What a great year already … just a week into the New Year and it is awesome!
I expect this to be an indication of the rest of the year. My healthy lifestyle continues to pay great dividends for me in a BIG way. I ended 2016 on a very positive note, and couldn’t imagine how wonderful 2017 is kicking off!
A brief recap of my 2016 end of the year, and a view of some of my scheduled January 2017 healthy lifestyle activities:
In November 2016 I represented AARP and was awarded a Positive Aging Image Award by the Georgia Institute on Aging / Leading Age program, simply because of the way I live my life! Can you even imagine?! I was in great company, with Ambassador Andrew Young receiving the Icon in Positive Aging Award. November was also the month I completed the Atlanta Track Club Triple Peach Road Races. I finished the last of the races, the Half-Marathon on Thanksgiving Day. My first time ever doing a half-marathon. The other two races in the Triple Peach were the 10k Road Race on July 4th, and the 10-Miler on October 23rd.
In December 2016 participated in the Florida State Senior Games in Race Walking and the Cycling Time Trials. My goal was to qualify for each of those events so I could participate in the 2017 National Senior Games to be held in Birmingham, AL in June. Florida was the last qualifying location for the year. I received a Bronze medal in each event. This was my first time competing in either of these sports.
On January 1st – New Year’s Day I did the Atlanta Track Club Resolution Run/Walk … in the rain, no doubt! There were more than 2,500 participants. It was mostly wet, a light drizzle, and the temperature was in the 40’s. But, I was determined!
On January 2, 2017 this wonderful article, written by Laura Berrios, How City Girl Became All About Urging Seniors to Have Fun Outdoors was published in the Atlanta Journal Constitution newspaper, the only major daily newspaper in metro Atlanta.
On January 4th, as a result of the article, I was interviewed by Lin Tatum, host of the hour-long show radio Better Living, which airs in metro Atlanta GA, New Orleans LA, and Phoenix AZ on Saturdays and Sundays.
On January 7th, I checked my steps, to see how many I had logged since I had my Garmin Multisport Smartwatch. This was the one year anniversary of having the watch. I had clocked more than 3.5 million steps, equivalent to more than 1,500 miles … whew! I had no idea! I was just enjoying my walks and how great they made me feel. Plus, on my walks at the park in my neighborhood, I made new friends who walked the trail regularly.
On January 16th, I was summoned to have a team for the Martin Luther King, Jr., 5k Drum Run/Walk, at Piedmont Park in Atlanta. Click here to join the team. Yay! People are signing up! BTW, I walk … I am not a runner!
On January 21st, I plan to participate in the Atlanta Track Club Peachtree City 8k/15k. I plan to do the 8k which is approximately 5 miles. This event is a part of the 2017 Grand Prix Series presented by Piedmont Healthcare, which includes 11 different run/walks around metro Atlanta. I will do as many as I can.
On January 22nd, I am scheduled to participate in the Hot Chocolate 15k Run/Walk. At the time I signed up last year it was before I knew about the Grand Prix, and definitely did not realize they had events just a day apart. The plan is to do them both.
On January 28th, I have signed up to attend the Southern Snow Seekers One-Day Cataloochee Ski trip. It is for beginners (that’s me!) and families. I will probably just be an observer to see it I want to try this ski think again. Many, many years ago I was a member of the Jim Dandy Ski Club in Detroit. I went on a ski trip with them, but could not make it off the bunny hill. I will observe on this trip and see if I will be ready for next year.
I say that to say … we will see how this Healthy Lifestyle thing is working for this 68 year old! Quite frankly, I expect it is working well. However, I do know my limitations. I am very happy with my quest to meet my personal mind, body, spiritual and emotional wellbeing needs. I am on track (pun intended) with my own self-directed Healthy Lifestyle Coaching.
Mindful Meditation is one of the things I practice to help keep me focused and boy has it worked for me. When I reviewed my list of projected goals at the beginning of 2016 and compared them to my 2016 accomplishments, I was right on target. Actually I surpassed many of my goals as a result of being able to stay focused throughout the year. Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying I did not venture off track, but, I was able to get back on track a lot more easily my practicing mindful meditation.
Walking was my primary physical activity for the year. Being gifted with a Garmin Multi-sport Smartwatch, which prior to receiving the gift, had convinced myself I didn’t really need one, ended up being the best gift ever. It really kept me on track! I had it set to regulate itself as I met, or fell short of my daily steps goals. I was able to track my heart rate and my sleeping patterns. It was very eye-opening to track my activities without having to think about what I was doing and then to see the results.
My spiritual and emotional wellbeing are strengthened with my hikes in the woods, my positive thoughts, conversations with, and support from friends, and my feelings of oneness with God. I am able to see the bright side of most things. Practicing ‘positivity’ helped remove or, at the very least, limit my relationships with people who have negative energy.
As I have moved forward into 2017, I can clearly see how my actions have become healthy habits which are now incorporated into my lifestyle. I had to determine my true level of self-commitment and how I saw myself in the big picture … my dreams. It is never too late to have big dreams and to follow them. One of the best benefits of following my dreams led me to discover my passion and my life purpose. As a result, I have surpassed many of my goals and had accomplishments far beyond my dreams. Guess I wasn’t dreaming big enough! I have discovered when you actually believe and walk your talk, you really can achieve your dreams. I absolutely love my Healthy Lifestyle Coaching. Not only is it self-fulfilling, it is so gratifying to see how I am able to help others live their best life.
I have been encouraged to share my Healthy Lifestyle Blueprint on a larger scale because many more people can benefit from them. Because I so love the coaching I do, the results that I see, and the reassurance I get from others, I will have a FREE online video conference to cover the basics of making healthy living a lifestyle to help those who are ready to change their routine 2017 and live their best life ever! This has been brewing for some time now and is the primary reason I am currently in the process of writing my first book, The Joy of Aging. I have started The Joy of Aging Community group. Feel free o visit it and post your joys of aging. We can have joy, no matter the age. Being in good health makes it all that much easier to have a quality of life that automatically results in a life filled with happiness. We can learn how to fine tune our lives and orchestrate it to have harmony as any great symphony orchestra when all the instruments are in place. I am here to be your conductor and help you create the best music for you to love, laugh and dance to like no one is watching!
If you are interested in joining this FREE online video conference coaching session, please RSVP here. The space is limited.
Please feel free to visit my website at anytime to signup for my monthly online newsletters or any of the groups for fun activities, including the upcoming Spring into Life Retreat April 21 – 23, 2017.
Living Life to the Fullest!!! 