encouraging

Full Body Stretch

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Today’s entry…spot light please……..oh and I also need you to cue a drum roll…..will be simplistic and straight to the point.

10 reason’s why my stressful day was relieved by running:

10.  I downloaded some new running music that sounded like something off that Dance Dance Revolution game.  Asian women singing pop songs of today with a beat of 120-150 bpm.  “cuz, baby urrr a firrrewrk….make them say roh roh roh….”  I am not exaggerating.

9.  As I begin to run, I turn my new music on and just start laughing…I have a feeling this is going to be a great run.

8.  The weather was perfect for a great outdoor run.  Sunny, 60’s (F), and just me, my music, and the pavement.

7. As I was running around the track, I got about to a mile, then I started to walk at a swift pace so I could still build endurance.  My body needed to release the stress some how.

6.  Started walking with a woman who so graciously let me steal her “peace of mind” time.  She gave me such great advice!  “Do all you want to do before kids, when your thinking about marrying a person–look at how he was raised, what his family is like, and how he was treated as a child, then lastly don’t change for anyone!  Be that strong woman”

5. While walking on the trail around, it seemed as though everyone was smiling!  Everyone was in such a great mood, how could I not be?  That was the encouragement I needed.

4. There were lots of families out and about…parents walking or biking with their children, couples walking their dogs, and lots of fitness going on out there! (side note: also encouraging!)

3.  1 bug swallowed, 3 piles of goose poop avoided, 1 attack by a dog thinking he was Superman, little kid all of 4 years old riding his bike and flirting with me…

 

2.  I finally got in the zone!  All my crappy feelings of junk went out the door the more I pounded the pavement.  I felt all of my issues just melt away and because of that I was in a better mood!  (YAY!)

AND THE NUMBER ONE REASON…..

1. OK, I don’t particularly like running.  I do it for the mental challenge.  Yesterday, I ran/walked 4.95 miles and I felt accomplished.  I felt like I had finally “OWNED” something of my crazy stressful day yesterday!  I needed to feel some sort of ownership…Nomad helped me realize that.

When I got done, I just turned on some Mumford and Sons: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KCg_QEHtkY&feature=related.  This song symbolically is my reminder when I am in a bad mood I NEED TO say yes and let love grow in my heart.  The lyrics say no, but I choose yes!  One moment of defiance.  😉  This group just kind of has been adapted as my solemn moments.

Full body stretch.  Starting with my neck, then arms…then the hamstrings.  I spend a lot of time stretching my jello legs out and when I am done…I stand up and reach to my arms to Heaven and ground myself and it feels amazing.  My brain has been massaged of all its toxins, my spirit feels renewed, and my body is weak with accomplishment.

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You can’t teach compassion!

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You can’t have a light without a dark to stick it in.
– Arlo Guthrie

Today I start with this quote.  I say this because I am sick of being in a funk.  Bad days….good days…its life!  Life is all about what you make of it.  Part of this funk includes a harsh realization of who my friends really are and whom of which I can depend on…which surprisingly enough are a TON.

Friends make everything better.  If they are sincerely your friend, they will be there with you in heart, soul, love, and in your life!  When they exit, they really aren’t leaving for good but just taking a vacation.  So many times we get bogged down with the everyday grind that it’s difficult to see the light.  Friends get you to refocus yourself back on the light.  They can untangle the mess your in and help you get back on track.

Isn’t it amazing how well things work out when we keep things in perspective?  That bad day we had three weeks ago doesn’t seem all that bad now.  You survived!  It is inevitable that you are going to have more bad days to come…can you survive those too?  YES!  Yes you can.  Keep yourself in check and support those in their efforts.  Be a friend.

There are different levels of friendship but a friend is a friend none the less.  Keep an open and understanding heart to all those who are in your life and even to those who aren’t.  Did you know that you can be a friend to a complete stranger?  Amazing isn’t it?!  Stay positive for yourself first and foremost.  Stay positive and strong for those around you.  Be kind to everyone…not just those who you consider friends.  I love this quote by Plato, “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle”.  But, most of all have compassion toward all.

 

Aren't the hands of kindness so beautiful?

 

 

Everyone struggles with their life.  No one said life was going to be easy.  Doing the right thing, being there for someone even when it is inconvenient for you, loving someone even though they don’t love you back…these are all hard things to do but, if practiced often it helps keep things in perspective.  When practiced, you shift your whole outlook on humanity, yourself, others, your relationship with others…etc.

I cannot teach you to be positive.  I cannot teach you kindness.  I cannot teach you to be compassionate.  I can show you how to be positive, kind, and compassionate though!

 

Be an unexpected Angel...there's an element of surprise!

 

 

Reach out.  Be a friend to someone today.  They might really need someone’s kind words to help them thru their unheard battles.  They might just really need someone to listen or take interest in them.  Or maybe just a heartfelt encouraging note.  It doesn’t take much to be a friend.  It merely takes a simple act of love.  This is so fitting…http://www.actoflovefoundation.org/.

 

Expect nothing. Gain everything!