Day 10: Renewed Gratitude

“No amount of regret changes the past. No amount of anxiety changes the future. But any amount of gratitude changes the present.” ~Ann Voskamp

After dealing with two strains of E.Coli for a week, my antibiotics are kicking in, and I finally had good energy and an uninterrupted run, with a quality workout in the middle – woohoo! As I pushed myself in the hot sun, I felt a wave of gratitude that the discomfort was from hard work rather than feeling nauseous. (Plus, I’m more fun as a parent when I don’t have a bellyache.) Onward!

Morning stats

Yang/firing up:

  • cold shower
  • motivational speech https://youtu.be/0cwtNOq_k4w
  • stood on one leg while brushing teeth, to activate glutes
  • ran for an hour and a half, with a fast speed-play workout in the middle

Yin/cooling down:

  • morning mantra: “I’m alive, I’m grateful, I’m ready to roll.”
  • 5 minute foam roll
  • 2 minute meditation (I find that doing this right before my run really grounds me.)

Evening update

  • 30 minutes of earthing (while reading a book, throwing a ball for a cute dog I’m dogsitting, and waiting on hold with an 800 airline number – love how earthing doesn’t take as much focus as meditation!)
  • 10 minute easy bike spin
  • 3 x 17, 17, 16 pushups (50 total)
  • 5 minute stretch

Day 9: The Obstacle Is The Way

Turns out I picked up two forms of E.Coli while traveling, so that explains why my system has been so fouled up for a week. I’m grateful it’s likely just a minor setback.

“The obstacle in the path becomes the path. Never forget, within every obstacle is an opportunity to improve our condition.” ~Ryan Holiday, in the book The Obstacle Is The Way

Morning Stats

Yang/firing up:

  • cold shower
  • motivational video by Oprah: https://youtu.be/KEvHZ-LpX7M
  • 3 x 13, 11, 9 pullups (33 total)
  • 45 minute run with sprints
  • 15 minute spin

Yin/cooling down:

  • Morning mantra: “I will achieve great things through small steps.”
  • 2 minute meditation
  • 5 minute foam roll and 5 minute stretching
  • no social media until 9am

Day 5: High-five

“Happiness is the default state of mind. So when the mind becomes calm and clear, it returns to its default, and that default is happiness. That is it. There is no magic; we are simply returning the mind to its natural state.

…happiness is not something you pursue; it is something you allow. Happiness is just being.”

Re-reading this insight from the book Search Inside Yourself by Chad Meng-Tan is motivating me to make sure I don’t forget to meditate today, like I have the last two days. Even just two minutes is fantastic!

A quiet moment helping my muscles recover in cold mountain river water on a hot day

Morning Stats

Yang/firing up:

  • gave myself a high-five in the mirror (idea came from Mel Robbins’ book The High 5 Habit)
  • cold shower
  • motivational speech (my favorite so far): https://youtu.be/G4mXY6pR7L0
  • 75 minute bike ride

Yin/cooling down:

  • morning mantra: “Today I choose joy.”
  • 2 minutes of meditation
  • 5 minutes of yoga
  • 5 minutes of dynamic stretching before bike ride

Evening update:

• soaked my legs in cold river water for ten minutes

• listened to 10 minute Yoga Nidra app, followed by 15 minutes of the Meditation Oasis app (formerly called Simply Being)

grateful for a chance to take care of our friends’ dogs while they travel.

Day 3 to Becoming the Best Me

According to some quick search engine research, it seems to take either 21 or 66 days to form a habit, so we’re either 1/7th or 1/22nd of the way there – either way, congrats!

Morning stats

Yang/firing up

  • stood on one leg while brushing teeth to activate glutes
  • cold shower (technically three of them today because the pool shower had no hot water for my pre-and post-swim rinse)
  • listened to this motivational speech by Denzel Washington
  • 90 minute bike ride
  • 20 minute swim (this took more effort than the bike ride!)

Yin/cooling down

  • no social media until 9am
  • 12 minute stretch/yoga
  • (forgot to meditate in the morning)
  • morning mantra: “My body is rested and my mind is clear.”
“It is our choices, Harry, that show us what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” – J.K.Rowling

Evening update

  • listened to 15 minutes of the meditation app “Simply Being”
  • 5 minute foam roll
  • 5 minute Hypervolt
  • 30 minute core/grip/shoulder workout

Feeling grateful Taylor and I got to meet up with a friend, her four year-old, and her newborn.

Day Two: Let’s Do This

Woke up feeling excited about this new plan! Momentum is a beautiful thing…

Morning Stats

Yang/firing up:

Yin/cooling down:

  • morning mantra: “My body is rested and my mind is clear. Today is going to be a great day.”
  • 12 minute stretch/yoga
  • no social media until 9am
  • 45 minute acupuncture appointment

Nutrition challenge: increase fruit and veggie intake by double.

Grateful for: the sound of baby birds chirping by my window.

Evening update:

  • Quick date with Tim
  • Fun dance party with Taylor
  • Sent two emails I’ve been procrastinating sending (an invoice and a proposal)
  • 10 minutes of mobility work