Day 230-Never too late.

It's never too late to begin a new habit. 

It's never too late to change the way you eat. 

It's never too late to change the way you move your body. 

It's never too late to change your education. Your residence. Your hairstyle. 

It's never too late to change your trajectory. 

It is a big ol' pet peeve of mine when I hear someone say, "I should've been a_________, but now it's too late."

Bull-puckey. 

There is no rule in the universal rule book that gives an age limit on anything, except maybe natural child-bearing. And even that gets thrown on it's head every once in a while. Just read the National Enquirer.

You want to know when it IS too late to start something, or change something?

When this happens:

You don't know how much time you've got left, so how on earth would you know that it's too late for anything? 

Until then, you've got a chance to change.To begin anew. So until that time, the only limitations on your growth, change, path and trajectory were placed there by you, and you are the only one who can cast them aside with a laugh--HAha!--and sally forth. 

Happy New Year, Walkin' Peeps, 
Dani

 

Day 229- Buffalo Gals, Won't You Come Out Tonight?

It's no secret to my family: I love buffalo. 

A lot. 

So, a trip like the one we took today to the Olympic Game Farm in Sequim is totally soul-restorative for me. 

Especially when a large buffalo head squeezes into the car window and slops some buffalo drool on me and mine. 

A buffalo's head weighs 250 lbs on average.

Yup, yaks.

Don't look now...

Sadly, we had to part. Eventually.

Odd that a smelly black tongue and gamey fur should be restorative, but it is. And, as a buffalo was rubbing my face, smearing yeasty smelling spit on my shoulders and nudging me for food, The Huz looked at me and said, "You're sure a good sport."

Maybe so. Or, maybe, I just get how lucky I am to be able to nuzzle a buffalo, when some folks have never even seen one in real life. Gratitude is always an attitude changer--you already know that. Plus, I'm a big ol' Ellie Mae Clampett, and can't get enough of dem critters. 

I spent my walk thinking about those big brown eyes, shiny and serene. Smelling my stinky buffalo-sullied sweatshirt and happy to have had another wonderful day here on Planet Earth. 

Grunt, 
Dani

 

 

Day 228-Watch Your Step!

A friend posted the above picture on Facebook today, and I wanted to share it with you. 

This can mean so many things. 

Don't hold grudges--they only hold YOU back. 

Don't let fears and stories from the past become your stories now.

Don't allow your past mistakes to stop you from taking leaps and chances now and in the future. 

Or, 

Don't walk backward. 

However you interpret it, it is yours to interpret. Today, can you think of one thing that is "behind" you that you stumble over now?

Me? I've got plenty, but being aware of them is the first step. Ha! Get it? Step? Yeah, well, okay, that's lame...I should be pun-ished.

Also, it's not bad to stumble--we all do. That's part of growth and learning. Just don't let that stumble turn into a fall from which you never get up. 

And that's the end of that, 
Dani
 

Day 227- Ello, See- At-Ul

Spent the day in Seattle, visiting mi madre and visiting the Troll under the Fremont bridge. 

Here he is:

And here is what he looks at all day:

Nice walk, in the chilly sunshine, with my loved ones. 

Yeah, 
Dani
 

Day 226- S.M.A.R.T.

Many people, at this time of year, begin to set goals (or resolutions) to better their lives. 

How do you approach your goals? 

Me? Pretty vaguely. 

I want to get fit. 
I want to lose weight. 

In fact, this blog was the most specific and measurable goal I'd ever set for myself. I want to walk 365 days in a row. It was smart. Or SMART.


S.M.A.R.T.

That's how we can set goals and achieve them. It's old-school, standard business goal-setting, but it works. 

Specific

  Measurable

 Attainable

Realistic

            Timely (or time-bound)

I want to get fit. Okay, that's vague. What about...I want to be able to do two pull-ups by the end of January?

Okay, specific!

Measurable. Well, that's easy. Either I am able to do them or I'm not. 

Attainable. Do I have the time to devote to working on that goal? Do I have the equipment? At least one arm?

Realistic. Am I 600 pounds? Probably not gonna get there by January. Gotta be realistic. Maybe at the end of 2013? 

Timely. By when is this goal expected to be achieved? End of January. Badda bing, badda boom. 

So, let's think about approaching our goals in this way, and see where it takes us. 

Ta, 
Dani
 

Day 225-Renewal, Every Day

It's an eagle. On the piling. With a ferry.

If you think about any commitment you've ever made to change in your life, you recognize that the first part comes easy and feels good, but the second part--the long, hard part--is fraught with challenges and setbacks. 

I want to lose weight! Today, I'm starting a weight-loss program!

Three weeks later...

I suck. This was hard. I'll try again on January 1st. 

Been there. Done that. Do that. 

No matter what, whether it is keeping your car clean, flossing daily or losing some pounds, whatever you decide to do takes commitment. But commitment is not a momentary act, not an out-loud statement. It's day-in, day-out, getting back on the horse when you fall off and choosing the path that gets you to where you decided to go. 

So...

Every day, we must re-commit. 

Taking your walk, working out, not eating sugar---whatever you choose, you need to choose it every day. 

Now, I'm talking like I know this, but it just dawned on me during my walk today. 

Huh. 


XO,
Dani



 

Day 224-Chinese & a Movie

Walked Seattle today, in the Christmas rain. Took in "The Hobbit" (who, by the way, is a proud walker--he even takes walking vacations!), then headed to Chinatown for Chinese food dinner at House of Hong--a perfect day with my sweet family. 

Merry Christmas, 
Dani

 

Day 223-Caroling with a Nice Jewish Girl

SILENT BLOG

(to the tune of "Silent Night")

Silent Blog

Took a Walk

With my Feet

And my dog

Moved my legs

Back and Forth

Used My Butt

For What It's Worth

Wrote it Down

While stand..ING!

Wrote my Blog

On-nnn my feet.

There, we just sang a Christmas carol together! May your holiday be filled with laughter, joy and circulation of your lymph, blood and other bodily fluids. 

Art by Jason Freeny

Be good to each other, eh?

Dani

 

Day 222- Changes Are Afoot, Like My Feet.

Happy Sunday, Everybody! 

The Huz and I took a lonnnngggg walk, wore out ourselves and the dogs, and got to breathe fresh air, chat about upcoming adventures and enjoy each other's company.

Without rain.

No rain. 

It felt a little odd at first, but then when it dawned on me that the rain was not pelting nor pouring down, I got doubly grateful for the timing of Mother Nature and my daily schedule. 

Which gave me time to think and talk and listen and plan, and get excited for the potential that each new day brings us. 

Aren't we all so very lucky to be walking another day?

Smoochies, 
Dani

 

Day 221-Ground Control to Major Tom...

Today was an interesting day spent in a land I rarely visit but am obliged to when beckoned. I can't go into details, but I can tell you that by the time I got home, changed into my walking clothes and took off, I felt like a deep sea diver coming up slowly to the surface, decompressing. 

Even though it was getting dark, blowing icy cold and pelting our faces with rain bullets, it felt like the most normal thing I had done all day. 

Thank you, walking, for providing me with an outlet, a release, a way of stepping back and assessing the day, my actions and reactions, and my attitudes. 

Thank you, walking, for giving me circulation when I had to sit on my rear for half the day. 

Thank you, walking, for being free, easy and accessible. 

Inhale, 
Dani

 

Day 220-I'm Still Standing, Better Than I Ever Did

Well, the world did not end yet, so I thought I better walk. 

Just in case. 

And if it did, well...what would we do about that?

Nuttin', Honey. 


Regard your life, grab it by whatever you choose, and enjoy this opportunity that you have to walk another day. We never know when our own personal Mayan calendar may run out and death may come calling for us, but as they say in the Free City of Braavos:

"Not today."

And as an added bonus, I'm inserting this video to give you a little boost: 

You're welcome, 

Dani

 

Day 219- So Glad I Said It Out Loud

Another walk in the dark in the freezing rain. Seriously freezing rain.

When I began this effort back in the late spring, I knew that I was beginning in the easy part of the year, and that winter was coming. But it was still easy to tell myself I'd get the job done. 

After all, I'd publicly declared my intentions. 

Who wants to feel the fool or admit public defeat?

Pretty much no one. 

So, I go. And as good as walking makes me feel, as wonderful as it has been for my mind and body, had I not committed to doing this 365 days in a row, today would be the sort of day I would skip. 

As would've been yesterday, the day before that, the day before that, the day before that...you get the idea. 

Winter in the Pacific Northwest is dark, cold and wet. And long. So if I skipped all the unpleasant days, I'd never be walking. 

And that's the rub with commitment. You make it, and before you know it, there's 562 reasons in front of you to break it. That's why it's called commitment.

Now, I speak as if an expert in this field, but I'm not. This is truly the only thing I've ever stuck fully with for this long---ever. In my life. 

Why? Because I declared it publicly? I dunno. If that's the case, I could declare that I need to lose 40 pounds, write 3 non-fiction books, 2 screenplays and 5 novels that have been rattling around in my head and learn to play the piano and do a full-body pull-up. 

I could. But not yet. If I did declare, than it just may have to happen, and that's a little scary to think about. Because this has helped me to begin learning what commitment is, and as I learn and grow, it's going to be harder to pretend that I'm not capable of seeing it all through. 

Have you ever wished you could put yourself on the line in front of everyone who matters to you and take that leap? Let me know, and I'll be the first one to sign up for your cheering section. 

Stay warm, 
Dani

Day 218- The Road to Recovery

Yesterday, I was feeling stronger, so I did two walks and walked over 2.5 hours. 

That means today I'm not so energetic. 

Do you tend to overdo things? 

Me, too. 

Short walk in the icy rain today, hoping for some snowflakes to frolic in. 

See you tomorrow, take it easy. 

XO, 
Dani

Day 217-Signs, signs, everywhere signs

Do you believe in signs?

I do. 

Not the kooky kind, like when your alphabet soup tells you to buy new pants or like the time an acquaintance thought that the number 3 that she saw on a license plate meant that she should attempt to stalk this fella a third time with seriously unrequited feelings...

Now, that's kooky. 

I mean the signs that point you in directions you need to be in, or reaffirm the path you are taking. Or give you little wake-up calls.

For instance, isn't it a little odd that I met with that healer who told me I needed to connect with my core/gut and then a few days later, I'm completely focused on the health of my gut because I decimated it with those antibiotics?

Is that kooky? Or the universe's way of saying "Hey, Dummy, pay attention!"

Regardless, I'm feeling a little better. I willingly went out for a walk in the cold this morning, even though I'll be walking most of the day. I will continue to feel my belly as I walk and move and feed myself things to restore my Gut Garden.

Ciao Bella,
Dani

Day 216-Even shorter short report

Blurg. 

Today's walk was even shorter and indoors in the interest of regaining some strength. Not doing well with the nasty antibiotics, had some toxic reaction and had to quit them. Actually feeling really bad.

Now I'm quaffing kombucha, slurping yogurt and chokin' down kimchi in an effort to rebuild my intestinal flora. 

Tomorrow is a big walk, outdoors, across downtown Seattle with my kid's class. I can't bag out, so I've got to gets bettuh!!!

In sickness AND health, 
Dani

Day 215-Short Report

Having funky reaction to antibiotics. Loading up on Kombucha, yogurt and sleep. Not feeling good. At all.

Took shortest walk in world today, thought I was going to throw up, turned around, came back home, task is done, see you on the sunrise tomorrow. 

Healing, 
Dani

 

Day 214-Someone left the Percoset in the Rain...

So there I was, lying around wrapped in pajamas and Percoset, feeling cranky 'bout the gaping hole in my mouth and wondering if I shouldn't have named my blog "WalkThe213Days", instead.

Me= Cozy, Commando and Reaching for Pain Pills
Outside= Freezing, Pounding Rain and 31 degrees

I cursed my goal and blog out loud to my husband. 

Who deftly reminded me that a walk in that freezing rain will be good for me--you know, "all those negative ions". 

I resisted the urge to throw something at him. 

He was right. 

Plus, my body wants to heal and circulation is paramount to proper tissue life. 

Which means healing. 

And walking in the freezing rain. 

So I took off for a short walk. I was silly to fear any wooziness from the Percoset, because the freezing, biting rain slapped me awake real quick like. 

And while I'm happy to be home, and crawling back into my PJs, guess what?

I DO feel better, and I betcha a million gazillion bucks it was because of that walk. 

Walk on, 
Dani

 

Day 213-My toof!

Oral surgery...yay!

Got up early to get that walk in today, because this morning I go in and have that toof yanked out and replaced with some bone graft. 

Might not be my bone, said the doc. Might be someone else's. Maybe it'll be the bone of some super genius, and I'll get smarter!

Or maybe, it'll be the bone of some crazed murderer, and my husband will have to sleep with one eye open? 

Don't know. I do know that I look forward to coming home and flopping in bed while my family babys me. 

Catch ya later, 
Dani

Day 212-Let go, let go, let go, let go!

I know some things. 

One thing I know for sure:

If you want to change, you have to work hard at it. 

Another thing I know?

If you want to change, you have to be fully open to your faults, mistakes and little ignorances. Is that a word?

I went and saw a healer/bodyworker yesterday for a problem with my elbow that I was unable to handle on my own. 

He had me do a lot of things, not many of them with my elbow. However, the magic things he did with my body made the elbow better. Yay!

But he noticed something about my gait, something I instinctively knew was not right but was scared to change. He had no problem pointing it out, so I decided to be open and accept it.

And he was totally right. He said I have an athletic gait, but do not move my stomach when I walk. My psoas is a tight-ass. I know why. This is from years of training to protect my core following longer years of back pain. But in my effort to lock-down and protect, I disconnected.  Better to not move it at all and stay pain-free than risk anything, right?

So he spent some time with me, helping me connect a wee bit (it's big work, can't be done in 5 minutes.) and sent me on my way. 

Say it with me...soh-az.

I spent this morning's walk trying to very hard to be in my core, letting my psoas release and letting my (gasp!) belly move while I moved. 

Whoa. Dude. 

So, now that I've trained Mrs. Buttcheeks to chill out over the last 3 months,
it's time to focus my Pygmalion efforts on Little Miss Psoas, and her friend and mine, Ma Belly. 

Here's one more thing I know:
If you want to do something, you will. 

What do you want to do today?

Yours in practiced relaxation, 
Dani

 

Day 211-12-12-12

Have you been feeling a little blue lately? 

A little less-than-enthused about the holiday season?

Fear not. 

You're not broken, only in need of a little positive reinforcement. 

From yourself. 

I can tell you all the good things about you, but it's all for naught if you won't listen. However, you surely listen to any negative self-talk you may throw your way now and again, so you can listen when you hand yourself some good stuff today. 

Today is 12-12-12. According to some, it's an auspicious time, cosmically. A time to be aware of negative energies that have been surrounding you, whether from without or within; and a time to bolster yourself with positivity, no matter what you've been feeling. 

How did this come about? Apparently, I'm one of many, many folks who have felt inexplicably blue and blah the past week or so. Seems like most folks I've chatted with have been experiencing this, and some trippy stuff has been happening, as well. A little research showed me that this is a time to be very kind to ourselves, and very aware of any nasty energies in our vicinity. 

What can you do? 

Be kind to you. Comment on this blog with one or two words about what you like about you. Or, look in the mirror and remind yourself all that you got goin' on. Write it on a scrap of paper right now and slip it in your pocket, and when you empty that pocket tonight, read it and smile.

There are plenty of folks that will give you a hard time. You don't need to be one of them. 

Life is beautiful, and so are you, 
Dani

R.I.P. Ravi. Thank you.

Day 210-Here's a little blog I wrote, you might want to read it note for note, so don't worry...be happy.

I'm not a person who gets depressed. Pretty much run at the same speed all the time, with the same happy, can-do attitude. Even little silly things fill me with gratitude.

But once or twice a year, I stall out. Whether it's due to overwhelm or undermotivation, I stall and get sort of blue. I forget all that I do have.

This happened a few days ago and I don't dig it. 

So I decided to try and do something about it. 

1.) Take walk

Check!

2.) List, while walking, all the things for which I am grateful. 

• My funny, lovely, supportive family. If the Mayans are right, that's fine as long as long as my arms are wrapped around the other three residents of Hemmatopia. 
• My body: my legs, butt and feet for moving me forward and my big, strong heart for pumping and my brain for heading up the control tower. Way to go, guys and gals!
• My creativity, drive and Pollyanna nature. Trust me, the first two work better with the third. 
• My true love. Yeah, I know he was mentioned in that first bullet point, but what I love about him could fill up 6999 bullet points, so let me have this one for now. 
• My supportive extended family. Crazy though they are, I love 'em. 
• Air. I like air. 
• My animals! I love animals, and mine are the bestus!
• And speaking of bestus, my best friend, who lives in Montana, is a blessing to be counted, fo' sho! 

Check! 

See, wasn't that easy? I only had to list that much and I was happier. Am happier! I could go on and on and on, but that was all I needed to get my head straight and keep my sh*t together. So while it may sound trite when you hear "an attitude of gratitude", it really is a simple key to hourly happiness from the minnute you open your eyes in the morning to the second you close them at night. 

Same as daily walking. 

Smooch, 
Dani

Day 209-I've fallen, and I can't get up!

Hip Fractures. 

Facts to ponder (from the Center for Disease Control):

• In 2007, there were 281,000 hospital admissions for hip fractures among people age 65 and older.
• Over 90% of hip fractures are caused by falling, most often by falling sideways onto the hip.
• A large proportion of fall deaths are due to complications following a hip fracture. One out of five hip fracture patients dies within a year of their injury.
• Treatment typically includes surgery and hospitalization, usually for about one week, and is frequently followed by admission to a nursing home and extensive rehabilitation.
• Up to one in four adults who lived independently before their hip fracture  remains in a nursing home for at least a year after their injury. 

And from Aligned and Well, who reviewed the list of 11 factors that contribute to hip fractures, the top 4 factors are:

• Muscle weakness
• Previous fall or fear of falling
• Gait deficit
• Balance deficit

Being OLD is 11th on the list! So, your hip doesn't break because you're old! It's because you have all these other factors--factors YOU can change.  You can even fend off osteoporosis. Remember Day 84 & Day 85? Re-read them if you need re-education and re-enlightenment.

You know it's wrong to laugh at this photo, right? Stop it.

Aren't you empowered now? Get out and walk in your neutral-heel shoes right now, just to celebrate the wonders of using your body all proper-like!

May Your Bones be Best, 
Dani

Day 208- What'd you call me?

The icy rain. Sleeping in. Sleepover guests. 12:20 ferry. All these things and more lead to today's walk being executed on the ferry boat.Yay!

3/4 of a mile on the Washington State Ferry System. Inside, walking round and round, on a boat, while it traveled 'cross Puget Sound. 

Isn't it cool? 

I think so, too. 

Given the choice between sitting and doing anything else, I'd go for anything else. 

I choose movement. 


Lovesies, 
Dani

'

Day 207-First Night

My walk today was COLD. I forgot a coat, so I had to pretend I was hiking through the wintery landscape, trying to avoid capture by a rogue band of polar bears. 

My world is vast inside my head, trust me. But even my imaginary kookoo-ness and greatly improved (thank you, daily walking!) circulation wasn't enough to fight off the chill 100%.

So, I warmed myself with thoughts of lighting the candles tonight for the first night of Hanukkah. It's beautiful and light and reminds me to never give up. 

Never surrender. 

Happy Hanukkah!
Dani

Day 206- Fast than a speeding bullet!

My day is packed

I've got no space

To wax poetic 'bout this place.

Cold, windy, wet

That's what I know

And now it's time

For me to go!

BUSY weekend, busy day. That cold, windy, wet walk this morning might be the only exercise I have time for today, so I am grateful!

See you later, 

Dani

 

Day 205-Yay, Continence!!

I had a hilarious dream last night, in which I was somehow a contestant in a Walking Race. This was not a race-walking race, it was just a Walking Race. There was one silly portion with roller skates and a stone bench, but other than that, it seemed pretty straight forward. Walk, and beat the other people to the finish line.


While we were standing at the starting line, waiting and getting instructions, I realized I HAD to go to the bathroom. I didn't want to leave my place in line, but I also didn't want to hold it through the whole race and possibly pee my pants. So, I asked if I could go and they let me. I walked (not ran!) to the restroom, got into a stall and peed to my heart's content. 

Now, who has ever wet the bed in a dream? I did, once in 6th grade. In that dream, I was running track (!) and ran straight into the bathroom, relieved myself and woke up in an embarassing puddle of wee. 

It was weird and I was ashamed, but I think it's fairly normal for younger folks. 

So, last night in the dream, I only peed in my dream. I wanted to go Number 2, as well, but I heard the race starting so I had to cut it short. 

And that leads us to today's message:

Thank Goodness for Continence!

That's right. My system stopped me from waking up in a puddle and pile, respectively. My pelvic floor has been slowly aligning, gaining strength and functionality by working toward proper alignment. 

It's a long explanation, but just know that sitting all day and poor posture/alignment will weaken your pelvic floor and Kegels won't help. At all. They'll make it worse. For a better, thorough explanation of why, I'll leave that to the expert, Katy Bowman. Here's a great blogpost on WHY they don't work:

No Mo' Kegels

In the interim, until you have time to work with me or another Restorative Exercise fanatic on your pelvic floor, WALK. That's right. 

Walk. Aligned.  

When you are walking and standing aligned, your structure is properly loaded, making your muscles work toward the proper lengths for optimum functionality. This includes your pelvic floor muscles. 

Also, squatting while defecating (yes, I did just say that) will help restore continence in both your pee-ways and your poop shoot. 

Sound good? Get a Squatty Potty. We are loving ours, and you get over yourself real quick like once you feel the benefits. Want to talk alignment. Your alignment? Holla!

Not a Bed Wetter nor Pants Wetter Be, 
Dani




 

Day 204-You could be swinging from a tree!

What a beautiful day! Had I nothing else to do all day, I would've just kept walking. 

Good times, good times. 


Um, I've sort of recovered from the shock of my body cannibalizing my dead tooth,  and so have moved on to other things in my thinking space. (I'm super good at moving on!) Here's what's rolling around in my brain case today.

We tend to move in the same patterns in our daily lives--patterns that may not necessarily be the most beneficial to our health. We sit. A lot. We have our arms out in front of us, driving cars, using computers and smart phones and tablets. A lot. We don't reach, bend, pull nor support our own body weight enough. When you remove natural, varied movement from your life, you create immobility, whether you are immediately aware of it or not. Basically, use it or lose it.

You can begin to add natural movement into your life, and while it may at first be uncomfortable, you WILL become reaccustomed to the way you were built to move. 

For instance, how often do you reach overhead and pull something down, or pull yourself up? Walk over to the nearest playground in your 'hood, pretend no one is watching (They really don't care, trust me. They might even be jealous you've got the chutzpah to do this), and hang from the monkey bars. 

Can you? I bet you don't like it too much. But, you were designed to do things just like that. Pulling yourself up into a tree branch, reaching for overhead nuts and fruit and plucking them down. 

And, pulling down the weight on the lat machine at the gym doesn't count, Boo-Boo. 

Your assignment? It's in two parts: First, begin paying attention to your daily movement patterns, and jot them down. I sit at work, I use the keyboard, I hold a baby on my right hip, etc. Then, beside each action/pattern, note what movement it is. Arms in front. Hip jutting out to right, arm bent. Head jutting forward, elbows bent, wrists bent, shoulders rounded.

Great. Now the second part is for you to find the counter movement for each of your daily motions, and try and incorporate that into your day, somehow, some way. If you sit all day, then goshdarnit, get out and walk, and stand 30 minutes for every 30 you sit. Arms in front of you at the computer? Stop by the playground on the way home, and hang for a few minutes, maybe even SWING by your arms a little. Remember, you may not enjoy this at first. However, the alternative is not being able to do it at all, ever. Perhaps that will put a tiny fire under your keister and prompt you to do these good, essential things for your overall health and happiness. 

Whattaya say?
Dani

Day 203-I'm sorry, did you just say WHAT?

Okay, I walked today, it was cold, lovely, had an Americano and my husband with me. That was the walking part of the day. Walk, walk, walk. 

Now for something that is seriously freaky deaky!

I spent the day at the endodontist, thinking I needed a root canal. Wrong. 

Once they got down in there, they were disturbed to find that not only was my tooth dead, but MY BODY WAS EATING THE DEAD TOOTH. 

WTF????

WTF??

Ew. I'm cannibalizing my own tooth. Just the one, since it's dead. Apparently, my body does not like clutter and is slowly getting rid of things it does not need. Am trying to convince it that the extra weight on my body is clutter, but so far, it's not listening. 

On the down side, if I left it in there and just let it dissolve, it would get confused and start eating my jawbone. Not cool, man. Not cool.

So, now I'm going to remove a kidney and sell it on Craig's List to pay for this upcoming implant surgery. I'm thinking the kidney removal will be more fun than the whole implant process, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. Can't go through the rest of my life missing a major molar, methinks. 

I'm just kidding, I'm not really going to sell a kidney. That's silly. 

I'm going to sell a kid. 


Smile, 
Dani


 

Day 202-The best laid plans of mice and men...

I'm a planner. 

Here's what a day in my Daytimer (or as I like to call it, "my paper brain") looks like:

Fortunately for me, I'm also flexible, so if things do not go as planned, I'm okay with that. I'm good at rolling with it. 

Except for exercise. I notice that if I plan to exercise a certain amount of time then end up not having that time, I just skip it all together. 

For example, I may want to go to a yoga class at 9 AM but am running late, so I skip that class. That's just being polite, right? I don't want to go in late and disturb everybody's groove. 

But then, instead of doing something else healthy and/or fitness-related in that remaining time I had set aside for yoga, I do something completely different. 

Hmmm. What's up with that?

Today I wanted to walk 2 miles, but as the morning slipped through my fingers, I had to face the fact that 2 miles wasn't going to happen. I only had enough time for a one-mile jaunt. 

But, but...

I found myself procrastinating, doing other tasks around the house. Why? 

I think it's that "don't do anything half-assed" mindset I've got. Which is a good outlook, in my opinion.

If I can't walk those planned 2 miles, then I won't do it all!

Nope. It shouldn't apply to movement and exercise. 5 minutes is better than ZERO minutes when it comes to movement. We sit on our arses all day long, so it stands to reason that a few minutes of movement will help more than continuing to be inactive. 

So, I'm giving you permission to exercise and move no matter WHAT! 

Late for yoga class? No worries, just put on your headphones and walk. When you run into Lakshmi tomorrow, and she mentions your absence, you can say you just decided to go for a walk instead. Can't leave your desk for your planned hour at the gym during lunch? It's okay. Just spend ten minutes climbing the stairwell and perhaps stand at your desk for part of the day. 

Something is better than nothing. Nothing gets you nowhere. But something? Well, that's something. Whatever you make it. 

Ciao, Baby, 
Dani

P.S. I am not sick. So far during WalkTheYear, if I feel something coming on, it goes away within 12 hours. Think I might be on to something? Cold and flu season is coming up, and I've got 2 little kids, so I'll let you know. 
 

Day 201-The 201 Slump

Whoa. Woke up this morning, feeling bad with the sore throat and headache that had begun to dog me last night. 

My walk today, after fulfilling my obligations, was short and unmemorable, mostly because I felt so oogy. I really haven't been sick in 200 days. I mean,
if I feel sort of sick, then I walk and feel better. Not so today. Collapsed after walk in long nap.

Am hoping that it stays at this stage and doesn't go further. 

Easy does it.

Be well, 
Dani

 

Day 200...DAY 200!!!!

Wow!

Been hoofin' it for 200 days?

That's cray-zay!!

That leaves 165 days left to achieve my goal. 

Today is a special day, in another way. Today is Write-O-Rama. 

I know, I know, you're thinking, hey, doesn't she write silly poems and lofty sermons every day? What makes this day different?

Well, this event happens in Seattle, twice a year (although I only attend in the winter), and it's an all-day writing fest, filled with 6 hours of classes and active writing. It's inspirational, pushes my reset button and reinforces the belief that above all the other rich and rewarding roles I fill, I am, at heart, a writer.

It's geeky, I know, and I can't wait. 

You can go, too, if you live in the Seattle/Puget Sound area. It's all day, costs hardly a thing ($45) and there are 5 classes every hour to choose from. I will also be walking during the lunch hour to counteract all those hours of sitting. If you see me there, invite yourself along for a stroll! I'll buy the coffee.

Bring a pencil and paper, 
Dani

Day 199-Short on time, so a short poem for your walking day

Cold and dark and rainy

A-walking I will go.

 But when it's so

It's hard to move it

Out the door,

I know. 

Though when I leave

and smell fresh air

I know with clarity

That walking is

the very best

thing I can do for me!

Bestus, 

Dani

Day 198-No Woman, No Lie

To any woman who feels that she needs to wear heels to look and/or feel sexy, powerful, or feminine: 

You do not. 

Do you need to wear heels to be taken seriously in business when you walk into a room dominated by men? 

You do not. By wearing heels, you are putting yourself off-balance. This is never a position of power. Ever. 

Do you need to wear them to push your tushie out and make your legs look sexier?

You do not. A sexy person is a healthy, confident person who moves comfortably in their body, who is secure in their own skin. No props necessary. 

Do you need to wear them to make people take notice of you? To turn heads when you walk into a room? 

You do not. A person who radiates confidence and self-esteem can walk into the room and grab everyone's attention just by being herself, liking who she is and knowing it. 

Do you need them to raise your height, to put you closer to eye level with your colleagues?

You do not. Get over yourself. So you're short. Some people are tall. Your ideas, your cleverness, your morals--these are the things that elevate you. Never your shoes. That's just a gimmick you're using. You're better than that. 

Well, that's all for today. What started that? An article a colleague of mine passed along that stated that women are getting foot surgery to fit into high heels better. 

Lame. 

Literally! 

Here's the article if you wish to be further enraged and grossed out by misguided humanoids: Eeeew!

Herself, 
Dani