Three Squares

During my training run today I was pondering a few of the things I’ve learned in life – So far…

When am I at my best? I thought about it and I came up with when I check off these three squares everyday.

Number one, feed my soul; When I wake up I say thank you, to my higher power for I have another day. Then I read something spiritual anything from the Tao, the bible, or even an inspiring blog post. Then I meditate for at least five minutes but usually ten to thirty minutes. In order to do this I’m in bed by 10pm and awake at 5:30am.

With my spirit fed now it’s onto number two and feed my body; This isn’t just about eating healthy — Which I do. It’s about working my body. At sixty-one I typically work out seven days a week. I run three, weight train two, yoga two or three and martial arts three to four. As you can see many days there are double workouts. Maintaining a healthy body requires work. The body is meant to be active, training keeps my cardio vascular conditioning my resting pulse is 54, blood pressure 108/58. Maintaining flexibility and weight training provide me with balance and core strength, which hopefully keep me from having falls and injuries in my dotage.

Number three feed my mind; I have a number of older friends and family members that inspire me every day and the one thing they have in common is they feed their minds. Whether it’s my ninety something neighbor who reads the newspaper and does crossword and jigsaw puzzles, my mom who paints, bakes, and plays cards with her eighty something sister or there’s John (my stepdad) who at nearly eighty-nine maintains massive flower and vegetable gardens, changes the oil on his cars, prunes trees, paints houses and fixes just about anything. They all use their minds to work out problems. I enjoy learning, either a new martial art technique, something in business, a teaching tip or just general information I’m always seeking new interests. I learn something new everyday.

There you have it my happiness and my growth as an individual requires I check those three squares everyday…

What feeds you?

Run on,

Run Pretty?

Ok, I so got this from Carrie Underwood’s Cry Pretty… In my defense I’ve thought about this topic frequently — Almost every time I run!

Let me begin by saying I dress for comfort and function. I own two pairs of dressy shoes one pair for warm weather the other pair for cold. So if you think my running attire is brand centered and color coordinated you’re wrong! I wear good running shoes, I’m currently using and loving Brooks Pure Flow 6 (I call them Sure Slow) when on my feet. I have some Rebook running tights and Turtle neck, and one Under Armor long sleeve shirt. Thats the gist of my branded running gear.

What do I wear? I’m 61 years old and let’s say not everything is what it once was. Heck I’m not sure if it’s where it once was? I wear compression socks, they serve a few purposes; they don’t bunch up in my shoes, no leg cramping, they hide my spider veins and they keep people from wondering if I’m running in baggy pantyhose. I also use woman’s soccer shorts; again function and comfort, they are longer, so there is less chafing and great cellulite cover up! My shirts are all the free racing T’s and then there are my hats I’ve got close to 40 ball caps that are rotated daily (I’m a bit obsessive) but they do serve a function as sun protection. So not dressed pretty.

Running, I’ve witnessed all sorts of beautiful people running: The petite ponytailed blonds who are outfitted in brand and color coordinated running attire. The ruggedly handsome gentlemen running in tank tops and running shorts. Yet they don’t run pretty. Because stuff happens when you run; sweat, runny noses, dry mouth, post nasal drip. So “Spit” happens! You blow your nose on your shirt or wipe it on your hand, or as I witnessed this past weekend you block one nostril and clear the other over a gutter (BTW this was done by one of the petite blonds). Which made me realize why bother wearing an expensive outfit if you’re not going to bring along a tissue?

My takeaway Run for the beauty of it, how it makes you feel because lets face it’s rarely pretty!

Run on

Life Odometer @60

Remember when the odometer on a car just flipped instead of flash?

If you do then your life odometer is close to mine…

I remember my first car when I’d try to recall each major odometer milestone 1000 miles happened on President Avenue Fall River, and so on…

Now that my life’s odometer hit 60 years I’m suddenly more aware of personal milestones; where I’ve been, where I am and yes, where I’m going…

Life’s journey is not so much different than a road trip; the past is in the rearview, the present is behind the wheel, and the future is on the GPS…

I’m trying to be very aware of where I am and how I got here so I can plan my next turn. I’ve been inspired by my young students who’ve graduated to black belt. One of whom gave me a bracelet with “It’s not a sprint, It’s a marathon” on it. An awesome reminder that I’m in it for the long haul. I’ve also have been rejuvenated in my running through reading Runners World the amazing stories of runners in their 70’s running ultras and the many other runners who’ve over come challenges. This has motivated me to take on a half marathon. Which ironically will be right about when my odometer will hit 60.5…

Good to be back!

Gin

Perspective @ 56

Yesterday I celebrated my 56th birthday. It amazes me more and more how quickly life happens! It is said;” the days drag and the years fly”. I’m seeing the truth in that statement more and more each day.

So here are some thoughts from my Birthday Run and the “Run called Life” so far:

Things and having or getting things don’t seem as important now, “Moments” they’re what count and there’s no “gift card”for them!

Aging parents are precious, because each day with them is a rare gem!

Laughing loud and often, is far more fun than whining and complaining and the choice is always ours!

Giving is far more gratifying than getting, especially when you get to share your gifts!

Furry family are just as important as any other member of the family and they will never say or do anything to hurt or be disloyal. They can be trusted with all your deepest darkest secrets.

Travel and reading are our best education.

One woman’s delicates may be frilly from Victoria Secret while another’s may be wicking from Reebock!

Chocolate and Peanut Butter won’t cure anything but they both make life easier to cope with!

Regrets are left for things undone not for what has been done, those are lessons…

Namaste, and here’s hoping I have more perspective @57!

Ginnie

Role Reversals…

One of the ironies of growing older are the changes in relationships with our parents. There are role reversals like taking them to the doctors, switching holiday duties, worrying about them driving at night, and becoming their advocate…

It begins gradually, like with switching where Thanksgiving is going to be, or having to drive them at the night. It’s a scary blessing – You have the privalege of being there for them like they were for you. Yet its a constant reminder that time has and is passing for you and them…

The only constant in life is change, we can try to resist it or we can welcome it. I prefer to enjoy these precious times with my mother sharing duties and learning family traditions…

My only hope with these role reversals is that I’m half as good a caregiver as she was to me…

Namaste,

Ginnie

Compromising…

I find the older I get the more compromising I do! Ironically I had this thought as I ran back from my walk/run. (I walk the out and run the back on a two mile out and back.)

This got me to thinking on how many other “little” compromises I’ve made lately. A pumpkin latte over pumpkin cheesecake, yoga over sleeping thirty more minutes, egg white omelet over pancakes… You get the picture! Remember when it was staying in bed all day, getting up and eating pancakes smothered in syrup, followed with cheesecake for dinner?Sure aging has it’s benefits, we are supposedly wiser, more financially stable (chuckle). We’ve been there and done that and are grown up now.

I’ll close with the one thing I will never compromise; My Integrity, it’s the only thing we get to take with us… Unless the funeral director is willing to compromise and let me take a dozen vanilla creamed donuts…

Ginnie

Questions on Aging?

Okay I admit it I’m 54 years old. Most days I’m okay with that and I take the Popeye philosophy ” I am what I am.” Then there are the damp rainy days when I walk up and down the stairs and can’t tell if it’s the stairs or me creaking. This got me pondering these age old questions on old age: If we call wrinkles laughter lines why do we have them all over our body? Why are brown spots freckles when your young and age spots when you mature? Which leads to the question why are there so many immature – mature adults? What is the time line from a young chick, to a spring chicken, to a mother hen, to just being fowl? Can any one explain how you can go from a 34 B to a 36 Long? Why aren’t spider veins considered body art and tattoos of spider webs are? Do male hair follicles reverse course? Instead of growing on the head they sprout out of noses and ears.

These were just a few, there are a zillion more but I just had a senior moment and forgot them…

Keep on Rocking, (in the chair that is)

Ginnie

Stalled Out…

I’ve noticed a theme to a lot of the conversations I’ve had with friends, seems delays, or unexpected stoppages or just lack of time, energy or discipline has us “Stalled Out”… I’m thinking we somehow are all sharing the same issues, since we’re pretty much in the same age category known as the”Oreos”sandwiched between raising families and caring for aging parents. There are minor repairs to be made on the house or car, closets to sort, bills to pay and not much money to pay them with! There are friends we mean to call, family we should visit, functions we’d love to attend, but we somehow can’t get our acts together! We feel like we’re walking in molasses! Bogged down by careers and families we love, but unable to find time to enjoy being with them – Seems like we’re always caring for them! Is it any wonder that a recent study shows that the people between the ages of 45 and 64 have the least satisfying quality of life!

Solutions anyone? I’m not sure there are any, but I do know when I’ve stalled out my car I call for assistance. Funny that’s another thing my friends and I have in common we never ask for help! I propose we Oreos form our own “Road Side Assistance” . Let’s offer each other a push or a jump start and more importantly ACCEPT one when offered…

Need a Tow?

Ginnie