Bad Day
Posted: September 13, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: Bad Day, blogging, compassion, Creative Writing, cycling, fitness, freshly pressed, friends, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, Kay Ryan, kindness, life, love, lululemon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, Omaha, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, Poem, Poetry, Prose, recovery, trail running, weekend, whole foods, WOD, writing, writting, yoga 11 Comments…
Not every day
is a good day
for the elfin tailor.
Some days
the stolen cloth
reveals what it
was made for:
a handsome weskit
or the jerkin
of an elfin sailor.
Other days
the tailor
sees a jacket
in his mind
and sets about
to find the fabric.
But some days
neither the idea
nor the material
presents itself;
and these are
the hard days
for the tailor elf.
– Kay Ryan
Notes:
“Things“will get back to normal around here this coming Monday. Until then, be well and have an amazing weekend!
Illusion(s)
Posted: September 4, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: biking, blogging, compassion, crossfit, cycling, exercise, family, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, friends, gluten free, happiness, health, hedonic treadmill, hipster, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, lust, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, perspective, pilates, Tension, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, writing, yoga 5 CommentsBetween two evils, I always pick the one I never tried before-
Do you find it difficult to resist temptation related to physical endeavors?
Picture the difference between wanting to run a 2:30:00 marathon and not being able to finish one (runners are easily stirred up. If you like, pick something that resonates with you). Now imagine a plyo-band stretched between you and the “thing” you want to achieve, pulling evenly on you, drawing you close. We have a hard time staying in tension and resisting the pull. So we do things: we purchase the latest running gadgets, try new activities the day before an event to release the ever-growing tension.
The image I am trying to paint for you is that once we release the tension, we feel better.
However, out here in the real world? Reality is markedly different. Sure for a few fleeting moments we feel better … Then the morning of the event arrives and in a flash, second guessing creeps in, doubt shows up alongside you and we go back to feeling the same as before. Welcome my friends to the Hedonic Treadmill.
We relentlessly pursue things and experiences that we think will make us happier. But once we acquire them, we quickly return to our previous level of happiness. Then we start looking for the next latest and greatest “thing” … 5k-10k-1/2 Marathon-Marathon-Triathalon-Ultra events … The sweet new Felt carbon-fiber tri bike you’ve been lusting after? The first time you sling your leg over the top tube feels like good sex. You’ve dreamed of this moment all season long. Although, 128 miles later the bike feels like every other bike you’ve ever owned, saddle sore and all. What better time to start lusting after another new bike, another gadget. The Hedonic Treadmill patiently awaits your arrival …
Notes:
When I work with folks away from this rambling blogging thing, I lament, nauseously about building tension. Breathing, muscle activation and willpower? What? Willpower … Willpower is mastering tension not always getting what we want, when we want it, releasing the tension we have patiently building.
Creating tension is a beautiful and empowering process, embrace it and be well today.
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 …
e(Tude)
Posted: August 16, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, compassion, exercise, family, fitness, freshly pressed, friends, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, nature, Omaha, paleo, passion, running, walking, WOD, yoga 9 CommentsWrite it. Shoot it. Publish it. Crochet it, Sauté it, whatever. MAKE-
Best of luck to those of you participating in these awesome events this weekend!
Omaha Corporate Cycling Challenge
Are there times during the day when you wish you could tap into your creative side? What does creativity mean anyway(s)? Is creativity “something” through which you express yourself during yoga class or while enjoying an evening ride, or is creativity “something” that keeps you feeling connected to the earth and those around you?
During a few periods downtime today and throughout the weekend, brushing and flossing your pearly whites or taking a walk in the local market, explore the opportunity to tap into many of the great ideas we have that often get overlooked during the rush of the day. Consider brushing your teeth with your opposite hand … There is “something” happening in these special moments too, which are equally significant in our lives, if we pause and listen.
Notes:
The creativity many of us search endlessly for, is already there … Maybe we need to learn how to sit back, feet up, relaxed – chill and allow “things” to happen?
Have a brilliant weekend and please be well!
CultFit 