As you very well know, I'm all about staying active.
That includes anything from going on a run, a bike ride, a hike or a swim - I'm always up for it.
You could ask anyone, they will tell you the exact same thing, “She's a workout guru!”
And yes, humbly speaking, I am!
I try to manage my time so that I don't have to skip my every day workouts. There are always a few exceptions, but most of the time I try not to. Why, you ask?
It’s simple: for me, moving is important.
I give my time for fitness the same priority as I would spending time with my friends and family, or work.
And that came at a very young age. I was always moving; Running left and right, throwing a baseball, kicking a soccer ball or jumping into a pool, whatever it was, I was a little fire cracker with a strong mindset.
Nothing could stop me.
Pursuing a life of fitness has a lot of benefits. There is, of course, your body image, but I am mostly referring to perks in your personality and lifestyle.
In most people it develops a goal-oriented personality, where pushing yourself and making personal achievement becomes a must. You learn how far you can push your limit and understand what is possible and what is not.
Every day that you get out of your house, or get up from your couch, is another day where you begin to unfold certain parts of your personality. Without you even knowing it your brain and body become a bit tougher, a bit stronger, more dedicated, more focused and motivated.
You feel good! And that's exactly how you should be feeling, every day!
That is the beauty of it. It shapes you inside out.
I have a question for you. What's your way of releasing stress or negativity?
Walking your dog?
I have to admit, training for me is a way to release stress. An escape from when I feel down, when I am sick, when I am frustrated, or just having a bad day.
Look at that fluffy face!
As an example, when I run or shoot a few hoops alone, nothing else matters. I'm just enjoying the run without having to think about anything else.
It feels great, it's relaxing and refreshing.
Saturday I decided to go on a long run because I had so much stuff going through my head and I needed to change my mind.
I really have a hard time opening up and talking about my feelings, so whenever something is bundled up inside I most often keep it to myself and try to deal with it on my own.
And running is one way for me to just sort of forget about it.
I am probably not the only one that uses sports as a mechanism to get away from life events and emotions. That’s because it truly helps!
As I was saying, I went on this long run following the Fraser river near my place.
That day, there was a nice warm breeze and the sun was out! There was absolutely no way I was going to run inside with that weather, it would have been a waste of a beautiful day.
So I started my run toward the park located maybe 3 miles from my place and once I reached the park I decided maybe I can run all the way to the outlet mall for double therapy.
Richmond has this shopping outlet near Vancouver airport, and I just wanted to take a look. Girls and shopping go hand in hand, it’s honestly also another way to get your mind of things. Buying a new pair of sneakers would be 100% my style.
Sadly, I did not reach the outlet. I got lost and ended up on the highway. Oopsie!
Then, I turned right around and ran home. Hey, in the end it saved me some money!
As I was running back, I smiled at a few runners.
And each time this happens there is this unspoken understanding. You lock eyes, give that corner smile that means good job - keep running! And you just go about your run.
And after 1 hour of running I finally reached home. Walked around the block, did some stretching and just felt a lot better. I was suddenly more alive. I was ready for whatever the world wanted to throw at me. All the negative thoughts and frustration I’d been experiencing were gone.
I was back to being me.
Maybe one morning, or evening, you'll see me as we run by one another, we’ll lock eyes for just a moment, and I’ll be giving you that little corner smile I was talking about.
Make sure you smile back!
