It only takes a Spark

Do you know that good ol' campfire song? 

It only takes a spark - to get a fire going. 

That’s how it is with God’s love
Once you’ve experienced it,

you spread His love to everyone
You want to pass it on.

 (I believe this is title Pass It On written by Kurt Kaiser - great song - lots of memories singing it :)

I had the best of intentions to write two other blog entries before this one.  But life happened and quickly passed.  I was going to share some of my struggles in a post titled Derailed and then the next one was to be more upbeat how sometimes we need to "Drop Everything for a Hug" sharing some of my parenting joys and letting go of some of the chores for more smiles both from me and my son.  But as hours passed and now we are on a new day overflowing with joy.  That I just had to share where I was today. 

First last night I actually went out with a friend - no hubby, no toddler,  but me as Suzy with no other titles or responsibilities other than to be present.  It was amazing!  To laugh, to talk UNinterrupted in more than two word sentences, and to actually eat when the food was still hot.  I don't do this a lot.  As you probably guessed by my enthusiasm.  But when I do carve away that time I wonder why I don't do it more often. And then as I head home with excitement and feeling rebooted to spend time with  my guys I remember how much I do love to spend time with them - chores and everything :)  But we do need that break to refresh, maybe it's time alone, maybe a creative project, maybe work, maybe a night out with friends, or maybe a chance to give back.  We are intelligent human beings who crave stimulation.  We need opportunities that feed our senses and if we keep ourselves in the same patterns and environments it is hard to stimulate those senses.  However, once we hit refresh on those senses we can come back to our "daily lives" with new perspective - which in the end can change any or everything!  

So after my enjoyable evening (which I have to brag about my hubby not only being a good sport about taking on single parent duties, but also my biggest cheerleader to encourage this much needed girl time.); it was to be an early morning this gorgeous Saturday.  Again my fantastic hubby took on playing the parental role solo so that I could attend a charity/awareness event.  As you may know one of my 1 resolutions for this year was to participate at least monthly with purpose with a new charity.  I really debated if I wanted to walk/stroll this community event "Race for Adoption" to raise awareness about adoption.  It was only a 5k and we've enjoyed the last couple we've participated.  But after prayer and a lot of thought I decided that it would be fun and different to actually volunteer for the event, not just be a participant. 

The race started at nine in the morning, but volunteers were requested to be there between seven thirty and eight.  Oooh!  Not that I wouldn't be up by that time but dressed and ready to help not a very typical Saturday morning.  These are usually good jammy mornings for my son and I.  But I arrived around 7:40 and looked around for the gathering spot.  I found the man in charge who put me in contact with the guy with the clipboard.  That should have been my first clue that he was the best guy to talk to.  What is it about clipboards?   Don't they make everyone look so organized and official?  I was assigned Turnpoint 2.  That's how early I was for sign-ups :)  What was so great about this position?  You got to see the participants early in the run and then close to the end of the race as this was one of two spots they passed twice.  Me and my turnpoint partner felt it was our volunteer duty to not only point out the way but cheer and applaud with enthusiasm :)  I am sure some of the participants appreciated our effort, I'm also sure some were annoyed but probably not as much as the people who lived in the houses near where we stood.  But I felt moved to applaud for so many reasons.

It was such a blessing to see people of all ages, sizes, and health ranges participate.  I think there were close to 280 runners/walkers for a first time event.  Pretty impressive.  It was inspiring to see the parents out pushing their newborns and toddlers in double-strollers,  people who are struggling with weight ( I know that fight well!!!) but still out there giving it their all, people who are grandparents still finishing the race of three miles under thirty minutes (I couldn't do that!), and those runners who run daily (and you can tell) and are graceful and impressive, there were teenagers chatting it up, solo walkers who might have been praying or meditating.  But all together just a beautiful sight and opportunity to people watch.  This was real reality tv :)  Guards down and people just doing their thing using different sources of motivation. 

These people without trying were so motivating I got home feeling just pumped.  It was still a tish downcast but gorgeous and I grabbed my son, his stroller, and our dancing dog.  Our dog just gets so excited at the appearance of an impending walk.  And together my little trio walked about a mile and a half.  This is usually our stroll around the neighborhood but after seeing everyone come together and compete or stroll according to their skills and mindset; I just had to get outside and walk.  I also decided that next year especially if they hold this same event.  I am going to be a participant and not walk (well the whole way :) . I may not run/race the whole way but I do want to finish the three miles in under thirty minutes.  That's my goal and I want to be held accountable.  In one year's time I am going to finish a 5k in less than thirty minutes. I can do this.  So thank you runners for inspiring me.

It only takes a spark!  You can be that spark!  I believe this is a quote of Theodore Roosevelt's I love it so much I wrote it twice in my Bible - "Do what you can, with what you have, where you are."

There is no time like right now to share your inner glow :)

May your HealthFULL Journey offer you ample opportunities to refresh so that you can be that spark to motivate others.  'Til we meet again. . . 

   



That first step. . .

This whole journey has been filled with first steps.  Retrying first steps. Re-doing first steps. Repeating first steps.  And the whole process after a strong first step ...baby steps.  So many times I charge gung ho down the trail.  Let's do this!  We can do it!  This feels awesome!  To quickly retreat the next day (or halfway through my own personal pep rally) thinking have I lost my mind?  I can't do this....I don't want to...this stinks....no fun! ....and blah blah blah.  Sometimes I argue with myself just put the tennis shoes on.  If nothing else happens so be it.  But at least tie the freakin' sneakers unto your feet.  So I tie my sneakers and never have I decided that was enough.  I figure once I have the shoes on my feet I might as well use them.  I work great with boundaries.  I tell myself "You just have to do one lap but should probably stop after four laps.  Or walk as much as you can in fifteen minutes."  This gives me limitations so I don't feel like I have to walk to New York and back to feel I've accomplished my task. Challenging enough to get me off the couch but not overwhelming that I feel there is no point to give up the lounging. 

Also I need something to add change to the daily work-outs.  For awhile the new DVDs from the library were great motivators.  Then my goal to cover an extra mile boosted me to walk daily.  On the new horizon I have a new pedometer.  Noticed I said new?  Yup I have tried the pedometer in my past.  But I didn't like mine it didn't motivate, actually it discouraged me.  I had purchased one with the intention of walking 10,000 steps a day as that should be my goal according to an article I read at my heaviest.  At my heaviest weight this might be shocking news.  I was not walking anywhere near 10,000 steps.  I wasn't even walking 5,000 steps a day.  I was walking in the ballpark of 2,500 steps a day.  That included work, leaving my apartment, getting ready and I barely covered a mile within a day.  That is heartbreaking. And discouraging.  I was barely covering a 1/4 of my goal.  So without much intention I began to forget my new friendship with the pedometer and let it stink into the miscellaneous drawer with much adieu.  However, now I am ready to add the pedometer into my daily routines.  My average routine consists of 5,000 steps without even trying. (Vast improvement from seven years ago).  This pedometer is actually a tool purchased by my company to encourage a healthier lifestyle.  My cost is zero dollars which makes this free!  Who doesn't love a bargain these days.  It tracks your progress online and rewards you for the different milestones you achieve with different prizes.  Ahh now some friendly competition - excellent!  I have worn my pedometer for three days.  The established goal is to walk 7,000 steps a day at least five days a week.  But in my head sits that old nagging number of 10,000.  Because once you hit 7,000 why not try for 10,000.  However you get extra points for walking 12,000 steps in a day.  So on my third day once I hit my 10,000 (which I had done the first two days!) why not try for 12,000 and I did. Hopefully you can read the 12,069 in the picture as proof I'm really doing this.  I really am onboard this time to be the healthiest I can be. 

I am not the only one "stepping" up my "A" game.  As a Valentine's Day surprise our little boy decided to take his first steps.  Five to mommy and five to daddy.  I figure if my son is going to start walking; I better push myself past that first step as well. 

May your HealthFULL Journey begin with that first step and quickly multiply.  'Til we meet again. . .

Where is my oomph?

Exercise is getting harder and harder to complete.  Where is my oomph?  Tired?  Hot?  Overwhelmed?  These are all common excuses.  But that's when it is important to muddle through.  We are teething in our southern home.  I think that sentence sums up where my patience, energy, and sanity have all gone.  And when I say "we" this is definitely a family activity.  My sweet little boy that slept and smiled has been taken over by a baby that cries, whines, can't sleep for longer than twenty minutes but then is a drooling giggler.  I feel like I am living with Dr. Jekyll and Mr Hyde when he was eight months old.  I know these are the times I need to gather my energy to get my endorphins pumping and work out the tension from my muscles.  But ahhh! I am losing my mind!  If you have read another of my blogs "mutiny in the household" mentioned how the world is against my sleep.  And I feel the pattern is back.  I was ready to doze at 1:30 last night and I was about to drag myself to bed I heard the stirrings of the li'l one.  I hesitated and said the silent prayers I believe many parents have uttered.  Please Please fall back asleep.  And a couple of minutes pass and the growls of sleepiness begin to subside until the five alarm scream announces.  Baby needs attention before the house is ready to slumber.  I attempt to address his needs one by one and finally at three o clock we both hit our weariness level and drift to sleep.  He hasn't had anything to eat in the middle of the night in awhile so I figured we might actually have a sleep in kind of morning.  I blissfully shut my eyes for the sweet dreams that come with that thought.  Until my alarm goes off at 6:15 am.  What?!?!?! My hubby sets my alarm when he works so that I can try to get my morning started before our son.  But for two hours later.  Oops.  I crawl/leap back into bed for two more hours of shut eye.  Except a half hour passes and the screams of someone alert the house.  You have got to be kidding!  So once again I believe mutiny was declared and no one informed me.  So you may understand why I really believe the household is teething.  (I hate that he has to cut teeth and wish I could take the pain.  Not only does he hurt but he doesn't really understand what is happening.)

  Where is my oomph?  On my pillow I imagine.  I have played with the idea of a nap.  But sometimes when I nap I turn into a grizzly bear and also experience what movies make a hangover look like.  My thoughts are fuzzy, I can't decipher what time it is, my reactions seem hesitant, and I am just moody because I feel like I lost my day.  Grrrr!  So really it is better to muddle through the day but than I can barely function.  Decisions, decisions.

But I promised myself that I needed to get back on the movement track and made a deal with my hubby.  If you take baby duty for the next thirty minutes I am going to go exercise.  So I drag out the Wii Fit.  And promise myself twenty minutes is acceptable but I am going to get moving.  I am feeling a bit scattered and started skipping through the whole list of exercises (I lost 1.8 lbs in the last two days but gained 9 years.  Kind of sums up my skills).  I did something I don't think I have ever done in a Wii Fit routine.  I used all five categories : Training Plus, Yoga, Strengthening, Aerobics, and Balance games.  Five Alive.  I rarely do the strengthening movements as I use Yoga as my warm up usually.  I really liked the Strengthening exercises and one even stated I was a Bodybuilder. Which I proudly yelled down to my boys.  I know it is a silly pick me up but it did the trick I flew through the full thirty minute work out.  It is amazing how a little encouragement, a little effort, and a little drive actually can help one find their oomph.  It is hard to find anything when sitting down in one place but with a little movement your opportunity increases immensely.

May your HealthFULL Journey bring oomph to all aspects of your life. 'Til we meet again. . .

Sleep means more than ZZZZZZZZ's

I am not the best sleeper.  This is sad to admit but I used to have pride in the fact that I function easily on five hours of sleep.  I convinced myself that it is better for me to sleep an odd amount of hours than a heap of even number of hours.  Bizarre but true.  I used to be able to function on three hours sleep three - four nights a week.  I'm not necessarily the best person I can be (little cranky, little emotional, little paranoid) but for the most part functionable.  Five hours used to be my dream amount of sleep.  (Get it? Dream! :) I was me.  Because that was my average.  Seven was luxury and nine was unbelievable.  If I did three hours three - four in a row I could do a marathon sleep of eleven hours.  In my quest to get healthy in WHOLE kind of way I have read some articles, books, etc. And a lot mention that heavier people tend to carry more weight.  You would think if we are staying up so late we would be burning more calories.  But not the case.  Us fully awake around the clock people tend to eat more and exercise less. Why?  Because we aren't sleeping because we aren't exhausting our systems physically and yet are losing control of our emotions tricking our appetites.  I have read the acronym "HALT" in several books so I am sorry if I am not giving proper credit to who originated this idea.  HALT means to evaluate before you commence eating.  Are you Hurt? Angry? Lonely? or Tired?  and for that reason are grabbing a snack?  If you're hungry go ahead.  Your body is telling you it has burned the calories and is ready to re-fuel.  But usually it is because of the other reasons listed.  When someone is tired they tend to graze without thinking.  Your appetite is ramped and your emotions wild and your control is exhausted due to lack of sleep.  It's amazing how a little rest can up your energy. 

My hubby took morning duty today with our son.  And though I awoke briefly to share a kiss with my two favorite guys I quickly returned to bed because I could.  Wow I had a fire lit ready to do some work.  For my work out I was tempted by my salsa DVD but will attempt that tomorrow.  Today I have been hounded by our two bathrooms needing a good cleaning.  So out I pulled my cleaning supplies and grabbed my son (not altogether).  I used different set -ups so he could watch me work.  The first bathroom was fun because he had a new perspective sitting in the hallway which he has never just sat there. Not much to see but to him it was a whole new destination.  Isn't it funny how we let our task list grow because of laziness, boredom, detestation, and really the project just doesn't take that long.  20 minutes and one bathroom down.  The other still needs the shower clean but otherwise the master bath is done.  It was getting late and my son was getting hungry (or bored or both ) :)  Also got some other projects done and even had dinner ready for hubby when he walked in the door.  Isn't that the nicest feeling in the world?  If you live with someone else and walk in the door after a long day or work, errands, social obligation, and you walk into aromas of supper ready to go.  Heavenly! in my opinion, one last hassle, feeling loved, and time to let go! 

And what is awesome I still have energy to go.  Because of this I had more stable moods and could be there if needed.  When we are too tired we can't take care of ourselves and that also means we certainly can't help those we love.

May your journey help you to Fully or Finally Understand Life by Living which means take time to rest, so that you can recharge and get back out there fully you at your best.  'Til we meet again. . .