End of the November Reflection

 If you had to rate your November on a scale from 1 to 10 with 10 being the highest, what would you rate it?   I would give my month a 9.  It was a GOOD month for many reasons.  I worked toward a few small goals and am proud of the work I did with those.  School remained in person and we got a surprise snow day so both of those things made me feel good about November.  There weren't any huge, earth shattering memory making moments in November but we were able to have a few family game nights again.  Thanksgiving was very different from our usual celebration but it was really enjoyable.  

The week of Thanksgiving I shared the book Balloons Over Broadway with my students and I loved digging into the life of puppeteer Tony Sarg and the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.  

It made watching the parade on Thanksgiving Day have a little more purpose.  Did you watch?  I loved hearing from students today about things they saw and loved in the parade.

My goals at the beginning of November had to do with really stepping up my activity.  My goal was to hit my Garmin Step goal 25 out of 30 days.   I am happy to report that I exceeded that with 26/30 or 87%.

I hope to keep the momentum going in December.  I really do think anything over 80% is good and since December has 31 days, even 25 days would be 81% so my goal is to meet the Garmin step goal for 25 days.  

My eating was pretty dialed in for the first 3 weeks of the month.  I have been doing protein shakes for breakfast and broccoli for lunch each week day and I plan to continue those habits.  Dinner varies but I have been able to limit my snacking and have really enjoyed the smooth cottage cheese for my after school snack. 

It's time for the Fellow Flowers Holiday Challenge and that always helps me keep my exercise consistent from Thanksgiving through New Year's Day.  Today was Day 5 and I am loving seeing all the amazing ladies just killin' it for 30 minutes every day.

Now let's set make December the best month of the year!

Goals-  shakes for breakfast, veggies for lunch, protein for snack, and a reasonable dinner each day.

Keep logging what I eat with MyFitnessPal.

Meet my step goal at least 25 days this month.

Do some other fun workouts...maybe lift a few weights or add 8 Minute Abs back into my routine.

I really enjoyed my gratitude miles each week on November so I am going to find a way to continue to reflect on gratitude during my runs, too.  

If you've read this far, THANKS!  Here's to a DAZZLING December.

Thanksgiving Week - Gratitude Miles

It’s Thanksgiving Week!  Our family plans have changed numerous times and it looks like we are staying home and celebrating with just the 4 of us.  No big Turkey Trot race but the kids have agreed to run with me on Thanksgiving morning.  Will says we can run 5 miles but Kate is trying to convince us to stick to a 5K.   I vote a 5 mile in the morning and a 5K in the evening.

 Today’s run was a  combo of run/walk miles.  I would run a song and then walk a song. I attempted to switch to running 2 songs, walk 1 but just wasn’t feeling it. 

Mile 1 - Health

All 4 of us in the house have stayed healthy this fall and that is something I am thankful for.  Even more thankful is that my mom has been well.  This week she texted and said that we couldn’t come to her house for Thanksgiving.  I was really sad but then I realized that keeping everyone healthy is most important.  I am healthy enough to run and move each day.

Mile 2 - Happiness (I promise this is different from my mile 2 - Hope/Optimism from last week)

I love seeing my kids happy.  This weekend WIll has been hunting and Kate had a couple of basketball things.  I don’t really understand either of those things but I know that both of my kiddos are happy.  Mile 2 was all about how happiness leads to action.  I need my running and walking miles to show my kids how to chase their own dreams and find their own happiness.

Mile 3 - Family

With this being a holiday week, I keep thinking about many of the family memories from Thanksgiving's past.  We won’t be seeing family this year but I spent this mile thinking about my family in Illinois, Indiana, California, and Virginia.  Hoping that we can connect virtually with some this week and make plans for in person celebrations in 2021.

Mile 4 - Night and Day

I definitely did not get up early enough to see the sunrise today and I am glad that I didn’t.  Sleeping in is something that I rarely do but today it was nice to have no alarms set.  As I was out on City Limits Road I heard the words by Macklemore, “I made it through the darkest part of night, and now I see the sunrise.  Now I feel glorious, glorious.  I feel glorious, glorious.”  

Last night we turned on our outside Christmas lights. One of these days we will run at night again and enjoy the lights all through town.  

I love that EVERY day I get to go through the light and then the dark.  It’s such a great reminder to me that everything is temporary.  Life feels hard lately but I know that it won’t feel like this forever.  I’m trying to take things one day at a time and today the morning sun was truly GLORIOUS.

Mile 5 - Inspiration from Others

One of my dear inspirational friends had surgery last week.  I’ve been praying for her and as I was running mile 5 today I thought about how inspirational my friend and fitness crew really is. Even when we cannot be together to get our miles in, I am inspired by Donna, Michelle, Michelle, Jackie, Lisa, Steena, Rosa - I miss seeing you in person.

Stacy - thanks for all the motivation and guidance you have provided me.

Kaiti - you inspire me daily and I am so grateful for your running plans.

I am so lucky to have an inspirational #ffcrew and #zoomarunclub, too.  

Mile 6 (and .2) - MOMENTS for ME

I had many moments during my run where I thought about just walking but I had walked yesterday.  Today I needed to push myself.  I need this running time just for me - to make me stronger, happier, and complete. When I feel tired, it would be easy not to run or walk but I always feel better when I get out there. I get more done at home once I put in the work with my miles.

If you are looking for some motivation to get miles (or any exercise) in from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day, follow @fellowflowers to join their #ffholidaychallenge.  

Middle of the Month Miles of Gratitude

 

Here we are, halfway through November.  I got in a few (5 to be exact) gratitude miles this weekend.  They were a combo of run/walk miles.  I would run a song and then walk a song.  

Mile 1 - Smiles

I love smiles and I miss being able to see them regularly.  I thought about how this past year has been an experience for me and my smile with my clear correct.  I want people to see my smile….it’s finally relatively straight after 15 years of having a crazy crooked bottom row.  I know people say that you can see the smiles in the eyes, but I miss seeing the teeth!  I often smile during the school day.  I think I teach better with a smile and it’s something that makes me - me - My big ol’ toothy, gummy smile.  Mile 1 was a celebration of smiles.

Mile 2 - Hope/Optimism

I tend to think positively most of the time.  Each week that I get to teach in person I get more and more excited about how things are going so well.  I tend to be one of those people who is always believing in the bright side of things.  Mile 2 was all about thinking about how the challenges of the past week and what may happen in the next few weeks as opportunities.  What could I do if…. And It would be really fun to try…..  Hope for what will be.

Mile 3 - Travel

Mile 3’s songs were Hunter Hayes songs and those always take me back to our most recent trip (April 2018) to Nashville.  It’s pretty safe to say that I am a homebody but I am thankful for the travel that we have been able to do.  While I don’t know where or when we will get to go places again, I am thankful for the travel we have done.   This mile tied right into mile 4.

Mile 4 - Memories

Oh what memories I have from vacations with my family growing up to even the Disney Cruise to celebrate my parents’ 50th wedding anniversary.  I appreciate experiences and need to focus on those memories.  I tried to decide what my favorite memory is and I decided that it’s always the next one that we are going to make.

Mile 5 - Strength

This mile wasn’t about my own strength.  As I was coming up pool hill I was grateful for the strength that both of my kids display daily.  I watch them navigate the tough world of teenagers and I am amazed at their strength.  They inspire me daily with their ability to be themselves.

If you are looking for some motivation to get miles (or any exercise) in from Thanksgiving until New Year’s Day, follow @fellowflowers to join their #ffholidaychallenge. 

photo from Findingjoy.net

Miles of Gratitude

 Gratitude Miles Today - Nov 8

6.2 Miles

Mile 1 - Health 

I am so thankful that my body allows me to run (mostly walk lately). I am happier when I get miles in.  This mile turned in to gratitude for healthcare workers as I ran past Grant Regional Hospital.  I cannot imagine what life has been like for those on the front lines working so hard to help people stay well.  Thank you to all those that I never see but who are working so hard for the health of all of us right now.

Mile 2 - School and Education

Mile 2 was around the elementary school where I teach.  I reflected on many of my own school experiences.  I am thankful that school has always been something I have loved.  What a privilege it is that I have been able to advance my education past a high school diploma, bachelor’s degree, master’s degree and more.  No one can take away the things we “know” but I also love that I am always learning new things and working to improve.

Mile 3 - Music

Music definitely helps me get my miles in. Sometimes I choose pop music while other times I choose country music.  Today I chose Matthew West Radio on Spotify and I was truly touched by the words in the song “Confidence” by Sanctus Real.  These words spoke to me and I know that they will be part of my prayers moving forward:  “Give me faith like Daniel in the lion’s den. Give me hope like Moses in the wilderness. Give me a heart like David, Lord be my defense. So I can face my giants with confidence.”  I am grateful for the talent of artists who create music that speaks to my heart.

Mile 4 - Challenges

I thought about quitting early.  I set out for a 10K (6.2) but when I got to City Limits Road, I thought about heading home.  That’s no way to get better.  I am grateful for the challenges that help me improve.  There are many challenges but the ability to persevere is a gift that I hope my kids see in me.  When things get hard, I don’t want to quit.  It’s the hard things that will make me better.  I am grateful for challenges.

Mile 5 - Beauty

The sun was coming up out toward Hwy 129 - absolutely stunning. The fields and the soft glow were beautiful.  As I was back in the residential area, I loved noticing the decorations in yards and even different ways that  houses were decorated. There is so much beauty in nature, too. Noticing and acknowledging things that were different helps us see the beauty even in the ordinary.  I am grateful for the opportunity to find beauty in every day.

Mile 6 - Food

By my 6th mile I really just kept thinking about what I was going to eat for breakfast when I got home.  That one doesn’t quite fit with all the others but it’s just what helped me get the miles in.  I thought about how I would eat a bowl of cereal today. Thank goodness for the food that fuels me daily to heave the energy to do all the things I want to and need to.  I am grateful for food.

During this month of Thanksgiving, I am enjoying the deeper reflection on what I am thankful for.  I love taking the time to count my blessings.  They truly are growing as I name them!

October Reflection and November Goals

 

What a perfect day for a Gratitude 10K!  I am so thankful to kick off November with 6.2 miles in the sunshine!

I didn't want to begin my October reflection without a HAPPY HALLOWEEN from my awesomely spooky crew :-)

It seems like today was the perfect combination of things to allow for a little extra reflection.  With the time change, a Sunday, and the first day of a new month, I am thinking back and planning ahead.  

When October began, I looked back at September and saw how inactive I had been (according to my Garmin).  I felt like I would feel better and be more productive overall if I worked on getting in more exercise for the month of October.  I needed a way to "measure" that so I set a measurable goal of getting more days in that met my step goal.  

In September I only met my goal 15 of the days (50%).  My goal for October was to hit 75%.  I met the goal 24/31 days for 77%!!!!!   WooHoo!  Proud of that.  Now I am going to improve on that same goal for November.  If I can meet my step goal 25 out of the 30 days in November, I will be at 83%.  I will work toward that number one day at a time.

I spent quite a few hours at the soccer fields during October and I am so thankful that I got to!!!  When the school year began there were many unknowns and sports (specifically soccer) were one of those things that we just weren't sure about.  Thankfully, Kate got 6 games (one is coming up on Saturday) and I am so glad that she did!  

In the classroom I got to share The Legend of Sleepy Hollow and The Ghost With Red Hair with the 5th graders and those 2 stories are so much fun for me.  I hope they enjoyed them as much as I did!

I enjoyed time with a friend a couple of times for miles and smiles.

While social gatherings are not happening like they used to, I am always reminded that we are not meant to go through struggles alone.  So thankful for family and friends that stick by me even during my quiet moments.

October was a good month and I am confident that November will be even better!

Set some goals for November and do the work to make yourself proud!