Well it looks as if spring is well on the way here...... and not before time. One of the many things I love about living in England is the seasons and the unpredictable weather, but I can't say I'm sorry to see the back of the snow. A patient told me this week that she was just back from a three week holiday. It was apparently meant to be a two week one but on phoning home and hearing of the bad weather, she decided to extend it. Doesn't that sound good?
Well a bit of sunshine certainly seems to have put a smile back on most of the faces I have seen around this week - which is great to see. Personally I have had an excellent week, although I have very much missed my older son who is off skiing with the school. He returns tomorrow. I have managed 5 trips to the gym so far this week and what has pleased me the most is that I have restarted running.
Back in 2005 I ran the London Marathon. I had only begun running about a year previously so was very pleased to finish and even more pleased to have raised over £ 4000 for the spinal injury charity Aspire. Unfortunately since then I have had a lot of back problems which have meant although I'm a regular exerciser, running has not been part of my regime - until now.
I have managed several treadmill runs this week and am planning some outdoor runs early next week. There is something incredibly great about running, even at my slow plodder kind of speed. Even on the treadmill, i-pod in my ears, it is sometimes a real effort not to join in and sing along out loud. Do you know what I mean?........ No? ......... Must just be me then!
I hope you make time to do a bit of what you love doing this weekend.
Have a good one.
Friday 20 February 2009
Wednesday 11 February 2009
WHAT ARE YOU DOING JUST FOR FUN?
I'm writing this from the cafe at my gym. I'm sitting here, cappucino in hand, typing away. I have a bit of extra time this morning as a client cancelled at short notice.
I'm lucky. I know that. My jobs and lifestyle allow me the luxury of indulging regularly in one of my passions - working out at the gym. Maybe this makes you smile - pityingly! Maybe you agree? Maybe you know me personally and think..... well it doesn't show!Well believe me...... it does to me. And do you know what? Much as I love you all, I couldn't give a monkeys (in the nicest possible way of course) ......because I love it!
There is something about pushing yourself really hard, getting covered in sweat and then afterwards feeling an amazing endorphin rush. I don't smoke, I wouldn't do drugs for all the tea in China and I no longer drink alcohol....... I don't need to. I get all the buzz I need from the rest of my life!
OK, so maybe you don't share my passion for exercise...... but I'm sure you are passionate about something. Whatever it is, are you actually doing it? Are you finding a bit of regular time in your life to indulge in that activity and bask in the great feeling it gives you?
If not....... ask yourself....... why not? When now is a good time to look at your week and think about what you can incorporate that really makes you feel wonderful?
The benefits of doing something that you love last far longer than the time you spend doing them. Take my gym session this morning. Not only am I still glowing on the outside...... yes I'm still rather pink in the face 45 mins after showering....... but it's got me on the inside too. I feel incredibly energised, enthusiastic and ready to take on the world.
And even though it's still really cold here and the car park here is like an ice rink...... at last the sun is shining. It's going to be another beautiful day. So get out there and grab it with both hands!
I'm lucky. I know that. My jobs and lifestyle allow me the luxury of indulging regularly in one of my passions - working out at the gym. Maybe this makes you smile - pityingly! Maybe you agree? Maybe you know me personally and think..... well it doesn't show!Well believe me...... it does to me. And do you know what? Much as I love you all, I couldn't give a monkeys (in the nicest possible way of course) ......because I love it!
There is something about pushing yourself really hard, getting covered in sweat and then afterwards feeling an amazing endorphin rush. I don't smoke, I wouldn't do drugs for all the tea in China and I no longer drink alcohol....... I don't need to. I get all the buzz I need from the rest of my life!
OK, so maybe you don't share my passion for exercise...... but I'm sure you are passionate about something. Whatever it is, are you actually doing it? Are you finding a bit of regular time in your life to indulge in that activity and bask in the great feeling it gives you?
If not....... ask yourself....... why not? When now is a good time to look at your week and think about what you can incorporate that really makes you feel wonderful?
The benefits of doing something that you love last far longer than the time you spend doing them. Take my gym session this morning. Not only am I still glowing on the outside...... yes I'm still rather pink in the face 45 mins after showering....... but it's got me on the inside too. I feel incredibly energised, enthusiastic and ready to take on the world.
And even though it's still really cold here and the car park here is like an ice rink...... at last the sun is shining. It's going to be another beautiful day. So get out there and grab it with both hands!
Saturday 7 February 2009
WHAT HAVE YOU GOT TO LOOK FORWARD TO?
So how have you been coping with the cold snap?
Have you been enjoying the recent snow/travel problems/school closures if you've had them?
I'm not really a great lover of the snow myself, it has to be said, but I do love the variety it brings to our weather. I would hate to live somewhere where the climate was too predictable. I guess knowing that we'd have a couple of months of sun in the summer would be rather nice though.......
If the cold, dark mornings are getting you down - do something about it..... start planning what you've got to look forward to later in the year. Maybe you've got a celebration coming up - a family birthday or wedding, perhaps it's a holiday or a visitor coming to stay. Maybe you are going on a course that really excites and inspires you? Perhaps you have tickets for a sporting event....... Watford in the FA Cup final maybe? OK, maybe that's pushing it..... but you see what I mean!
Thinking about something that you have got coming up is a great way to focus your mind. Maybe there are things you need to do to prepare for it and can start work on now. Why not make a list of those things and decide when you are going to do them?
Once you get yourself into a great state of mind by focusing on a future event, other ideas will start to flow. You'll be amazed at how creative you will become once you get your mindset right.
Let's face it - for most of us, there is so much to look forward to. If you're in reasonable health, with somehere to live and friends about you - you have an awful lot to be grateful for. So make the most of it now. Decide that this weekend is going to be a great one for you - and as they say at Nike - Just do it!
Have you been enjoying the recent snow/travel problems/school closures if you've had them?
I'm not really a great lover of the snow myself, it has to be said, but I do love the variety it brings to our weather. I would hate to live somewhere where the climate was too predictable. I guess knowing that we'd have a couple of months of sun in the summer would be rather nice though.......
If the cold, dark mornings are getting you down - do something about it..... start planning what you've got to look forward to later in the year. Maybe you've got a celebration coming up - a family birthday or wedding, perhaps it's a holiday or a visitor coming to stay. Maybe you are going on a course that really excites and inspires you? Perhaps you have tickets for a sporting event....... Watford in the FA Cup final maybe? OK, maybe that's pushing it..... but you see what I mean!
Thinking about something that you have got coming up is a great way to focus your mind. Maybe there are things you need to do to prepare for it and can start work on now. Why not make a list of those things and decide when you are going to do them?
Once you get yourself into a great state of mind by focusing on a future event, other ideas will start to flow. You'll be amazed at how creative you will become once you get your mindset right.
Let's face it - for most of us, there is so much to look forward to. If you're in reasonable health, with somehere to live and friends about you - you have an awful lot to be grateful for. So make the most of it now. Decide that this weekend is going to be a great one for you - and as they say at Nike - Just do it!
Thursday 5 February 2009
TALES OF THE UNEXPECTED
No, I don't mean the old TV series of the same name about the Roald Dahl stories...... although that did used to be great didn't it? Do you remember the one where the murderer hid the woman's body in the freezer and then fed some of it to the detectives who were investigating the crime? Similar to what happened in "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Cafe". That's a brilliant film by the way if you haven't seen in.....
Anyway, what I was really referring to was the snow..... and then more snow today, just as we thought it was going away again. For those reading this from abroad you'll laugh at seeing how England pretty much grinds to a halt when a couple of inches of the white stuff come down. Still, it was certainly more than that here at the start of the week. My part of the country was hit on Sunday night with about 5 inches of snow - the most here for 18 years apparently. Well the kids' school was shut for two days and re-opened yesterday....... but we woke this morning to find it had all happened again. Unexpectedly. More snow, mass closures and chaos.
Still, it provides a welcome distraction from the credit crunch and it was great to see some happy, smiling faces on the news again.... even if it was just because so many schools were shut! What it did give many people was a break from their usual routine, an enforced time at home and a bit of breathing space. How did you use it if this happened to you? I hope you made the most of it, spent time with your family if you could and generally had some fun!
We never know what's round the next corner so grab life with both hands while you can and resolve to really make the most of every day. So whether you are at home, at work or somewhere in between - why not look for some small thing around you that makes you smile. When you find it.... let your smile show - because you don't need a reason to feel good!
Anyway, what I was really referring to was the snow..... and then more snow today, just as we thought it was going away again. For those reading this from abroad you'll laugh at seeing how England pretty much grinds to a halt when a couple of inches of the white stuff come down. Still, it was certainly more than that here at the start of the week. My part of the country was hit on Sunday night with about 5 inches of snow - the most here for 18 years apparently. Well the kids' school was shut for two days and re-opened yesterday....... but we woke this morning to find it had all happened again. Unexpectedly. More snow, mass closures and chaos.
Still, it provides a welcome distraction from the credit crunch and it was great to see some happy, smiling faces on the news again.... even if it was just because so many schools were shut! What it did give many people was a break from their usual routine, an enforced time at home and a bit of breathing space. How did you use it if this happened to you? I hope you made the most of it, spent time with your family if you could and generally had some fun!
We never know what's round the next corner so grab life with both hands while you can and resolve to really make the most of every day. So whether you are at home, at work or somewhere in between - why not look for some small thing around you that makes you smile. When you find it.... let your smile show - because you don't need a reason to feel good!
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