Summer is starting to be done, and Winter will be around the corner. We need to take full advantage of Autumn, and all of the colors. It is a perfect time to sit back and just reflect on things. It is kind of hard not to get motivated with the scenery changes. At least you can never say it is boring. The weather can be warm or cold, and the colors are just spectacular!
These are a few from the past on the Mickelson Trail out in the Hills last Fall. The colors are just so cool to see. The trail is great to go walk, ride, or run on. The scenery is never dull. This is the perfect time to be outside and enjoy everything and be thankful for everything in your life.
There are so many times when we get lost in the “busyness” of life. We forget to see the trees through the forest. Pay attention.
This is the perfect time to sit back and reflect on things. What is going right? What is not going right? What do I have control over? What do I think I have control over? Things change…continuously. The only thing we can control about change is out attitude towards it. Stay positive and think of the good things in your life.
Sure, there are times when things can get rough, and you wonder if the storm will pass through. Even in the storms, there is hidden beauty; hidden things that we need to focus through to what lies behind the surface. Don’t lose sight of those things.
And sometimes, you just need to sit somewhere on your own, and think! Forget everything else. Just focus on what is in front of you. Be quiet, and take it in. Jason and Mark are on to something with our run club. They were the charter members of our “sit” club. Sometimes you just have to sit down in order to slow down from everything else. The world is fast paced enough. Slow down. I promise, you really are not going to miss anything else. But you will if you don’t pay attention to things right in front of you! Keep moving everybody!
Are there times you go through the day you wish you could convince yourself to “slow down”? There are times when we need to learn to be more patient. I need to practice this just as much as anybody else. I see “patients” all day and remind them why they are called “patients”. Many times, things take time. We don’t have an answer for everything right away. That goes for everything going on in our lives too. Things can seem very hectic, and you wonder why, or how, you are doing everything you are doing. We all have “dark moments” in our lives. You wonder if there is truly a reason, or a benefit. It is often these darkest moments that we are able to see the light!
Slow down! Be patient! Some days the “waters are rougher” than others. Those calms days help make up the difference. Those calms days are what help keep us going. But, it is the “rough days” that determine our character, and what we learn from those experiences!
I always have to keep reminding myself of the fact that great things take time. This was kind of a tough week for me. I don’t know why. It really should not have been any different than any other week. It just seemed like nothing was really going right. It is frustrating. You try to stay positive, and your “weird” comes out. Somehow, some way, we need to control our “weird”. Now, we are all going to have our moments. We just need to try to keep them to a minimum, and not be the typical.
That is why the sunsets are calming for me. I get to slow down and just take it in. You still have to contend with the weather. Some days are very calm, and some days are very “unsettling”. Be patient! Slow down!
Sarah took this picture of me last weekend when we were in Pierre for the Senior Games. Life truly is like taking pictures. You slow down, take in the scene, decide if you like it or not, look at it a different way, keep going until you are satisfied with what you have, then move on! Pretty straightforward, right? If only everything in life could be to that degree.
You never really know how that picture may truly turn out, just like you don’t know how things in life are going to turn out. You keep trying! Be patient! Slow down!
Things can also change quickly, if you are patient enough to hang around to find out. Sound familiar? Same holds true in life!
Be patient! Slow down! You have no idea what is coming but would venture to say for the majority of those times, the best is yet to come. But sometimes you have to go through the worst to get the best. Be patient! Sometimes you wish you could speed the clock up to see how things will end. We learn from those experiences though. That, and we are wishing our lives to go even faster than they already do. Be patient! Slow down! Keep moving everybody! Forward is progress!
It was the South Dakota Senior Games weekend in Pierre this Thursday-Saturday. Sarah and I both participated. Anybody 50 years of age and older is eligible.
A sample page of the itinerary–
You could participate in as many events as you wanted to. This is one page of Thursday events. The schedule is packed! It is a lot of fun because everyone there is cheering you on. Some are very serious competitors though, too. Once an athlete, always an athlete! Everything is split out in age categories, starting at 50, and split every 5 years. There were many strength training events: pushups, pull up bar, wall sit, plank, bench press, jump rope (who would have thought jump rope would be that tough, but I challenge anyone to do as many as you can in three minutes!) Here are pictures of us competing.
We, of course, got into running events as well. 1500 meters on the track, and then Saturday morning a 5K and 10K (combined, not separate!)
I guess we did pretty good, though. 16 events between the two of us. 16 medals–15 Gold, 1 Silver!
It was a lot of fun, but it was work. We got home Saturday afternoon and spent the rest of the weekend recovering. I guess we are getting older too! This competition is a great way to be staying active, even when we are getting older. There really is no excuse. There is something over the 3 days that somebody could compete in. Check out web site: South Dakota Senior Games. Many of the same people we competed against in events last year were there again this year. You start making friends, and everybody encourages each other. It truly is all about staying active regardless of your age. Use it or lose it! I have been saying this for years. We are already planning on making this a yearly tradition! Keep moving everybody!
Things are always happening–planned or not! It is those moments that are not planned that bring the most enjoyment. You were not expecting them, and they just happened. Life keeps changing, day to day, minute to minute. Learn to seize those moments, those opportunities, that come along, and enjoy them for all they are worth! My daughter Molly came this extended weekend, and brought my grandkids, Connor and Tessa. Tessa has been really opening her eyes now. She is 11 days old now. She had my heart immediately.
Connor was busy climbing over everything! He loves the Disney movie “Coco” and wants to watch it all of the time. He stops everything and becomes entranced every time it comes on.
We will have to have this movie in our back pocket and ready to go whenever he starts having a meltdown. Instant good mood and stops right where he is at! Hilarious!
It has been hot and humid these last few days, especially when it comes to running. Nothing zaps the energy out of you faster than heat and humidity. But it sure made for some very pretty sunrises!
I went out on a limb here recently. I had thought about entering some of my pictures into the State Fair, and I finally did it this year. My sister-in-law had sent some of the pictures of mine with the ribbons on them. I won 2 separate first place, and one for third place. I am thrilled to have won some! There were a lot of good pictures entered into the Fair. I think I may have to keep doing this. It makes me stay on my toes when I am looking for different things to take pictures of. Here are my 3 winners!
You always have to take time to slow down and relax too. Just sit and look at things around you. Take it all in. I was relaxing before a run on this next one. In run club we officially call this “Sit Club”! Everything is fast paced, and sometimes you really need to slow down.
The only thing that would have been better with this would have been a cup of coffee! And as I relearn again from my granddaughter, there are times when you just need to take the time to take a nap!
She just got done with her nap. Now wide-eyed and ready to go! In her case, eat! Eat, sleep, and be merry! Be active in between. Learn to slow down. Learn to observe and take in what is in front of you. Make the most of every day and enjoy it for what it is. Seize the moment, at the moment! Keep moving everybody!
Tessa Ann was born this Wednesday, August 8/23/23…4:27 PM. 8# 13oz, 21 inches long! And…what a cuddler!!!! We had to go see the next day, of course! Babies now a days…they have more hair than me! It is just not right! She will know me no matter what!
Grandma got to hold her first when we went. All smiles…both of them! We get to go see them again on Sunday, both our grandson Connor, and our new granddaughter Tessa! We can hardly wait!
Grandma Sarah got to feed her, and then of course, got to change her! Fair is fair…
I took over again after. I may be biased, but what a cutie!! My other daughter Megan went Friday for the rest of the weekend to help Molly and Tanner out with the kids. We are bringing meals tomorrow. We want to hold Tessa, but we are going to give extra hugs to Connor to make him be even more special now that he is the big brother!
We have been grinning ear to ear. I absolutely love being a grandparent! I have always said grandkids are like potato chips, you can’t have just one! I was never much for just a small bag…I always went for the large economy size bags! I have no doubt you will be seeing pictures and blog posts of Tessa as well as she grows up! Let’s keep making memories! Keep moving everybody!
