"Doing what you love is the cornerstone to having abundance in your life. " Wayne Dyer
What's holding you back from doing what you love? Working in the health-care and fitness field I often hear the refrain of, "Once I lose this weight I am going to _______." When I ask the client to fill in the blank, typically it is with a fun activity like horseback riding, dancing, playing tennis, skiing. Today a client shared a personal experience. She took a deliberate, mindful inventory of the time in her life that she felt the most fulfilled, healthy, and active. She decided, rather than postpone the fun until she is at her idea of the "appropriate" weight, to initiate some of the activities that contributed to her well-being 15 years ago. These activities include dance lessons and listening to more songs from the classic rock band, Journey!
So I'm curious: What types of activities did you enjoy at the time you felt most energized and enthusiastic about life? Are you still doing those things today? Would you like to participate in those activities again? What is keeping you from those activities? Do you feel like something is missing because you do not participate in these pursuits? Are you trying to replace that hobby with something less enjoyable or perhaps even less healthy like overeating, isolation, excess alcohol, over-spending? In my personal experience, when we avoid (for whatever reason) the activities that bring us the most joy (for whatever reason) our emotional health is affected...and what affects our emotional health will eventually affect our physical well-being--including weight loss goals.
I have shared, in previous blogs, my general obsession with the sport of tennis. As a youth I took a few lessons and we had an ideal carport/garage door/ backboard that served me well as a partner; but for the most part, my ambition of being a competitive, skillful player was Just a Dream (love Nelly's song for cardio)! My senior year I was fortunate enough to have an encouraging friend, Laura Ferrer, who was on the tennis team. She said they needed an extra player and since I owned a raquet (even a wooden one), I qualified for the team! We had fabulous, short, A-line, pastel tie-dyed tennis skirts--sounds strange but they were perfect for South Florida in 1989. During the tennis season, only once was South Dade High School's lead generous enough to put in the 7th seed (moi'). I got to play doubles with Laura. I still remember the Porco and Abrahm brothers (tennis powerhouses) on the sidelines shaking their heads in disbelief--and I don't think it was because I looked good in the skirt. I believe they were shocked that a person unable to serve a tennis ball could actually qualify for the South Dade tennis team. Regardless of my validity as a tennis player or my wild streak of double faults---essentially the ENTIRE match, I actually felt pretty good about myself. Ahhh, the beauty of youth. I wasn't on the sidelines, I was in the game!
I don't play today as much as I would like for a variety of reasons (o.k. excuses!); none of them particularly valid! That's my problem to solve. I am however glad my daughter is enjoying the sport and I do love to see her hit...(living vicariously through my 11 year old?) The two of us were spectators at the Midwest Open this weekend at Pleasant Valley Tennis and Fitness. Our local club attracts great talent from many states for this yearly event. My friend Nikki, who is a 3.0/3.5 player, entered the Open just to challenge herself. She knew her chances of winning were slim as she played against women with much more experience, one was even a teaching pro. Nikki however wasn't threatened or deterred in the least--I love that confidence! She knew she would grow and thrive more from playing than from watching on the sidelines. Upon viewing a home-video of the match, filmed courtesy her husband, she jokingly shared she appeared to be in SLOOOW MOTIOOON compared to how she felt on the court. When you are on the court you experience a rush of adrenaline that makes you feel like you are in a speeding time capsule of accelerated athleticism. The actual video content was surprising to Nikki...real-life time is different from tennis time! No matter the expertise, it is more fun to play than to sit on the sidelines. As an adult I tend to forget that fact....kids know playing is fun.
Probably the most inspiring and dynamic match I watched was the senior men's division. Their enthusiasm, intellect, and tennis experience made for long volley rally's and gasps of amazement (from the spectators--not the players!) For the players it was all in a day's work. For us on the sidelines we could only be impressed by the shots they generated with barely any running. These players knew their tennis advantage was simply in placing the ball properly--away from their opponent. These gentlemen were not running back and forth on the baseline but rather making solid points with good communication at the net. During the points they looked like kids, but between the points I couldn't help but wonder, how do they move so well? Between points they would often appear to shuffle, stretch, maybe even hobble a bit, but once the ball was in play, youthful exuberance and competitive fire took charge. They could do anything and it was thrilling.
This morning my daughter was singing karaoke--she loves to sing--she misses notes...Randy Jackson might say she is pitchy in parts... but it doesn't matter. All I hear is the exuberance of her happy voice belting out Lady Gaga, Adele, Katy Perry. In her mind she is the diva. When you do what makes you exuberant---what makes you joyful---then in the long-run it doesn't matter if you miss the note, miss the shot, or don't quite shuffle-step to the beat. In the long run you will still be singing, dancing, and playing while others watch you admirably, and perhaps even wistfully, from the sidelines.
I signed up for adult tennis camp today--a life-long dream fulfilled. haha... It's not the Bollettieri Tennis Academy but rather a weekend at UW Whitewater, Warhawk Adult Tennis Camp! It's a big enough thrill for me. Join me if it's your dream too. Thank you for reading!
What's holding you back from doing what you love? Working in the health-care and fitness field I often hear the refrain of, "Once I lose this weight I am going to _______." When I ask the client to fill in the blank, typically it is with a fun activity like horseback riding, dancing, playing tennis, skiing. Today a client shared a personal experience. She took a deliberate, mindful inventory of the time in her life that she felt the most fulfilled, healthy, and active. She decided, rather than postpone the fun until she is at her idea of the "appropriate" weight, to initiate some of the activities that contributed to her well-being 15 years ago. These activities include dance lessons and listening to more songs from the classic rock band, Journey!
So I'm curious: What types of activities did you enjoy at the time you felt most energized and enthusiastic about life? Are you still doing those things today? Would you like to participate in those activities again? What is keeping you from those activities? Do you feel like something is missing because you do not participate in these pursuits? Are you trying to replace that hobby with something less enjoyable or perhaps even less healthy like overeating, isolation, excess alcohol, over-spending? In my personal experience, when we avoid (for whatever reason) the activities that bring us the most joy (for whatever reason) our emotional health is affected...and what affects our emotional health will eventually affect our physical well-being--including weight loss goals.
I have shared, in previous blogs, my general obsession with the sport of tennis. As a youth I took a few lessons and we had an ideal carport/garage door/ backboard that served me well as a partner; but for the most part, my ambition of being a competitive, skillful player was Just a Dream (love Nelly's song for cardio)! My senior year I was fortunate enough to have an encouraging friend, Laura Ferrer, who was on the tennis team. She said they needed an extra player and since I owned a raquet (even a wooden one), I qualified for the team! We had fabulous, short, A-line, pastel tie-dyed tennis skirts--sounds strange but they were perfect for South Florida in 1989. During the tennis season, only once was South Dade High School's lead generous enough to put in the 7th seed (moi'). I got to play doubles with Laura. I still remember the Porco and Abrahm brothers (tennis powerhouses) on the sidelines shaking their heads in disbelief--and I don't think it was because I looked good in the skirt. I believe they were shocked that a person unable to serve a tennis ball could actually qualify for the South Dade tennis team. Regardless of my validity as a tennis player or my wild streak of double faults---essentially the ENTIRE match, I actually felt pretty good about myself. Ahhh, the beauty of youth. I wasn't on the sidelines, I was in the game!
I don't play today as much as I would like for a variety of reasons (o.k. excuses!); none of them particularly valid! That's my problem to solve. I am however glad my daughter is enjoying the sport and I do love to see her hit...(living vicariously through my 11 year old?) The two of us were spectators at the Midwest Open this weekend at Pleasant Valley Tennis and Fitness. Our local club attracts great talent from many states for this yearly event. My friend Nikki, who is a 3.0/3.5 player, entered the Open just to challenge herself. She knew her chances of winning were slim as she played against women with much more experience, one was even a teaching pro. Nikki however wasn't threatened or deterred in the least--I love that confidence! She knew she would grow and thrive more from playing than from watching on the sidelines. Upon viewing a home-video of the match, filmed courtesy her husband, she jokingly shared she appeared to be in SLOOOW MOTIOOON compared to how she felt on the court. When you are on the court you experience a rush of adrenaline that makes you feel like you are in a speeding time capsule of accelerated athleticism. The actual video content was surprising to Nikki...real-life time is different from tennis time! No matter the expertise, it is more fun to play than to sit on the sidelines. As an adult I tend to forget that fact....kids know playing is fun.
Probably the most inspiring and dynamic match I watched was the senior men's division. Their enthusiasm, intellect, and tennis experience made for long volley rally's and gasps of amazement (from the spectators--not the players!) For the players it was all in a day's work. For us on the sidelines we could only be impressed by the shots they generated with barely any running. These players knew their tennis advantage was simply in placing the ball properly--away from their opponent. These gentlemen were not running back and forth on the baseline but rather making solid points with good communication at the net. During the points they looked like kids, but between the points I couldn't help but wonder, how do they move so well? Between points they would often appear to shuffle, stretch, maybe even hobble a bit, but once the ball was in play, youthful exuberance and competitive fire took charge. They could do anything and it was thrilling.
This morning my daughter was singing karaoke--she loves to sing--she misses notes...Randy Jackson might say she is pitchy in parts... but it doesn't matter. All I hear is the exuberance of her happy voice belting out Lady Gaga, Adele, Katy Perry. In her mind she is the diva. When you do what makes you exuberant---what makes you joyful---then in the long-run it doesn't matter if you miss the note, miss the shot, or don't quite shuffle-step to the beat. In the long run you will still be singing, dancing, and playing while others watch you admirably, and perhaps even wistfully, from the sidelines.
I signed up for adult tennis camp today--a life-long dream fulfilled. haha... It's not the Bollettieri Tennis Academy but rather a weekend at UW Whitewater, Warhawk Adult Tennis Camp! It's a big enough thrill for me. Join me if it's your dream too. Thank you for reading!