Posture, posture, posture those words were said over and over this morning. Once again I find myself walking long distances. My girlfriend is walking the San Diego Susan G Komen 3-Day walk. In less than one month, she will be walking 60 miles. I'm not doing this walk, but I'm helping her train, we are a training team.
To some, walking 18 miles or 60 miles is a drop in the bucket of extreme distances. Last year, I visited with a window washer who was going to be traveling with his wife and 18 year old son 80 miles- over mountains -while camping. In the book Born to Run, the ultra runners run races of 50 -135 miles in one day. Others, I have visited with think an 18 mile walk borders on the crazy side of life.
What do I think about an 18 mile walk? I think we were are made for this kind of distance and I also think you have to be a bit nuts to do go this distance. Consider this morning: 7:00 am, it is pitch dark and raining. Oh-yeah crazy is dancing around the conversations. Later in the morning, the sky's were dry, the leaves of autumn spectacular, us walkers were walking admiring and chatting away. Crazy would be stitting it out.
As we walk we talk about everything and sometimes nothing. the most common word said is posture. We have found the better our posture the less fatigue felt. Keeping our hips under our shoulders. Walking not leaning forward but with our core muscles. Tonight, I do feel a bit tired. Tomorrow morning we will be back out walking/training for her walk. Sunday night I'll sleep sound and hard. I am surprised in walking, the more I walk the stronger, healthier and happier I get. I think my girlfriend feels the same.
As we walk, we see houses decorated for Halloween, we see orange/red/yellow/iridescent leaves on trees. As we walk, we build deep bonds of friendship and kinship. As we walk, we get to go on micro road trips seeing a step by step view of the northwest. Walking is a gift. Getting wet is part of life.
As always, wishing you a healthy and happy life,
Denise
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
The secret practice of home care
" Gratitude is the heart's memory."
An Old Proverb
This morning I did dishes. I do dishes multiple times a day. Like me, most families do dishes multiple times a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. It is what I call a daily task. No matter how busy or successful you become there will always be daily tasks. Maybe you don't do dishes, instead you shop, drive to work, do laundry, pay the bills, mow the grass, care for a family member.... the list is infinite and as unique as we all are.
The definition of insanity is doing something over and over expecting different results. How do you do your daily tasks? Do you ever find yourself rushing, delaying, pressing through, plodding or grudgingly doing? If you are human, most likely emotions other than pure joy pop in from time to time!
What if you took the time and task- the daily chore- do practice something beautiful? As you pick up and sort your laundry looking for spots and checking pockets, what if you also consider how lucky and grateful you are to have a family, clothes, a washer and dryer....?
What if while you wash dishes you offer prayers and blessings to your family and neighbors?
This daily practice is not easy and it may sound a bit corny but in reality it is a gift. It is a gift in gratitude, in mindfulness and in giving. Instead of your focus being on getting through or frustration, your focus is on something worth every once of your time and energy.
Home care is the perfect practice. It is repeated, automatic and always available- no matter how busy your schedule is. My grandmothers must have done their meditation this way. On the farm, there was no time to run off for yoga practice or sit down for 30 minutes of daily meditation, my guess is their daily chores was the fertile soil of their practice.
Next time you start to do a daily task, pause for a moment and consider a new approach. Relax your shoulders, stand tall, smile - just a touch, pick a practice and mindfully go about your task at hand.
As far as residue free goes... the emotions you express can also be left behind. If you are going to leave a residue behind, it might as well be the residue of gratitude.
As always, wishing you a healthy and happy home.
Denise Frakes
An Old Proverb
This morning I did dishes. I do dishes multiple times a day. Like me, most families do dishes multiple times a day, seven days a week, 52 weeks a year. It is what I call a daily task. No matter how busy or successful you become there will always be daily tasks. Maybe you don't do dishes, instead you shop, drive to work, do laundry, pay the bills, mow the grass, care for a family member.... the list is infinite and as unique as we all are.
The definition of insanity is doing something over and over expecting different results. How do you do your daily tasks? Do you ever find yourself rushing, delaying, pressing through, plodding or grudgingly doing? If you are human, most likely emotions other than pure joy pop in from time to time!
What if you took the time and task- the daily chore- do practice something beautiful? As you pick up and sort your laundry looking for spots and checking pockets, what if you also consider how lucky and grateful you are to have a family, clothes, a washer and dryer....?
What if while you wash dishes you offer prayers and blessings to your family and neighbors?
This daily practice is not easy and it may sound a bit corny but in reality it is a gift. It is a gift in gratitude, in mindfulness and in giving. Instead of your focus being on getting through or frustration, your focus is on something worth every once of your time and energy.
Home care is the perfect practice. It is repeated, automatic and always available- no matter how busy your schedule is. My grandmothers must have done their meditation this way. On the farm, there was no time to run off for yoga practice or sit down for 30 minutes of daily meditation, my guess is their daily chores was the fertile soil of their practice.
Next time you start to do a daily task, pause for a moment and consider a new approach. Relax your shoulders, stand tall, smile - just a touch, pick a practice and mindfully go about your task at hand.
As far as residue free goes... the emotions you express can also be left behind. If you are going to leave a residue behind, it might as well be the residue of gratitude.
As always, wishing you a healthy and happy home.
Denise Frakes
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
The right kind of LSD is the best kind of drug
The first time I did LSD was in junior high school. Before you panic or get all excited, let me explain. In 7th grade I joined the cross country team. LSD was assigned by my coach Max Mar, as our workout for the day. LSD means: Long Slow Distance:)
Long Slow Distance is the best drug ever. When you go for a long walk or run at some point your brain is most definitely altered. Last night, I was once again reminded of the powers of LSD. Sally, our flop eared smiler and I went out for our normal walk but then we just kept going, turning it into a LSD evening. As usually, I start most LSD sessions with my brain merrily chattering along. But after a few miles, usually 3-4, something kicks in and my brain slows down to match the easy pace of LSD.
Long Slow Distance puts me a kind of meditative state of mind. The rhythm of walking, breathing and moving over long distances collectively relax my entire nervous system. My posture becomes strong, the worries of the day fade away and I come back to the present moment. I start noticing the details of each step and my brain lets go.
I have never done the drug form of LSD and have no intentions of ever even considering it. Why would I when I have my own form? This form of meditation, Long, Slow Distance, is not only good for your brain but you get in great shape while you unwind.
As always, wishing you a happy and residue free day
Denise Frakes
Long Slow Distance is the best drug ever. When you go for a long walk or run at some point your brain is most definitely altered. Last night, I was once again reminded of the powers of LSD. Sally, our flop eared smiler and I went out for our normal walk but then we just kept going, turning it into a LSD evening. As usually, I start most LSD sessions with my brain merrily chattering along. But after a few miles, usually 3-4, something kicks in and my brain slows down to match the easy pace of LSD.
Long Slow Distance puts me a kind of meditative state of mind. The rhythm of walking, breathing and moving over long distances collectively relax my entire nervous system. My posture becomes strong, the worries of the day fade away and I come back to the present moment. I start noticing the details of each step and my brain lets go.
I have never done the drug form of LSD and have no intentions of ever even considering it. Why would I when I have my own form? This form of meditation, Long, Slow Distance, is not only good for your brain but you get in great shape while you unwind.
As always, wishing you a happy and residue free day
Denise Frakes
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