Month: May 2018

My Morning Walk I Didn’t Want to Take

Here is my Audio Blog – My Morning Walk I Didn’t Want to Take!

I’m Guilty!

Yes, I’m guilty! I have slacked off with my health and wellness routine. I jokingly say that I’ve fallen off the bandwagon and it has yet to come back around! Maybe I joke to make myself feel better, but I’m serious. I don’t feel nearly as good as when I’m better tending to my health.

Another thing I tend to say (which I truly mean) is, “Be good to your body, and your body will be good to you.” That is applicable to every aspect of your well-being, including mental, spiritual, financial, and social. I’ve been saying to myself for weeks that I would get back to it on Monday as though Monday is some magical day. Well, it is in the sense that it is the start of a new week. However, any other day of the week is as magical as Monday. Getting back to it has proven to be easier said than done as I have found myself in this position before. I’m a little hard on myself given that I have been disciplined in this area most of my life and serve in health and wellness to help others to be wholly well. Despite that, life happens and we sometimes fall short of expectations including our own. Perfection has no place, even in disciplined lifestyles. I am being transparent about my experience and hope that you are encouraged and inspired.

Yesterday, I was gung ho about getting back to “my usual.” It was a different story this morning. My usual didn’t cut muster. I had planned to have my morning quiet time, take my children to school (at the ridiculously early morning hour of 6am!), then complete my workout. I, honestly, did not feel up to it. I knew I needed to do something to encourage myself so I resorted to simple, straight-forward self-coaching using positive self-talk and thinking about what I was willing to do rather than succumb to the many reasons why I might not do it. I had to immediately change my thoughts, which I did.

Garden Lifestyle – Walk this Way

It’s a beautiful, bright, sunshiny day. I decided that taking a walk was the way to go. I somewhat begrudgingly set out to walk along a neighborhood walk path that I enjoy. As I began to walk, I couldn’t help but observe and take in the surrounding beauty of nature. It is truly Springtime! Plants and trees have blossomed. Birds are singing. Children are laughing and playing nearby. All of this created beautiful harmony and was received with great peace. I used my phone to take some of the most beautiful photos I’ve ever taken. I will use the photos in my blogs as I have for this one. It felt as though I was walking through a garden. I consider that my health is like a garden in that it needs to be tended… nurtured and cultivated. It sometimes requires change and replenishing that makes it grow healthy and strong. Guess what happened? After my walk, I had the energy and desire to wrap up my activities with some light stretching, strength training, an attitude of gratitude, and fresh perspective for progressing through the day.

Triple Threat Talk
Transparency. Transformation. Transition.

While I typically walk the talk, there are times when I look for things to cut back on… when feeling pressured. Granted, I know that attending to my health should not be one of those things. Rather, I need to take things in stride, literally and figuratively. My health must remain highly prioritized. Reality is that compromising my health and well-being results in compromise in other areas of my life. While the heaviness of thinking about starting or resuming a disciplined routine can feel weighty, it doesn’t compare to the weight of consequences such as undue stress and self-sabatoge that come with neglecting my well-being and permeates throughout various areas of my life. Do you know what I mean?

We know that sustainable change takes time, concerted effort, and focused discipline. What stands out regarding my experience with becoming relaxed about my routine (which by the way includes prayer/quiet time, physical activity, healthy eating, minimizing stress, etc.), is that I’ve been in active maintenance mode for some time, many years. Even so, things can change.

It is important to recognize that living a healthy lifestyle is a process. Things will not always go perfectly. We need to remain flexible, at least to the degree that we are open to inevitable change. This flexibility and openness helps to combat stress and other preventable health issues. My morning walk I didn’t feel like taking turned out to be a beautiful blessing.

What is something you desire or need to do?
Why is that meaningful for you?
What small step or action can you take?
What support do you need?

My inclination is that you know something; you can do something. I believe in you. I encourage you to just do it.

I would love to know how it goes!

Lovingly & Faithfully Me, Sheryl

Project Magnificent Messmaker! Workshop – Save the Date!

 Welcome, readers and listeners! 
Here is my Audio Blog – Project Magnificent Messmaker! Workshop – Save the Date.

This blog is about my experience with the save the date announcement for my forthcoming Project Magnificent Messmaker! Workshop taking place this coming Fall on September 15th. I attempted to do the announcement on my own, starting off wanting it to reflect the essence of simplicity as well as the beauty in mess-making (imperfection). Instead, the result was an appearance that my beloved Coach Kate said looks like a postcard! My initial perception of her response was that is was a bit pristine, although that is not at all what she meant. As difficult as it was to hear that, I knew the real deal. I sent the announcement to her because I had gone overboard, and it did not convey the intended message. I looked at it and saw anything other than a MESSage. It was a picture of crisp, shear perfection! I had already cleaned the MESS right out of my MESSage! How Dare Sheryl!

I called my friend, Ann-Marie, to sit in the muck with me because I was so frustrated with myself. I’ve planned and facilitated many events for which I created various forms of announcements. I didn’t understand why this was any different. One thing I have learned is that, no matter how well we know or can do something, there may come a time when we are less creative, less productive, and nicely botch up the simplest of tasks!

Ann-Marie was very calm, reassuring, and willing to help save me from myself… to help me get over myself and get on with it! I could hear the smile in her voice as she chuckled and tried to help me calm down, which she successfully did. Praise God! I asked for her assistance with the announcement because I had a full day and didn’t want to further delay. I shared the effect I desire of the flyer, which is a simple save the date notice. She laughed and commented about needing to help me to make a mess! I confirmed my need for her help with making a mess, hence relinquishing my inner control gremlin that insisted on perfection. The struggle was real, so I asked for help.

I went to the Internet and looked at simple save the date announcements, which reminded me of my initial intention. I was okay after that and knowing that, with help, I would soon have an announcement I want to share. As simple as this sounds, it was quite an experience for me and a little shocking for Ann-Marie!

Another lesson I’ve learned (or confirmed) is the beauty of relationships and having others to help us in time of need and through our own nonsense. Yet, another lesson is the benefit of immediate note-taking or journaling and voice recording! These are powerful tools for reflection. Reading what I’ve written here has helped me to grasp what transpired. I had taken what started off as a super simple task and made it unnecessarily difficult by ‘not so discretely’ trying to hide any hint of imperfection. Have you ever done that?

I am reminded of the Triple Threat:
Transparency. Transformation. Transition.

What’s that all about? It’s about accepting that God is gracious and, therefore, extending self-grace that provides for our openness to inevitable, ongoing change in life. I talked about self-grace in my previous blogs, What’s in a Vision and Vision Garden. Know that sustainable change takes time and is worth the self-investment. Likewise, the Triple Threat is about overcoming obstacles; courageously acknowledging, embracing, and applying what we learn from our mistakes and messes such that we continually grow rather than allowing them to keep us from pursuing the wonderful opportunities and experiences awaiting us. This is empowering!

My desire is that my message and what I share are simple, practical, and effective. Thankfully, this MESSage is already proving to be helpful as I was able to go through the day more calmly, creatively, flexibly, and productively knowing I will ‘fail’ safely into success as I put one foot in front of the other. In doing so, I continue along the path God has for me and accomplishing what He has set before me in service to Him and others. How can I be sure of this? I know that God is with us in MESSES and SUCCESSES. Both are necessary aspects of our Divine processes.

Lovingly & Faithfully Me, Sheryl