Laugh - it's good for you!

Oh my... it's been forever since I've been out here.  I've been doing some amazing inner work and I'm learning new skills to help others with.  But today, I want to remind everyone to laugh.

Laughing is important on so many levels.  It is great for you physically.  It can offer a great workout if you laugh long enough.  It is great for the stomach muscles.  It helps to move stale air out of your lungs and bring in new air which is essential for physical well-being and healing!!

And not to be ignored... it feels great!!  It is good for the soul.  Allow yourself a good laugh.  In fact, go out of your way to make yourself laugh.  Laugh for no reason.  Feel silly - that's good.  You are adding cheer to your life and the whole world with your laughter and silliness!!  Enjoy!

Allow yourself to shine

It's kind of funny when you think about the fact that we stop ourselves from doing what we love to do because we're afraid of making a mistake. If we just have fun and be creative, there really are no mistakes. Sometimes we won't like the outcome but all we have to do is try again. Today I challenge you to go out and be creative do something that you love to do and have fun!

Something Wonderful is about to Happen!!

Too often we worry about what could go wrong.  Today I challenge you to think about all the things that could go right.  Let your imagination go wild.  Have fun.  Imagine outrageously wonderful things happening in your life.  Expect them!  Don't be disappointed if you don't see it immediately.  Know that it is on it's way.  Let me know how this goes and what good things popped up in your experience today!!  Keep it up for a month and see the results.  Wonderful things are on their way to you right now!

Running

I haven't been posting much about my running but I've been running/jogging/walking regularly.  I completed my first half marathon on May 4th!  It was fun.  I definitely felt like I should have done more training and running longer distances but I felt great after it!

If you think you want to do that - I highly recommend it because it is truly a wonderful accomplishment.  Don't focus on your time, just focus on finishing the first one.  I read so many books and articles that talked about your first half marathon (or marathon) should be one with no time limits.  I panicked when I realized mine had one and if I didn't complete it within that time there was no record of my completing it!! Yikes!!  I wanted my medal :)  Luckily, I did fine and completed it on time but I highly recommend not putting that pressure on yourself.  If you run it fast, it doesn't matter but if you end up slowing down, you don't want to stress about the time limit.

The best advice I received from other runners is to make sure you enjoy the journey!!  I had a beautiful course to run and without that advice I can see myself not even noticing it.  That advice obviously can be applied to all areas of our life.  We don't want to be so focused on the end result that we don't enjoy life.

Have fun!!  Enjoy!!

Hugs for Health

Are you feeling down?  Did you get your hugs today?

For a long time, I didn't initiate hugging people because I didn't know how they would respond but then I just started.  I'd hug people when I'd see them in the office.  I'll admit some people found it weird but more people looked forward to my daily hugs and even started hugging other people, too.  It completely changes the mood of the office.  Try it.

I also will hug other parents at my kids sporting events.  Again, at first they don't know what to make of it but soon, they look forward to it and even seek me out to give me a hug.

Try it and let me know what your experience is with it.  I think you'll find that you are happier and the people around you are, too.  And magic begins when we are all feeling happy and loving!!

Don't forget to report back.

Make it fun

How often do you "not feel like" exercise?  Do you ever not feel like having fun?  Most likely not - or rarely when you are very tired and really should sleep.  But when we think we have to "workout", notice the word work in there.  I think we should rename it "funout" :) It's time to get moving in a fun way.  If you aren't moving think of ways to make it fun.  Here are some ideas and I'd love to get others:

1. Go for a walk with a friend or friends.
2. Go for a walk by yourself in nature.
3. Go swimming - join a Y or someplace with an indoor pool during the winter.
4. Go for a hike.
5. Go on an active vacation.
6. Chase your kids around.
7. Go to a laughter yoga class - all you do is laugh!!  It doesn't get any better than that.
8. Go skiing or skating.
9. Play frisbee.
10. Get some fun active games for the Wii or XBox Kinect.  (I often laugh in addition to the movement!)
11. Go for a walk with your dog.

I welcome your suggestions as well - but remember, it doesn't have to be work to be a workout.  Make it fun so you'll want to do it every day or at least several days per week!!

And give yourself credit for all your movements - don't think it doesn't count because you enjoyed it!!  It absolutely does count and that's really one of the points!!  Life is meant to be enjoyed.  Please share your experiences with me.

Dream Big

What would you do if you knew that you couldn't fail?  What do you really dream of having, being, or doing?  Not just what you think is doable or attainable but what do you really want - what is your big dream?  Do you have a big dream?

Today, I want to suggest that we all create a vision of what our ideal life would look like.  What do you really want and why?  This is not something you need to share, especially in the beginning if it seems too big.  But eventually you absolutely want to share your BIG dreams with someone and anyone who may be able to help you attain it and who will be supportive.

Don't let anyone tell you that your dream is not attainable because we can really do anything if we believe in ourselves, we take steps in the right direction, and we keep at it until we get there.  It's important to listen to feedback along the way to make sure you are headed in the right direction and it's important to re-evaluate from time to time to make sure your goals and dreams haven't changed.  By that I do NOT mean give up on them but sometimes our passions shift and what was once important to us is no longer very important.  Spend your energy pursuing the big dreams that really make you happy and your life will be spend in joy!!

January Challenge

Happy New Year!!

As the new year begins many people make resolutions for change.  The problem is that resolutions are notorious for not being kept.  I believe that is because we think of them the wrong way.

I gave up making resolutions but I do make goals both short and long term every year!  One of the important aspects of goals is to known and articulate why you are making them.  To say you want to lose weight is great but to say how much weight, by when, and why give it much more power.  Why do you want to lose weight?  Do you really want to or is it something you think you should do?  Have you given any thought to why you want to?  How will you feel if you do and how will you feel if you don't?  Is there a difference?  The deeper you can go into the reasons you want to do something, the better.  If the reasons are really important to you and you keep those in mind you are more likely to actually follow through on what is need to achieve your goal.

I have created a challenge for myself.  I believe in planning to make a change for 30 days.  We can do anything for 30 days.  If it feels good, we can continue it and if not - release it.  It's done.

I invite you to join me in this challenge at whatever level feels good to you. I will report back at the end of the month to let you know how I did and I'd love to hear how you did, too!

Every day in January I'm planning to do the following:

1. Meditate
2. Run or Walk (3 miles minimum each day)
3. Nature - get out in nature and enjoy the world around me
4. Mirror Exercise - before going to bed every night I will look at myself in the mirror and compliment myself on my achievements for the day (big or small) and tell myself "I Love You!" ***
5. Goals - review them morning and night
6. Inspiration - read inspiring books at least 5 minutes
7.Sit-Ups - Do at least 30
8. Push-Ups - Do at least 15
9. Fruits/Veggies - each at least 5 servings

*** The mirror exercise sounds "weird" to people at first but people who have done it have had wonderful results.  Often people may not even know that they have low self-esteem or harbor some inner anger or guilt that is actually holding them back.  In doing the mirror exercise, we allow ourselves to have unconditional love from ourselves which is the most empowering gift we can give ourselves. We deserve it.

Please share your thoughts, comments, and results with me.

A video to make you laugh

Some of this is just hysterical.

Laughing is so important for our physical and mental well-being and it's fun!

Take a look and let me know if you like it!

14 Races in 2014 Challenge

I want to give a shout out for Marathon Mom's blog (www.runnershoe.blogspot.com). I just joined a challenge I saw on there.  She is asking people to commit to the challenge of running 14 races in 2014!  I couldn't pass that up :)  14 races in 2014.  Wow!!  You can commit to whatever type of race(s) you want to run.  Some people may be doing all full or half marathons but since I'm new to running I selected that I will do a combination of races.They may very well be mainly 5Ks but... It is going to be fun!  It's getting me out there and running and I'm so excited.  I should add that as I said, I have just started running and only completed 3 races in my lifetime.  Since it took me 45 years to run three races, running 14 in one year will definitely be a challenge :-) but I'm committed to it.  I signed up there and I'm putting it here to have you all hold me accountable.  (I know that I really hold myself accountable but I don't want to fail publicly!)  If you are interested, please visit her blog and sign up!



I am already signed up for 3 races!!  Two are 5Ks and one is a half-marathon which I plan to walk/run (in February).  I'd love any tips people have for me!

I am hoping to do three runDisney races this year!  I'm signed up for one already.  I don't think it was an accident that I found this picture of the winner of the Disney Princess Half Marthon, Rachel Booth, and the copy I found had the picture saved as "Rebecca" , my name :)  There is no such thing as a coincidence!  :)  As a newbie runner, I'm not really thinking I will do as well as Rachel Booth who has one three Disney half-marathons and competed in the U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials where she came in 31st!  I do, however, believe that with all the properly labeled versions of this picture on the web, I was meant to find the one mislabeled as Rebecca Booth in order to remind myself that my only limitations are the ones I put on myself!!  I can run a marathon with the proper training!!   

I must admit it, I got the marathon bug last month when I read a pre-released copy my friend Mayra's book, Run YOUR Race: A Guide to Making YOUR Impossibles Possible. Mayra and I have both studied with Jack Canfield and know very well that the only limits we have are the ones we put on ourselves.  Mayra has written this awesome book exemplifying that.  The book absolutely drew me in and I read it in one day on my flight back from Pheonix, Arizona (after my last week of Jack Canfield's Train the Trainer program) to Boston, Massachusetts.  Although the purpose of the book is really to encourage us to "make our impossibles possible", it gave me the desire to run a marathon in addition to going after all my dreams.  I believe the book is coming out in January and I highly recommend it!

Anyway, I have the marathon "bug".  I am aware that I need to train and I want to train slowly and properly so I think I'm looking at January 2015 for my first full marathon.  I'm actually not opposed to walking part of it and I'm enjoying reading everyone's tips.  I find them inspiring and they help me remember that I don't need to get a record time, the point is simply to complete it and have fun!

Getting More Activity Into Your Day

I've been talking to a lot of people lately that feel overwhelmed when they think of exercising because they are trying to find a way to get to the gym for an hour when they already have a full day.

Please, please don't get overwhelmed by the thought of exercising.  Here are a few ways to bring more physical activity into your day.  These are really doable and you can build on this but get started today!!  You will glad you did!

1. Take the stairs instead of the elevator.
2. When you go somewhere, park at the far end of the parking lot.  
3. Look for even 10 minute periods during the day to do some physical activity.
4. Bring lunch to work and use part of your lunch hour to go for a brisk walk.
5. Do 10 squats every time the phone rings.
6. Get friends or family to exercise with you.  If you have kids, play a game of tag.  Your kids will love your attention and everyone benefits from the exercise.

When I used to work in an office building, I would go into my office and close the door and do some push ups, sit ups, squats, sumo squats, jumping jacks, and finish with the plank.  I would do that a few times a day plus whenever I started to feel stressed and it really helped.  I do need to warn you that it can be awkward with some skirts!  I also advise removing suit coats and high heels before beginning.  If you don't have an office and you don't have someone with an office that you can use, you can start a trend and see if you can get others to join you.   Have fun and be active.  It's good for your health on every level!

Find An Exercise Partner

It's always more fun to do things with our friends.  Exercise is no exception.  Find a friend (old or new) who also wants to be more active and set a plan for what you'll do together.  It can be as simple as going for a walk every day after the kids go off to school.

Working out with a friend is more enjoyable and holds you accountable so you don't miss your workout.

Here are a few tips:

1. Find someone who really wants to do this.  You both want to motivate each other rather than talk each other out of exercising while having coffee and donuts instead.
2. If you plan to go walking in the neighborhood, have a plan for rainy days or days that the weather keeps you inside.  The right workout video can make all the difference in the world.  Make sure you pick on that resonates with you or you won't do it.  
3. Make sure you both have similar exercise goals and objectives.  If one of you is a couch potato and the other is already an avid exerciser, this may not make for a great partnership.
4. Mix it up a little.  Add weight training or yoga once a week.
5. Make sure you both have a common time that will work every day so that scheduling doesn't become more work than the exercise. (One tip is that if your kids are on the same sports team, you can exercise together while they practice. That won't get you five days/week but it's a start.)  
6. If you are married or in a relationship, recruit them as a partner.
7. Go to some exercise classes at your local Y or any gym.
8. It's okay to have more than one exercise buddy - in fact, it is better.  If you are all friends and want to workout together, that can be great, too!!

Remember if you are really not enjoying getting active and exercising, you are not likely to keep it up.  Make it fun for you!!  Make it social!!  Make it happen!!

You can do it!!  Start today!