Here we are, on the precipice of 2023. This tends to be the time of year for simultaneously looking back and looking ahead, and I do think it’s healthy to have some sort of closing ritual and bid 2022 adieu. I’ll watch the sunset on January 31st and wave it goodbye. “Thanks for the memories! That’s a wrap!” And before looking ahead and focusing on our 2023 goals and aspirations, let’s pause and take a moment...
My niece is finally 16, and she’s obtained her driver’s permit. I’ve been taking her out driving and she’s really getting the hang of it. My biggest driving tip, which I said early on, I’ve really hammered home, and I keep repeating, is: Be sure to get settled in the car before you put it in drive and head down the road. That translates as not rushing, perhaps taking some deep breaths, making sure the...
In the US, we’re heading into Memorial Day weekend, which is sort of like a kickoff to summer. It is always “hit or miss” weather-wise. I remember sunbathing by the pool in 80 degrees this time of year, and I also remember torrential rains for four days straight. You just never know. Memorial Day weather in Connecticut is a metaphor for life. You never know what’s in store. Things don’t always go as planned. An often overlooked “skill” is to not get thrown off too easily....
About a year ago, I read that “busy-ness is trauma response.” I felt that statement. My whole adult life, I’ve been busy. When I had a lull in things to doit would stun me. It induced a moment of shock in a way, like, “Wait, what’s next?” To make matters worse, I’d magnify the busy-ness. When someone asked me how I was doing, I’d respond, “So busy.” For all women on Mother’s Day – even if...
Back in the day, daily exercise was intended for the body – purely for physical fitness. Today, daily exercise, while it is still (obviously) for the body, it is also equally for the mind, for mental fitness. Show me a truly mentally sound person and I guarantee they exercise. It might be formal or informal, but they move their body someway, somehow. Maybe it’s walking around the neighborhood, or maybe it’s a session with a $100/hour trainer. Maybe...
I’ve known many people over the years who just didn’t have any inspiration, for workouts or otherwise, and I see a lack of inspiration as a root cause of a lot of suffering, a lot of dreams deferred. The mistake is that people wait around for inspiration to strike. They think it comes from the outside. And sure, inspiration can come from the outside. For example, I watched US Open Tennis and was so inspired,...
Wherever I’ve lived, I have always, always found workout buddies. I’ve found people to hike with, to take group exercise classes with, and even to run 5k or 10k road races with. It goes way back – as a grade school kid, I found kids that wanted to ride bikes and play tag with me too. I’ve come to see the act of connecting with workout buddies as a crucial first step. It’s foundational. Having people that encourage exercise,...
