Cool August mornings

Cool August mornings in Sacramento. What a surprise! The cool breezes and cold air are perfect for walks. I enjoy being outdoors in perfect weather. I’m comfortable, energized, and inspired. What could be more fabulous!

Actually I’m wondering if our produce is enjoying this beautiful weather as much as I am. While I’m basking in comfort, the figs aren’t ripening and the tomatoes are a little more pale than usual.

Could a little discomfort actually be good for growth? I can work away in the comfort of my office while my legs get stiff and my neck is tight. If I really want to enjoy myself I’ll have a crunchy sweet or salty snack and clog my arteries while I’m at it. But is all of this comfort creating personal growth and long-term health?

Now walking in perfect weather has it’s perks and the health benefits are there. Actually getting a little too warm, breaking a sweat, or taking myself a little farther than I would like to go builds stamina and character. A little stress is healthy (eustress) while too much at once is not (distress.) So I am really working on having balance in my life with more frequent smaller and healthier meals and exercise to build myself up rather than stressing out.  Understanding my values and what is really important to me will help me push myself in the right direction.  

60 minutes walking

Take a Picture in Your Mind

Wind in my face, movement, action, and growth. Today I took a picture in my mind of a tall tree, trees lining a path, and green grass. Then I looked at the shadows on the sidewalk. The leaves seemed to be taking a walk with me. The leaves rustled on the branches, and I realized I needed to take some videos in my mind. After my walk the pictures are still in my mind although not as clear, but the feeling of freedom and action are still with me. It helps to look at the picture shortly after you take it and then revisit the pleasant moments in meditations and quiet moments.

Take a picture in your mind and you will always have it with you. Take pleasant pictures to remember the good things in life and enhance your optimism. Go new places and look through new eyes. You can go to the same place many times and find something unique and different every time.

"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes."
— Marcel Proust

Take pictures of the little things you do to improve your memory. One reason we don’t remember things is that we are not really there in the moment. Stress, things to do, and thinking about tomorrow will distract us from taking a picture in the moment. If you can picture it, you can usually remember it. The next time you go for a walk, notice something new. When you solve a problem or look for a new career, look for things you have never noticed. Look through "new eyes" for opportunities you have yet to discover.

40 minutes walking