Motivation Mondays: Four June Highlights

“I am not what happened to me; I am what I choose to become.” Carl Jung

Motivation Mondays: Four June Highlights

“Recovery is a process. I’m a work in progress.” EOF

The month of June has sped by so fast that I have decided to look back at some of the highlights that made it special. This month has been a busy one with writing classes, running meetups, birthdays, and celebrations among friends. Through it all, I’ve wanted more rest, more hydration, and less stress. How is that all going? Let’s say that hydration is winning the race for now. Below are snippets of four events that stole my heart this month. It is not an exhaustive list but a snapshot of some special moments from this month. The photo collage captures each of the four, so take a closer look. What about you? What events in your life stood out for you this month? Which events below stood out for you?

I.
Happy BAA 10K Weekend! – June 21
I hope your Father’s Day weekend was wonderful! I enjoyed my time in Boston. I was there for the 2nd of the 3-part B.A.A Distance Medley; the 10k run. The final part will be in the fall.
It was great to be around other runners in Boston, to connect with people who remembered me, and to say a huge THANK YOU in my heart to all who wished me well as I struggled to cross the finish line in April after suffering a massive health crisis.
Erika was the volunteer crew chief at mile 21 in April, and we got to laugh, hug, and take some photos in the Distance Medley tent.
Boston is always close to my heart; something about it reminds me of London. It was cathartic to be back.
I returned to run the 10k with my doctor’s permission and a desire to overcome the fear that rhabdomyolysis had brought into my running life.
It was a hot and beautiful day, and I took it easy, as getting to full recovery is a process. I’m a work in progress. God is good all the time. How was your weekend?
Have a great week ahead, all!

“There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings.”  Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Motivation Mondays: Four June Highlights

II.
Happy Father’s Day – June 21
Happy Father’s Day to all. Father’s Day always brings back memories of time with my dad and the loss of that relationship when he passed away. My dad never got to meet my children, my own family and friends, or see me grow and evolve through many life challenges and wins. I miss his presence, yet his legacy continues to bless us in so many ways. May God bless every father with health, wisdom, peace, and abundant joy, and fill our homes with love, laughter, and gratitude.
Enjoy the poem below.

Only a Dad by Edgar Guest (1881 –1959)
Only a dad with a tired face,
Coming home from the daily race,
Bringing little of gold or fame
To show how well he has played the game;
But glad in his heart that his own rejoice
To see him come and to hear his voice.

Only a dad with a brood of four,
One of ten million men or more
Plodding along in the daily strife,
Bearing the whips and the scorns of life,
With never a whimper of pain or hate,
For the sake of those who at home await.

Only a dad, neither rich nor proud,
Merely one of the surging crowd
Toiling, striving from day to day,
Facing whatever may come his way,
Silent whenever the harsh condemn,
And bearing it all for the love of them.

Only a dad, but he gives his all
To smooth the way for his children small,
Doing with courage stern and grim,
The deeds that his father did for him.
This is the line that for him I pen:
Only a dad, but the best of men.

More Below!
“The purpose of Yoga is not like going to a gym, where only physical strength and muscle size are increased. But the purpose of Yoga is to ensure ideal physical health and to bring out the full potential of the mind and intellect. Relaxation of the body, mind, and intellect is an important aspect of Yoga.” ” Mata Amritanandamayi

Motivation Mondays: Four June Highlights

“My children, do not look upon yoga merely as a remedy for the body and mind, or as a means to overcome life’s difficulties. Its true goal is the realization of God. Through the practice of yoga, one should strive to make the body a bridge to reach the Divine…” Mata Amritanandamayi

III.

Happy International Yoga Day – June 21
International Yoga Day: Yoga has been a great part of my life since the early 1980s when I was introduced to Yoga and meditation by a yoga instructor at my alma mater, Columbia University. I was curious about how sitting still and relaxing into a space of reflection could bring so much calm into my life. By the same token, doing yoga postures helped me stay limber and improved my circulation and overall health. Plus, it wasn’t painful. I have continued on that beneficial health journey for over four decades. This year, the official theme for the 12th annual International Day of Yoga (June 21, 2026) is “Yoga for Healthy Aging.”

According to the United Nations Organization, Yoga can provide many lifelong benefits. The research gathered over the years often highlights “how Yoga can be adapted for all stages of life to improve mobility, protect cognitive health, build strength, and foster community. Practicing Yoga reminds us that longevity is not just about adding years to life but also adding life to years.”
As part of the celebrations of this year’s theme on Yoga for healthy aging, we are reminded again and again that Yoga can be a valuable practice for healthy aging because “it supports many of the abilities that help people stay active, independent, and engaged as they grow older. By combining gentle movement, stretching, breathing exercises, and mindfulness, Yoga can improve balance, flexibility, strength, and mobility while supporting mental well-being and stress management.”

The benefits mentioned above also support several goals of the World Health Organization’s Decade of Healthy Aging (2021–2030), including “promoting independence, reducing fall risk, enhancing quality of life, and encouraging person-centered approaches to health and well-being.” As we age, it becomes increasingly clear that keeping our bodies and minds limber and well-conditioned are imperative steps for our overall health and survival. May all your efforts be blessed.

“Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.” Fannie Lou Hamer

Motivation Mondays: Four June Highlights

IV.

Honoring Juneteenth – June 19
I became familiar with the celebration and history of Juneteenth when I moved to the USA. Are you familiar with its history? What do you know about Juneteenth? Juneteenth is a federal holiday celebrated on June 19 in commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States. While slavery ended at different times in states across the USA, the name was first used in the 1890s. It refers to June 19, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger ordered the enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in Texas at the end of the American Civil War.
In January 1865, Congress finally proposed the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution to abolish slavery nationwide. By June 1865, almost all enslaved persons had been freed. May all our actions bear beneficial fruit.

Enjoy the poems below.

Official Juneteenth Poem by Kristina Kay:
We Rose
From Africa’s heart, we rose
Already a people, our faces ebon, our bodies lean,
We rose
Skills of art, life, beauty, and family
Crushed by forces we knew nothing of, we rose
Survive we must, we did,
We rose
We rose to be you, we rose to be me,
Above everything expected, we rose
To become the knowledge we never knew,
We rose
Dream, we did
Act we must.

Lineage By Margaret Walker
My grandmothers were strong.
They followed plows and bent to toil.
They moved through fields sowing seed.
They touched earth, and grain grew.
They were full of sturdiness and singing.
My grandmothers were strong.
My grandmothers are full of memories
Smelling of soap and onions and wet clay
With veins rolling roughly over quick hands
They have many clean words to say.
My grandmothers were strong.
Why am I not as they are?
freeishsince1865
Read more? See the Wiki link in the comments.

Positive Motivation Tip: As we near the end of June, let us celebrate and cherish what truly matters to each of us.

PHOTO CREDITS/ATTRIBUTIONS: All Photos:  via Pixabay, Adobe Free Stock, Wikipedia, and My Personal Photos

Ask. Believe. Receive. ©
Elizabeth Obih-Frank
Mirth and Motivation
Positive Kismet