Posts tagged balance
I’ve talked before about how I believe life is made up of balancing parts. Family, friends, work, mental, and physical well-being, all make up a healthy life. When one part is lacking it’s demonstrated by lethargy, grumpiness, a feeling of “being off.” But wow, when all are in harmony, life is good.
This is why I’ve gotten back into books. I started reading when I was 5, when my mom would worry about me walking home from school because I wouldn’t look up from my book as I crossed streets, and haven’t stopped until about last year when I changed jobs, moved, got into a relationship, etc. And while I’ve been feeling great, my mind felt like it was missing something.
A vacation (“from my problems!”) was just what it needed. But not to the beach, at least not a physical beach. A vacation away from the real world. And noise. I find the older I get the more sensitive I am to noise. Maybe this is why older people go deaf? To defend against the aggressiveness of noise?
And so I just finished The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling. Is it my favorite book? No. But it’s a darn good one and sucked me into another the world of suburban England for a good, long while. That makes it a worthy read in my book (pun INtended). Now where to go next…
Hurricane Sandy blew all the leaves away! I didn’t take this photo, but this scene looks just like what I see when I drive to work on the back roads through the country. I’m sure when I finally go back to work tomorrow it will look much more barren. This is a nice tribute to what started my day off right every morning for the past month! There’s just something about those orange, red, and yellows against the stark green that comes together to make my favorite nature scene. And I’m finding it hard to picture a better place to go for a run…
Fall by NightFox9 - TouTouke on Flickr.
Books! The answer is a book!! I just started reading The Casual Vacancy by JK Rowling. It’s no Harry Potter, nor should it be, but it is quite good…so far. I’ll post a review when I’m done. However, even if it’s a flop, I will still be thankful I picked it up. It reminded me why reading is so great. Like Jon says, “It’s like a movie you get to direct in your own head.” Now that I’m working directly in social media, I’m on the computer all day dealing with Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, Emails, Power Point, with little paper and pens. I love the job, and I love the interactivity, but I’d forgotten how nice it is to just sit in silence, and forget where you are, what time it is, what’s going on in the media and in your life, and just live in the world you build in your head as you read. It’s like a bath for your brain. You emerge cleansed, refreshed and better able to deal with the constant buzz that surrounds us. And you wouldn’t go without bathing! Well, at least for more than a day or two…three at the most. So get yourself a book and a bath and rejuvenate yourself today!
Feeling the winter blahs yet? If you’re on the East coast you probably are right about now. Winter finally decided to pay a visit this past weekend and hasn’t let up. After a day of foggy, drizzly, freezing cold mist I was feeling sleepy and craving some comfort food. Then my boyfriend sends me this video as we were just discussing how awesome Yosemite is this past weekend and it lifted me right up. What on Earth is there to feel down about when something this awesome exists?? Trip planning for this Spring to commence shortly ;)
Life is a journey, not a destination.
A few posts back I mentioned an all day bike ride through Zion National Park. It was incredible. I left my hotel about 8 am and biked through Springdale into the park, all the way to the far end up a long, winding hill. It was tough and cold, but gorgeous, so well worth it.
Once at the top I locked my bike to a tree, stripped off my bike shorts (don’t worry, I had running pants on underneath), and took off for a riverside trail run. And then just kept repeating the process for the next 8 hours! Ride bike. Lock Bike. Run. Ride bike. Lock bike. Run. It was awesome.
I snacked on nuts and fruit throughout the day, but by the time I got back to the hotel my stomach was trying to eat itself, so I decided to feed it what it wanted: PIZZA. Behold, the “Good For You” pizza from Zion Pizza and Noodle Company:
light sauce, grilled squash & zucchini, sun dried tomatoes, artichoke hearts, mushrooms, with feta & asiago cheeses.
It was every bit as good as it looks. And I ate Every. Last. Bite. No joke! I ate this entire pizza :D And then fell asleep for almost 12 hours. It was incredible. I’m not sure which accomplishment I’m more proud of: the marathon bike/hike/run session? Or the prize-winning eating? I think the combination of the two is just the right balance.
Make this a Thin Thanksgiving
This year, don’t let one day de-rail your good intentions. Keep the focus on family and friends and not on the food. With that being said, it is Thanksgiving! So pick one food that you love (all of my clients said stuffing without one exception) and make that 1/4 of your plate. The other 1/4 is turkey and the rest are veggies. Dessert is a sliver of pie, NOT a wedge. A sliver gives you just enough of a bite to savor and won’t stuff you so full you can’t move for the rest of the day.
Speaking of moving…get out and walk tomorrow or if you’re really motivated get up for a Turkey Trot in the morning. Any bit of exercise is going to help you digest, feel better, and make you smile when you get on the scale next week.
Just ask yourself, with everyone you know gaining weight this week, how would it feel to get through tomorrow and maintain or even lose weight???
Here’s a great article from WebMD with some more tips to make this a Thin Thanksgiving!
10 Golden Lessons from Steve Jobs
His accomplishments and character helped define a generation and change the world. He is co-founder of the fairytale company we now know as Apple Computers. And he is the visionary of the personal computers world that led the entire computer hardware and software industry to restructure itself.
This man with boundless energy and charisma is also a master of hype, hyperbole and the catchy phrase. And even when he’s trying to talk normally, brilliant verbiage comes tumbling out.
Here’s a selection of some of the most insanely great things he said, golden lessons to help you succeed in life, Jobs-style:
“1. Steve Jobs said: “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”
Innovation has no limits. The only limit is your imagination. It’s time for you to begin thinking out of the box. If you are involved in a growing industry, think of ways to become more efficient; more customer friendly; and easier to do business with. If you are involved in a shrinking industry – get out of it quick and change before you become obsolete; out of work; or out of business. And remember that procrastination is not an option here. Start innovating now!
2. Steve Jobs said: “Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.”
There is no shortcut to excellence. You will have to make the commitment to make excellence your priority. Use your talents, abilities, and skills in the best way possible and get ahead of others by giving that little extra. Live by a higher standard and pay attention to the details that really do make the difference. Excellence is not difficult – simply decide right now to give it your best shot – and you will be amazed with what life gives you back.
3. Steve Jobs said: “The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.”
I’ve got it down to four words: “Do what you love.” Seek out an occupation that gives you a sense of meaning, direction and satisfaction in life. Having a sense of purpose and striving towards goals gives life meaning, direction and satisfaction. It not only contributes to health and longevity, but also makes you feel better in difficult times. Do you jump out of bed on Monday mornings and look forward to the work week? If the answer is ‘no’ keep looking, you’ll know when you find it.
Read the rest here, it’s well worth your time.
Be proud of yourself. You’re good at things (hopefully non-violent things, but regardless…) so be proud and don’t be afraid to show it. Pride is not being cocky, it’s being confident; it’s not being a show-off, it’s being an example. If you’ve worked hard to be a badass then by all means, reap the recognition you deserve when you can because humility and failure are sure to follow at some point, that’s just life. It’s a balance. Ride the highs so you have some hope when toughing out the lows.
The Runner's Pie
Thanks to Runner’s World for some simple, yet useful tips on how to build a perfect pizza pie. This is sure to satisfy after a grueling run and give you all the protein, carbs, fat and nutrients you need to replenish your muscles. And the best part? It’s just as gooey and cheesy and tasty as the less-healthy comfort foods you may be craving. So follow the steps below to assemble one great tasting pie (or go to the end of the article for some more convenient frozen choices - there’s no shame in putting the microwave to good use!)
Runners love pizza so much that most eat about one medium pie every month. Trouble is, many are high-fat disasters with few nutritionally redeeming qualities. One solution? Make your own at home and load it with good-for-you ingredients. Choose your crust, sauce, cheese, and toppings, then assemble the pizza on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake at 450° F for 10 to 15 minutes.
CHOOSE YOUR CRUST
Look for uncooked whole-wheat dough in your grocer’s refrigerated or freezer case. Or use prebaked options, like focaccia, naan, whole-wheat pita, or French bread. Sprinkle crust with flaxseed meal or wheat germ for an extra boost of nutrients.
SPREAD ON THE SAUCE…Continue reading here!
What is your health worth to you?
I don’t know about you, but I can walk into Target intending to quickly grab some new shampoo, and walk out two hours later with a new skillet, two cute picture frames, some pretzels, a pair of pajamas, at least a few pairs of shoes, and a bag full of random items from the “ONLY $1” trap they have in the front of the store (notice anything missing? Yeah, I almost never remember the original item I came in for).
The point is, we spend money all the time on things we don’t really need, from trashy magazines at the checkout counter to $100 bar tabs to $500 pairs of shoes or $3,000 motorcycles (you know who you are!). We have no problem swiping the credit card when it comes to something we want, but when it’s something less flashy and fun than an iPad, we have a harder time making the commitment.
So the next time you opt for non-organic produce, order the pasta dish instead of the fresh fish, or skip the gym membership all because of the price, think for a second what you would spend the extra money on instead. If the answer is anything other than “feeding starving children” then your health is worth more. And by spending a little extra cash in the short-term, you’re more likely to stay with the commitment in the long run. It’s harder to skip a class at the gym or let produce spoil when you paid good money for it. And if that helps you stay on track with your health goal then it’s totes worth it!
I found a new park today! Riverbend Park is located just north of Great Falls. I stumbled upon it by accident when running along a new trail in GF and suddenly there was a dam in the middle of nowhere. Awesome! It was so serene on one side, and turbulent on the other. I had my little zen moment as I always do when I find myself out alone in nature, then noticed I wasn’t the only one pondering deep thoughts. It seems I was struck by the same philosophical query as the writer of the information plaque:
A delicate balance exists between the scenic natural beauty and the dangers that lie within.
What draws you to this place?
Woah. I was not looking to delve into my internal dark side on this Sunday evening jog, but touché plaque, what does draw me to this place?
Running is not just exercise for me, it’s a mental massage, a soul soother and an adventure. I need it to feel balanced throughout the week and ache for it - literally! I ache in my bones when I haven’t run in more than two days and my mind gets all muddled with pointless concerns. So it’s kind of like I’m the turbulent side of the dam when I start my run, and end up serene when I’m all done. I didn’t get that Liberal Arts degree for nothing ;)
Forever forward this shall be known as my Dam Running Route.
Next running route! Who’s coming with me?
Hare Tor, Dartmoor, UK
Murphy and I at Difficult Run! I chose to use the stones to get across, Murphy plunged right into the water, whatever, we both made it and had a great run down the path, through the woods.
I’ve said before how much I love my job as a Program Director for Jenny Craig, but after days of deep, emotional talks, no matter how excited I get after motivating people, I’m completely drained by the end of the week. Nothing recharges my batteries like an hour spent out in the woods under the sun with my bf.
Knowing how to relieve stress is vital for a healthy life balance. Whatever stress relief method you use, just make sure it doesn’t cause more stress. For example, if you’re stressed about finances, but then relieve that stress by going on a fun shopping trip…well, you can see the contradiction there.
Exercise, on the other hand, gets blood pumping to your brain, which increases productivity and mental clarity. Your energy levels increase and you get into shape. I don’t know anyone whose stress wouldn’t be lessened a bit if they were thinking clearer and felt hotter in their jeans (and that does not just apply to the ladies).
What are some productive, healthy things you do when feeling stressed out?
I hate coffee, but have somehow acquired a taste for coffee ice cream. And obviously I have always loved and always will love chocolate. So this looks phenomenal. A good portion size too for a splurge! Make this your treat this weekend and invite some friends over to share along with you (and send them home with the leftovers!)
Smoky Vanilla Coffee Ice Cream
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