We are now into the first weekend of January. Some of you may have already made New Years resolutions, and others not. A lot of us feel pressured to try and get something “planned” before January 1, but things are so busy with the holidays, and time with family, that we really don’t have the time to really get something in motion. No worries. The New Year just started. Take a little time to think about it and prepare. It takes thought. It takes planning. It takes creativity. What is it you want to accomplish this year? Even more important, why do you want to accomplish something different this year? Think about it. This is about you. What is it you want to do, and why? You are in the driver’s seat.
Do any of your goals have to do with your health? Do you want to get in better shape? Do you want to lose weight? Is there a race/event/goal you are working towards? Be creative. In order to gain the benefits of getting, or staying, in shape, you have to be willing to work. As I have said numerous times, anything worth having comes with work. You have to earn it. When you do, it means so much more. It is truly something to be proud of. For me, I want to keep staying in shape so I can keep up with my grandkids!
I want to be around for a long time to be a part of their lives. This is my “what” and my “why”. Now, once you have that in mind, you need to start working on the “how” and the “when”. The “when” is easy. Right Now!!! The “how” takes some time. You need to plan it. You also need to start off slow. If you try to do too much as once, you will inevitably quit! Keep a log. Gradually increase the amount of time you exercise. Once it becomes a habit, you will do it without having to give as much thought to it, and you will have more energy to do other things you want to do. I plan on continuing to run with my friends and family as well!
I have my run club family, which continues to grow!
We all work together and push each other. We work on making each other better.
And, of course, I have my forever training partner–Sarah. We will continue to move through life together. What are you waiting for? The New Year is just starting. Work on that plan. Don’t make the resolution be over with right away. If you really think about it, the “what” and the “why”, the answer is much easier! Create a “New Year” resolution that will last! Keep moving everybody!
We are wrapping up 2023 and moving on to 2024! A lot of things have gone on. Many new adventures are sure to come up this coming year as well. Change. Everything changes. Things with your family changes. Your health can change. Your job/profession can change. One thing is for sure: Life is never dull. Keep attacking and enjoy the ride!
Life is always exciting and changing with grandkids. Every time I see them, they are changing. Fun! Exciting! But the love is always constant!
2023 has been fun with the grandkids. I think 2024 will be even better.
The sunset/sunrise views are always changing as well. Each one is so unique and special. It is just fun watching how it can change so much each day. Take the time to pay attention, and you will realize it as well!
Running has, and always will be, a big part of my life. It has taught me so many life lessons that I have lost count. I have to gotten to experience a more fulfilling life by staying active and being able to see more of life just by being active. Remember that! The activity allows to see and do more adventures and provides more sights to see that you would have never been able to have appreciated before. Enjoy each day!
Those Sunday run clubs adventures have been a big part of my/our life for many years. Running brought us all together and keeps us together. Running is the absolute best antidepressant and stress reliever there is. And the coffee times after with friends goes beyond words!
Now, many career changes are also coming. I am still going to be seeing patients, but less days a week. I have become the Chief Medical Officer for Prairie Lakes Hospital, beginning January 1!
I have been a Family Physician in Watertown going on 30 years. I had red hair when I was a kid, and it is like this book was written for/about me! I have been taking care of my patients one on one each day, and now this new adventure is going to allow me to help them in more ways now. I can now help develop, maintain, and create new ways of helping patients on a larger scale. I want patients to be confident of the healthcare they receive here in Watertown. In Watertown, “We Care”, and are the “Keystone of the Community!”
Things change. Each of us truly has the power to change our thoughts, and our thoughts have the power to change our life. Take advantage of it. Strive to Survive. Live to the fullest. No regrets. Never sit back. You all have a purpose. Make a difference. Be a difference maker. Happy New Year! Keep moving everybody!
Merry Christmas everyone! Hopefully everyone has a very joyous holiday season. Be safe with all of the weather coming! I got to have 2 Christmas celebrations this year. Last weekend, all of the kids, and grandkids, were home for our family Christmas! What a great time!!!
We played a bunch of games, ate some great food, and just got to spend some time together! The grandkids were the highlight of the weekend. Connor, the 2 year old, is so active, and never stops moving. What a blast!
It was so fun watching him open his presents. It really did not matter what was inside of them, he just had fun ripping everything open. Giggling, and grinning ear to ear. That in and of itself was worth everything!
But at the end of the day, when he was done, he was done. He was so tired he just layed down in Dakota’s (our dog) bed and was just content to go to sleep!
Of course, the last 2 weekends I also go to spend time holding my now 4 month old granddaughter, Tessa. My present was getting to have her lay on my shoulder and chest, and just relax while she slept. I am not sure there is anything more relaxing, and it made me so happy I did not want to give her up. To me, that was the greatest present that I got. I loved every minute of it!! Same goes for Sarah!
Her shirt she wore said it all!
Joyful and Jolly, and spreading joy to both her parents, and to her grandparents. How can they totally steal your heart from the moment they arrive? A patient told me earlier this week, and I have heard it several times as well, but he said he wished he could have skipped being a parent and went straight to being a grandparent! How true!!! They give us another purpose in life and know we all have a reason to be here yet, and love them, teach them, and be there for them!
Then, of course, we went for a run with our other family this morning. Our Watertown Area Run Club family. We all had our Christmas attire on, and even though it was raining the whole time, it actually was very warm, and it was a great way to bring in Christmas!
Merry Christmas everyone! I hope you get to spend a lot of time with your family! Enjoy Christmas for what is really is! Be safe if traveling. Keep working on your own health, always! We all want to be around longer to keep making memories, and spending time with those close to us. I just left my grandkids last night, and I already miss them! This grandpa gig is truly the greatest! Keep moving everybody!
One of my long-time running partners, Tom Beaudry, sent me some pictures recently of our early Grandma’s marathon days! Boy did we look young then! Lots of changes have come on over the years, but we still both run. We don’t run as fast as we used to, but that does not matter anymore. We can still get together and shoot the breeze on a run, and catch up on things, but we are still out pounding the pavement. Other people may look at us and wonder why we run. Unless you run, that is kind of a hard question to answer. Let’s look down some memory lane pictures.
Here we both are many years ago the day before Grandma’s marathon in Duluth. We had our pictures taken with our families, and some of the scenery in Duluth. The middle picture was Tom and I showing what everybody else in the marathon was going to see of us during the race!
The finish! We were both shelled! But we did it. Major accomplishment. Tom qualified for Boston during this Grandma’s marathon! Great job!!! But I will be honest. Yes, I wanted to qualify for Boston also, but have not ever done it. But the fun of the training was truly all of the miles we put in together, figuring out life, and solving problems. The bonds made on those long runs are set in stone. We learned a lot about life, and each other, on those runs. I would not ever trade them away!
Of course, I had my built-in cheerleading section. Those shirts they wore have been some of my favorite pictures of my kids ever. The front of the shirts, when they lined up, read “Go Dad Go”, and then they turned around and it said, “We Love You”. Wow! Fired me up and brought me to tears! Major motivation!
Lots of running knowledge and experience sitting here, and once again, discussing things over coffee, after a run! A lot of things in life I learned because of running. Dedication. Persistence. Hard work. Striving for a goal. Striving to survive! My only regret now is we can’t be young again to do it all over again. But this is why we have memories. Now we keep running, and just keep making more memories. We can also help other people understand why we run!
So, go live your life. Live it to the fullest. Don’t take anything for granted. We don’t know when our days are done. Keep going. Keep moving. No regrets. We are not perfect. Learn from our mistakes. Learn from our failures. Failing forward. Always! Keep moving everybody!
I have said many times that life is about change. You learn to deal with it. Embrace it. Change is coming for all of us. Change is the only constant we all have in our lives. Are you ready to take it on? Or are you willing to try and hold on to the past? Attitude is a big part of all of this. This is what makes life interesting. You never have to worry about things getting boring because it is always changing. You hope that the change is a positive going forward. There are those times when it is not, and that is when your attitude needs to step in and take over.
My mom just celebrated her 90th Birthday! Talk about change! These are all my brothers and my sister. We have changed over the years as well. I still have those memories of being a kid, and everybody was at home. Now we all have our own families and are making our own traditions.
I look at my grandson Connor and can’t believe he is already 2! He is growing so fast. Each time I see him he is talking more and doing more things. I still get to have baby snuggles with his sister Tessa now though, just like I used to do with him!
Tessa is such a good little girl! Boy, does she like to snuggle, which I will never argue over. Even she is growing fast. She is smiling more and more. She is changing continuously, and not just having to change her diapers either! I absolutely love being a grandpa! They are what makes changes so enjoyable.
Sarah and I used to get our kids all ready to go for the 5k run events. Now my kids are older, and we are getting our grandkids involved in them. Now that is what I call a great tradition. If you are a part of this Reiffenberger family, you will be involved in fun runs/walks all of the time.
Take the time to reflect on those changes. Know changes are coming. It is just like the weather…take it for what it is and go with it. Make the best of out every change, and every situation. Embrace it! Change is coming no matter what. It will for all of us. Our lives change. Our work changes. Our families change as they keep growing. Experience life and take it on headfirst. Change is what makes life fun and interesting. Go for it! Keep moving everybody!
