Do Or Do Not

In a quote from a Star Wars movie, the character Yoda says, “Do or do not, there is no try”. This sounds pretty harsh, but it says a lot about how to be successful in all of our endeavors. People who desire to be more physically fit will very often give exercise a try but soon quit. Many have said, “I didn’t make it but at least I tried”. Using “I tried” as a built in safety zone to keep their self esteem untarnished. What if instead, they had resolved to succeed, refusing to accept anything less.

Starting down the path to better health and fitness should begin with having faith that it can be done. Set realistic, measurable, goals. Then get moving. The path is long and filled with obstacles, but if the journey is walked with determination, the chances of success are high. However, there is never any disgrace in temporarily failing, especially when knowledge is gained from it. Starting out, the first few weeks, might be difficult. But making it through them will be very satisfying. During those beginning weeks, saying “I can do this”, is more powerful than, “I will try”. Increased confidence comes with every decision not to quit. Unfortunately, many people who ‘try’ exercising do quit. Their goals are not accomplished, since they resolved only to try, not to succeed. The decision to try gave them a built-in excuse to quit as soon as it became uncomfortable.

I started smoking cigarettes at the age of sixteen. Strange as it may seem for someone concerned about health and fitness, my addiction lasted for nearly thirty five years. Like most, trying to quit was an endless struggle. I would do great for a few hours or even a couple of days. Something trivial would happen and I'd reach for a cigarette, with a vow to try again soon. One day, I just stopped, never having the desire for another cigarette again. What made that day different? My decision was to finally quit smoking. All the other times, my decision was merely to try, enabling me to fail gracefully.

Each of us has the ability to make important changes in our lives. Doing this requires we be our own motivational speaker and cheerleader, encouraging ourselves to stay on the right path. Once the decision is made, not to try, but to do, we are empowered to succeed.

It’s not just a step, it’s a start.

Dave

Before the caterpillar can become what it is destined to be, it must give up all that is holding it earthbound. We share that challenge. For us to begin our own metamorphosis, we must move from where we are to where we are meant to be. It starts with a vision that grows into a passion and finally into a clear direction. The first step takes courage. On the firm foundation of that successful step, another is possible. To continue moving ever forward is the blue print of true self actualization. Today is a good day to begin earning those wings.

It’s not just a step, it’s a start.

Dave

Bear Management

A Canadian runner friend told me about a trail race she was competing in, where she was chased by a bear. I said, “That must have been scary”. She replied, “It wasn’t the biggest bear I’d seen and besides as soon as I passed another runner the bear was their problem”. That statement was true and it was symbolic of so much in our lives.

Successful, well adjusted people have just as many concerns as any of the rest of it. The difference is that they meet a problem head on and decide what to do about it. Like the runner with the bear, they don’t panic or complain, they deal with it. You don’t hear them say, “I can’t ever catch a break”. Usually the people you hear say that are not trying very hard to catch anything. They are to busy complaining and trying to justify why they aren’t doing better.

People who make healthy lifestyle changes all have their own bears to deal with. For some their bear is that they are carrying to much weight, for others it might be unhealthy addictions like smoking or it could be an issue with self worth. Stress eating, feeling you can’t function without that regular soft drink even shyness can all be concerns that must be handled. As adult athletes we have bears that are unique to us. An injury can throw us into a panic but that won’t help. We have to calm down and make some decisions, so we can start healing, then get back to our sport.

Some bears are harder to deal with than others but each has to be dealt with when it starts chasing you. As with any other concern, complaining isn’t going to stop that bear, positive action is needed. Take charge and practice good bear management and you will find that life isn’t nearly so over whelming.

It’s not just a step, it’s a start.

Dave

Alone With Mother Nature

Sometimes the best thing about a regular running/walking program is that we can take the time to think things through without interruptions, and only Mother Nature to keep us company. I've often suggested a park or rural area, for doing miles, anywhere that has plenty of trees. They clean the air keeping the concentration of oxygen high. Our efforts naturally cause us to breathe deeply, super charging our bodies with that oxygen. Fresh plentiful oxygen along with the serenity of nature’s beauty does indeed help us think and solve problems better.

Recreational athletes, who have been doing regular miles for any length of time, will be able to recall memories of when they started out with troubling thoughts but by the time they finished had either thought of a way to solve their concern or at least figured out how to better deal with what they could not do anything about. It’s no secret that fresh air and serenity can improve our thinking. Scientists and inventors soon learn that research done away from interruptions, in a peaceful setting can lead to amazing results.

Dave

Our Need For Adventure

When I was in college studying psychology, the instructor asked the class a question, “How important is adventure to you”? At the time, I was in the Air Force attending classes in Okinawa. My life was already an adventure. So having more adventures didn’t seem all that important. Since I have retired and work at a civilian job, I’ve learned to treasure those precious opportunities to escape the normal. That refreshing break form routine is often necessary for my sanity.

We humans need that change of pace from the daily grind. Unfortunately, when we don’t satisfy that need in a healthy way, the boredom can lead to less than desirable activities. Some find relief in food; the more decadent the better. I have experienced that myself, especially late in the evenings. Instead of an active adventure, our quest is for sweet, salty, or crunchy. Worse still is to embrace the escape that drink or drugs bring.

As children, we had adventuring down pat. Everything was fresh and new. We never knew what each day might bring. A short drive to the park or play ground excited us with the promise of an amazing time. That’s the attitude we need to nurture as adults. But as we mature and enter the work force, there doesn’t seem to be time for adventure, except for occasional vacations.

Recreational athletes have a wonderful way to get in their adventure time. A training session can be so much more when done with another athlete or when exploring a different road. “The path less taken” is a chance to cover new ground and perhaps discover another favorite route. We all know that races, especially destination races, are the stuff of lasting memories.

Good adventures require some degree of mystery. When exploring a new route in a scenic location, leave the GPS watch at home. Concentrating on the numbers instead of the view defeats the purpose. It’s amazing what we miss when we do that. Some training routes should be just for feeling good and not about exact pace or distance.

Our need for adventure doesn’t diminish as we age but actually intensifies. Time becomes more precious. The fit healthy body that we build, with regular exercise, allows us to pursue adventures well into our senior years. The time and sweat we put in out there on the road can do more for keeping us fit and strong than anything that comes out of a bottle. There is no health and fitness pill, we have to earn it. One of the many rewards is a body that’s adventure ready.

It’s not just a step, it’s a start

Dave

Brave New Thinking

A subject near and dear to me is how little attention is given to senior level athletics. Everyone knows who the winning pitchers are in baseball, the current leading quarterbacks in football, but does anyone know who is representing their state in the National Senior Games? The fastest growing segment of the population are the men and women over fifty years old. Yet there are no recognized athletic role models for them. There might be an occasional article about someone over 90 breaking a world record, but not a word about a 60 year old breaking an American age group record.

The fifties through the eighties can be not only active years but athletic and even competitive as well. I know a lot of people who are amazing senior athletes. All of them have in common, robust good health, high energy and a desire to challenge and overcome the stereotypes of aging. Growing older is inevitable, but the aging process can be greatly slowed down. That’s no secret. The internet is full of articles about the positive effects of exercise in the “Golden Years’. So why don’t more seniors buy into it and get moving? Because they don’t see any role models showing what’s possible.

Sadly, there are plenty of role models out there blazing a trail that could be followed, if their effort were only known about. What will it take to change that? It will start with thinking about aging in a brave new way. The media and the athletic equipment manufactures must not only see the need but also realize the profit potential. Seniors have money to spend, but need to see value before spending it. They need to see strong healthy seniors competing and know that they could be doing the same. They need to see age records being broken, heroes to cheer for. When their peer groups are regularly in the news and advertising, then being senior and being athletic will become normal and excepted.

The 90 year old breaking a marathon record is not normal, and seniors know that. It was an interesting piece of news but quickly forgotten. Inspiration doesn’t come from a once in a while interesting article. It requires regular coverage of other seniors doing what they can imagine themselves doing. I know that healthy eating, smart training and adequate rest will allow me to become athletic even being over sixty. This can be learned from any of a thousand articles about senior health and fitness. But unless inspired to get off the couch to begin with, they are not going to seek out those articles. A quest for knowledge comes only after the flame of desire is ignited. The initial spark comes from seeing and believing what’s possible. Then they can begin their own journey, following in the foot steps of other successful senior athletes.

It’s not just a step, it’s a start.

Dave

When you lead a good life the things you worry about are different than if you don’t.
You don’t worry about someone finding out what you did when you live with honor and integrity.
Being rejected isn’t an issue when you extend your hand in friendship to all that you meet. Respect is returned when it’s given freely.
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Worrying about health issues doesn’t keep you awake at night when you give yourself a stress test several times a week with exercise.
Money concerns are better controlled when you live without wasting. Earn your own way, seek a hand up when it’s needed, not a hand out.
Boredom is never a problem when you live with a purpose. We all have something to contribute and it’s discovery is our destiny.
Making the right decisions is easier when you look first at the possible results of those decisions and ensure that is what you really want.
Dave