Photo by Anna Debose Hankins
One does not need buildings, money, power, or status to
practice the Art of Peace. Heaven is right where you are standing, and that is
the place to train.
Morihei Ueshiba
Nobody can bring you peace but yourself.
Ralph Waldo
Emerson
Although I teach group fitness classes, I admit, I am not the most disciplined when it comes to working out. Unlike most of my counterparts, my girlfriends and co-workers. I have a couple of girlfriends, my fitness “BFF’s” and they are dynamos. They have busy lives like me and between the three of us we have 10 kids. Kids and all they are running every week, 5 days a week, and then they workout some more. They run through rain , sleet or snow. They are injured, but they keep running. They are tired, but they keep running. They run happy, they run sad…they just run. I on the other hand find any excuse to not workout.
Now, if I have to teach, yes I am all over it, and if my schedule is open, yes I’ll workout but if I am hurt, nope, if I am happy or sad but busy, nope, if it is stressful I will not workout. Well, that changed on Saturday. On Saturday, I ran; 5.28 miles! With my girlfriend, the right trail (we ran around Stone Mountain Park in Georgia) and my new toy, My Nike+GPS app (LOVE THAT APP!) Plus my Polar Heartrate monitor I was pumped.
On Saturday morning, I realized that running is just good for the soul. You run, you feel the breeze, you listen to nature, or your music, or you talk to your girlfriend. I did all of that and my soul felt great. I felt energized and ready to accomplish anything. I felt like only eating clean food that day and was motivated to do more. My girlfriends inspire me and I see why they run, although I do admonish them to find balance. No running injured! However, running is good. Exercise is good. Whatever it is you do yoga, walking, running, strength, cycling whatever gives you strength, power and purpose do it. No matter what do it for you. It is good for you, it is good for your body, it is good for your soul.
So, this morning I was actually able to get to the grocery store and buy food, some lovely apples too. Now, the morning got off to a rocky start. My middle son and I, well the entire family, were still asleep as the school bus zoomed past the stop. Since the stop is our lawn I heard it drive right by, and knew it was 7:30am. Man, we were just all so tired from the actvities of the week. So, I resigned myself to taking him to school. My goal in the morning is to wake him up and not fuss…I figure he needs love first thing in the mornings before going to face the world at school. However, he seems to prefer fussing, groaning and giving me the side eye. I am the adult, I am the Mother, I will set the tone…be calm I tell myself. Right! Five minutes into it we are at odds. I am fussing, he is crying…it is just drama. Well, I did drive him to school, with one graham cracker and a glass of water in him (we had nothing else, I really needed to grocery shop). “I love you” I told him as he went into school, 15 minutes late.
As I drive home, the school bus for my older son drives on past and I pray he made it on the bus. I get home and he has! My hubby (he had been out of town all week) is awake, my youngest is dressed and all is good. Except the Viola didn’t make it on the school bus with older son and I have 15 minutes to feed the youngest, wash his face, make his lunch and get him to school. Yes, he was 15 minutes late too.
I managed to make it to the store, buy fruit and other things…lots of other things, drop off the Viola and make it home for a 10am meeting. Yes, I was 15 minutes late to that too.
Later, as I spent time washing the fruit I purchased, the apples made me SOOO happy! I sat and started at them and then ate a yummy gala apple. I tasted the crisp sweetness of it and looked at out my kitchen window. Looking at the beautiful trees, clear sky helped me reflect realize how blessed I am. I am in love with today because we have no football practices, no errands, no dates, nothing to do but be home as a family this evening! I love my family no matter how crazy our days may be, no matter how much we may fuss. I love them.
I love today…hope you had a lovely day too.
Being busy is a great thing. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop, so stay busy…so I tell myself. But, how busy do you keep yourself. Do I really even have to keep myself busy? My life lends itself to busyness. And, being busy can be chaos. A chaotic life describes my life for the past few weeks…heck the last few years. My life is unique to me but my situation is not. I have three boys, a husband that travels for work, a lot!
The other day I was having quite an overwhelming day. It was so overwhelming that my anxiety level rose pretty high within me. Although I felt anxious in my heart, I knew (as most mothers know) I had to continue on. My kids had homework that needed to be done, dinner had to be cooked, practices needed to be gotten to, dishes needed to be done and I was alone, while my husband was out of town, working. Now, while in the swarm of this daily activity, feeling anxious and all, I got a call from a friend regarding the Middle schools fundraiser (which I am in charge of). She needed an answer to a question and was going to come by to pick up something she needed. When she came over she said that I looked very refreshed! REFRESHED! WOW! That is the furthest from what I felt…but somehow that is the aura that came off from me.
So, what was it, what did I do? Was she seeing something else? I can fake things quite well, but not that well. I can say I have learned somethings along the way that have helped me.
The first is, breathing. Most of my most crazy days call for some deep breathing throughout the day. I acknowldege my feelings and then literally take some deep breathes, releasing my diaphragm, inhaling through my nose and filling up my entire upper body with fresh air. The exhalation brings a slower beat to my heart, calming me down and allowing me to move forward with whatever functions I need to complete.
Secondly, I am, in general, a pretty positive person, so no matter how overwhelmed I feel I recognize that I can go on and I will. Everything I can do I will and what I cannot do or choose not to do just won’t get done. The world will not end, all of my kids will still be alive, I will be alive and so will my hubby therefore all is well.
Lastly, I take a break. Escapism is such a wonderful things at times! I am probably a master of it…not that I am proud of that or am bragging about it BUT, it sure does come in handy. I can sit down and just eat a small snack, read a little something, watch a little TV, computer time or even just nap. Working out is great for this too! Whenever I hit the gym and teach or take a class I fully escape what is going on. I come back into reality recharged, refreshed, and can and do often finish my tasks with flying colors! Even if it is at 2am.
Now, this has worked for me so far and I am THE FIRST to admit that there are times I do allow my emotions and anxiety to get the best of me. Just ask my husband, he usually gets the brunt of that. We often dump on those closest to us. LOVE YOU BABE!
So…Breathe, think positivitely, and relax. Take time to take time for yourself and watch how refreshed you to can be. Stay Calm even in the midst of the chaos.
Peace and Blessings!
