Position Yourself and Attack the Hurdles, Part 2

Here is Part 2 of the Position Yourself and Attack the Hurdles Post.  Please read Part 1 beforehand

5) Drive your knee through the hurdle. My coach used to say ATTACK the hurdle. Your knee is a key joint in this because depending on subtle placement of the knee you can really throw off your forward movement. The hips are important as well, but when you are in flight, the knee is what controls the lower leg, which should be whipping over that hurdle as fast as possible. I think of driving my energy through the hurdles. What is my passion? Why is it important that I get through this?  There must be some inner motives that will fuel you to do this part -- when you are young, sometimes its enough to hear your coach or mentor say this, but when you get older and have other hurdles to clear, you need to find and re-visit your own reasons.  "And David encouraged himself in the Lord".. I always think of that scripture, along with Joshua's "Be strong and of great courage".



6) Control your arms. This reminds me of my multitasking mode that many people applaud, but I am starting to see it as a hindrance. Sometimes doing too many things drains you of the energy you need to do the most important and impactful work. For example, it is difficult for me to do my homework when I have been doing creative activities with my son (childcare is expensive people!), running errands, prepping breakfast, lunch, dinner, and trying to make sure he tries to potty every 30 minutes (as we are in training!), wash the rest of the laundry i didnt finish last nite, and answer emails and phone calls when my son has his naptime. Where is the time for exercise, spouse interaction, meditation, um, sleep? And after all this, someone tells me, "Oh I know you have time to do X on Mondays, because you are home all day".... This means saying NO to something and yes, saying "hubby/ dear/ baby/ I need to do X because it is important to me and I want to be ______insert goal here".. Now Pray for me, because I have told my hubby that and he still thinks I have time and it is mismanaged.  Control your arms. You are not an octopus and the slaves have been freed. Please for the sake of your health and your spirit, reduce some of the activities or items on your "to-do" list and work with what is most important to you for that day.  This is what I do when I am overwhelmed. I write on an index card -


" If I get these FIVE things done today, I would be HAPPY". And these things need to be important and impactful.  I use five because usually I am working with one hand. The other hand is wiping, driving, or doing something else, lol.



7) Complete the rotation of your back (trail)leg. Work to finish what you start. Tie up as many loose ends as you can -- the important ones. Follow-up and Follow-through! This is my 2012 Mantra. I have  been guilty of having so many irons in the fire that I drop them all (metaphorically and literally) and I hurt myself in the process. I lose my faith, I lose my drive, and I feel inadequate about what I have left in my hand. If you have multiple gifts and talents, as I am sure you do,  try to balance strengthening them in a way that gives you space to a) do your day job b) give you a creative outlet and c) add some peace and joy to your life -- you know I am all about feeding the joy!



Here is one of my favorite hurdlers - Dayron Robles, warming up. When you are a pro at clearing your hurdles, you have the training and technique down, you are in shape, you have mentally prepared to win, you can actually relax and enjoy the process/journey.. and confound/confuse your enemies! What used to have you up at night and break you out in hives is now a do-able feat, one that you have practiced and seen from all angles.  You can now sing through it and smile when its done.

 Here's a recap of the tips:


Stand tall.
Put that foot forward.
Stay on your toes.


Chin down.
Attack it!
Complete the rotation.
Focus on the finish.


Repeat and you may stun yourself, and others around you -- hey, the world even.


Live joyfully,
Lina

Position Yourself and Attack the Hurdles, Part 1

I used to be a hurdler. Well I would love to say that I still have the technique and moves down, but the speed and rhythm require a lot of practice. Although I loved the idea of running over the hurdles, I always got apprehensive when they were lined up ready for a race. I would get butterflies and think that maybe I didnt have enough oomph, height, energy, training, technique, coaching, etc. to finish the race, much less place well enough to reach the semifinals. And to add to that inner stress, my twin sister was also a hurdler, and was competing in the same event, but for another school.



I found this great Youtube hurdle training video. It gives me such nostalgia about the sport, but what I like most are the tips displayed. They reflect also the way you can approach Life's Hurdles.



1) Stay on your toes. To be flat footed means you are ready to stay where you are (complacency). Opportunities can come and if you are not on your toes, aware, and receptive, you cannot possibly be ready to move forward. Being flat-footed and hurdling also shifts your center of gravity and requires more energy for you to rise upward and over the hurdle. Its hard to glide and attack the hurdle with another one just 3 steps away if your feet are planted.

2) Keep your chin down. I take this to mean several things. Be focused. Be centered and engaged on what you want to accomplish. I also take this to mean be humble and know/acknowledge where your help is coming from. Be appreciative. Be willing to receive, and be thankful and gracious towards others. I know it seems like a lot, but as with all track events, visualization and mental practice are just as important as the physical training. Some people lose the race in their mind before the hurdles are even placed on the track - before the event is scheduled!

3) Stand tall. Again, know who you are and WHOSE you are. Regardless of your childhood, your parental lineage, your "lot" or your "stock" -- God rejoiced and the angels sang when you came into the world. He is your loudest cheerleader. No cowering, no shame, no guilt. Yesterday is gone, the future is not here yet, but you have today's gift -- THE PRESENT.  Hey, I'll be cheerleader #2 if thats ok with you :)

4) Outside foot in front of the hurdle. This skill I think is so important. One foot has to always be ahead of the hurdle, and the trail leg is the one "working" its way over the hurdle. If you don't have a goal beyond the obstacle or the problem, its hard to see your way out of it. The lead leg represents the goal/dream, and the trail leg represents the process. Both legs need to be worked -- all drills are done with both legs, even though you may favor one leg as a lead over the other. You never know when the roles need to be switched. Use this tip to prepare and position yourself. Although you are an employee, you never know when a leadership role will be given to you. Practice all the drills on both mindsets. Nothing you have learned - college degree, trade, externship, it is NOT IN VAIN. There is a reason you have that experience and exposure. God will reveal and show you situations where they can be useful.



Please re-visit the blog tomorrow for the rest of the tips and a recap :)

Blessings,
Lina

Happy 2012 - Find your Joy and ROCK IT!

Happy New Year all :)


We are ten days into 2012 and I am excited to see and do new things this year. There are so many opportunities that I want to take advantage of, both personally and professionally, and I am working to position myself in such a way that I can capitalize on them as they make their appearances. I have finally found the courage to accept what gives me joy even when it appears strange to others (I used to collect rocks, for example) and go full speed in that happiness with very little regard for those who are not influential in my life.

 As the saying goes, "Those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind".  It really is true.


I ask you to think of three things that you definitely want to do this year and commit them to paper and then action. Recent blogs/vlogs have inspired me to be more proactive in doing this step, and I tell you, it does help to keep your goals in close view, and somehow I feel like the "universe shifts" -- i cannot explain it, but since I have been writing and reading my goals daily, things have happened in my daily life to make way for these particular goals, and some re-positioning has already been accomplished to help support my new ventures.

Don't lose the excitement that you had on New Year's Eve. Put your shoes and gloves on, tackle that list of goals, and let's rock 2012!!

Here are a few of my 2012 goals:
- Take more violin lessons
- Publish an article in a scientific journal
- plan, create, and promote more health events - raw food, fitness, nutrition, etc.
- higher grad school GPA
- meet more naturalistas/listos in my city (I started a meetup group to accomplish this)
- Blog and vlog more

What are some of your goals for 2012?
Many blessings,
Lina

Feeding Your Joy

An inspirational message from Louise Dunn

Bliss is the sense of radical joy that comes over us
when we realize that we are deeply blessed.
~ Louise Dunn ~

Sitting with colleagues one day, I was sharing the observation that many
people are perhaps not so much overwhelmed in their lives as they are
chronically under-blissed. This means there is far too little joy and too much
stress; they are burdened with too many responsibilities and cannot find the
time to accomplish everything. My colleagues agreed that this was certainly
true in their own lives at times.

What Feeds Your Joy?

Living in a state of depleted bliss or joy is detrimental to our well-being. It
prevents life-giving “nutrients” such as laughter, deep breathing, new
perspectives and simple relaxation from really feeding and renewing our
lives. An unbalanced focus on work-related projects leaves little time for
anything else. It is as if our world shrinks into one main sphere of activity,
closing off the very people and pleasures that make a life wholly meaningful.

Consider:

 Can you name the things that give you real joy?
 Do you consistently invite and allow these very things into your life?
If not, why not?
 Think of your work as your playground. Does your work schedule
allow for recess?
 Do you give yourself permission to just sit and daydream?

Who Fills Your Cup?

Think of the people who bring energy, light and laughter to you. They may
be friends, family members, neighbors, colleagues or total strangers. Then
give yourself permission to spend more time with them. Stretch yourself
beyond old habits of isolation and over-work and let God lift your spirit
through the presence and company of joyful people

* copyrighted by Riches Within*

Days 1,2,3 - Getting Through Life's Irritations

Hmm. Interesting that my first post for Day 0 of my revelation fast was talking about being prepared. Day 1 came and I was not prepared at all! In a rush to get Kem off to playcare I forgot to bring my water and oranges, which I left in a huge bag on the kitchen counter. So I ended up purchasing some midday when I began to feel lightheaded. I actually was in luck, because the store had a sale on organic navel oranges and I happened to buy the last 2 BAGS : )wooo-hoo! I also bought some coconut water for hubby and Kem - they have been really chugging thru the coconuts lately and I have not had time to compost, so I went a bit conventional and bought some vitacoco and zico water, which seem to both be really tasty. Not sure if its fully raw, but way healthier than Gatorade.

Getting through Day 1 was really difficult. The main things that I found (and that are common to days 1 and 2) are that my tolerance for things is really short. The fact that I was running late, forgot my food, had to buy more food, gas, when I did not really intend to really added to my general annoyance of anything that either was not according to schedule/plan or was just too much effort. Of course, to top it off, I had and argument with hubby at bedtime about charging my cell phone, which seems to always only have one bar of power left on it.. His issue was if there was an emergency and my phone wasn't charged, then that might cause a problem... meanwhile my frustrated fasting self debated - 'well, if its that much of an emergency at this time of night, the person should know that I am home and call me here' ..  Not a good retort to have when you plan to share the same bed to get some zzzzs......


It all blew over in the end, but that was a teaching moment.. Men (at least my man) want to also be seen as helpful. So telling me to charge my phone right before bed is something that he thought was a good thing to do. My desire to wait till morning because I was on Day 1 of my fast and I want to get some sleep.. that was not a good enough answer because, well, I didn't acknowledge the "good deed" he attempted to do, and in my frustration had a not so compromising tone..

Day 2 was a little better - I had left the oranges I purchased in my car's storage bin so that I had them when i got to school, but I wasnt counting on them being frozen, lol.. I decided to try and take as many classes towards the Bikram yoga challenge at my local studio (60 classes in 12 wks) and of course I only have three weeks left... I ended up doing two classes on Day 2, which was tiring, but really refreshing. I went to sleep very early -- not too long after we put Kem to bed, and woke up 9 hours later.. Kem did not wake up in the middle of the night and climb into bed with us?!!  THIS WAS HUGE! Getting more than 8 hrs of sleep at home with no interruptions is something I have not achieved in over two years :( I hope it gets better... I did have a bit of a cheat, tasting some of Kem's food before feeding him to make sure it wasn't hot.. but I think I had a good day. I definitely need to drink more water. I am feeling dehydration setting in, particularly from the yoga classes.

Day 3 was excellent :) Still annoyed by minor things... being cut off on the road, etc. But not acting on them or letting them get to me. I woke up extra early, make 2 dinners for Kem and hubby, got him ready for playcare, and left ON TIME!  Was able to drop him off, hit a Hot Yoga class right after, one after work and the evening Yin Yoga, which was amazing! I actually fell asleep in Savasana and the lady cleaning the studio came to wake me 15 min after the class was over, lol! Definitely a sleep inducer. I struggled to stay awake for the drive home, then felt a little energized, so I drank some coconut water and ate 4 almonds.. a little detraction from the oranges (of which I ate 3 on the home trip), but I needed a few more minerals before I tried to go to sleep.

And so that ends Days 1,2,3. I will end with some takeaway points:
Embrace: patience, love,  and nature
Release: anger, frustration, annoyance

Meditation: Today's worst day for you is someone else's best day.

Blessings,
Lina

Day 0 - Revelation Fast: Prepare to be Fed

This is Day 0 of my Revelation Fast.



 I am calling it a Revelation Fast because I am seeking many things and I also have many things to shed and purge, both emotionally and physically.  Today is Day 0 - I am using it get myself ready to fast and be fed in ways other than with food.

I will be eating on this fast, however --  fruit and veggie juices, green smoothies, and the occasional addition of coconut meat to stay on an even keel.  In the spirit of several bloggers who have fasted recently (Jayna and Raw Mocha Angel), I have some major goals for this fast, but I will iterate them after Day 3 -- its the first 3 days that are the biggest hump to get over.

Meanwhile, I hope to post daily (yes, I know you've heard that before) but indeed this is part of my revelation fast -- to post daily, even if short excerpts about how I am doing with things.

So I am planning to do an orange fast for the next 48hrs, then add in green smoothies on Day 3. I am getting myself ready to go beyond 10 days for this fast, so I have several preparations I need to make, particularly in terms of planning my day/routine.

a) going to bed early is going to be even more important.
b) once I wake up in the morning, I need to be proactive and alert.
c) planning meals and being conscious of my actions, especially in auto-pilot situations (driving, for example) will be worked on.
d) keep some classical music onhand for meditation.


I always enjoy these fasts, because I end up really accomplishing quite a bit over the time that I spend in them. my focus is so much more intense.

Well, stay tuned for Day 1 -- oranges and a longer mamacita day for me and my son :)

Today's meditation is from Althea of the RawMocha Angel -- (go preorder her upcoming book)!
'Love yourself and embrace your healing'

Blessings and Joy,
Lina

Inspiring Quotes ; Preparation

2011 is running quickly already and I know some of you have already abandoned your resolutions -- there are still 9 months to go --- perfect timing to incubate and birth your dreams for 2011.

What is on your heart ?
What has been burning in your belly for days, weeks, months, years, that you have not latched onto and taken steps toward?
Where is the joy in your life? Can you touch, taste, see, smell, hear it?

This blog was created to inspire. It IS meant to inspire you. Although I have many angles in which to push this motive, I will for now, choose words.

 All you need is a SPARK -- and the fire can be lit :)


Prepare to find, meet, and BE the SPARK! Here are some great quotes to get you going!

Miguel De Cervantes
To be prepared is half the victory.

 

Henry Ford
Before everything else, getting ready is the secret to success.

 

Johnny Carson
Talent alone won't make you a success. Neither will being in the right place at the right time, unless you are ready. The most important question is: 'Are your ready?' 

 

Eleanor Roosevelt
One thing life taught me -- if you are interested, you never have to look for new interests. They come to you.

 

Louis Pasteur
Luck favors the mind that is prepared.