I mentioned previously that there are times when we all need to work on our attitude. I have quoted author Mark Batterson previously: “A change of Pace + A Change in Place = A Change in Attitude”. We just have to figure out that place, and how to adjust our pace, in order to change our attitude. We as individuals are in the driver’s seat, so if we are not happy, only we can change it. This life is busy enough, we don’t need to have the extra added stress of thinking we have to get everything done right away. Pace yourselves. Things take time to develop, so if we keep that in mind, our attitudes can improve greatly.
We all need to learn to take our time and slow down a little. We are all in such a hurry that we forget to live in the moment. That was definitely me. I was so busy trying to do everything that I was missing everything. Take a deep breath. Don’t put so much pressure on yourself to accomplish goals that may not really be that important. We put the pressure on ourselves to try to achieve certain goals, and in the process, we are no longer even having fun. It is now just another stress. It is more pressure that we put upon ourselves that none of us need!
Spend time with friends doing what you like to do, without adding more pressure upon yourself thinking you have to accomplish something “more important”. Yes, our goals are important, but not at the risk of our own health, both physical and mental. We do not need to put more pressure on ourselves. Enjoy the ride!
Exercise for your health but have fun doing it. See what you can accomplish to help yourself feel better, not add more pressure. Sarah and I push each other, but in a good way. If we were to do this by ourselves, we probably would not get out the door.
If you have a pet take them for a walk. This is the highlight of Dakota’s day! She is so excited to go, anytime, anywhere. We should all be like a dog when it comes to going for a walk! They make great motivators.
Change your pace. Change the place. Improve and change that attitude. Take time to enjoy what is in front of you. Time goes by incredibly fast. Today my grandson turns 1! So of course, next week you will get to see pictures from his birthday party. A perfect way to change my attitude. I can concentrate on what is really important…at the moment! Take it all in. Slow it down. Open your eyes. And don’t put any extra added pressure on yourself. We have enough pressures in life as it is. Keep moving everybody!
All of us are creatures of habit. This can be both good and bad. How do you push yourself into doing something of a challenge in your life? How do you deal with stress in your life? Do you do things to help take care of yourself, or do you feel like you are always pushing yourself, with no real gains? What does it take to change: your routine; your goals; YOU! I am currently reading a book by Mark Batterson, “Do It For a Day”– How to make or break habits. Very good!! Do you want to grow? Do you want to be challenged? What do you want? As he states in his book: ” Almost anyone can accomplish almost anything if they work at it long enough, hard enough, and smart enough.” Exactly! This past Thursday they had the annual Freedom 5k run, and it was hot! I have been running and working out, but not doing anything for speed. I surprised myself as to the time I came in, and what a relief to have that water sprayed on you when you crossed the finish line. This race was just like everything else in life: You have to push yourself past your comfort zone in order to grow!
My daughter Megan ran it as well. She not only won her age group, but she also had a personal record for a 5k, and in that heat!! Way to go Megan!
And of course, Sarah ran it as well! We are a running family. And we all did really well. Megan and I each won our age category, and Sarah got 2nd for her age category!
Achieving your goals does not come without work. I have stated many times in the past that if it worth having, it is worth working for. How much work are you willing to put in? Not everything is a success right out of the blocks…sort of. Even if we do not achieve what it is we set out to do, and feel as if we outright failed, we still learned something. We learned how not to do it the next time. All of these experiences are learning experiences. We need all these to gain knowledge going forward. If we don’t’ learn from our past experiences, we will never grow!
The most difficult task to overcome is in our heads! Take time to think about things, and to put together a plan. What is it you want to achieve? What is your goal? What do you want out of life? Afterall, it is about you! Why do you do the things you do? Why should you change? How do we learn from our experiences to keep gaining knowledge? Less is more…more is less!! We all have untapped potential just waiting to express itself. How do we know what we could accomplish if we are not making an attempt to change it?
This was after the race, and the members of the WARC (run club) posing together and showing off our hardware! But it is not about the medals. It is about achieving something…something that you have worked for. Something you have worked for…together! We push each other. We support each other. We are there for each other. Who is it in your life that will do that for you? Who will you support for the same reasons? In order to get, you have to give!
You achieve a goal you were working for. What does it feel like? Relief. Excitement. Joy. Happiness!!! So, what are you waiting for? Nobody else is going to do it for you. Get going!!! Keep moving everybody!
This was Deerfield Lake out near Hill City. I previously talked about a book by Mark Batterson, “Play the Man”, where he described how a “Change of Pace” + “A Change of Place” = ” A Change of Perspective”. Continuing where I left off previously, it is now time to talk about a “Change of Place”. A few weeks ago, Sarah and I went on vacation in the Black Hills and stayed in Hill City. Talk about a perfect place to make/have a change. Hiking, biking, walking, the scenery, the QUIET! What a great week! The Mickelson trail was about a 1/10 of a mile from where we stayed, and we were on it every day!
Sunrise, sunset, clouds…it did not matter. The views were incredible. It was also before we hit this heat wave. In fact, 2 of the mornings it was 32 degrees!! Time to think. Time to slow down. And especially, a “change in place” to accomplish it in!
We went to Spearfish Canyon, and then hit Spearfish Falls one day. Incredible! If you have not seen it, you must go.
But best of all, I got to spend a week away with Sarah! We did the things we love to do by exercising…hiking different trails, walking the Mickelson Trail every day, and biking on it as well. We took a break when we needed to, but it was a great way to go explore places and see it firsthand by using our feet! It was great to unwind and just forget about everything else for a while. We all need to do this. We need to do it not only for our physical well-being, but also our mental well-being. After changing the pace, and changing the place, we came back with a different perspective, and ready to go at what life what ready to challenge us with again. Just what these doctors ordered!
If you have never been on the Mickelson Trail before, you need to do it. Great scenery. We saw lots of deer out there as well. Quiet. A perfect time, and place, to just think! We were on no set schedule while we were there. No pressure to do this and that. We just took it as it came and enjoyed it more. We all need to remember to slow down and find that place for us as individuals that can give us a different outlook, and hopefully come back with a different perspective. Keep moving everybody!
Happy Father’s Day to all you Dads out there! This is your day to celebrate! We have our kids to be proud of, and watch them grow, and eventually start having their own families. Amazing how fast time really goes!
Was it just not yesterday that we were getting them ready to get on the bus for school? What happened? Honestly, I think I blinked and life went into warp speed. But, the memories still keep piling up as they get older as well.
Megan gave me this shirt for Father’s Day a few years back, and it is still one of my favorites. “I’m a Runner Dad…just like a normal dad, but much cooloer!” Right on! Megan is getting more into running, and we have been having a lot of races together now as well.
You just have to remember to keep having fun along the way.
Nick came home for the weekend, and of course, Dakota has to be right in the middle of everything! She is part of this family as well!
One of my proudest moments was the father/bride dance at her wedding! This is what I do all this exercise for. This is why I want to be around a long time yet. This is what is important! Walking her down the aisle still ranks right now at the top of the list for accomplishments for me!
Last week Connor got to spend the weekend with us. I may be the grandpa for him, but it brought back days of being a Dad again. By the way Tanner, congratulations on your first official Father’s Day. You are doing an exceptional job in the role!
This is hanging up in our dining room, and it reminds me every day! The love of a Father has no boundaries. I want the best for my kids, and now my grandkids. What father does not want this? Keep taking care of yourself and enjoy the ride. It really does go incredibly fast! Keep moving everybody!
We have been back from our week off, taking it easy out in the Black Hills. What a great place for a vacation! Hiking, walking, biking, going at things at a different pace! Last week I had mentioned that I had just read a book, and it was by Mark Batterson, titled “Play the Man”. In it he described how “a change of pace” + “a change of place” = “a change of perspective”. This blog today is about a change of pace. We all get wrapped up in our daily schedule, daily work routine, and just start losing sight of other things, and it can happen quickly. We are all in a rush to do this or that and need to learn how to slow things down and go at things at a little slower pace. We have done lots of running races over the years, and this weekend was the 25th Anniversary of the Hospital Hill run. I was working at the race, and Sarah ran it, with our grandson Connor. Sarah did not have any choice but to go at it at a slower pace. And that was ok!
Here they are coming up the Hospital Hill! Connor won 2nd place for 10 and under, and was also the youngest participant at 11 months old! What did he think about it? Well it is not everybody who can do a 5k while sleeping the whole time!
It does take a lot of energy to sit there though! At least he was relaxed and enjoyed the ride. It was a change of pace for both of them. He needed to rest up so he could spend some other quality time with his grandparents this weekend.
“I got a new tooth grandpa!” Always smiling!
We were out walking on the trail later as well, and Dakota is way ahead of us. But it was a very nice weekend to enjoy being outside. And Connor loved it! We just needed to learn to go at a slower pace!
We all need to learn to slow things down, take out time, enjoy things, and enjoy life more along the way without all the “busy doing this”, and “busy doing that”. Slow down! Enjoy the views. Enjoy the times. You don’t even know what you are missing when you are always in a hurry. Next week I will be talking about a “change in place”, and how this is a great way to help clear your mind and look at things differently as well. Slowing it down to enjoy life more. Slowing it down to improve your ability to help strive to survive! Keep moving everybody!
