Through Nina's Eyes

Majority of my life, I have been self-focused on career, education, health, wealth and relationships.

Here I’m going to talk about certain habits I formed to better my overall health.

This starts with a morning routine.

Waking up while the world sleeps, I took in Robin Sharma’s philosophy on waking up early. I wake up at 5am or earlier.

I make my bed before doing anything else. The way we start our day leads how the rest of the day will be.

I don’t skip breakfast. It’s the one meal of the day that is beneficial for our mind, body and soul – It energizes us … like Fuel to a car… Without breakfast we are starting our day with an empty tank.

Observe positive information – majority of people, read news or watch/Listen to news… observing the negativity that surrounds us.

I, am, one who takes in positive information that helps on self-growth. Something inspirational or motivational that builds me to a better person for myself and others who I surround myself with. Something that helps me grow. Positive thoughts is food for the mind.

On weekends, I’ll exercise some sort – may it be running, walking or weights. Some sort of exercise to start the day well.

And finally, I write down the goals I like to accomplish for the day and work towards it.

Writing goals and committing to it is the number one task that will set and help you prioritize for the rest of the day.  

These are my morning daily habits

When I go to a restaurant, I don’t order exactly what is off the menu. I take one, for example, a veggie burger and modify to what I like to have in it or eliminate items.

For many, it would be annoying but it is an act of being “bold”

This is a small step and example of boldness

Boldness is having confidence , it is being unique and embracing it.

Being Bold is taking challenges that help you grow.

Be Courageous! Be Unique!

On Sunday Feb 14/21 , it snowed in Vancouver BC, a place where it rarely snows. When it does, runners prefer to stay indoors. I actually enjoy the snow as it brightens the day. It’s beautiful.

I was debating if I should go for a run to avoid getting injured. My heart said one thing and my mind said another. The mind wants to protect and sometimes we just need act to grow.

I choose to put on my running gear and head out for a run.

And seriously, running with sidewalks covered in snow was an amazing feeling. I didn’t fall instead enjoyed the challenge. If I almost didn’t go, I would have not learned to run on snow. I would have lost the joy.

I followed my intuition instead of my mind

Sometimes we need to just act to explore and open our minds  

As the new year has come so has new running goals and a new way of participating in social runs — the era of virtual races

Benefits of a Virtual Race

Joining a virtual race can have many advantages. I’m going to name 3 key ones here — First of all, competitors are given the wonderful opportunity to achieve their goal and finish their race! Although they will not be competing next to hundreds or thousands of competitors, they will be able to achieve the race distance, possible personal records and their running goals.

Additionally, as the race may be virtual, it can still foster a sense of community for fellow runners. A 2017 study by Guerin, discovered that one of the benefits of social media for female Olympic athletes is being able to connect with other athletes.¹ In the midst of a pandemic, completing virtual races and connecting with other runners that have completed the same virtual event can continue to foster connections, inspire new training partners and create motivation for other runners to progress their athletic goals.

Lastly, when races do start up again, participating in virtual races can continue to advance runner’s fitness levels. Many runners are motivated by a future race they have circled on the calendar. Virtual races are a great way to fill the gap from now until in-person races do start back up again. For example, competitors that would like to complete a marathon in the next year, may benefit from a virtual 5K or 10K to address and progress their speed prior to increasing distance for their marathon. As a result, virtual races continue to foster positive energy through motivation, connection and preparation for the future.

This year for myself the 1st half of the year I’m aiming to finish the 10 k and then the half marathon by June 2021

Exciting times have approached so has my training began, pushing my way to staying strong

PERSISTENT

UNTIL

SUCCESS

HAPPENS

I, encourage, for all of you to join a virtual race and keep up your running strength and goals!

HAPPY RUNNING!

This world is comprised of people who have failed over and over

The ones who are bold, risk takers

As Year 2020 is coming to a close, Eddie Pinero says it best on what Year 2020 taught us.

As being a runner, who has the goal to run a full marathon and this year it was put on a hold by the challenges that Year 2020 gave us.

Yet 2020 gave me the opportunity to gain a new skill and challenge my body to learn a new activity. Cycling

Year 2020 , the year to reflect on yourself, to gain knowledge, experience the impossible , to believe in yourself and to explore new challenges.. as humans, we each have the capacity to do so much if we set our minds to it.

Life is beautiful and it’s up to us on how to live it – we have 2 choices – in a positive or negative way. I choose positive.

Set Goals, Commit, Work on it each day and the results will show

As we move around in life, we are handed various gifts and they are the following

Gift of work

Gift of money

Gift of friends

Gift of learning

Gift of problems and challenges

Gift of family

Gift of laughter

Gift of dreaming

Gift of Giving

Gift of gratitude

Gift of a day

Gift of love

How we use these gifts determines our strength, beliefs, character and overall who we become..

Treasure the gifts we receive

There are two ways to live your life

One is as though nothing is a miracle

The other is as though everything is

In my heart and how I live my life, everything is a miracle🙂

Therefore “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger”

Wind Storms come and go yet leave their mark on the ground.

As running this morning from my house to Semiahmoo Trail and onto Sunny Side trail, Wind Storms left trees lying on our path. Yet it didn’t stop us from running. We completed our 8k run.

As thinking back at the trees lying, makes me think about how anything can happen in a split second. Those trees did not know when or how they would fall. It was their time.

Time is like a river… with each minute, each hour passing by, our story is being written chapters unfolding. Many don’t see what they have in front of them and once it is gone, they realize the gratefulness of having that person, object or thing in their life.

Treasure the moments with your loved ones and tell them what you are grateful for.

One thing I am grateful for is the love that surrounds in my circle . The love of family and friends … with all that is happening around this world, our journey.

I’m grateful for a friend who hadn’t spoken to me in months and out of the blue, she called. I’m grateful for her friendship.
Story to share – As we spoke for a while. She left a footprint in my sand. Reminded me of missing my writing journey. That even though the challenge of participating running a full marathon is far away, it doesn’t mean I should stop writing about running or any other experiences I vision . … So here I am…

I am grateful for her friendship

I wonder what others would be grateful for…

Being grateful for the life we have , the people who surround us and the experiences we create and share with others,

Tell them what you are grateful for before it s late

If you love something, love it completely, cherish it, say it, but most importantly, show it. Life is finite and fragile, and just because something is there one day, it might not be the next. Never take that for granted.

Say what you need to say, then say a little more.
Say too much. Show too much. Love too much.

Everything is temporary but love.
Love outlives us all.

Written by R. Queen who is the author of Darkchylde