It is also the first day of my second session of #90daysofmindfulness, a project dream child of a girl I coached as a youngster. She is now an artist and yoga instructor, and aspiring vegan, who is quite an inspirational human being. I have agreed to be an ambassador for this initiative; it's basically a social media movement in which people feel supported in their efforts for positive change, whatever that change might be. It can be fitness related, diet related, or anything else that brings positive change into your life.
In the last session, I threw out a very simple and measurable goal. I wanted to achieve King Pigeon pose in yoga. That was it. No big life change, no humungous event to tackle or train for. Just a pose that involves a serious backbend and shoulder flexibility. The irony is I came close, but in fact, do NOT have the pose.
What I did gain was a lot more: I did yoga most every evening, documented it in photography through the help of my family and friends, expressed my creativity, and read so many beautiful and inspiring quotes that filled my spirit with peace and motivation. I can't say that my participation was a failure then. It was a great experience.
This go round my goal is possibly a little less measurable, but definitely more fulfilling. My goal is to pay it forward. I'm not going to go into long detail of it… but basically I was probably one of the most selfish human beings on the planet last year. I was chasing a dream… and got caught up in it heart and soul. I forgot the peripheral people in my life. I neglected them, while they sacrificed to support me fulfill my needs and wants.
I don't have a lot of experience, but I have some. I see people striving to reach the same goal I met last year. I see people struggling with changing their eating habits. I have friends who could use some support in becoming healthy. I will do my best to make myself available to them. I will train with them, run alongside them, swim with them, bike with them. I'll be a cheerleader. They were there for me. I hope to be of some use to them.
In the meantime I know myself. I need to keep my a goal for myself intact, or I will lose my sanity. And I can't be of any use to anyone if I'm in a straightjacket.
So I just have to be a good manager of time, and keep my goals intact. I want to run the Boston Marathon in the best running shape so that I can get a personal record there. I just want to give it MY best…. whatever that is. I want to bring what I am capable of. And I know I am capable of more than I have done in the past. Not to be negative, but aging will limit my progress soon enough. I will reach a peak for my body and that will be the threshold. I want to see that limit. I want to see where it is. After that I will have to accept the destined path. I hope to keep myself going in a way that keeps me happy, healthy, and sane. That's the key.
Speaking of KEY, I have a funny story. Well, it wasn't funny at the time.
My goal this week was to get BACK ON TRACK. Last week I came up short. This week I wanted a different scene. A different vibe.
So on Tuesday I took my run to a new venue. I drove to the local grocery store, parked my car, stuffed my key in my shorts pocket (done it before, no problem), secured the velcro and off I went into the morning fog.
About halfway in I was inclined to feel my pocket. No key bulge. My pocket was EMPTY.
If that wasn't bad enough news, I let the situation sink in that I do NOT have a spare key. It was lost some 3 years ago and never replaced due to the expense.
I retraced my steps. Scoured the ground and the grass. No key. No key. NO KEY.
I made it back to the car and NO KEY.
True panic set in. This has never happened to me before.
I call my neighbor in distress. HELP! She agrees to come and rescue me while I figure out who I'm going to call and write that million dollar check to.
As she rolls in to the parking lot and I get in, she says: "Soooo… there's this random key that's been hanging on our key rack for a long time. I'm not trying to get your hopes up, but it's a Toyota key and I have no idea who it belongs to."
Guess where the spare key to my car has been for the past 3 years (or so).
In other news, the #SilhouetteYogis Instagram challenge is over. No winners selected, but I'm not worried about it. I got such positive feedback from the sponsors that no matter who gets the freebies, it was a winning experience. I'll participate again.
Some of the shots for the project:
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| Toe stand (with "rag doll" variation) |
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| Standing backbend |
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| Upward facing bow with leg variation |
Sounds like it's going to be another wonderful community for people to thrive in.
Off to yoga class. Got on my bike today and it was gooooooood.
Key story was the best!
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