Last week I wrote about taking the time to appreciate things, and looking at things around us. My main pictures were sunsets when it was calm. When things are calm, and steady, things are easy. But what about when it starts getting a little more turbulent in our lives? What about the storms we encounter, and some even on a daily basis? How do we deal with things when the going gets tough? What we do depends on what we look for. You may have to dig a little further into your own self to decide what this may be, and look for the good in things yet. You can still see some amazing things during the turbulent times as well.
Things could always be worse, right? We have to keep telling ourselves it will get better. Stay strong, stay focused, and sometimes it may feel like we are just hanging on. But the above says it all! Look beyond. Think of how things are when that storm, or “turbulence” is over. How much better do we feel when we “weather the storm”?
Stand tall! Yes, just like a strong wind, you wonder how you can stand up to it all and deal with it. There is where exercise comes into play for me. It is my escape. My time for me. My time to forget everything else around me that is going on. This Summer really opened up my eyes when I would go for my walks along the Lake. It was my time to relax, and I was forgetting everything else. I looked at the sun setting like I had never seen before. And you know what? It truly was like I was seeing it for the first time! It has been right in front of me for years, and I just never paid attention to it. Don’t let life pass us by. The years go by fast. Appreciate each day like it could be our last, because you know what? It could be!
I absolutely love going out and taking these pictures. I am coming up with different ways to capture the moment. Some of these times are indescribable as to the things that go through my mind when I just “let it go and take it all in”! Every sunset is different. I now am seeing the changes when the wind picks up, and the waves are crashing, that each one of these adds a different dimension to the moment. Yes, it is turbulent. Yes it is hard to always stand tall during these times. But you have to look beyond…look deeper into the moment in order to help get through it.
No truer words have been said! Calm yourself! Easier said than done. Find out for you what it is that is going to help calm you. Go walk, get active, blow off some steam. Take the surroundings in, and pay attention. You will see things you truly have never seen before. Start living!
Let the waves roll on by! Get past those tough times. Look beyond. Strive to take life in for what it is…a gift. Never take your life for granted. For all the tough times, there are many more good times. And, the tough times make the good times even better. Keep moving everybody!
If you have never taken the time to go view a sunset, especially over the lake, words cannot describe the peace that can come with this. It is easy for your mind to “unwind”, and just relax, and look at he beauty that is being created in front of you. The scene is different every time! The reflections, the calmness. Somedays though are not calm, and the waves are rolling in. The beauty is still there, but different. Life rolls like this as well. Some days are very straightforward, calm, relaxing, and other days are not. You have to be able to handle it both ways. I like these next two quotes: “In calm water every ship has a good captain” (Grover Cleveland); and “It’s all about finding the calm in the chaos” (Donna Karan).
Clouds create even more beauty with the sunsets. Sunsets are proof that no matter what happens, every day can end beautifully (Kristen Butter). Every sunset is an opportunity to reset from what when on during the day. If our day was not the greatest, we can have something to look forward to tomorrow. Words can’t always express what goes through your mind as you watch things unfold as the sun sets. I dare anybody to watch, and actually take the time to watch, and not let your mind drift off, and dream, especially when the waters are calm, and the reflections back on the water allow you to see the potential in everything in your life.
I find the reflections always tell a story, and it is always a different story. There may be similarities, but there are always differences. The answers to things in life are not always clear, but I can tell you some of the answers come to me while sitting back and really taking these views in. It is one thing to think about things at the time I am taking these pictures, but it is another to look at these later and be able to reflect back on some of those same thoughts, but also come up with some new ones as well.
The answers to issues don’t always appear right away, but eventually open up with ideas and thoughts about how to handle things, and how to approach things in life. Everything now is always so rushed. We have to hurry to do this, and do that. We all need to learn to slow down, calm down, and take it in. Solutions often come easier to mind when you do.
It is truly amazing that something so simple can also be so complicated. Each sunset tells a story. I have found too that the day was calmer when the water is calm, and the day was a little tougher when the water is really rolling as well. That will be next weeks blog topic. Sunsets with wind/rough waters. Even though those days can be tougher, they have a different distinction and beauty all of their own. I find it very relaxing. All of these pictures were taken by me. I took the time… I took the time to take it in, and appreciate it, and learn from it…and enjoy it. We all strive for things in our life. Taking some time to slow down can actually help us in the long run. Enjoy life. See what it has to offer. We are all busy enough during the day. Unwind. Take a deep breath. Relax! And…keep moving everybody…but slow down enough to enjoy life as well.
The air is getting cooler. The leaves are changing color. We may have to put on some other layers, but the scenery makes up the difference. Things are changing all around us. After all, is that not what the Fall Season is about?
I think we are all ready to make way for the new. We have all had enough of 2020, and are ready for something better. Take it in and get outside while you can. Enjoy the colors. Take in nature. Appreciate for what it is.
The bike trail is a great place to go out and see the colors. Go for a walk, or a run, or get on your bike. Take advantage of this. If you have not found time to do this, now is even more important than ever with this crazy year we are having.
Take if on with all you have. Be the one in control, when all else around us feels out of control.
When you are out for a walk, with nothing but your thoughts, it is a great way to let things go. Unwind. Relax. Just look around and take it in. There is so much to look at and take in. Appreciate the changes. You see the trees letting their leaves go. It is time for us to let things go.
Multiple sections of the trail are great to be out on to see the different colors. It is especially beautiful around the lake. The color changes, and the reflections. Sunsets have been great too. I have been posting those in different ways on Facebook. Even our dogs when we take them for a walk are taking it all in, especially if it is windy! They have lots of leaves to chase then!
Many different corners to go around and see something different!
So get out there. Whether with friends or by yourself. Just get out there! And remember:
This is a given. Things will always change. Right now we could use some good changes, but change is always happening. Learn to adjust to all those changes on the fly. Getting out and enjoying some physical activity is a great way to help adapt, and cope with the changes Learn how to deal with it, instead of fighting against it. Things will go a lot smoother in your life if you do. Let things go…just like the trees are doing now! Keep moving everybody!
This day was already 30 years ago…30 years! My how time flies! Our 30th Anniversary will be coming up on Tuesday, October 6. Many things have gone on since we said “I do”! It has been a great adventure. We have stayed active from day 1, and have also instilled that in our kids. Teach them to do what you do, not just what you say! Our kids traveled with us many times, and were there to cheer me on for my marathons. Sarah stuck to the Half Marathons then. I was the only crazy one at that time!
Here we are at one of Grandma’s marathon events. Sarah had these shirts printed up for the kids as a surprise to me during the race. Boy, was it a surprise!
They would be yelling and cheering for me when they saw me coming. Then, to my complete shock, they turned around!
I about lost it right there! These pictures of my kids are still some of my favorites ones, EVER! This was huge for getting me fired up to keep going! It was one of the greatest presents I have ever gotten! And, it was all Sarah’s idea!
Almost 30 years have gone by, and this was us at the end of August out on the Mickelson trail biking! Still active and moving. That is what we do! It is was we tell our patients to do everyday! It has kept us together, and happy, all of this time.
This was us the same week going out hiking in the hills. We love being outside, and being active. We get to see so much more of things that we would have missed if we were not active. These are our best vacations! We have tried to instill that in our kids as well from the day they were born. I honestly think we did pretty well on this. They have grown up significantly since those early years.
This was last year at Molly’s wedding. My, how things change over the years…for the better!!! Hopefully they keep going at it too like we did. When we start having grandkids, I guarantee they will be active with us! This next picture a good friend of ours, Cory Ann, took this picture of us at Brookings 2 years ago. I think it pretty much sums up how we have lived our life, and how we have fun with it.
Running! Together! Forever! It has been a great 30 years Sarah. Let’s work on the next 30! I had a couple that I took care of as patients, and a few years ago they celebrated their 80th Anniversary! He would just smile, and sing, and say it was “total bliss”, and she would just shake her head and say, “Lot of work…lot of work!”. Ha! There is no question it takes work…from both. There are differences some days, but seldom. I love running, biking, walking, hiking…and being with you Sarah! Let’s hope there are many more adventures, and years left! I love you! Keep moving everybody!
With all of life’s stresses going on right now, we need to make our health an even higher priority. A great way to relieve some of that stress is to do some resistance training, or weight workouts. It is a great way to exercise, and blow off steam at the same time. A corner of my garage is now converted into my own gym: The Reiflex Center!
I have had this now for several years, and have gradually increased the amount of the equipment we use in it. It is very convenient, and I have a heater for the Winter, and I can go out and workout anytime I want, any day I want. I can jump rope, do pullups, sit ups, and several other pieces of equipment that I can be creative on what I do. I mix it up and have a variety of different activities, and go out for 20-30 minutes, 3 days a week, and usually with Sarah. It is always easier to workout when you have a partner to push you as well.
Sarah and I don’t just tell everybody they need to exercise more, we do it as well. Get going with some music blaring, and burn off those frustrations. It sets the tone for the day as we are usually out there by 6 AM when we do start. We feel fired up for the day, and ready to take it on. We definitely love to run, and this helps increase both our strength, and our endurance, helping even that much more with our running. We all need to do resistance training of some sort 2-3 times a week. Create your own space, or go to a gym/wellness center. Whatever works for you, just get out there and do it. Right now is an even more important time to do this with all of the stress of 2020 going on. Take care of yourself in the process! Keep moving everybody!
