Wednesday, August 29, 2007
To You, the Dance and a Magnificent Future
As you may have noticed, August has been one busy month (I’m just getting a chance to post here and our beloved “Fit To Play Wednesday” coach, Debra, has taken some well deserved time off too). I’m sure you have also found that work, life and hopefully a good dose of play, have made August simply dance by for you as well. I hope you are having the time of your life and making every day, every minute count!
I’m sending ever so much love your way!
Here are my current musings/offerings for today’s post
It’s going to be a rather hot one here in Salem Oregon today (mid 90’s), but now that we have our blessed heat pump/air conditioner installed, I’m looking forward to only being in the heat when I want to be today…what a wonderful thought!
As I consider this, I am reminded of other aspects of our lives where we have the power to invest in changes that allow us to minimize or eliminate the possibility of encountering situations we don’t like or want in our lives. In coaching these things are called “tolerations” (as many of you, particularly my coaching clients, know already).
The parallel is a simple one. In this case, my Hubby and I made a decision to invest in our home’s new capacity for heating and cooling (and not a small investment), which now affords me a magnificent work and living environment (while offering me a choice to bask in the sun and heat when I wish as well). In the same way, we each have opportunities to look around our lives right now and consider what we either want, or no longer want, present in our environment, practices or experiences. “
In this light I offer the following questions and challenges for your consideration…
What are you currently “tolerating?”
(For now just think of one thing/issue situation)
What do you want to experience?
What will it take to get there?
(What do you need to do, stop doing, or do differently to insure the result you’re looking for?)
Once you’ve answered these questions, you are equipped with the tools you need to begin the investment in your most perfect future. Begin investing/taking action today and fill your world with opportunities, choices, freedom and abundance! It’s your magnificent future in the making spectacular Leading Lady—why not make it expansive and beautiful beyond your wildest imaginations?
Here’s to you and the precious gift you are to yourself, to me and to all who have the privilege of being in your life!
Love and abundance to you!
Coach Angel
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Creating Our Own Reality
Well, it’s another sunny day here in Salem Oregon and I’m delighted to say that we are currently having a new water heater and heat pump/air conditioning installed…it will be all done by tomorrow evening and we can’t wait to fire up the AC and get our house the fabulous 68 degrees that my Hubby and I both love.
For now, the sounds of our work crew and the unexpected/additional noise of work crews/heavy machinery out front replacing the sewer pipes all down our street is well…let’s just say…less than peaceful.
So as I work in my home office today, I am constantly mindful of my own power to create my reality. My natural response to this noise and chaos is stress and anxiety but my conscious, purposeful choice is to breathe deeply, smile and work in gratitude—knowing that each of these seeming distractions will be gifting me with more reliable plumbing/sewage disposal (in fact this will be true for my neighbors as well), more efficient means of heating our water, more efficient heating of our home in the winter and the blessed cool of the AC! Awe, that drill running right outside my office right now is simply music to my ears.
Challenge/gift of the day:
As you sit reading this blog, I challenge you to take note of your current environment and note your natural response to the variables that are taking place around you. If your responses are all positive than bask in the glory of being in such a beautiful space. If you have natural negative responses to any aspects of your surrounding, I challenge you to find the gift in them by exploring...
Is the variable something
* You can change?
If so, this is a gift because you are now very aware of the fact that it’s something you don’t like and you have the power to change it. When would you like to make this change? Schedule the time and make it so my friend.
* You can appreciate the need/value of?
If so, this is a wonderful time to take note of the reasons you appreciate this aspect of your environment. What does it now, or will it in time, gift you? How fabulous is that?!
* You don’t care to or can’t change?
If so, this is a perfect time to begin a practice of “allowing” this to be what it is and bask in the gratitude you have for all of the other aspects of your environment, situation and life.
In this spirit of loving what is and creating our most beloved reality I leave you with this thought.
“What we see depends mainly on what we look for.” - John Lubbock
With love,
Coach Angel
Fit to Play: Back in the Saddle
I did something yesterday I have avoided for over ten (10) years. I went for a bicycle ride. Avoid may be the wrong word. I didn't bicycle by intention. In 1986 and in 1994, I collided with a car while riding my bicycle. On both occasions, the driver of the vehicle failed to see me and turned in front of me, crossing my lane and too close for me to stop in advance. Without getting into further details, I felt blessed that I survived through both, the second relatively unscathed. However, I decided I didn't want to experience "third time's a charm," so I stayed off my bike.
Recently, I was reunited with an old work associate. Yesterday, she invited me on a bicycle ride and said, "Don't worry, there are no cars where we're riding." I decided to trust her (and she was mostly right - very few cars). To my amazement, we rode 30 miles! Out of the block, I rode 30 miles!
I accredit the physical capabilities that got me through those 30 miles to the love of play and dance. I do not participate in a regimented exercise program. I do not belong to a gym. I simply play and dance (which to me is play, too). Some source of play usually happens every other day for me; a walk, jumping on my pogoball, playing tag with the neighbor kids, dancing, hiking, creek swimming, stretching while watching "So You Think You Can Dance," and dancing again.
There is one confession, though. No other play affected my behind like the seat of my bike did!!! OUCH! It was great being "back in the saddle," and I'll be there again soon.
Play, love, dance, live, and do it all again!
Debra Seeck, Lifestyle Fitness and Dance Coach
www.mzjitterbug.com
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Fit to Play: "Cross Training for the 20th Century"
I knew that. I recently had a wonderful friend, Johnny, visit me from Lafayette, Louisiana. He's an active person and stays fit. I took him on a grand tour of Oregon where elevation gain is inevitable. We hiked to the top of Multnomah Falls, the 2nd tallest waterfall in the United States. We climbed sand hill in Pacific City. One step up is a half step backwards. We went creek hiking in the middle fork of the Santiam River where the water is cold, the rocks are hard and the current is swift. And, we danced for hours.
He wrote to me upon his return home claiming he was exhausted, his calves were aching but he was so happy that he pushed himself because it was "sooo much fun." This is one of the best testimonials to the benefits of play. Johnny and I connected with our environment through play. We participated in different activities, ones that were adventurous and took Johnny out of his comfort zone . We played hard and loved every minute of it.
We were cross training without even knowing it. Our activities were so much fun, we didn't care how exhausted we were at the end of the day. And, we were never bored. Johnny said he'd remember this trip for a long time. So will I.
What is your cross training plan? Go out and play!
Debra Seeck
Lifestyle Fitness and Dance Coach
www.mzjitterbug.com
debra@mzjitterbug.com
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Fit to Play: "We Don't Live in a World By Ourselves."
Human beings are social animals. Interaction with others is important to our disposition; our physical and emotional well being. The lack of human interaction can cause an imbalance in our lives.
I recently listened to an interview of two famous dancers. What was said was profound. Consider this statement
You may be asking, "What does all this have to do with play?" Well, it has a lot to do with play. Physical play is the best medicine for the lack of
Dancing is only one source of play. Consider joining a hiking club, a bicycling club, or a running club. They all have activities for beginners. If that
Get involved and go play because...we don't live in a world by ourselves!
Debra Seeck
Lifestyle Fitness and Dance Coach
www.mzjitterbug.com
