As a society, as Americans, we are spending more and more money on fixing broken bodies. So if you could teach your kids three things about being a grown-up I would suggest you consider these.
1. Live as if you do not have health insurance
Would you drink and drive EVER if you did not have health insurance? Would you go down that double black diamond if you are only an intermediate skier? Would you buy a motorcycle or consider going skydiving? Would you go running on an icy day? Would you eat fast food? Would you go for days without drinking water and only consume coffee? Would you consider smoking cigarettes? Would you try hard drugs? Would you blame the world, your mother, your husband, whoever, that it is their fault that you are overweight or unhappy and be content with having others fix your problems because you are entitled to it?
A lot to think about...sure. There are a lot of limitations that you might set on yourself if you did not have health insurance. Think about all the things you could do.
Could you shop on the outside of the grocery store and buy whole foods with a small budget? Could you make a statement by purchasing yourself and family members all water bottles? Could you have one salad a day to stay regular? Could you go outside or to the gym at least 5-7 days a week and move to keep your heart healthy? Could you enjoy every chance you had to do something fun outside and be happy with life in general just because you are living right now? Could you keep life moderate and be reasonable with choices involving risk? Could you take responsibility for your own health mentally, physically, and socially so that even though HIPAA prevents health information being shared you would want the world to know that you are healthy and your family is healthy? Could you be embrace the sadness and relish moments of laughter and joy?
These are all small steps of taking care of ourselves that seem to be forgotten and we would rather exclaim on Facebook, Twitter, etc., about being a victim of X than appearing happy and healthy.
2. Treat others as you would want to be treated.
The Golden Rule. Enough said.
3. Take responsiblility for yourself and your own actions.
Rather than blaming other people for your sadness, lack of confidence, overweight body and lack of health, take control. Get over your sadness, everyone is sad at some point (heck, everyone can be happy too). Take a deep breath and be okay with failure; Rome wasn't built in a day and learn from your mistakes. If you are overweight and someone has asked you to start moving, remember what you can do and take small steps toward improving your chances with gravity as you age. I challenge you to keep going to the gym through February and March and make exercise a part of your daily/weekly routine. Remember wanting to and doing are completely different.
I believe that everyone is perfect just the way they are, however, with us being Born to Run, and in the 21st century, maintaining a sedentary lifestyle, we are preventing our own progress by not moving. Move forward and do something. Lack of health is just confirmation of reasons not to do something...overcome the odds. I believe most Americans have an affinity for the underdog, so why don't you live it and Be A Hero, at least in your own mind.
Think about the things we could do together. We could be healthy. We could be happy. We could live within our means and enjoy what we can do.
Enjoy the day...I will be running.
Heidi
Thursday, January 26, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Embrace your training--spend less time doubting yourself.
As we come back into our running programs at the beginning of 2012, self-doubt can always be a training inhibitor. It can keep you from getting out there and training. It can stop you from being able to stay with the running group. It can make you believe that you are not as good as you think. Why?
By spending so much time on the negatives, does that really help you move forward and make a difference? Do you really want to overanalyze the can'ts and believe deep down that you aren't worthy? When thinking about it like that, its seems obvious (is it to you?) that it is a waste of your time. You have a lot to be grateful for and remember all of the things you do have. Momentum is what keeps us going and with constant hiccups (finding reasons to stop running) and negative back slides (beating ourselves up over a bad run, overthinking a small muscle twinge), it can only serve to take a smile off our face and begin furrowing.
What is furrowing? Furrowing is when your brow becomes scrunched together so tightly because you are physically trying to overthink things. RELAX. Whether it is applying to college, a new job, writing a speech or trying to figure out how to tell someone you love that you are unhappy with how they are treating you. If you try to disconnect your body from your heart, your intentions will be amiss and your vision might be misconstrued because you did not say what you truly mean.
So when you are training just have fun, relax, enjoy being outside with friends and embrace the beauty of the world around you. Oh and most importantly, remember to smile.
Congratulations to the first U.S. Olympians who will represent the red, white and blue in London this summer. May you bring home a medal or two as we are sending the strongest marathoning contingent since the 80s and the days of Salazar and Shorter. Absolutely cannot wait to watch the Olympic marathon and watch all of you along with these Olympians live the dream in 2012!
Yours Truly,
Heidi
By spending so much time on the negatives, does that really help you move forward and make a difference? Do you really want to overanalyze the can'ts and believe deep down that you aren't worthy? When thinking about it like that, its seems obvious (is it to you?) that it is a waste of your time. You have a lot to be grateful for and remember all of the things you do have. Momentum is what keeps us going and with constant hiccups (finding reasons to stop running) and negative back slides (beating ourselves up over a bad run, overthinking a small muscle twinge), it can only serve to take a smile off our face and begin furrowing.
What is furrowing? Furrowing is when your brow becomes scrunched together so tightly because you are physically trying to overthink things. RELAX. Whether it is applying to college, a new job, writing a speech or trying to figure out how to tell someone you love that you are unhappy with how they are treating you. If you try to disconnect your body from your heart, your intentions will be amiss and your vision might be misconstrued because you did not say what you truly mean.
So when you are training just have fun, relax, enjoy being outside with friends and embrace the beauty of the world around you. Oh and most importantly, remember to smile.
Congratulations to the first U.S. Olympians who will represent the red, white and blue in London this summer. May you bring home a medal or two as we are sending the strongest marathoning contingent since the 80s and the days of Salazar and Shorter. Absolutely cannot wait to watch the Olympic marathon and watch all of you along with these Olympians live the dream in 2012!
Yours Truly,
Heidi
Thursday, January 12, 2012
If you Build it, They Will Come
Last night was the first meeting for F.A.T. Chicks and we had a dismal number of attendees due to various conflicts but we still had enough to proceed with a meeting and get something done. Before anyone arrived, I spent time cooking, cleaning and getting pumped to broadcast myself on Skype for all of the "viewers". I got dressed up pretty to set a good example and just have fun getting the whole charity thing started.
I thought that I had done a great job with publicity by posting on Facebook and giving reminders a few times a week. However, people are busy and things do happen and making this meeting, as compared to G2 taking care of her 5 year old with a temperature, not that important. I could dwell on failure and let myself become overwhelmed with the lack of attendance, but Senman reminded me that Wednesday nights might just not be a good night for meetings for people with full-time jobs. So next meeting will be on a Saturday to discuss local donors for the online auction and updates on events and most importantly, followed by a night out together in town with friends. Perfect!
Think back to the movie, Field of Dreams, with Kevin Costner and the vision he had of those baseball legends coming to play in his field and he knew without a doubt that it would happen and it would be fun no matter what. It is the PROCESS of living the dream. The highs and the lows that shape your character, longevity and overall happiness. Without sadness, fear and doubt about any situation, you would not be able to appreciate the winning, the joy and the uplifting moments that may make you shed a tear because you are truly that happy. May be shedding a tear while listening to "I Run for Life" will still happen every time I hear that song, because I know that WE CAN and WE CAN help make women healthier and stronger by learning how to love themselves.
So it may be small, to start, but isn't everything? Rome wasn't build in a day and heck if it was, it probably would have fallen a lot sooner. We believe that through F.A.T. Chicks and preventative health care, we have the power to change women's lives and heck, maybe even save the world? Maybe if we each took responsibility for our own actions and stopped blaming, stopped judging, stopped making assumptions and just took a deep breath and smiled, the world would be a better place.
I believe, that deep down, we all have the power to do great things. Adversity and judgement may stand in our way and at times we may feel the light cannot overcome the darkness. We may have trouble seeing that there is a positive outcome to a negative event. Guess what, you're still here, you're still living and you can learn from any mistake you make because you have the Power to do so.
Remember why you run and why you even started. Remember your high school coach or friend telling you that you can do it. Remember the feeling of joy and endorphins rushing into your bloodstream for the first time. Remember winning some race, setting a PR, or that moment that just rekindled your joy for running in the first place.
Remember, by running regularly, you will meet people. By smiling daily, someone will smile back. By doing good things for other people just because you can, someone will pay it forward. By working hard and staying present in the process, someone will notice maybe even follow. By supporting a charity running group that will drive research and funding for an awesome international women's health consortium, like F.A.T. Chicks, you do have the power to build something and be a part of something greater than yourself. I say go for it. What do you have to lose?
Keep living the dream, I know I am.
Heidi
I thought that I had done a great job with publicity by posting on Facebook and giving reminders a few times a week. However, people are busy and things do happen and making this meeting, as compared to G2 taking care of her 5 year old with a temperature, not that important. I could dwell on failure and let myself become overwhelmed with the lack of attendance, but Senman reminded me that Wednesday nights might just not be a good night for meetings for people with full-time jobs. So next meeting will be on a Saturday to discuss local donors for the online auction and updates on events and most importantly, followed by a night out together in town with friends. Perfect!
Think back to the movie, Field of Dreams, with Kevin Costner and the vision he had of those baseball legends coming to play in his field and he knew without a doubt that it would happen and it would be fun no matter what. It is the PROCESS of living the dream. The highs and the lows that shape your character, longevity and overall happiness. Without sadness, fear and doubt about any situation, you would not be able to appreciate the winning, the joy and the uplifting moments that may make you shed a tear because you are truly that happy. May be shedding a tear while listening to "I Run for Life" will still happen every time I hear that song, because I know that WE CAN and WE CAN help make women healthier and stronger by learning how to love themselves.
So it may be small, to start, but isn't everything? Rome wasn't build in a day and heck if it was, it probably would have fallen a lot sooner. We believe that through F.A.T. Chicks and preventative health care, we have the power to change women's lives and heck, maybe even save the world? Maybe if we each took responsibility for our own actions and stopped blaming, stopped judging, stopped making assumptions and just took a deep breath and smiled, the world would be a better place.
I believe, that deep down, we all have the power to do great things. Adversity and judgement may stand in our way and at times we may feel the light cannot overcome the darkness. We may have trouble seeing that there is a positive outcome to a negative event. Guess what, you're still here, you're still living and you can learn from any mistake you make because you have the Power to do so.
Remember why you run and why you even started. Remember your high school coach or friend telling you that you can do it. Remember the feeling of joy and endorphins rushing into your bloodstream for the first time. Remember winning some race, setting a PR, or that moment that just rekindled your joy for running in the first place.
Remember, by running regularly, you will meet people. By smiling daily, someone will smile back. By doing good things for other people just because you can, someone will pay it forward. By working hard and staying present in the process, someone will notice maybe even follow. By supporting a charity running group that will drive research and funding for an awesome international women's health consortium, like F.A.T. Chicks, you do have the power to build something and be a part of something greater than yourself. I say go for it. What do you have to lose?
Keep living the dream, I know I am.
Heidi
Thursday, January 5, 2012
Leader of the Pack...What does it take?
There are two types of leaders, those who lead by example and those who lead by example. You say, well that is the same thing; I say, totally different. If you are a true individual who leads by example, you know exactly what it takes to be good, however, socially you are unsure how to properly convey this to your teammates, friends, co-workers, etc. Constantly, you will be winning, being the best at things, getting awards for how awesome you are, by yourself. I believe from personal experience winning is much more fun when you have people to share it. So if you are a true leader by your work ethic, determination and true skill/talent, challenge yourself to reach out to your teammates, friends and co-workers, and ask them to join you in your pursuit of greatness. At least if you have a small group you can celebrate victory together and have a dance party; dance parties by yourself are short-lived. These people with the right tools, will be elite athletes or some of the geniuses in your high school chemistry class that have gone on to invent the world's next big thing.
So lead by example #2, these are the social geniuses that know what motivates all of their friends and they have figured that out early so they know exactly what they need to tell their friends to make them want to do something better. At some point, they realized that they would never be a Varsity runner physically because they just weren't built for it or they didn't have the time to get fast enough. However, mentally they were ready to take on the world, and with this level of motivation and work ethic, they will set up events and gatherings to help others thrive on this desire for greatness. Also, they generally care about everyone and want everyone to do the best they can no matter what because they would not have it any other way themselves. These people want the best for everyone and hope that no matter what level someone starts at they can be a hero...at least in their own mind. These are the best coaches that you have ever had or that cross country captain that would have only been the 8th-10th man even on his or her best day.
So #3, what if you have a friend, family member, co-worker, boss, spouse, whatever, that fits both of these descriptions? They will lead people to do something great, or not. Leading comes down to confidence and if you fear failing or doubt yourself, you and your comrades will never achieve greatness, just because you believed you were not worthy. The only person that can judge if you have failed is you and the only way you can fail is if you give life the best you can everyday.
What if you don't have the confidence? Stop telling yourself you CAN'T do something...that's easy. Tell yourself what you can do and get over your sadness because we are all capable human beings we just need to believe we are. Maybe we are all capable of qualifying for the Olympic Trials if we are patient with the process and have fun even trying in the first place? Heck, maybe even the Olympics.
Speaking of great leaders, friends and family with both qualities:
K may have torn most of what is in her knee in a great soccer game this past weekend. She leads the backfield for her high school soccer team, her club soccer team and is never ever afraid of being a hero. She knows what it takes to be the best she can be because deep down she knows that she is destined to do great things. She knows that people count on her daily to do her best because she would not do it any other way. She generally inspires others to want to do the same just by smiling and enjoying what she is doing because she has learned how to love the process, love practice and have fun competing.
T suffered a major career setback as a high school athlete when he shattered his L1 vertebrae and became temporarily paralyzed for almost a year and had to learn to walk again. He did not settle for never being able to play hockey again. He tried out for the US Paralympic Hockey team and he made the team for 2006 in Torino and 2010 in Vancouver. In 2006, they won the bronze medal. In 2010, he scored the winning goal in the gold medal game and got to be a paralympic champion. He never ever gave up, no matter what the odds were, and to top it off, he is still playing and I believe, the current team captain!
So for the athlete that leads by example, is never afraid of being a hero, and gets hurt because they do not want to let the team or themselves down, pray for them. Pray for them to take time off from competition because they want to, not because they have to because they are injured. As a result we will have more young leaders back in action saving the day, what they do best. Take time off for you and RELAX! Then, when its time to train for the Olympics, you are more than ready.
Keep smiling and happy 2012! Getting pumped for another Olympic year...I know I am!
Heidi
So lead by example #2, these are the social geniuses that know what motivates all of their friends and they have figured that out early so they know exactly what they need to tell their friends to make them want to do something better. At some point, they realized that they would never be a Varsity runner physically because they just weren't built for it or they didn't have the time to get fast enough. However, mentally they were ready to take on the world, and with this level of motivation and work ethic, they will set up events and gatherings to help others thrive on this desire for greatness. Also, they generally care about everyone and want everyone to do the best they can no matter what because they would not have it any other way themselves. These people want the best for everyone and hope that no matter what level someone starts at they can be a hero...at least in their own mind. These are the best coaches that you have ever had or that cross country captain that would have only been the 8th-10th man even on his or her best day.
So #3, what if you have a friend, family member, co-worker, boss, spouse, whatever, that fits both of these descriptions? They will lead people to do something great, or not. Leading comes down to confidence and if you fear failing or doubt yourself, you and your comrades will never achieve greatness, just because you believed you were not worthy. The only person that can judge if you have failed is you and the only way you can fail is if you give life the best you can everyday.
What if you don't have the confidence? Stop telling yourself you CAN'T do something...that's easy. Tell yourself what you can do and get over your sadness because we are all capable human beings we just need to believe we are. Maybe we are all capable of qualifying for the Olympic Trials if we are patient with the process and have fun even trying in the first place? Heck, maybe even the Olympics.
Speaking of great leaders, friends and family with both qualities:
K may have torn most of what is in her knee in a great soccer game this past weekend. She leads the backfield for her high school soccer team, her club soccer team and is never ever afraid of being a hero. She knows what it takes to be the best she can be because deep down she knows that she is destined to do great things. She knows that people count on her daily to do her best because she would not do it any other way. She generally inspires others to want to do the same just by smiling and enjoying what she is doing because she has learned how to love the process, love practice and have fun competing.
T suffered a major career setback as a high school athlete when he shattered his L1 vertebrae and became temporarily paralyzed for almost a year and had to learn to walk again. He did not settle for never being able to play hockey again. He tried out for the US Paralympic Hockey team and he made the team for 2006 in Torino and 2010 in Vancouver. In 2006, they won the bronze medal. In 2010, he scored the winning goal in the gold medal game and got to be a paralympic champion. He never ever gave up, no matter what the odds were, and to top it off, he is still playing and I believe, the current team captain!
So for the athlete that leads by example, is never afraid of being a hero, and gets hurt because they do not want to let the team or themselves down, pray for them. Pray for them to take time off from competition because they want to, not because they have to because they are injured. As a result we will have more young leaders back in action saving the day, what they do best. Take time off for you and RELAX! Then, when its time to train for the Olympics, you are more than ready.
Keep smiling and happy 2012! Getting pumped for another Olympic year...I know I am!
Heidi
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