REFLECTIONS: Happy New Year! #stayhealthy

“Try a thing you haven’t done three times. Once, to get over the fear of doing it. Twice, to learn how to do it. And a third time, to figure out whether you like it or not.” Virgil Garnett Thomson

REFLECTIONS: Happy New Year! #stayhealthy

REFLECTIONS: Happy New Year! #stayhealthy

HAPPY NEW YEAR! – Have you moved on to focus on plans for 2022 with nary a thought about the year that ended? It would be wise to spend a little time reflecting on the past as we plan for the present. As the old African saying goes, “He who doesn’t know where he is going should at least remember where he came from.” Why is this important? Because the past can influence the present and shape the future. That said, we are co-creators of our lives, and taking actions that uplift us can make a huge difference. Last year, I took an extended break from blogging to focus on work, family, and my overall well-being. There were a lot of demands on my time and energy as I continued to manage several social media groups I created and belong to, as well as focus on my training/running plans for the year.

What Did You Do in 2021? I had wanted to run the NYC marathon for many years but could never find the time or make the necessary training commitment. When my mother passed away in 2019, I decided that it was time to honor a dream I held dear and to do it in her honor as well. Covid19 derailed my plans in 2020, and so when NYRR reached out in April 2021, inviting me back to train for the marathon, I jumped at the chance. Now, let me say that I was never a professional runner or a college star. I have always been athletic and used to run for leisure in college and grad school, but I have always been an average athlete with aspirations to achieve personal goals.

What’s the Story? After getting married in 1992, I set my running aside to raise my twins. So, getting back to running was a rekindling of an old relationship with many changes with age and time. Nevertheless, I stayed with the pretty demanding training last year, and I completed three marathons as a newbie marathoner. My first was the Boston Marathon, then the New York marathon, and finally the Philadelphia marathon. My three medals are in the 1st collage photos below. Amazing right? And humbling. If I could do it, so can you. I was focused, disciplined, mentally and physically ready to run my first marathon (Boston). My goal was to finish, and with each marathon, I learned something new about myself. The training was rigorous, but I stuck to it.

Are You Ready for Change? I am acutely aware that anything that matters takes time and effort. We must commit to it and then do it over and over again. We will fall, fail, and even get furious, but we must get up and get back on track daily. There is no magic bullet, especially if you want to make a lifestyle change. Could you do it? Are you ready for a life-affirming shift in 2022? Decide and then do it.

According to the folks at my favorite running magazine, Runner’s World, below are some excellent tips to keep in mind if part of your staying healthy plan includes running. Give it a try. You might develop a love for the sport or, like me, rekindle an old relationship you had with it.
Coach Jess: 22 Running Do’s and Don’ts for 2022
✅DO track your mileage. Don’t obsess over your watch.
✅DO sign up for a race that scares you. Don’t sign up for something just because everyone else is doing races.
✅DO schedule your runs ahead to increase the odds of getting out the door. Don’t beat yourself up if other obligations interfere with your run plans.
✅DO prioritize rest, fuel, mobility, and recovery. Don’t count calories.
✅DO find running buddies and organize runs with friends. Don’t be afraid of solo runs—they’re a fantastic time to process thoughts, feelings, and emotions!
✅Make sure to have proper, feel-good running shoes that fit your feet. Don’t buy the latest “the” shoes because you see them on fast friends or social media.
✅DO support others’ accomplishments and goals, and let that be inspiration and fuel to continue to work hard on your own running goals. Don’t waste time or energy comparing yourself to others.
✅DO play some pump-up jams that excite you and get you excited to run. Don’t allow a negative attitude to make you think about why you’re dreading it.
✅DO run even if you don’t feel like it. Don’t run when you’re injured.
✅DO use social media as a healthy tool to stay connected to other runners. Don’t get caught up in endless scrolling and wasting precious time.
✅DO incorporate speed work. Don’t increase your intensity too quickly.
✅Experiment with various fueling options in your long run until you find what works best for you. Don’t do this on race day.
✅DO listen to podcasts that motivate you while on the run. DON’T entirely block your hearing, especially at night!
✅DO smile at passing runners — who know what kind of day they’re having! Don’t run in the bike lane.
✅DO visualize success before your workouts and on race day. Don’t stress about performance and the elements beyond your control.
✅DO throw on a hat if there’s a chance of rain. Don’t sit back down on the couch like a wimp if you see raindrops. (Lightning is a different story)
✅DO take 5 minutes to cool down and stretch after a run properly. Don’t go straight to lounging after a long run, then wonder why everything hurts later in the day.
✅DO a mile time trial just for the fun of it. Don’t drink a beer between each lap! (But if you must do a beer mile, good luck, and don’t say I didn’t warn you!)
✅DO incorporate regular strength training into your training.❌ DON’T lift before a running workout.
✅DO keep a running journal. Don’t toss it altogether if you’ve skipped a few days! Just get back at it.
✅DO look ahead to new opportunities. Don’t spend time comparing yourself to a younger you. Eyes ahead!
✅DO challenge yourself and set new goals to accomplish this year. Don’t take yourself too seriously and lose the joy of running!

“Always keep a positive attitude towards life. Optimism is a great tool to eliminate agony from life” Amma.

REFLECTIONS: Happy New Year! #stayhealthy

REFLECTIONS: Happy New Year! #stayhealthy

What Did You Do To Start 2022? For starters, like so many people around the world, I stayed up to welcome the new year with family and watched the proverbial ball drop at Times Square. I did it from the comfort of my living room. I thanked my Creator for another year of life and celebrated the new day by dancing and thanking God. Yes, I did. At 8:30 am, I was back at my remote job doing vital work to help stem the spread of Covid19, and for that, I am also very grateful.

What Else Did You Do? Later in the day, I did a quick stop at Whole Foods to get a few of the missing food items on my lucky food list below. I prepared a beans dish and enjoyed the evening eating and relaxing. I don’t eat meat, so I skipped the pork but, you know, it’s all good. These foods are intentional, and we can affirm the new year in any way we see fit. Just develop a positive outlook on life and trust that your decisions will become more apparent and robust. Below are 10 Lucky Foods to eat in the New Year. It’s never too late to enjoy them, so get some.
• Black-eyed beans or Lentils for prosperity
• Buttered bread for nourishment (Ireland)
• 12 Grapes/Raisins before midnight (New Year’s Eve) for great fortune (Spain)
• Greens like Spinach, Kale, and Collards remind us of green money and health and drive away evil spirits
• Pork as a way to stay focused in moving forward with our goals and desires.
• Long Noodles offer longevity, and eating an unbroken long noodle is extra luck. (Asia)
• Cornbread – the sweet, sunny, yellow, satisfying food augurs prosperity on all fronts.
• Round Foods – desserts, citrus fruits, wave off the old and welcome the new into our sunny lives
• Whole Fish on New Year’s Day is a sign of great prosperity. Fish is a prosperous symbol in Asia
• Chocolate is always great as a digestive and a luxury treat, signifying a year of pampering.

What Will You Do in 2022? One thing is clear, I will continue my running training, and I’m signed up to run the NYC marathon this year with Team for Kids. (more on that later). That said, I still believe that five essential areas of life help keep us balanced, focused, and content. As I’ve shared in a previous post, my five “areas of life” this year will include
FAMILY: Our family is essential to the journey we take, and we return to them, again and again, for validation and victory. Remember that the word family includes more than the traditional definition of family. It consists of supportive configurations we lean on for strength and assistance.
FRIENDS: An African proverb says, “He who has wealth has friends, but he who has true friends has divine and abundant wealth.” So thank them and show you care. Be a true friend back. Pay it forward and make some new ones too.
FAITH: Whatever our faith, there is much to be celebrated and thankful for. If you have a faithful practice that brings peace and inspiration into your life, shore it up by visualizing the outcomes you expect and then channel your energy into completing the tasks that will make your goals a reality.
FOCUS: If you slip up, refocus. It is essential to develop clarity about what we wish to accomplish and why. Behind every disappointment is an opportunity for renewed effort and phenomenal success. Don’t give up; rein in the negative mental backtalk, and fix your eyes on the price.
FUN: Motivation without mirth is pointless. Remember to factor in some fun time this year as it will guide you to your muse and lead you to all those fantastic places where rewards await you, just like you dreamed.

The details for Motivation Mondays are below. Join in! The themes for JAN 2022 – DEC 2021 are:
JAN
01/01 – New Year’s Day, 05 Nat’l. Screenwriters Day, 06 Epiphany
01/09 – 11 Human Trafficking Awareness Day, 13 iHeartRadio Awards, 14 Orthodox New Year,
01/16 – 16 Religious Freedom Day, 17 Martin Luther King Jr Day, 17 Winnie The Pooh Day, 21 Nat’l. Hug Day
01/23 – 24 Int’l. Day of Education, 27 Commemoration Victims of the Holocaust,
01/30 – 31 Grammy Awards
National Mentoring Month, National Glaucoma Awareness, Cervical Health Awareness Month, National Blood Donor Month, Birth Defects Prevention Month, National Human Trafficking Prevention, National Stalking Awareness Month

DEC
12/01 – World AIDS Day, 11/28-12/06 Hanukkah contd, 03 International Day Of Persons With Disabilities,
12/05 – 05 International Volunteer Day, 07 National Pearl Harbor Remembrance, 10 Human Rights Day/Week
12/12 – 12 International Day of Neutrality, 15 Bill of Rights Day, 17 Wright Brothers Day
12/19 – 21 Start of Winter (Winter Solstice), 23 50th Anniversary Of National Cancer Act Of 1971, 25 Christmas Day
12/26 – 26-01 Kwanzaa
Universal Human Rights Month, Safe Toys and Gifts Month, National Impaired Driving Prevention

Continued Below
New Year’s Day. A fresh start. A new chapter in life is waiting to be written. New questions to be asked, embraced, and loved. Answers to be discovered and then lived in this transformative year of delight and self-discovery. Today, carve out a quiet interlude for yourself in which to dream, pen in hand. Only dreams give birth to change. Sarah Ban Breathnach

REFLECTIONS: Happy New Year! #stayhealthy

REFLECTIONS: Happy New Year! #stayhealthy

What More Can We Do? Every year, I send these blessings to everyone because they have helped me focus on the positive. I am offering all of you twelve words as gifts/affirmations; you may focus on one to write/share/meditate on for each month of the year or design an affirmation practice of your own to help you imbibe the word and its meaning. I hope you enjoy them. For 2022, I am sending the following 12 gifts/blessings/wishes to each of you:

♥ Health
♥ Happiness
♥ Hope
♥ Abundance
♥ Grace
♥ Peace & Love
♥ Wisdom
♥ Friendship
♥ Goodwill
♥ Success
♥ Adventure
♥ Divine Protection
You may also create your wish list of twelve and try the suggested tips above. What are you planning to do on the first day of 2022? And the rest of the year? Make it an auspicious beginning. I wish you the best year ever! Do share? Thank you! 🙂 ♥Happy New Year! 🙂

Any Zen Antics stories via 

Positive Motivation Tip: New Year, New You. Take time to reflect and celebrate

Motivation Mondays series is open to anyone who wishes to share a motivational quote, photo, personal challenge, or a post that encourages others to start the week on an upbeat note.
Basic Instructions: Each week, I will have a motivational word to help us create a response. (See listed terms for the months above/below)
Email address: You may email or share your post as a comment, and I will add it to the round-up of related posts. email it to: contact(@)mirthandmotivation(.)com
Category tag: – Share your post using Motivation Mondays
Twitter hashtag: – Use this on Twitter #MotvnM
Dedicated Page: There is a dedicated page for Motivation Mondays. It has the exact instructions and will include other helpful tools and a link to the round-up
Facebook Page: MotivationOnMondays Join our page and add your post or any motivational piece you think will be helpful to others.
Facebook Community: We have a Facebook community forum to compliment the page. It serves as another way to share uplifting posts and thoughts. Please join in and add your voice.
Badge: – I created a fun badge using PicMonkey’s free photo editing tools. You can create your own, use WordPress’s integrated tool on your blog, or you are welcome to use mine. (see dedicated page)
Tag: – Motivation Mondays
Hashtag: – #MotvnM

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  PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos –Happy New Year photos from Pixabay or via  WIKIPEDIA

  Until Next Time…
  Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
  Elizabeth Obih-Frank
  Mirth and Motivation
  Positive Kismet