Sunshine
Posted: March 11, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: Awaken, blogging, cultfit, exercise, fitness, free range, Freshly Pressed is Overrated, gluten free, happiness, health, Heart, hipster, hope, jogging, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, natural, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, running, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, writing, yoga 11 CommentsAn awake heart is like a sky that pours light-
*Originally posted at CultFit.org some time ago (adjusted a tad for today).
Having recounted the positive events that have happened over the last year I feel more positive about where I currently am at and I hope you feel the same? For many though, they feel there is nothing to rejoice about: Not now and certainly not in the near future. Many are immersed in a fatalistic time zone. There’s an app for this, sadly.
We need to realize that our lives are not controlled by fates outside of our inherent ability to modify, adjust, or temper what is not working for us. The all so real truth is that all of us get depressed and when this depression gets really bad? We are stuck in our own misery, our very own pity party (yes, there is even an app for pity parties as well).
Hold out your left hand and start peeling back your fingers for of all the ‘things‘ you have going right in your life, right in this moment: Heart still ticking, still breathing, family, friends, leftover meatballs etc. Now on your right hand let’s start peeling back fingers for ‘things‘ we enjoy and promise ourselves to “Make The Time For” even if we don’t have the time – to practice present hedonism. Pursue the events in your life that make you feel good about yourself and your outlook on life. What follows are a few of the things I enjoy, maybe you will enjoy the same:
• An evening Walk while eating an apple.
• Playing bicycle Tag with the little ones – Your it!
• Email, call or message a friend and say: “Hey your pretty special! Not that special but special none the less.”
• Practice Meditation and Yoga.
• Nature is heaven on earth. Less time inside and more time outside, Playing in the fluffy white stuff.
Notes:
Why spend so much time abusing and punishing your mind, spirit and body? Take care today.
Daytime Dilemma
Posted: March 6, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, exercise, fitness, free range, gluten free, Gratefulness, gratitude, happiness, health, hipster, Humility, intensity, kettlebell, kindness, life, love, marathon, meditation, motivation, natural, paleo, passion, pilates, running, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 9 CommentsFinally, from so little sleeping and so much reading, his brain dried up and he went completely out of his mind-
We’re going to talk about courage, mindfulness and being vulnerable, again for what seems like the millionth time. Scurry along if you like although it would be nice if you stuck around for a minute or two.
Going out on a fragile, weathered limb, chances are you’re not perfect. Big deal, you are vulnerable to the whims of the world. What makes you courageous is that upon waking up each morning, you are willing to step into a wide-open space, without a care in the world.
Here’s the bit I hoped you stuck around for: Authentic folks really do not want to see perfection; We want to feel and share connections with others. When we try to present ourselves as the perfect version we can possibly be (like all of your Facetube friends)? We leave little to no room for creativity, failure, humility and error. Seriously Dear Readers, look around yourself this morning at the yoga studio or at the starting line this coming weekend. It’s in the effort of trying without the fear of failure that we know what works and what does not, it’s a process that we begin every morning. Each day, each moment is unique.
If we feared failure, we’d never roll out of bed, show up at yoga class and step out into the world. Life is more interesting when it is risky, rich and served messy. Life is not a box of hand dipped artesian truffles.
Notes:
I would like to leave you today with the following thought: Take the time to present yourselves with a wide open, pure heart today. Display your inner kindness in such a way as to actually move other folks to bare, pure emotions.
Fool in the Rain
Posted: March 5, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, exercise, fitness, free range, Giving thanks, gluten free, gratitude, happiness, health, Hesitation, hipster, hope, intensity, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, motivation, natural, nebraska, Omaha, paleo, passion, perspective, running, star wars, technology, trail running, walking, weather, WOD, yoga 10 CommentsThe most wasted of all days is one without laughter-
There is a glitch in the system. Being grateful, humble and full of joy is inherently easy when the sun is shining, when the kids are being good (for once) when our dreams start to come true, when the world seems to be for our taking. There’s always a “but” and today’s but is a biggie, like Sir Mix A-Lot big! But … Gratitude is a glitzy system. Are you grateful when you step on a Lego at 5am? When your perfect treadmill trot goes sideways? When you quite can’t find stillness, awareness and comfort in your daily yoga practice. Every door seems to be slamming us in the face? F! Gratitude!!!
“This is the last time I step on a mother bleeping Lego …” Like any system, the system of gratitude relies on triggers. Sometimes it takes a smack in the head, a Lego, someone saying “Hello and Good Morning” with a genuine smile. Some may find an early morning run a rather pleasant trigger, a cup of coffee or snuggling with a loved one before going to work. Small, grateful triggers to set the tone for the day.
The Workout-
Open the door to happiness in your life, step outside, begin your day with a smile, join a friend for a workout – walk – run – yoga … whatever.
Notes:
What was your grateful trigger this morning? What small moment changed your outlook on the day and brought a smile to your face? For me, I simply stepped on a Star Wars Lego piece, I think it was a Light saber?!?
Artificial Life
Posted: February 27, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, fitness, free range, happiness, health, hipster, jogging, kettlebell, life, love, lululemon, marathon, motivation, natural, pain, paleo, passion, perspective, pilates, Risk, running, Suffering, trail running, walking, weight loss, whole foods, WOD, yoga, Yoga Goddess 11 CommentsThat’s sad. How plastic and artificial life has become. It gets harder and harder to find something…real.” Nin interlocked his fingers, and stretched out his arms. “Real love, real friends, real body parts…”-
Life, each and every day is a risky undertaking. Each of us have our own choices to make each day, minute-to-minute, conveniently wrapped with the many mysteries of life. The weight loss plan we planned out over a nice Merlot in January may help us reach a goal we value and then again, it very well may not.
What exactly makes sense as we negotiate this perilous journey of life?
The balance between too much risk and too much safety is an altogether different equation for different folks. There is no right answer.
The rule book for our life is written well before we are born and we are taught those rules from the day of our birth. The rules are full of do this and don’t do that and awful consequences (you’ll shoot your eye out kid) and great rewards (a cheap medal for finishing a 5k). No two of you reading today share the same rule book as mine, not even remotely close. This is one of the main reasons why we sometimes become so hostile, so polarized, unwavering in our thoughts when facing off against an opponent who feels equally so. Don’t believe me? Tell the yoga goddess in your 9am class that her breathing and focus, suck. She’s following the rules for herself (matching Lululemon pants with a revealing top).
Living deeply is looking closely at your rule book and deciding, for ourselves, what our true nature is. What exactly is your true nature and how can you live authentically? The answers don’t come as easy as say a one-time blog post or a witty self-help e-book. They come as feelings of intuition and as a sense of purpose, guiding us one way or another. The answers we seek will come as clarity, focus, a genuine sense of purpose. Sometimes the answers are crystal clear, sometimes they are barely discernible nudges; a fleeting thought or feeling; a sweetness on your lips; a resonance in your heart … Do you hear these today?
The Workout-
A simple Walk sprinkled with some Inversions to make life interesting.
Notes:
Step outside the familiar this afternoon, the comfortable, the place where you think you are safe, take a risk (wear jammies to yoga class). Take a risk against the old you … This is a risk worth taking.
Unplugge(d)
Posted: February 26, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, exercise, fitness, free range, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, intensity, jogging, kettlebell, life, love, lululemon, marathon, Minimal, nature, paleo, passion, Personal, perspective, pilates, quiz, running, Socail Media, technology, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 26 CommentsThere is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature-
It’s been a bit since we last took a quiz (hot-shot):
- Do you check your phone before rolling out of bed in the morning?
- Do you compulsively check your phone each minute during the day?
- Do you stare at a screen more than being in awe of nature?
- Do you send and receive emails, text messages pin stuff … During meals, during each red light or while exercising?
- Do you freak out if you can’t find your gadget? Lost in your picturesque home. Ever use your home phone to call your mobile phone?
- Is some form of technology always within your reach, every moment of the day even while using the restroom?
- Is checking your phone the last thing you do before you turn in at night?
Did you happen to blurt out a few foul-tasting ‘yes(s)’ to these questions? We could talk about addiction to technology … Blah blah. You don’t care and these words will simple fall on deaf ears.
My question to you is (if you stuck around): What the heck are you going to do about your technology addiction? Purge and place it back in the “box” or do your best to minimize the harm it is causing you?
Let’s take a few moments to explore the benefits of unplugging. More free time, yup- more free time not wired to a gadget. This new-found free time parlays nicely into spending more quality time with your family, friends and co-workers. Heck even the local barista is happy to take your order while looking you in the eye rather than from someone staring at a phone. If having more pleasant experiences, experiences that are enriching and dense with plain old fun sounds cool? Ditch the technology.
Disconnecting will not be easy for you. The task of breaking this habit may seem pretty daunting, stupid and idiotic. You know what? Totally cool, we are human after all although if you stay committed, purge and adjust diligently each and every day? You very well may find that the benefits from disconnecting will far outweigh any risks.
Notes:
This post was sent by one of my four iPads.
CultFit 