The Road To Wellness

Nice to see you! Wishing you a healthy day!

As the holidays approach, it’s more important than ever to plan now to relax. Do it now before commitments distract you. Think of it as a reward. Plan your Myrtle Beach golf vacation as a treat for getting everything done, getting the presents bought and wrapped, and getting along with your odious mother-in-law.

Doing something so radically different like taking advantage of a Myrtle Beach golf vacation is the perfect way to relax. Chances are it is a total about face from your usual routine. That of itself, makes it both a physical and mental getaway. Indeed, that should be your goal: to do something so different from the usual stresses. It both challenges and relaxes your mind and body in new and different ways. Was it Will Rogers that said the best relaxation is a change of work?

There’s an added benefit of a vacation to golf Myrtle Beach–the warmth and sun. I don’t mind winter particularly, but my husband does. More and more I’m noticing how the cold, gloomy days of winter take a toll. He is tense and depressed. I of course, hate to see him unhappy. If a bit of sunshine will make him happy, it is well worth it. Who knows? Maybe I can break 90.

Tweet This Post

I was talking to a friend of mine the other day about her vacation plans. She’s off to Las Vegas tomorrow to have fun, hit the casinos, and maybe a few Vegas shows. She was so excited.

It got me thinking, though I’ve never been to Las Vegas, what would I do? I’ve never gambled, but I suppose being in the place that made slot machine a household word, one would have to give it a go. I’d probably opt for smaller casino. First, I’d people watch. Living in small town Minnesota, one misses out on what the other half does. Since I’ve been writing, my sense of observation has grown more acute. With so many people, from so many different parts of the country–and the world–there would be so many stories to observe. So, yes, definitely some people watching.

Of course, one has to make the obligatory visits to the Mirage and other attractions. I expect the sensory overload would be tremendous. Still, it’ll make for some good pictures and a nice opportunity to enjoy a cocktail in a place with so much money. I’d have to visit the Fremont Street Experience to get the true feel of the place.

The outdoors and the desert intrigues me. Though Las Vegas is the archetypal oasis, I’d want to explore the surrounding area. The Las Vegas Springs Preserve would be on my list. I’d also certainly want to see the Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs. An opportunity to hike in truly wild lands would be a fantastic opportunity for me. It would certainly be a contrast to the Strip. Certainly, this would be a chance to see a true oasis in the Mojave Desert.

My background is in the outdoors. I’d be drawn to the unique features of this wild landscape such as the Joshua tree. Of course, I’d be planning this visit in the fall rather than the blistering hot summer. I’d want a chance to experience the wide open spaces of this environment. No visit would be complete without a visit to a ghost town. Being here would help me understand the true harshness of this challenging environment. It’d be a memory that I’d take home with me and cherish.

So, with all this daydreaming, I come away with my goal this week:

Weekly Goal: Plan a vacation

Tweet This Post

~Sidney J. Harris

Women are the original multi-taskers. It’s probably one thing we do better than men. We have many different roles, wear many different hats. We are spouses, daughters, mothers, friends, and sisters. We are lovers, co-workers, employees, and parishioners.Some would argue we are also housekeepers, short-order cooks, nannies, and babysitters too.

For all our roles and the hats we wear, we pull from one spring of energy. That energy must fuel all our tasks and duties. Unfortunately, sometimes the demand on our resources can be overwhelming. We fight with our natural desire to nuture and please. Instead of walking away when the spring has been tapped, we reach inside to somehow find more energy. We push ourselves beyond our limits. With more demands, the cycle deepens.

It’s at times like these that you must achieve balance with your primary role, your Self. When the demands come hot and furious, when the deadlines loom larger and larger, that is precisely the time you need to set back. Reassess your resources. Set boundaries for your time. Respect them and seek the respect of others for them.

It can be hard to say no. We naturally want to avoid unpleasantness. Telling someone that you cannot do something for them is not easy to do. It’s creating tension by trying to relieve tension. No is not a bad word.

Saying no is showing respect for yourself. You know your limits. You probably know too well the consequences of broaching them. However, turning inward to give yourself that precious time to relax and recharge is a gift. It’s a gift to yourself–and maybe your sanity too. It’s a gift to the other person. You have enough respect for them that you want to at your best to fulfill their needs and wants. You respect yourself enough to do what it takes to keep the spring flowing.

If you are questioning whether or not you could have done better, it’s time. If you are feeling guilty because you know it wasn’t your best effort, it’s time.It’s time to take back your time and use it for you. It’s time to relax.

Photo by axel-d

Tweet This Post

A great thing happened last week–we were on a much-needed vacation. Door County, Wisconsin was our destination. It’s a quiet, idyllic place that until this year, had poor cell coverage. That’s something of a blessing if you truly want to get away.

During our vacation, we walked and biked a great deal. The park we camped at had plenty of trails. We took the time to do a lot of geocaching and hiking. Some of the hikes were challenging. I don’t mind saying that I traveled outside of my comfort zone more than once. My husband is an excellent coach.

How much walking? Just about every single day during our 10-day stay, we logged 10,000+ steps. Many days were over 13,000 steps. There was even an exhausting 18,000-step day. We both felt great. I may even have lost a pound or two. With such momentum behind us, our goal now is to keep it up. Our bodies are accustomed to the pace. It’s only a matter of taking those steps.

That’s the great thing about a vacation. You forget the doubts holding you back. Perhaps you take some chances like I did, doing a bit of rock climbing. If you can build the foundation, run with it. Keep up the pace.

Tweet This Post

First there was vacation. This was my first opportunity to see my sisters in six months, some over a year. Of course, being as it was vacation and all, I fell off the food wagon, but I did stay active, logging upwards of 15,000+ steps a day with bike riding not included. I did well there and the damage was minimal.

Then there were the house guests. I guess I’m a little weird in that I have my set schedule and I want to stick too it. Hard to do with guests with their own agendas and kids to boot. Oh, well.

I’m hoping that after the holiday I can bet back on track. I so don’t want to lose the nice muscle definition I’ve gained. I do know that I have work to do, lots of cardio to record. No excuses. I have a club membership if the weather gets too hot. There are free weights and an exercise ball at home.

Those of you who are boaters may relate. Once that boat gets on the water, all you want to do is go out, enjoy the water. There’s swimming now that it’s warmer, but there are also margaritas and dining out. Challenges, to be sure! Here’s where I have to rein things in and use that strong will power of mine. Wish me luck.

Tweet This Post