If Sunday is supposed to be a day of rest, why do I still have so much to do?
My family still expects dinner, usually a big one (roast beef in the crockpot makes it easier, especially if I cook up the potatoes, mash 'em, and stick them in another crockpot on warm, and even make the gravy and put it in a small crockpot). But it still takes time.
Today my kitchen is still torn up, so my husband grilled some steaks on the BBQ grill (it's too cold to grill, but when you don't have a stove/oven hooked up, the choices for a nice Sunday dinner are limited.
My family and I watched three movies today. Usually we'll go weeks without watching one, but we had a regular movie-lalapalooza today. Not many steps, but a lot of relaxation time watching silly movies.
The Incredible Mr. Limpet (man wishing he could be a fish--and becoming one). Them (giant ants, if you must know). And Quigley Down Under. I love Crazy Cora. She's so flawed and Quigley (Tom Selleck) is so gentle with her, even when she's driving him nuts. It's a sweet love story.
Today I caught my breath, in between the last week of business (construction and Eagle Court coming up) and the next week of business (a funeral, floor going in, and a writers' conference).
Sometimes the breaths we take are emotional ones. Today I breathed deeply of family togetherness.
© Copyright 2010 Heather Horrocks
February 10, 2010
BABY STEP 38 - Living Waters (Feb 7)
How much water did you drink today? I’ve started fixing myself tasty drinks so that I’m drinking more and enjoying it more than plain ‘ole water.
Plain ‘ole water.
I remember living in Kuwait when I was a teen. We had water tanks on top of our flat roofs. A water truck would bring water to the house and pump it up into the tank on the house.
And when we ran the water, it would run hot to begin with. If we wanted cold water, we had to wait a few moments.
And I remember when I was a young child, in South America, when we showered in cold water. I remember when we finally got hot water--and I would still end my shower with cold water because it was so refreshing in the South American heat.
And I remember days when I thought, during the entire working day, that I ought to go fill my big drinking mug--but I didn't. I was starving my body of water.
Remember, my body--and yours--is in large part water. We need to replenish that water, so the water that's already in there can do its job--some of which is to carry toxins out of the body. We want to get rid of toxins and bring in the life-bringing moisture of water.
So the next time you go to a restaurant, order water. Your body will thank you. And it might even become a healthy habit.
Just like that.
Got water?
© Copyright 2010 Heather Horrocks
Plain ‘ole water.
I remember living in Kuwait when I was a teen. We had water tanks on top of our flat roofs. A water truck would bring water to the house and pump it up into the tank on the house.
And when we ran the water, it would run hot to begin with. If we wanted cold water, we had to wait a few moments.
And I remember when I was a young child, in South America, when we showered in cold water. I remember when we finally got hot water--and I would still end my shower with cold water because it was so refreshing in the South American heat.
And I remember days when I thought, during the entire working day, that I ought to go fill my big drinking mug--but I didn't. I was starving my body of water.
Remember, my body--and yours--is in large part water. We need to replenish that water, so the water that's already in there can do its job--some of which is to carry toxins out of the body. We want to get rid of toxins and bring in the life-bringing moisture of water.
So the next time you go to a restaurant, order water. Your body will thank you. And it might even become a healthy habit.
Just like that.
Got water?
© Copyright 2010 Heather Horrocks
BABY STEP 37 - Soaring with Eagles (Feb 6)
Yup. Today was my son Ryan's Eagle Court of Honor. Which meant that the entire morning and up until three o'clock I was running around like the proverbial chicken with its head cut off.
And I got another 6500 steps for the day. Running errands adds up.
My challenge is on those days when I sit all day at the computer. On those days, how can I get in extra steps? How to I motivate myself out the door to walk for thirty minutes?
Ryan earned his Eagle, which is an awesome achievement. He worked for several years, earning different ranks and merit badges. And, finally, he received the prize.
It might take us a few years to reach our final prize, but I believe by the end of this year we will much, much closer to the prize than when the year began.
Are you with me? Is this the year of change for you, too?
Are you getting you baseline? Have you gone into the corner and opened up your chest? Have you taken a deep breath or two or three? Have you ordered your pedometer? if not, why not today?
We've put enough things off until tomorrow.
Why not today?
If I were to live a healthy life *today*, what would that look like?
If I were to walk 5000 steps a day for six months, how would that affect my body shape?
If I were to step out in faith, trustig that God *will* show me what I need to know and change about myself, and trusting He will send me the courage to make the changes if I but ask, what miracles could happen this year?
If I just do each day what is needful for that day.
© Copyright 2010 Heather Horrocks
And I got another 6500 steps for the day. Running errands adds up.
My challenge is on those days when I sit all day at the computer. On those days, how can I get in extra steps? How to I motivate myself out the door to walk for thirty minutes?
Ryan earned his Eagle, which is an awesome achievement. He worked for several years, earning different ranks and merit badges. And, finally, he received the prize.
It might take us a few years to reach our final prize, but I believe by the end of this year we will much, much closer to the prize than when the year began.
Are you with me? Is this the year of change for you, too?
Are you getting you baseline? Have you gone into the corner and opened up your chest? Have you taken a deep breath or two or three? Have you ordered your pedometer? if not, why not today?
We've put enough things off until tomorrow.
Why not today?
If I were to live a healthy life *today*, what would that look like?
If I were to walk 5000 steps a day for six months, how would that affect my body shape?
If I were to step out in faith, trustig that God *will* show me what I need to know and change about myself, and trusting He will send me the courage to make the changes if I but ask, what miracles could happen this year?
If I just do each day what is needful for that day.
© Copyright 2010 Heather Horrocks
BABY STEP 36 - Shop ‘til you drop (Feb 5)
This baseline stuff is interesting.
Today, my husband and I went shopping with our son, who will be leaving for Pittsburgh in March. We shopped for about five hours.
And, amazingly, all that shopping added up to nearlly 7000 steps for the day!
`The moral of the story? Shop 'til you drop ... pounds, that is!
Just kidding. I don't want to shop all day, but it's nice that I got all those steps today.
It makes me wonder how many steps we walked the lsat time we went to Disneyland. Next time, I'll take my pedometer with me and find out. But we can't spend all our days in Disneyland, either.
Nope, we reside right here in real life. What is there about real life that has got us walking so few steps and eating so much chocolate and sugary treats?
I'm now 36 days without caffeinated Pepsi. Most of the time, I'm okay with that. Occasionally, like today when someone else is drinking one, I wish I had one. Then I go grab a water and one of those little Crystal Light individual flavor packets and that helps. (My favorite is the orange flavor.)
I've started buying my Crystal Light at Wal-Mart. The regular is about $3, compared to nearly $5 at other stores, and the Wal-Mart generic is only $2.
Late r in the year, I may find there's something negative about the Crystal Light mixes, but for now it's helping me break the caffeine habit.
Today is a weird kind of day. It's getting warmer here in Salt Lake (actually Taylorsville, a suburb of Salt lake) which is nice. That's why I went walking a few days ago, because the weather was finally warm enough to go out. I still needed gloves though.
I guess that's why some people walk the malls. You get all the steps of shopping in, without having to spend any money.
So maybe ... window shop 'til you drop.
Or something.
© Copyright 2010 Heather Horrocks
Today, my husband and I went shopping with our son, who will be leaving for Pittsburgh in March. We shopped for about five hours.
And, amazingly, all that shopping added up to nearlly 7000 steps for the day!
`The moral of the story? Shop 'til you drop ... pounds, that is!
Just kidding. I don't want to shop all day, but it's nice that I got all those steps today.
It makes me wonder how many steps we walked the lsat time we went to Disneyland. Next time, I'll take my pedometer with me and find out. But we can't spend all our days in Disneyland, either.
Nope, we reside right here in real life. What is there about real life that has got us walking so few steps and eating so much chocolate and sugary treats?
I'm now 36 days without caffeinated Pepsi. Most of the time, I'm okay with that. Occasionally, like today when someone else is drinking one, I wish I had one. Then I go grab a water and one of those little Crystal Light individual flavor packets and that helps. (My favorite is the orange flavor.)
I've started buying my Crystal Light at Wal-Mart. The regular is about $3, compared to nearly $5 at other stores, and the Wal-Mart generic is only $2.
Late r in the year, I may find there's something negative about the Crystal Light mixes, but for now it's helping me break the caffeine habit.
Today is a weird kind of day. It's getting warmer here in Salt Lake (actually Taylorsville, a suburb of Salt lake) which is nice. That's why I went walking a few days ago, because the weather was finally warm enough to go out. I still needed gloves though.
I guess that's why some people walk the malls. You get all the steps of shopping in, without having to spend any money.
So maybe ... window shop 'til you drop.
Or something.
© Copyright 2010 Heather Horrocks
BABY STEP 35 - Double Trouble (Feb 4)
Interesting. I found my pedometer and today I took off the clip and hung it on the lanyard from my waist (it seemed too big around my neck).
And this time I didn't lose it.
But, since it was swinging around on the lanyard, I bumped one of the buttons and deleted the number of steps.
Okay. Tomorrow, I'll try clipping it to my waistband where I don't bump the buttons, and also clip the lanyard on my waistband so if the clip falls off, I won't lose the pedometer.
Our kitchen floor is torn up right now as we prepare to put down a pretty new wood-look floor. It's been overwhelming, and today I'm just trying to get myself centered enough to *not* be overwhelmed.
What centers you?
Other than chocolate, which is kind of a faux-fix, I like to read. To lose myself in the lives of others. After I come back from a good book, I can handle my own life more easily. Sometimes going for a walk helps, but this week I've needed to stay at home while the guys have been working on tearing out our old subfloor and installing new, improved subfloor. (Yeah, I don't get it, either. I'm glad there are people who enjoy doing that so I don't have to).
What are ways you keep from becoming overwhelmed with what's going on in your life?
© Copyright 2010 Heather Horrocks
And this time I didn't lose it.
But, since it was swinging around on the lanyard, I bumped one of the buttons and deleted the number of steps.
Okay. Tomorrow, I'll try clipping it to my waistband where I don't bump the buttons, and also clip the lanyard on my waistband so if the clip falls off, I won't lose the pedometer.
Our kitchen floor is torn up right now as we prepare to put down a pretty new wood-look floor. It's been overwhelming, and today I'm just trying to get myself centered enough to *not* be overwhelmed.
What centers you?
Other than chocolate, which is kind of a faux-fix, I like to read. To lose myself in the lives of others. After I come back from a good book, I can handle my own life more easily. Sometimes going for a walk helps, but this week I've needed to stay at home while the guys have been working on tearing out our old subfloor and installing new, improved subfloor. (Yeah, I don't get it, either. I'm glad there are people who enjoy doing that so I don't have to).
What are ways you keep from becoming overwhelmed with what's going on in your life?
© Copyright 2010 Heather Horrocks
BABY STEP 34 - DOUBLE DUH! (Feb 3)
"One of these days these boots are gonna walk all over you." (Sung by Nancy Sinatra)
Today I wore my pedometer again. I had taken nearly 4000 steps by seven o'clock and I was pleased with that number. Then, somewhere, the pedometer fell off my waistband, where I had it clipped.
So that kind of ruined my total for the day. Tomorrow I'll try the lanyard provided and see if that's more convenient.
Back in my twenties I went to a karate class. Afterward, my body thanked me for the great workout. Our bodies are designed to move.
You know the old saying; Use it, or lose it. And the first thing we lost is flexibility. And the loss of flexibility and limberness is what makes me feel older. Conversely, when I am more flexible and limber, I feel younger.
Later in the year, we're going to begin loosening our bodies. But for now, let's just start moving them. Gently. And there's not much movement more gentle than what we do every day of our lives (if we're lucky) -- walking.
Keep walking today. If you don't have your pedometer yet, what are you waiting for? It's already February. We have lots of time left to implement changes, but be sure to implement them as they come, or you'll reach the end of the year without having made any changes.
I intend to make the changes, gently, and be closer to vibrant, limber health by the end of the day.
So don't get your running shoes on. Not yet. Maybe not ever. But make sure you have a good pair of walking shoes. Or, if all you have is a ratty old pair of tennies, pull 'em on and start walking.
One of these days these shoes are gonna walk all over ... new. New habits. Newly refound health. New joy.
Come on and join me. Hook on your pedometer. Now -- dadadada -- start walking.
© Copyright 2010 Heather Horrocks
Today I wore my pedometer again. I had taken nearly 4000 steps by seven o'clock and I was pleased with that number. Then, somewhere, the pedometer fell off my waistband, where I had it clipped.
So that kind of ruined my total for the day. Tomorrow I'll try the lanyard provided and see if that's more convenient.
Back in my twenties I went to a karate class. Afterward, my body thanked me for the great workout. Our bodies are designed to move.
You know the old saying; Use it, or lose it. And the first thing we lost is flexibility. And the loss of flexibility and limberness is what makes me feel older. Conversely, when I am more flexible and limber, I feel younger.
Later in the year, we're going to begin loosening our bodies. But for now, let's just start moving them. Gently. And there's not much movement more gentle than what we do every day of our lives (if we're lucky) -- walking.
Keep walking today. If you don't have your pedometer yet, what are you waiting for? It's already February. We have lots of time left to implement changes, but be sure to implement them as they come, or you'll reach the end of the year without having made any changes.
I intend to make the changes, gently, and be closer to vibrant, limber health by the end of the day.
So don't get your running shoes on. Not yet. Maybe not ever. But make sure you have a good pair of walking shoes. Or, if all you have is a ratty old pair of tennies, pull 'em on and start walking.
One of these days these shoes are gonna walk all over ... new. New habits. Newly refound health. New joy.
Come on and join me. Hook on your pedometer. Now -- dadadada -- start walking.
© Copyright 2010 Heather Horrocks
BABY STEP 33 - DUH! (Feb 2)
Okay. Sometimes things just jump out in perfect clarity. I wore my pedometer all day and was amazed.
Remember those studies? The Amish walk 14,000 steps a day, an average American woman walks 5000, and an obese woman walks about 3500 a day.
Okay. My first day I logged in with two different numbers. I'm looking for a baseline of how many steps I walk in a normal sedentary day. And it's not much. I am not very proud to announce that the number of normal baseline steps I walked this first day was a paltry 3500. That's the bad news.
Or is it? If I walk the number of steps overweight women walk, then I can also increase the number of stops I walk and become less overweight, right?
That's the good news. And another note of good news ... My back has been sore because I've been spending so much time in my computer chair trying to finish my latest novel, so I decided I'd better start walking.
So I walked for thirty minutes. (A year ago I was walking for sixty minutes a day and my husband commented that I looked more fit than doing anything else). Anyway, by walking for thirty minutes, I added 3200 steps to y daily total. I nearly doubled my number of steps by taking a thirty minute walk.
That's good news.
And, of course, the ultimate good news -- I have a Savior. And if our baby steps aren't pointed back to Him and to our Heavenly Father, the other steps we take don't really matter.
© Copyright 2010 Heather Horrocks
Remember those studies? The Amish walk 14,000 steps a day, an average American woman walks 5000, and an obese woman walks about 3500 a day.
Okay. My first day I logged in with two different numbers. I'm looking for a baseline of how many steps I walk in a normal sedentary day. And it's not much. I am not very proud to announce that the number of normal baseline steps I walked this first day was a paltry 3500. That's the bad news.
Or is it? If I walk the number of steps overweight women walk, then I can also increase the number of stops I walk and become less overweight, right?
That's the good news. And another note of good news ... My back has been sore because I've been spending so much time in my computer chair trying to finish my latest novel, so I decided I'd better start walking.
So I walked for thirty minutes. (A year ago I was walking for sixty minutes a day and my husband commented that I looked more fit than doing anything else). Anyway, by walking for thirty minutes, I added 3200 steps to y daily total. I nearly doubled my number of steps by taking a thirty minute walk.
That's good news.
And, of course, the ultimate good news -- I have a Savior. And if our baby steps aren't pointed back to Him and to our Heavenly Father, the other steps we take don't really matter.
© Copyright 2010 Heather Horrocks
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