, Stillness, thoughts, walking, whole foods, yoga 6 CommentsHabit is the intersection of knowledge (what to do), skill (how to do), and desire (want to do)-
It seems that in today’s world we have the freedom to pick and choose form a potpourri basket of interests …
“Check it out! I’m like totally doing this 30 day paleo, meditation, yoga, power walking, green smoothie, smiling at strangers, whole body cleanse thing! Just read about this push up challenge and hill sprint interval thing as well!”
Why do we choose to pursue a wide variety of “things” simultaneously and figure out how to do these “things” in a way and on a level that is average at best?
“My friend and I had a great workout at the box yesterday! 5 rounds of: 15 push ups – 15 jumping jacks – 15 sit ups – 15 walls balls and a 400m run. I still need to work on my push ups though, three years now and they are still pretty sloppy.”
Whatever happened to developing a deep knowledge base, knowing information (not stored on a gadget) and total devotion to the pursuit of mastery in a single field?
“I forget what my split times are in the pool but I’m thinking if I can work on my transition more it should make up for my poor swimming performance … Maybe?!?”
Are we afraid as a society to endure the intense work, discipline and willingness it takes to master a selected discipline? Are we afraid to embrace the risk needed to walk away from merely being “average” in the name of becoming extraordinary at one?
“It’s the same during every century ride: Chum it up with the guys for the first few miles, then I ride alone for the remainder of the time, lost in my thoughts, worried about “something”? I suppose it’s the 8am yoga class tomorrow and the 5k at noon?!?”
…
Yearn for the sense of intensity, focus and intrinsic reward that comes from the single-minded quest to master a particular body of knowledge: Yoga, mediation, martial arts, relationship(s), life etc. Radiate the pure energy and passionate spirit that comes not only from having attained mastery, but from simply being in the process of mastery. The secret Dear Reader lies here in the process of seeking mastery, this is where we find awareness, comfort, stillness, joy, harmony and balance.
Notes:
Do you, deep down inside, feel satisfied knowing that you are merely pretty decent at a bunch of “things”, but not exceptional at any?
Pensamientos?
Salute Your Solution
Posted: April 19, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: Awareness, blogging, Boston, Boston Marathon, crossfit, exercise, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, gluten free, growth, happiness, health, hipster, jogging, kettlebell, kindness, Knowledge, life, love, lululemon, marathon, Meaning, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, paleo, passion, pilates, Pleasure, purpose, running, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 10 CommentsWhat is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies-
The great discovery in life as we age (age not to be confused with mature …) is how much better, more fulfilling life becomes.
We spend much of our youth searching for “something” in the clouds of insecurity, trying to figure out exactly how to live. As turbulent time passes we gather slowly, more about our aims and preferences. Comparing ourselves to others diminishes, we know where our heart lies and our flight path is marked moving forward.
The search for meaning carries on throughout our entire life, although as we age, the deeper spiritual questions we have become more urgent and become more clear to us. The daily petty concerns that surround us are recede to their rightful place – unnoticed and forgotten. The wide-ranging emotions all of us have experienced this week, awakens our spiritual domain and delicately shows us what really matters in life.
The radiance we witness in the “older folk” comes from smiling and being more alive. We stop hurrying to every fleeting meeting we have scheduled, slowing down we develop attentiveness that adds an entire new flavour, richness to our daily experiences.
Una Simple Sonrisa
Posted: April 12, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, Boston Marathon, exercise, fitness, freshly pressed, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, jogging, kindness, life, love, lululemon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, paleo, passion, perspective, running, simplicity, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 10 CommentsWell-behaved women seldom make history-
We can grow through inspiration, please say hello to Anne this morning (she is the young lady on the left in the photo below).
I’ve known Anne for quite some time now, always greeting me with a smile first thing in the morning. That’s how our friendship started after all, a simple smile.
Anne was kind enough to sit down for a quick chat to discuss her upcoming Boston Marathon run. Without further ado …
How long have you been a runner and how did you get started?
Anne – I started walking around this lake area with neighbors when the kids were in school and the bus picked them up on the corner. I started running when I was 39 yrs old and I am 69 yrs old now. I needed to get around the lake faster for family obligations, so I tried running. I still love running.
How many years have you been racing Boston? Favorite and least favorite moment?
Anne– I qualified for Boston when I was 49 and ran my first Boston when 50. I have run marathons in Nebraska and many other states. When my son moved to Boston 5 years ago, I decided to go back and this is my 4th Boston in a row. Favorite moment would be when I see my family and/or friends waiting for me at finish line. Least favorite moment is “many moments waiting for marathon to start”. In Boston you get up at 4am, walk to buses to be transported to Hopkington. There are 30,000 runners doing the same thing so it is a big process that takes a lot of time. Then you wait for race to start. Boring and a little nervous. You can think too much about the distance although I have met and visited with a lot of interesting people.
What are some of your favorite places to run locally and around the world?
Anne– I love running the county roads here in Sarpy County, Nebraska and around the world: I like running in Acapulco, Mexico. In Mexico I run in a large park and go around and around and around where I have met other runners who only speak Spanish, so we do a lot of smiling at each other. And smiling seems to be enough to have in common along with the running.
What is it that you enjoy the most about being active?
Anne– I appreciate being able to participate in lots of sports and have gotten used to younger people asking if they can ask my age.
How do you know when you’ve had the perfect run?
Anne– It is an inner peace feeling. Like “I did it”, my day is not complete without running. I feel at a loss, but it quickly that goes away when I next get out and run.
**You can cheer Anne on this Monday during her inspiring marathon run. Keep an eye peeled for a touch of Husker Red, a Bright Smile and Anne’s Bib #21960. You can also track real-time race results via the Boston Marathon website.**
Therese de Lisieux once wrote: “Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.”
I believe building enduring personal connections, real, face to face connections is critical for our health and well-being. We are born to connect and we thrive and excel when we connect with other people. Whether you choose to run a 5k this weekend, a marathon on Monday, go for a relaxing walk early tomorrow morning, practice yoga, The Gran Fondo Bike Ride or whatever else you choose … Be inspired this weekend and please take care.
“I tell you I must go!”
Posted: April 11, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, Boston Marathon, Charlotte Brontë, exercise, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, Jane Eyre, jogging, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, paleo, passion, pilates, running, thoughts, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 6 Comments… I retorted, roused to something like passion. “Do you think I can stay to become nothing to you? Do you think I am an automaton?—a machine without feelings? and can bear to have my morsel of bread snatched from my lips, and my drop of living water dashed from my cup? Do you think, because I am poor, obscure, plain, and little, I am soulless and heartless? You think wrong!—I have as much soul as you,—and full as much heart! And if God had gifted me with some beauty and much wealth, I should have made it as hard for you to leave me, as it is now for me to leave you. I am not talking to you now through the medium of custom, conventionalities, nor even of mortal flesh;—it is my spirit that addresses your spirit; just as if both had passed through the grave, and we stood at God’s feet, equal,—as we are!”
– Charlotte Brontë – Jane Eyre
Notes:
A very inspiring, touching and important post is on tap tomorrow to celebrate the 117th running of the Boston Marathon. I hope you stop by, until then – take care and be well!
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.
CultFit 