Exercise! Don't underestimate the curative properties..

Yes, of course I'm going to jump on an article that highlights exercise as medicine. I'll keep highlighting these articles until it finally dawns on folks that movement is good. Not only is it good for the often over emphasized aesthetic reasons (Ok, I get it sexy bodies sell magazines, products and services), but movement (A.K.A. Exercise) is great for the mind, spirit and our over all health.

Exercise does not have to be difficult. We can vary it up any which way and benefits mount. Sure there are precautions and progressions when first starting out. Sure as you get fitter, you got to change it up, mix it up, challenge yourself. But it's not rocket science folks.

So here is another reason to get yourself moving. There are so many options out there for everyone that you are bound to find something that clicks with you. Clubs, DVD's, YouTube, TV stations, Recreation, hikes, biking trails, pools...come on it's available no matter socio-economic strata you are on...options are available.

BBC News - Exercise should be 'standard part of cancer care'

Check out some of the stats in this article if you need convincing.

In Health Always!!

sAq

There is no reason to QUIT! Lots of reasons to START!

Aging is NOT a disease. But we tend to "age" faster when we allow ourselves to become less active, physically, mentally and spiritually. We become dis-eased when we give up on ourselves and our health in particular.

Cultivating a "can do" attitude no matter your age, no matter your obstacle takes mental & physical practice. We have to keep investing in our health every day. 

And oh yes, once you succumb to the "I'm too old" to learn, to grow, to try something new, to give it your best, then you will create that reality around you. You become too diseased to DO anything.

We will age and we will begin to slow, who cares. But why must we rush it with inactivity and lethargy?

Challenge the misconception and "just do it!".

Inspirational read...

Bike Swim Run » Can You Run Even When You’re Older?

My Team - Buffalo Marathon

The running season begins with the Buffalo Marathon on Sunday May 29th. An unlikely team, my running buddies & I, will run further than we have in at least 10 years if not in our lives. No it's nothing major, no 50-miler, no full marathon, it's just this team of friends doing the 4-person relay. No biggie to runners, but HUGE to each one of us.

We go toe-to-toe with our own personal "Beast" of uncertainty, insecurity, fear, excuses, doubt, commitments, family pulls, injuries and yet...move ahead anyway.

This goal has more to do with our own minds. The rewards are bigger than the mere 10K or 12K we'll each contribute. Running has brought us together. We're a TEAM.

http://www.myspace.com/sherrillaquinn/blog/543082924

Happiness - Being "Active" in the Pursuit

...And there's that "ACTIVITY" factor again!

Being truly happy. Inwardly happy. Not externally, see how much I have accumulated, vaux happy. It's not hard, it's only heart-felt.

If you donate your time & money do it for non-recognition and see how it really makes you feel.

Build your friendships because you honestly like the person you are be-friending, not for their business contacts. Give of yourself to them for no other reason than sharing the "gift of yourself" to them.

That higher-purpose, where you hold yourself accountable to the highest form of who you are. No, not this worlds definition. YOUR definition of your highest self. You might have to pause and LISTEN to find what that means to you. You will hear it, but you must be still to hear it. You won't have to ask permission or get affirmations from anyone, you will know.

And there it is: Be Active. Get Physical. MOVE your Body! Nothing like a walk around the neighborhood, a day toiling the garden, going for a bike ride, playing tag with the kids, hiking along the river rocks...being active just for the fun of it.

Activity is part of the overall "Happines Equation".

Daily Good is an inspirational Blog to those on the journey and to those who wish to continue.

Enjoy

sAq

DailyGood: 10 Keys to Happier Living

Tomorrows 5K - DO I really care about the beer?

I'd like to think I care more about running to benefit the homeless, or whatever organization benefits from my participation, but do I?

I run for me and my own practice at self-discipline and dedication. I enter races with friends for a good time and the challenge.

But do I really take time to consider the people behind the organization the fees support?

I do and I don't. I choose my event out of convenience for me. Then I choose it if I think the organization is sound and serves a larger purpose, generally. Then I choose it for the post-race party.

Today I thought about those who actually NEED the food served each night at "Friends of the Night People".

Here's my story: "Tomorrows 5K"Tomorrows 5K"

Inertia by Sherrill A Quinn (Sherrill A Quinn) on Myspace

If you have read any of my blogs you know I believe in the power of movement, physical exercise, fitness and, sports to be a positive influence in our mental, spiritual, emotional and yes, physical well-being.

I'm a fitness expert to some folks. I have made a life out of encouraging people to get and stay fit and healthy. I live it, breathe it, think about it.

Yet, I am human. I have my moments of lethargy. I have my moments where I just don't wanna "Just DO it".

I was content to ride my bike and go for walks around the neighborhood.

Since my time of "competing" was well behind me I was content to be a healthy fit. I would leave the PR's to the young studs and "studdettes" coming up behind me.

As the saying goes, the less you do the less you can do. Soon I found I couldn't run. I could run around a soccer field ok, but I couldn't go out and run without hurting BIG time. I thought I was done, toast, finished with racing.

But then a friend, a colleague wanted to do a race. She was starting about the same pace I was, a walker/jogger. A "Wogger". She wanted to be a jogger. So of course I figured I'd help her achieve that. Why not, it's what I do.

In order to help her I need to DO it. I needed to run too. So we entered some races. We had illusions of grandeur, but failed miserably (except that we dared to enter and dared to try).

We kept at it. We even got another and her husband to join in on the journey. Soon we were a team by "default".

Now we encourage each other, because we have a goal: A 10K this May. To be a four-person team to run in the Buffalo Marathon.

Well, you can't do that without training. Not unless you want to disappoint yourself and pay the physical price the following days.

Been there. Done that BS!

Inertia, procrastination, stuckness was getting in my way. I was reluctant to run on my own. I was reluctant to try some longer runs on my own. I was rationalizing. Inertia had me in her grasp.

How does one overcome inertia? One step at a time. Read on...

Inertia by Sherrill A Quinn (Sherrill A Quinn) on Myspace

Still Snowing, but Dreaming of Spring Gardening

Ah gardening! In Buffalo, NY where the ground is still very frozen and covered with snow we can only dream and plan our gardening efforts for spring. Some locations such as Novato, CA are probably just about ready to be clearing the winter debris out of the yard and cleaning up the garden beds.

I LOVE to work out in the yard. It's refreshing and in the evening all you have to do is start the fire pit, flame up a few hamburgers, break open a couple cold ones and kick back to admire all your hard work.

Gardening and yard work is so immediately gratifying. Even for one like myself who is better at digging up, racking, clearing, cutting, hauling and watering then planning the look of the yard. That I leave up to the experts.

Early spring cleaning is both rewarding and invigorating to the body and soul. Yet, it does come with it's aches and pains. I usually hear all about it on Mondays at the gym where I work.

So let me give you a few pointers that have helped me out over the years.

1. Take your time. You don't have to do it all in one day. Really, you don't.

2. Take some stretch breaks. Really. Stand up tall, lean back, supporting your low back with the palms of your hands and gently bend the opposite direction you've been bent all morning.

3. Stand in the doorway, open your arms and hold onto either side of the opening, now lean in. YES, expand that chest.

4. Lastly, put your foot up. Yes, just one. Up on the fence so you look like you are doing a lunge. Now bend the front knee, bring your chest to the thigh and then straighten out the leg. Feels good in a uncomfortable kind of way.

Although we have some more snow coming our way in the still winter wonderland Buffalo, NY I can't help but feel that spring really is not that far off and the planting season will once again begin.

Here's a great read of an article I found this afternoon. Enjoy.

Master Gardeners: Aging gardeners can continue their passion with a few tweaks - Marin Independent Journal

Truth and the road Toward Wellness

Traffic jams. Weddings. Job demands. Economic uncertainty. Spouse or partner disagreements. Lost keys. Time constraints. Truth. All "STRESSORS". All things or events that happen within our daily lives. All things that appear to cause us "stress".

In actuality it's what we THINK of those events, circumstances, demands, truths that create our "stress", those internal rumblings about in the mind. The mind, therefor, is our the cause of our stress - jitters before a speech, uneasiness with a jobs requirements, negative emotions about a truth, anxiety about the future that isn't even upon us yet.

These rumblings about, if left unchecked can lead to increased blood pressure, poor eating habits, broken partnerships, loss of jobs, intestinal distress, sore muscles, more colds...the list goes on.

We seek out help to cure the symptoms, yet ignore the cause. In truth, our mind.

Become aware of your internal chatter, your thinking when faced with a situation, either good or bad. Notice how the mind leads you down a path that either creates distress or eustress.

The event just IS.

We can be our own worst enemy or we can be our greatest asset, just by developing a strong mind, a mind disciplined in seeing the truth, accepting the truth, and living on in truth. That's the ideal, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't aspire toward that.

Don't get me wrong, there is no blame here. An area, I feel wellness has done a disservice. I'm talking about being accountable to yourself, owning up to how we accept or deny truth.

If we accept our role in our mental health we can either reduce our dependence of medications that squash emotions, reduce blood pressure, drive down illnesses, make us numb to reality.

Will that make the event or circumstances go away? NO! But we can allow our selves the opportunity to create the best possible outcomes by first accepting the truth.

The truth can set you free of the chains of our own self-imposed prisons, which leave us helpless and hopeless.

It's easier said than done depending on the walls we have built to keep truth out - denial, blame, anger, rationalizations, avoidance... They can be thick walls and they can require some assistance in not only bringing them down, but being able to face what they are hiding.

I have discovered that workout buddies are invaluable in my quest for physical fitness. What about a mental health/spiritual buddy that helps us along this journey as well?

Not just a sounding board, but a guide, a buddy whom you can help and they can help you stay on the path toward mental & spiritual wellness. Maybe the road wouldn't seem so treacherous.

Read "Truth" Sherrill A Quinn (Sherrill A Quinn) | blog on Myspace and let me know your insights.