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It has been a long while since I posted. A small interruption to my exercise regime and a couple of significant ‘Life-getting-in-the-way’ kinds of things have resulted in a cold, and that cold has been persistent. While I haven’t given up on exercise, I’ve pulled it back considerably to help the cold move from me. And, I’ve been doing more and more of that goal-setting kind of thinking, thinking that happens at a slower pace when you can really appreciate the value of what you’ve achieved. Does this make sense?
It’s sort of like going back to the beginning and examining why I started with Motivation to Move. From there, the assessment has been more about the by-product of exercise, not just the exercise and the functional fitness, but recognizing what it’s like to live within a clean, functional body ... e.g. few toxins, few headaches. It’s also about what exercise allows me to achieve within my work day and how that happens.
What else? It’s also been a time to look at where my current career path is taking me and assessing whether or not I want to take greater control over it within my current work setting. So, exercise has really been more about keeping moving rather than the full menu of weights, running, LSB and swimming. And, walking primarily has been the exercise of choice.
I hope you’re all doing well and that you’ll drop me a note to tell me how you’re doing. Have a good day all.
“Concepts create idols, only wonder grasps anything.” - Gregory of Nyssa, mystic
Ross, it is very good to see you back here. I have missed your posts, they are always so interesting. I hope your time out has given you inspiration for the future.
‘Recalled to Life’ – this phrase is one of the opening sentiments in Dickens’ ‘A Tale of Two Cities,’ a novel embracing the impact of the French revolution on the people of France (aristocracy and commoners) and England. The phrase seems appropriate for my post tonight. In checking-in I find that four months have passed since my last post.
For those who don’t know, I have had an inguinal hernia since May 2007. I had a doctor diagnose the injury eleven months later - April this year – following a painful few moments running on a treadmill. I re-scheduled the surgery for summer so as not to interfere with school’s year-end (I’m a teacher). The surgery took place in Grande Prairie, Alberta on July 14 - all went well. Six weeks without heavy lifting was prescribed. The healing and recovery was more significant than I thought it would be. It sapped strength, stamina and energy. It knocked me down for the first few weeks. I could walk and did walk the distance of a city block following the surgery. But, it took three weeks and a lot of rest before I could manage walking an hour at a time.
Six weeks did pass. For me, the time was a form of detraining for me - mentally and physically. Sidelined, I was able to consider more of the reality of what my training had been about and what it had entailed in my first round with Motivation to Move – January 2007 to May 2008. Weight-wise, I trimmed 70 pounds. Stamina-wise, I was running 8 miles every other day. I was swimming three times a week. But, I’d have to admit that extended cardio activity (running) was often at odds with muscle building. I’d have to admit that there wasn’t the best of a balanced life ... there seemed to be task after task after task. And, often the need for an early sleep pre-empted a solid social life.
It was a time in which I have been able to consider what will serve and hinder me in my next training round. There is a need for more balance in different life domains. There is a need for more variety and fulfillment. There’s room for more personal and professional achievement. There’s room for those quantum leaps of possibility yet to be discovered. The time also afforded me the opportunity to resolve other challenges that had come forward with me through the previous year. The time slowed me enough to afford a serious look at my teaching and time to participate in research and learning experiences. I’ve been able to set-up a web site for my students to use. And, the more mundane tasks, like painting our fence allowed for good thinking time.
Throughout I haven’t missed an episode of the Motivation to Move Show, the Daily Boost or the Fitness Boost. I thank Scott, Joi and Carlyn for keeping on. I thank the MTM Mastermind group for their influence upon MTM. And, I thank all of you who’ve been a big part of my last round with Motivation to Move.
I went out this morning in Fall’s drizzle ... up at 5:30 a.m. and out for an eighty (80) minute walk listening to John O’Donohue speak on ‘Imagination as the Path of the Spirit’. It’s been a wakening walk, a welcome walk. While I’ve been walking throughout the last four months, the nature of this last two weeks with its set up of programs and systems in my teaching combined with those things needing done beyond teaching have each combined to keep me ‘sat-down’ in front of a computer for more hours than I’d like and for more hours than I know are good for me.
John O’Donohue’s talk: as human beings or as he calls us – humanoids – despite having mirrors, one of the realities of being human is that we can never actually see ourselves. We depend on others to reflect back who we are in our interaction with them. From there, John guides the listener through a process of ‘livening’ and developing the spirit. A good talk that I’ll listen to again, soon.
Long Slow (drizzled) Burn – 80 minutes
“If you live the life you love, you will receive shelter and blessings. Sometimes the great famine of blessings in and around us derives from the fact that we are not living the life we love; rather, we are living the life that is expected of us. We have fallen out of rhythm with the secret signature and light of our own nature.” ~ John O’Donohue
thanks Ross for sharing your journey with us....
we all walk through this life with different stories, and hearing how each of us responds to events along the way is inspiring and helps us with our own!
Repeat – that’s today. Yesterday was about standing up and taking a step (an eighty minute walk). The day was uniform, routine, expected and there was better sense of flow. Good. Today – 5:30 a.m.. Back into Fall’s drizzle. It’s good. Fewer people will be sharing the trail as temperatures cool toward winter. My walk has been mine. I’ve been listening this morning to the Daily Boost (today’s and yesterday’s) and todays Fitness Boost. Then on to the Virtual Staffroom, an Australian podcast about integrating digital learning into schools. Finally, I finished with two interviews from ‘The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos’ who interviewed KT Tunstall and Mike Holmes from ‘Holmes on Homes’.
Long Slow Burn - 80 minutes
“Repetition of the same thought or physical action develops into a habit which, repeated frequently enough, becomes an automatic reflex.” - Norman Vincent Peale
Fewer people will be sharing the trail as temperatures cool toward winter. My walk has been mine. I’ve been listening this morning to the Daily Boost (today’s and yesterday’s) and todays Fitness Boost. Then on to the Virtual Staffroom, an Australian podcast about integrating digital learning into schools. Finally, I finished with two interviews from ‘The Hour with George Stroumboulopoulos’ who interviewed KT Tunstall and Mike Holmes from ‘Holmes on Homes’.
Long Slow Burn - 80 minutes
That’s great - way to go Ross! Walking with your podcasts is a great way to stay inspired and moving. Catching up on podcasts is my current thing, but I don’t walk nearly as long as you do. 80 minutes - wow!!!
I walk the road in the park where I work, and I see fewer and fewer people on the trails as winter approaches. Mostly deer… lol
I’ve been sticking to the road mainly because of those pesky snakes… there are plenty here in the DC Metro area.
I just wanted to say hi! I’m happy you’re still doing great, And boy do I feel for year with winter coming. I’ll try not to talk about the Florida sunshine too much this year.
I own different energy and strength this morning. I expect that I’m pulling toxins out of my system with exercise, smarter food choices and water. I’ve slept better and getting to sleep was easier last night, even with things on my mind relating to school year start-up. Right now, beyond teaching, there are three bigger tasks that need done by September 30 and after that there is a new school initiative that draws focus from my regular day.
It’s the same route on my walk today, another eighty minute walk. I moved up the intensity and pace of my walk. The day is dry and calm ... the wind is absent this morning.
Long Slow (Energetic) Burn – 80 minutes
Scott spoke about Kouzes and Posner’s book, ‘The Leadership Challenge,’ in the Daily Boost this morning. I’ve used portions of the book for project work, but I have not read the entire book. Maybe iTunes carries it as an audio?
So, day 3 (a repeat with flavour) ... done, did, done!
Enjoy your day.
“There’s nothing more demoralizing than a leader who can’t clearly articulate why we’re doing what we’re doing.” – James Kouzes and Barry Posner
I own different energy and strength this morning. I expect that I’m pulling toxins out of my system with exercise, smarter food choices and water. I’ve slept better and getting to sleep was easier last night, even with things on my mind relating to school year start-up.
Hey Ross! Pulling toxins out of your system is no joke - it really makes a difference. Keep on sweating that junk out, you’re doing great with the cleaner eating and the water.
Have you tried the steam room experience? I’ve been doing it lately, and I’ve noticed a change in the way I feel the next day. Drowning myself with water throughout the day (work, workouts, and in the steam room) helps as well.
I’m also trying those feet detoxing thing, but just because I got it as a gift. I’ll let you know how THAT experience goes… LOL.
Again, up at 5:30 a.m., walking. Wind and rain are absent. It’s day 4 ... really? In terms of the podcasts, I’m targeting landmarks that I should pass by with each of Scott’s podcasts. My walking is intentional, with good pace. I’m breathing well. Last night was busy at school with a get-to-know you night demonstrating SMARTboard use, showcasing our class website and the different programs we use in Language Arts.
Remarkably a much better sleep than the previous two.
After the Daily Boost and Fitness Boosts, I listened to two TED Talks presentations. The latter one was striking. Eve Ensler, author of the Vagina Monologues described her work with V-day. A good talk surfacing the commonality women’s issues around the globe - TED Talks talking about Security and Insecurity (2005).
“Nothing has a stronger influence psychologically on their environment and especially on their children than the unlived life of the parent.” - Carl Jung
SmartBoards are an awesome classroom tool!!! The level of participation increases because lessons can be so much more interactive. I liked teaching my math lessons on it.
Glad to see you back here and posting. Listen to how your body feels and let it keep healing. Don’t go too hard to fast and keep thing in balance.
You’re a Maths teacher who’s used/is using SMARTboards! Cool! I read your post last night and have been thinking about pushing too hard, too fast. It’s a good cautionary note and I am paying attention to how my body feels through the day – where I’m tired, when I’m hungry, what my attitude/demeanor is like. I’m also paying attention to what the muscles feel like – are they tender or do I feel overuse or weakness. Right now, I think the next part of the plan up for revision is nutrition; I’m eating well, but not enough to support the exercise and the day’s activities. At last night’s staff meeting I was yawning owing most likely to lack of water in the day and perhaps a lack of available carbs.
How’s the swimming? Are you coaching again this year?
Today’s LSB - 80 minutes, same route with MTM and TED Talks.
“I keep the subject of my inquiry constantly before me, and wait till the first dawning opens gradually, by little and little, into a full and clear light” - Isaac Newton
It’s Saturday night ... early Sunday morning. I post from the sleepier side of the day. Saturday has held dishwasher repairs and other domestic chores. But, it’s also been a time for a birthday meal with friends. I did get out for another 80 minute walk with our Cocker Spaniel, Shadow. So, I’m six for six with walking and the Long Slow Burn.
Long Slow Saturday Burn – 80 minute walk.
A CBC Radio Tapestry podcast highlighted a gardening principle – a plant will grow stronger if it encounters resistance (winds for example). In a physical sense the challenge the tree encounters makes it stronger. Seems to be a metaphor for us in here.
The following quote is something I’ve run into a few times while stumbling on stumble upon ... hmmh?
“An intellectual is a person who has discovered something more interesting than sex.” – Aldous Huxley
