Its very rare to find someone that genuinely cares about you, that wants to see you achieve all of your goals, that wants to help you grow as a person and be by your side every step of the way. If you have that type of person, never let them go. Its really rare to find.
Should we have hundred friends or a single friend
I have a few friends. Each one brings quality into my life. Ones that I can share my deep thoughts, others who are there in times of pain yet not in happiness. Others who are there in times of happiness yet not in sadness. Then there is a friend I can trust with all my heart who is there in times of sorrow and happiness, who will not judge and I do not need to pretend who I am…
Once someone told me I need to grow my circle of friends…
I believe having quality friends versus quantity is better
This quote says it beautifully
“Making a hundred friends is not a not a miracle. The miracle is to make a single friend who will stand by your side even when a hundred are against you.”
Challenge your mind and body
With so much negativity of coronavirus 19 stories surrounding us, I like to give all of you an inspirational story about anything is possible in life if one puts their mind to it.
At the beginning of each year, I set goals. Running is one , yet I have others…
This year, I chose to learn something new that challenges my mind. To one this might not sound challenging, I chose to learn to bike ride. An activity I wasn’t sure if I could due to my physical challenge of my motor skills with right side of body and balance.
I went to Whistler and saw a person who drove a bike with one arm and leg, he had two limbs and was riding a bike… I know it is possible, thought to myself…In March 2020, I got an assessment, what is needed to ride and then I purchased a bike, set it up so I could brake with one hand. I can only hold the handle bar with my right hand. I took on the challenge at first, I did not know how to brake. I fell, got up and fell and got up, bruises didn’t stop me, building balance was key and teaching my mind to use different muscles and coordination at once. I felt like a child learning to drive.
With certain friends who I saw as mentors encouraged, I slowly build strength and the weekend of my 47th birthday, I rode my bike for almost 50K – a 2-day journey in Kelowna, BC . It was an amazing feeling There is so much to this story and experience but cannot share all.
I am sharing this story to say to all of you that if you have a goal and set your mind to it, work on it each day that it can come true, never give up….
Denzel Washington said” Goals without any action, can not come true”, it’s putting the effort, time and dedication that wins
Life is beautiful when we live in the moment and it’s music and dance…
Strive for progress not perfection
It’s the last day of August 2020. As mentioned, I have been listening and resting my body from running. This doesn’t mean I rest completely from all forms of exercises. Working out is equivalent to food for our body.
So this month has been focused on other activities besides running.
With the weather being great, I focused on cycling, hiking, walking. Sometimes our bodies tells us to take a break from intense workouts.
One weekend, I did a 50k bike ride in two days.
Another weekend, I went on a day hike to 3 different trails.
And now, returned back to running this last week – ran a total 21.1 km in three days.
As weather is cooling down, I will start up my training process – running 3 times per week.
A quote to share – “Strive for progress, not perfection”
Endurance runners’ majority of the time train in the slow level versus intense… Key thing when training to listen your body and rest if needed.
Perfection doesn’t come by pushing our bodies, Perfection is not the goal… Strive for progress, it comes with consistency, working on fitness each day and in different forms. Believing in yourself that the ultimate goal will be achievable.
Coffee at Starbucks
As sitting at Starbucks having a dark roast coffee with a lemon cake, I see so much has changed.
Where there use to be a community bulletin board showing various South Surrey community events, now is a plain gray wall. Yet, on another wall, they put up a black bulletin board, that says “welcome to your Grandview Central Starbucks” with a beautiful artwork.
Where once there use to be extra supplies at the top shelves lays beautiful small decorative displays….
Where there once use to be several tables and chairs on the floor, now sit 4 sets, spread apart …yet they have placed tables and chairs outside on the patio for customers to soak in the beautiful sun…no need to worry about getting burned as there are huge umbrellas for protection.
Where once deserts , breakfasts were placed in a box for us , for customers to be attempted to order now lays photos as display…
Excellent that they have signage on the ground leading us to their protocols of social distancing. All employees wear masks.
Starbucks is definitely showing cleanness and the right procedures on social distancing..
There is soft music playing in the background that is soothing to the ears
The area feels like a minimalist style, I personally like it….
There is one person constantly cleaning the tables and area….three or four behind the counter….As watching, they are all providing excellent service…
The South Surrey – Grandview Central -Starbucks at 16010 24th Ave South Surrey, BC is worthwhile to come to …
Contribution vs Commitment
As indicated in my last blog , I wrote to all of you that over the weekend, I would run and bike. I did.
Saturday I ran 8.25k and on Sunday, I rode my bike . During the week, I walked, biked and ran.
For my bike and run this week, I did the same route and distance – close to 10k.
It is all about commitment to the goal I have set and not just contribution. I apply this principle to very aspect of my life – Living life with purpose and happiness. When we follow thru a goal, our mind and soul becomes stronger.
The difference between contribution vs commitment
One day a chicken and pig were walking down a road and saw a sign in a diner window that advertised a breakfast special: “Bacon and Eggs, $2.99.” “Wow,” said the chicken, “they’re advertising my eggs. That makes me feel proud.” The pig wasn’t excited. “Feel the way you want,” he said. “Your part is only a contribution. Mine is a commitment.”
David McGhee, Vice President, Organizational Excellence & Impact at The Skillman Foundation, once said “As you live and lead your best life, are you committed to your work, and those who depend on you, or are you simply making a contribution? Most want to only make a contribution because the cost of commitment is much greater. But guess what! The benefits are greater as well.
When we fully commit ourselves to our God-given purpose, then, and only then, can we truly change the world – and the world of those around us.”
Morning runs vs Evening runs
My mornings run
Everyone has different schedules of running, some run in the morning, some at noon and others in the evening.
The meaning of a morning run to a mid noon run and evening run for our minds and bodies are different for each of us
I am a true believer in morning runs. On weekends , I run early. I get up by 5am and out by 630am or 7am . Depends on my mood. During the week, I work until 4pm therefore run in the evenings … and unable to run early as I catch a bus at 6am to go to work.
What a morning run does for me isn’t the same when I do the evening runs.
Running in the mornings is a starting life with full of energy. I run when the roads are silent, more clear, oxygen to take in. It’s you and your foot steps . Morning runs allows me to reflect back , to set my priorities for the day, to believe in myself and mediate. Morning runs brings success for the day that anything is possible. And there are so many other benefits.
Running in the evenings is a way to cleanse the stress away. And simply to give your body food as you might have worked 8 hours that requires sitting. It is to wash away all the hard work that one has done throughout. Evening runs is like socialization , to relax after a hard day.. With all noise outside, it is difficult to mediate or cleanse the body so running in evenings allows body to detox all of the days work.
This is my view as each of you , have your own chapters of life, Morning runs is the best for me.
Share your stories when is the best time for you?
Taking that hour away, is taking a part of your life and allowing love, beauty and delight to enter in” like mediation
Dr. George Sheehan said”The best most of us can do is to be a poet an hour a day. Take that hour when we run or tennis or golf or garden; take that hour away from being a serious adult and become serious beginners.”
Taking that hour away, is taking a part of your life and allowing love, beauty and delight to enter in” like mediation
Each run brings new experiences, in my eyes each run is a beginning. A beginning for you to see new things, new sights and new smells. Each run allows you to become more aware of your body, how it feels, how you breathe, your posture… eventually you learn how to run properly. You learn what goes on inside of you. Once you accomplish and are attuned to your body – one can call it mediation. You are in the present moment – in the awareness of the now.
To give an example – today, I ran 14k where I originally planned a simple route. I would just go straight 7k and then return 7k back home. A route that is my common route. But my body wanted a new experience therefore I let my body take the direction. This lead my eyes to see new sights and smells, feel the breeze touch the skin… and felt a tint of sprinkles touch my hair and face .. it came and disappeared. As running, in the park, came across an Asian woman doing exercises. As crossing the road, I crossed 2 elderly women walking… I met with other runners as they were experiencing the own run journey.
As this route was different, I can sense how my legs were feeling, how my posture was during the hills and downhills. I made sure of I did not over exhaust my breath – keeping my breath at a current pace. Finally making sure my running pace was consistent. I’m in the present moment. Focused…just moving one foot at a time in the air, my body felt like it’s running on clouds.
Each run is a new experience for you – scents/smells/ being in the awareness – may it be 5km, 10K, 14k, half marathon or full marathon..
When you learn something, you are a rookie
Anything you learn first, may it be a job, a new sport, a new skill, you are a rookie….starting from the bottom….you feel nervous, as unknown of what will happen….as you keep repeating the new skill, your mind becomes stronger, feeling confident ..
Any new skill you like to build ….key is to practice , practice, and practice..
To give an example, I had mentioned, I’m learning to ride a bike…at first I was nervous, didn’t know how to stop and break ….let alone drive the bike…as having the right mentors to help, I practiced over and over with them. Did drill exercises ….and today rode a bike for the first time alone..
With patience, time and repetition of practice, you become stronger and confidence builds…so I encourage others that whatever new skill you would like to acquire….practice is the key…
Mel Robbins 5 second rule
For those who know Mel Robbins know she is one who follows her intuition.
The first thought that comes to your mind, is your voice from your gut, your intuition. Many of you ignore it as after 5 seconds, your mind stops you from either feeling it, acting upon it or taking an action that is opposite.
She brought up and introduced to the world a 5 second rule. This rule explains that our minds have 5 seconds to act and follow our intuition otherwise, our thinking mind comes in and blocks us from our intuition.
I have been applying this principle way before her time…
Yesterday, I ran 5k…to one might think 5k run isn’t a big thing yet behind that 5k there is a story.
That 5k would not happen if I choose let my thinking mind to come in ….
To everyone, practice 5 second rule..
When your intuition speaks, act upon it
