This weather getting to you yet? Are you wondering if Spring truly will act like it is here? You are not alone! I hear it every day from patients in the office. Everybody is tired of the snow and cold. So, what do you do to help get past it? You start doing things that are fun, whether inside, or outside. Connor came for a visit last weekend, so it made for a great weekend. It was a great way to fire up and forget about the crappy weather for a while.
Grandma and Dakota were thrilled too! Everybody got to play around and unwind! Amazing what a 1-year-old will do to lift up your mood!
Giggles, hugs, and watching movies! The watching movies anyway when it came to winding down before bed, otherwise it was go, go, go! You cannot help but laugh and feel good watching him. Watching him when it comes time to eating is a blast!
He is all geared up with his tractor and truck silverware to dig in! He can never miss an opportunity when it comes to smiling for the camera and saying “cheese”!
Then on Sunday the weather and temp were getting a little better out, so we asked him if he wanted to go outside and go for a ride on the sled. Can you tell what his answer was?
So, we bundled him up and outside we went. All you could see of him was his eyes!
I had a ball too hauling him around the yard. He did not want to quit!
The temps are still going up and down, but looking ahead, we do have some nice warming coming at least in the extended forecast. Keep watching the views out there. Before long the snow will be gone (yeah) but for now take it in!
I just think of it when I am out taking sunset or sunrise pictures at the lake, that for now I am still able to walk on water! I will settle for shoreline pictures again later! Be positive. Hang in there! Stay busy with other fun things, and Spring will actually get here, and we can all spend more time outside enjoying life! Spend time with your family and make the best of every day. Smile! Keep a positive attitude! Keep moving everybody!
Happy St. Patrick’s Day Birthday to my wife Sarah! It was quite the day, and weekend. My daughters and I were planning on having a surprise visit from my daughter Molly and grandson Connor, and they were planning on coming Friday evening. Of course, the weather changed all of that, and they stayed home. I finally had to tell Sarah what we were planning, and now everybody was bummed. However, we got a call later Saturday morning that they were going to come now, and my son-in-law Tanner was driving them here. Back to surprise again! It is always a great time when they come. Connor is changing so much every time we see him. Overall, the birthday celebration started Thursday night with our other daughter Megan, and her boyfriend Dan, taking us out to eat at Mavericks! Great way to start off the birthday celebration.
My nurse Chris surprised Sarah with one of her famous cakes for her birthday on Friday. “Death by chocolate”…what a way to go! It was once again fantastic!
It helped us load up to get ready for the St. Patrick’s Day 5k run Saturday morning. Now I will admit, this race was a tough one. March 18, and the wind chill is -20! When are we going to be done with this weather? Sarah, Megan, and I all won our age group divisions for the race. (Sarah actually tied with Jill Makepeace, but hey, it was Sarah’s birthday celebration yet!) It finished at the Knights of Columbus, and then we had the pancake feast right after that as well. What a deal! It made the run worthwhile with the cold temps! Then we got the news that my daughter, son-in-law, and Connor were still coming for a visit! Wahoo!!!
This was a great several days of birthday celebration! The laugh and expressions on his face are just priceless! Weather should be better on Sunday to get back home for them safely. The weather has otherwise really been a downer lately. But you keep looking at the positives!
This was the view on the way driving to the St. Patrick’s Day race. If you look close enough, but you always find something positive out of all of the negatives. I think all of the things above were definitely a positive with life! That is the best medicine anyone could ever ask for. We will get to Spring. We will get out of the cold. Stay positive and keep focusing on the positives! Keep moving everybody!
We all have those moments in our lives where we can struggle. Somehow, we usually find a way to power through it. It is never easy. Some of the times the anxiety and worry over make it worse than it really is. We have to figure out a way to move on from those things without letting ourselves continue to keep dwelling on things that we can’t change anyway. But how do we learn to “Let it GO!” First off, start focusing on things positive in our lives.
For sure, that is where my grandson Connor comes into play. The original plan was to have him this weekend, until all of the snow and bad weather changed those plans. We often get to see him daily with snapchat, and facetime. We spent awhile Saturday evening watching him playing and tearing around the house. The kid never gets tired!
He is always giggling and wanting to play. How can you keep dwelling on your problems when he is around? Everything just goes away! Those other worries are just that…worries. Forget them. “Let is GO!”
I still workout every day, and go for a run outside when I can. We live in SD. We have Winter 6+ months out of a year. Deal with it. Still, when it gets too cold, or too deep, I have no problem working out on my elliptical or riding my bike inside. It does serve as a nice break at times too. But, when it starts getting nice out, I never use this equipment again until next Winter. If you wait for just good weather around here, you will never get anything done. It is a change. Deal with it! There is still nothing better than being outside though!
Sarah and I usually run together, and that is our dog Dakota way in back. Dakota does not care what the weather is like. She is ready to go any day, anytime. We could learn a lot from her. She is just excited to go. She has no problem figuring out how to “Let it GO!”
Winter also provides different scenery views to take advantage of as well. That is why it is so much easier to go for a run, or walk, outside. You have something different to keep looking at. Your mind lets go, and you just move. I can literally “run away” from my problems. It clears my head, and definitely helps me “Let is GO!”
How can you not “Let is GO!” when there is so much to see. Take advantage of the different seasons this way. There is always variety. South Dakota…the land of infinite variety!
Keep pushing! The motivation lies within each of us. Some days we may have to dig deeper, but it is there. What is important to you? What is your purpose? Whatever our purpose is, it continuously changes as we get older. Go with it. Adapt. Change is inevitable. If you don’t learn to change, you will never learn to “Let it GO!”
How true is this? We waste a lot of time worrying over what ends up being nothing. We don’t always realize it will be nothing at the time. It can be very real…to us as individuals. Don’t let it hold you back. “Let it GO!” Habits take time to learn, and to truly become a habit. Keep trying. Keep telling yourself to “Let it GO!” If you need a refresher start on this, watch the movie “Frozen”. One of main theme songs in it is titled “Let it GO!” Keep repeating it. Keep working on it. Spend time on things that truly matter to you in your life. You can’t control others, but you can control your reaction to them. And most of all, you can control your attitude. Some days are tougher than others. Welcome to life! Keep moving everybody… and keep working on trying to “Let it GO!”
We are into March. Winter has been getting long. It is not over yet. How do you stay focused, and motivated to keep exercising, whether running, walking, or any activity outside? Well, last week we had been gone to Arizona as our Winter break. I feel like I can handle what is left yet. That does not mean it is easy. Each year tends to get a little tougher as well. Doing the elliptical, or biking, definitely help stay active without worrying about ice or snow, but it definitely getting boring quicker. The snow last week left quite a few big piles! Even our dog Dakota is struggling to find a clear area to do her thing!
For me, getting out and taking pictures definitely helps. There is still something good with the Winter, but I can’t wait until Spring comes. I can be outside all of the time then. The hiking last week was the greatest break from the Winter we could have had.
I will keep looking out for the opportunities for taking pictures here to at least appreciate the snow and cold!
The end of the cold and snow is getting closer. We all have to just stay focused, and do the best we can at this time, and know that it will get better. Remember, we need to be glad this is not November! Stay active and keep moving yet. Be outside when you can. Once this snow is gone, then continue to take advantage of the warm weather for as long as you can. Keep moving everybody!
We got to take a break from Winter for a while and spent 5 days in Arizona. It was perfect timing and we got to miss out on this recent blizzard. It started off being in the 70’s, and the last few days in the 50’s. It was still warmer than here, and we got to spend most of this time outside! We went hiking in and around Scottsdale, and then spent one day in Sedona. It was a nice break from the cold, and the scenery was incredible.
We spent pretty much each day hiking. The scenery was awesome! Here are a few of them…
The one day in Sedona we went on one hike and it was called Devil’s Bridge Trail. A rock bridge–narrow–was one of the highlights!
–here we are standing on it!
The sunsets were incredible with the mountains in the background. If you have not ever been out there, go see it! The best way to see it is on the hikes! There are views you would never see if you did not get out and move. Get active if you are not, and if you are, stay active. It is well worth it! Keep moving everybody!
Every day is an adventure. You don’t know what life is going to be for the day. Never pass on opportunities. Connor came last weekend, and I was sitting on the floor, and he just came and sat down by me, and we started playing peek-a-boo! He had to wedge himself by me to even squeeze in! What fun!
He just wanted to keep on playing! The next day he was starting to come down with a cold. Of course, he had to have some grandma time too!
Just the right medicine to feel better! When the opportunities come, take advantage of them. That goes for everything else in life too. We wake up each day, and we never know what may come up for the day. Pay attention to the little things. A lot of times those little things become the big things. I am always still out looking for different scenery on my way into work, and especially on the weekends. Hopefully with the days getting longer I can get more of the sunsets again, but it is usually dark by the time work is done.
Always on the lookout. When the frost has been out, it has been very pretty too. And a great way to start the day!
Each day brings us something else in life to look forward to. Take advantage of it. Live today like it’s the best day of your life…because it could be! Don’t let life pass you by. Again, those little things are really the big things in life. Take care of yourself. Keep moving everybody!
