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



 

Day 197-Silly Personal Bests

Hopefully, you have some "personal bests" that you keep track of and try and beat every once in awhile. For example:

• My best time during a 5K walk.
• How long I logged my daily food intake before I had a wild weekend of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell".
• How many days in a row exercising... 

You get the picture. However, I've got some silly personal bests I want to beat, and here's one:

These shoes have been walked in every day for 183 days. (I didn't wear them walking in Mexico during my 14-day trip there--I wore a newer pair of Monkey Toe shoes.)

As you can see, they're wearing thin in spots. Sometimes, I can really feel the ground. Like, really really. I've got 4 other pair upstairs in my closet, waiting to be used, but there's something about these shoes--I really just want to see how long I can wear them before they blow out a sidewall. 

I want to bust through, break through, I want to be walking and yell "Holy cr#p! That hurt! Dang it!"

It's silly, I know. I just want to do it. 

Sort of like I wanted to see if I could walk 365 days in a row.

Smoochies, 
Dani
 
 

Day 196--Focus Issues

I could write for hours about why kids (and adults!) today cannot focus, nor pay attention. You don't need me to point out things like media overload, the bizarre belief of new parents that they have to keep their child entertained 100% of the time, the entitled belief of those children, once-grown, that they deserve to be entertained 100% of the time...shall I go on?

Okay, I won't. You get it. And even though I'd love it if we all unplugged a little more, there's something simple you can add to your child's life to help them focus.

Remember how, when you were little, you learned that eating breakfast helps you pay attention in school?

Yeah. 

There's a new study out, and although it began with the intention to prove the effect of eating breakfast AND lunch on pupils' ability to concentrate, it turned up a surprising finding:

Walking or biking to school improved the pupils' concentration up to 4 hours after they got to school. 

The study findings revealed that children who are driven to school, or those who took public transport, have lower scores in tests that measure concentration levels compared to those walked or cycled to school.

Whoa, dude!

If you don't move your body on the way to school, you'll be like "Whoa, dud!" instead, right?

Do you think this could apply to grown-ups, and work, as well? 

Der. 

I like to move it, move it, 
Dani

 

Day 195-Weighing In and The Pull of Fudgey Goodness

Well, boys and girls, it's Cyber Monday. 

It's like we're living in the future, with The Jetsons. 

Sigh. 

This is the holiday season, as it were, and it's time to weigh in. 

No, not weigh in on your bathroom scale, although that seems to be a prevalent topic of conversations this time of the year:

Sea-Salt Fudge? Oh, I really shouldn't! I think I've gained five pounds this holiday!

Another potluck at work? Oh, boy!

Of course we need to open another bottle! (That one was me.)


What I mean by "weighing in" is not about the size of your butt or gut, but rather the weight and worth of those things we find ourselves faced with during this time of year. 

That potluck, for instance. How will it feel later to eat everything you see on the table? How will it feel to eat just the few things that really look decent, and leave the rest for the hoi polloi? 

See? You WEIGH the choices against the results and go from there. 

Staying up late to get everything done versus just tackling what you can that day, trusting that everything that needs to get done will, and taking 30 minutes to sit by the fire and read a book? Weigh how it will make you feel. 

Neglecting your fresh air and exercise time in order to fulfill those holiday demands on your time. 

How will it feel to skip your walk? 

How will it feel to take 20 minutes and get some fresh air and you time? 

I like how it sounds so I'll say it again. Hoi polloi.

Take it easy, 
Dani
 


 

Day 194-Rewards of the Simple Sort

It's beautiful outside RIGHT NOW. 

Get out, my dear, and walk in the brisk November air.

Bundle up!

Your reward for this effort, besides the gazillion benefits of walking?

A nice, warm nap in the sun with your cat afterwards.

Tootie walked 3 miles in the cold. She deserves this laundry nap in the sun with Moco the Cat. 

Then go to a movie. I'm going!

Life of Pi, 
Dani

 

Day 193-Restoration Walkware

Okay, I don't even know what today's title means. 

However, I DO know that sometimes, a walk can not only push your reset button on the day, but can also reboot your energy level. 

I had to work indoors all day today, which was slightly rough since it was gorgeous outside, sunny and clear. By the end of the day, I was craving fresh air like I'd been trapped in someone's foot locker all day. 

It was dusk by the time I got home and rounded up the dogs, a little hard to see and a little more than brisk out. 

But after two miles, I felt ready to take on Round 2, whatever that may be. 

I know I've talked about how a walk can reset your mental state, clear your mind, and stop a downward spiral.  However, it can also rejuvenate. 

I like that. 

We're coming up on that time of year when, instead of focusing on what matters, we tend to get a little caught up in buying enough, giving enough, eating enough, spending enough and having enough. Taking 20-60 minutes to get yourself outside and moving, with no agenda, might just be the free ticket you need to better living. 

That's all, 
Dani

 



 

Day 192-B-b-b-black Frrr-fr-fr-friday...

Black Friday. Indeed. 

I did my Black Friday shopping from home. Safe. Sound. Sane. 

Squatty Pottys are on sale today. Woo hoo! 

Got one!!!

Doesn't she look happy?!

 
Also, my teacher and hero, Katy Bowman, is offering her Aligned and Well series on sale, as well. Great DVDs that can help you on your way to being, well, Aligned and Well! See?

Go here if you want them: HERE!

Now, you may think this has NOTHING to do with walking. Oh, ye of little faith. These two things have EVERYTHING to do with walking---Katy Bowman and her Restorative Exercise Institute and ground-breaking teachings have changed my life, and they are what made me get into walking. And, well, squatting to poo is natural, and walking is natural and well, say no more, say no more...wink wink, nudge nudge!

Shop, Walk, Squat, Align,
Dani

Day 191-Let's give thanks, alright?!?!?!?

I am thankful for my legs and muscles. 
I am thankful for my mobility.
I am thankful for my curious mind. 
I am thankful for my health, and the many chances the universe has given me to improve it.
I am thankful for my energy. 
I am thankful for my ability to be, well, thankful!
I am thankful for God.
I am thankful for my beautiful, wonderful, funny and true family. 
I am thankful for my friends. Especially my dearest, oldest friend who soon won't be so far away from me.
I am thankful for you, Dear Reader, who takes the time out of your day to read this silly little blog about being a healthier, happier person. I hope it has helped you some way, some how. I hope it has shown you that YOU are the one who will make the difference in the long run.
I am thankful that this is the only day of the year that I am compelled to eat Tofurkey. 

Eat well, love much, be happy, 
Dani

Day 190-Hey, Good Lookin', Keep on Truckin'!!

Walking--the most natural form of movement--comes with a host of benefits. Better circulation, improved muscle tone, and weight control. I am so smitten with the results of my daily walks, so convinced of the benefit of this simple, easy movement THAT DOES NOT COST A THING, that I can't really see stopping once my 365 days in a row is finished. 

Want to know another benefit? 

Walking keeps you young. 

We sort of have the mindset that old people sit around, and that's just what you do when you're old---you stop moving. 

Not so, goofball!

Does it really matter that you live to be 100? I don't think so. What matters is that you live a healthy life, one of ease, independence and pain-free mobility. Eating blueberries, chia seeds and spinach is great, but all for naught if you lack natural human movement. Not kettlebells nor treadmills--just natural human movement. Walk. Reach. Climb. Squat. Sit on the ground. Stand up and bend down. Swing your arms loosely and be in your body. Really be in your body. Is it a happy place? If not, strive to make it so---you've got no other lodging to move to. 

I don't want you to live to be 100. My grandmother-in-law lived to be 107, but was wheelchair-bound for the last 6 years of her life. I want you to live a happy, mobile life where you can pick up what you drop, get out of your own chair, and walk to the corner store without fear of falling. 

You can start today, with the investment of $0. All you need is the knowledge that walking is the best exercise for you, and that you need to do it daily. 

Get a move on, 
Dani

Day 189-Electricity, electricity...

Yesterday, our power went out for about 8 hours. It happens frequently on our little island, what with all the trees, all the wind and all the wet. We're used to it.

We've got candles, hurricane lanterns, a generator if need be, and stalwart natures. That works. 

You know what else works REALLY well, and what I think everyone should have? 

A headlamp! 

Yeah, you know it! The same one you use for your walks in the dark? Well, nothing's better than roaming around a power outage like a capable miner! 

Or, in our kids' cases, a capable minor. 

Seriously, go spend the $15 now to have one of these bad boys for your walks, for getting under a kitchen sink to fix the plumbing, for the next power outage, for camping. 

Ask for one for Hanukkah, for Christmas, for Kwanzaa, for your birthday--I don't care, just get one. You'll thank me later and you'll feel pretty clever when you need to take that early morning or late night walk for your health and sanity. 

It's easier to find some AAA batteries than it is to create electricity. 

Walk in a shuffle to create static electricity, 
Dani

Day 188- Like Water for Chocolate. If it was Raining Chocolate.

Oh, man!

Raining chocolate would be way better! 

Pouring rain pounded me on the walk this morning. At one point, I'm sure one of the dogs turned to me with a disdainful look and said, "Really?!"

However, I hold a theory that anyone can live through anything for five minutes. Water boarding, corporate meetings, teeth cleanings...the power of our mind can get us through at least five minutes without collapsing completely. 

What I do when faced with seemingly poopy situations, is break it all down into 5-minute segments. 

See, all I have to do is survive 5 minutes at a time, and eventually, I'll be through it with my sanity and health intact. Today, I played make-believe in five minute segments. So, I was:

and

 and

 and

and

and 

 

See? Now that wasn't so bad at all!

Enjoy the day, 
Dani

Day 187- I wanna know, have you ever seen the rain?

Rain, Rain

You're here to stay

It has been one long

Bright fall day

But now you're back

The skies are gray

And I know that you're 

Here to stay.

It has come the time, here in the Pacific Northwest, to start our long winter rains. A tip: Embrace it as you walk. 

Do not tense up, hunch over, shove your hands in your pockets and lean forward. Instead, walk upright, your shoulders down, your face up, your chest open and your lungs receptive. Unclench your teeth, unfurrow your brow and feel every drop as it graces your face.

Why?

It's going to rain anyway. How you deal with it makes all the difference in the world. Whether you're out on a 6-mile hike or going from your car to the grocery store, the way you walk in the rain can change a tense and annoyed experience into that of acceptance and gratitude for that rain. Like a thirsty plant receiving water, drink it up.

Your choice, 

Dani

Day 186-Kiss my unclenched *ss, Black Friday!!!

Our family has never lowered ourselves to participate in a Black Friday murder spree like SOME people in this country. In fact, we've never set foot in a store on Black Friday. 

In the interest of continuing this sane streak, we did our shopping today, coupling it with some serious mall mileage.

Now, next week, when freaks are shoving old ladies to the ground to get a $40 DVD player, I can sit smugly on my fit, yet unclenched hind quarters (after I've taken a terrific fall walk to grind off some green bean casserole calories) and rejoice in the fact that I can still be placed on the higher end of Darwin's scale. 

I think.

Peace out, 
Dani


 

Day 185- Errand walking

Today, my walk was as a civilian, walking from one end of town to the other and back again, running all my errands on foot. 

There were no sharp-toothed, murderous clowns, nor treacherous footpaths to navigate. It was, by all accounts, quite pedestrian. 

Thank you, thank you very much. Tip your waitress, please. I'll be here all week. 


XOX, 
Dani

 

Day 184- Perception is Everything, Part II

I've been walking during the daytime, daylight hours quite a bit recently. This is both because I've been a bit of a weiner about betting out of bed in the cold and dark AND I do love looking at the trees in the clear, autumn light. 

Today, however, I hauled my rear out of bed and took off for the 2-mile jaunt. It was dark as pitch, and COLD. But I did it, just five minutes at a time. 
 
At some point on the 2-mile loop I take from my door, there is a drainage pipe, where Soundview Avenue meets Kitsap Street. It is an overgrown, dark and wild corner, with a secretive sort of house tucked way back behind the brambles. 

This drainage pipe, or culvert, makes the weirdest gurgle, whenever I and my 4-legged entourage walk by. It's just a big, deep *blurb*blurb*gurgle* that sounds like Jedd Clampett's oil bubbling up out of those hillbilly hills, or 5 gallons of canola oil trying to go down your bathroom sink.

When it's sunny, this is what I imagine is in there when I hear it:

But when it's dark out? Guess who's waiting in that culvert for me?

Perception is everything.

*blurb*gurgle* Hey, Dani...come over here a second...

Toodles,
Dani

Day 183- Reverse swan dive and exhale....

I don't know about your part of the world right now, but today, ours was gorgeous!!!

Today I gave myself a challenge, and it was productive. I have not been to yoga class in over 5 years. I used to go twice a week, but I haven't even practiced at home since that time 5 years ago when I stopped. 

So, I jumped back in today. I was a little nervous, but mostly excited. Since I've been working on my alignment and doing the exercises from the Restorative Exercise Institute for the past 7 months, I figured that yoga would have a different flavor than it did 5 years ago when I was sitting at my desk seven hours a day. 

Boy, did it ever! 

Not only was it like I never left my yoga practice, but I was so much better that it was like I'd been going 4 days a week for the past four years! It was so fun to really feel my muscles, really feel what it was like to get into a pose. I was sweaty and stinky by the time it was over, but I had an awesome time. And I never farted in class once!

You've never done that? Oh, yeah, me neither! haha!

After yoga, I took a two-mile walk that was sunny and bright, and I feel swell! 

Today, as they say in Winnie-the-Pooh, is my favorite day. 

Namaste, oh yeah, 
Dani

 

Day 182-I got too beeg for my britches...but at least I'm still wearing britches!

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Day 181- Lordy, Lordy, My oh My--Why Your Heels Gots to Be So High?!

Yesterday was the halfway, or 6-month mark to complete my goal of walking 365 days in a row. 

Thank you, thank you very much. 

Also, yesterday was the first time in 6 months that I wore "regular" shoes--that is, shoes with a positive heel. Like these:

It was not good. Read Day 180 for details. 

Today's walk was 2 miles back on neutral ground. My body felt like a 1940s trans-Atlantic pilot--it wanted to kiss the ground! I've let my body get back to its natural movement patterns, and it likes it better. 

So, today, we're going to briefly discuss why your shoes--even your comfy, "healthy" tennis shoes, have a heel, or rise. 

A long, long time ago, when people were trying to sell more tennis shoes, they needed to come up with something that gave them an edge, so that all of us would want to buy more of their swoopy shoes *cough*Nike*cough.   

How to do this? Study how the foot moves. 

"Hey, Randy...I was noticing that this here guy's foot comes down and hits on the heel. Did you see that? Here, watch it in slow motion!"

"Whoa, Frankie--his heel HITS! That can't be good, right? Let's pad it! We'll  totally make developers of the week on this one!"

Okay, I wasn't there, this is conjecture. 

But we've been told for years that "heel strike" must be eliminated. Hence, the 2-3 inch lift on your athletic shoe, with all that padding. 

Have you watched a foot and how it's supposed to move? 

This skeleton still is not in alignment, as his feet turn out a bit and he's holding his arms with his palms facing to the back (okay, I'm getting a little picky), but I want you to watch the heels.  The foot was designed to have the heel hit, or STRIKE, first, then it rolls from the outside of the foot in and ends with the toes pushing off. 

The heel has to strike. It was designed to strike. It does not hurt your body to have it strike. It hurts your body more to push it out of alignment and then move--ever wonder why so many folks need knee replacements these days?

Repeat after me: It is okay to have a heel strike. It is not a bad thing, and I do not need to eliminate it. 

Un-kay? 

Go forth in your day,knowing that all those walking and athletic shoes you've bought were messing with your head and your body, and maybe it's time to break up. 


Kisses, 
Dani

Day 180-She did the mash! She did the Monster Mash!

Oh, man. 

I know that the last 6 months haven't been terribly scientific, but apparently, it's been scientific enough. 

Case in point: 

For the first time in 180 days, I wore shoes. Common shoes. Accepted shoes. Shoes that are considered "walking" shoes.

I had a horrible walk. 

Neutral-heel shoes have retrained my body and muscles over the past 6 months, allowing my body to function and move as it was built to function and move. 

But it's cold, and when I tried to pull my Sockwas on over socks:

they were tight and uncomfortable. I knew it wouldn't be a good walk in them, and it was time to go, so I threw in the towel, dug to the bottom of the hall closet and grabbed those Hi-Tec walking shoes. 

Huh. Walking shoes, my *ss! Immediately, my hips were pushed forward, my lower back pinched in response, my ribs thrust forward, my butt clenched to try and balance it all out and my feet felt like they were wrapped in cement. 

The Huz turned to me after about a block and said, "Hey, you're walking funny. Like Frankenstein."

"I know!" I wailed, "These things SUCK!" 

So, by the end of the walk, my knee--the one that hasn't hurt in months--was hurting and my ribs were sore from the forced forward-thrust and, well, dang it! My research has shown me that I move naturally when I'm not fouling up my alignment with the wrong shoes. However, you may not know you're wearing the wrong shoes until you wear the right shoes.

My conclusion? I will not wear positive-heel shoes. They mess you up, and after 6 months of improvement and virtually pain-free living, I believe I'll figure out any way to wear neutral heel shoes the rest of my life. 

Here's what I sort of felt like on my walk:

 

Not pretty at all, huh? Societal norms be damned, I'm wearing neutral-heel shoes from now on, Baby.

Yours in foot love, 
Dani

 

Day 179-Da Frost be on Da Pumpkin, Yo!

Um, it was like, uh...30 degrees this morning when I took my walk. 

Dang! 

Temperatures like that pose a bit of a problem to my affinity for Monkey-Toe shoes. My toes freeze. As in, they get so cold that they cannot move anymore. 

The whole point of Monkey-Toe shoes is letting my toes move naturally. But they can't move naturally when they are Toe-sicles. 

Not my feet, but the feet of an equally insane person.

What will I do? 

Wear regular tennis shoes? HAH! No way, man. Might as well make me walk in high heels. 'Cuz that's what they are. 

A heel. That's high. 

I will give you $5 if you can somehow show me that this heel is not high.

I won't do it. I've made such tremendous improvements in my health by wearing my neutral-heel footwear the past 179 days, that someone should feature me on a talk show for savvy women or something. Or Vibram should give me a free pair of shoes. Or SOMETHING!

So, no, I will not put those foul beasts upon my sweet tootsies. BUT, Toe-sicles aren't so fun either. 

They DO make five-finger socks--

but I'm having difficulty believing that that little bit of fabric can find off the freeze. 

Other options? 

Well, I DID by a pair of Sockwas right before I went to Mexico, and I haven't even had a chance to try them out yet:

What? You think I'd pick a shoe that looks cool?

These are barefoot-type shoes without the Monkey-Toe toes. I suppose I could give those a whirl with socks inside?

I'll let you know how it goes. Tomorrow. Because it's supposed to be around 33-degrees when I'm out hoofin' it. 

Wishing you warm toes, 
Dani


 

Day 178-Poomba Wants You To Unclench Your Boom-Boom

I know you're probably worried about my butt. 

It's been awhile since I've blogged about my incredible Butt-Clenching-Revelation. 

Remember this?

First, I cast aside those awful, unflattering jeans and bought myself a new pair. 

Then, I worked diligently, tirelessly and devotedly on UNCLENCHING my rear end. 

Now, this may seem rather silly to you, but I will say that the act of focusing 
on my gadunkgadunk and how it was affecting my natural alignment (that's 
the way our bodies are built, and are intended to function. Most of us are far, 
far away from this state.) have been big changes in my posterior padded area.

It took some time, but the results have been huge. Letting my gluteals relax and 

fall into their natural position had the equivalent effect of blowing up the 
Hoover Dam.

First, my legs freaked out, but then they realized they could hold my body up 
on their own. My pelvis tilted forward into a neutral position, my shoulders 
and neck relaxed EVEN more, my sacrum stopped being pulled underneath 
my body which eased up on my lower back and my ab muscles began getting 
stronger. It has been an explosion of realignment goodness. 

These are always good leaps to take. Dedicating myself to letting my boom-boom

relax has helped me on the path to better overall health. So simple. Never easy, 
but definitely simple. 

Soon, I will begin blogging about alignment over at MoveYourBodyBetter.com.  
I'll go in-depth into these issues, so that you can also improve your alignment 
and your health. Until then, you can always call and set up a time to meet 
(if you live in my area) and I'll help your butt be able to say "Hakuna Matata!"

Hakuna Matata! What a wonderful phrase!

Hakuna Matata! Ain't no passing craze!

It means no worries for the rest of your days...

It's our trouble-free philosophy...

Hakuna Matata!

Hakuna Matata, 

Dani


PS-To see if you ARE a tight-ass, maybe spend the next week keying into your hiney. If you notice clenching or 'gripping', let your breath out and relax that butt. It takes some serious practice, but if you make it your priority, you'll reap major benefits.