Wellness Wednesday

Happy Wednesday!


I am sitting here staring at my computer and my heart is spilling over with gratitude- gratitude for a place to call home, for a full belly, for people I can call mine and for all of you. I am so grateful to be surrounded by amazing people who inspire me and make me better every day. Thank you for being you.


I've been researching traits and attributes of successful people and happy people. There were 2 recurring themes through every article I read; successful people and happy people exercise/meditate/pray every morning for at least 30 minutes and are active practitioners of gratitude. They think all day of things they are grateful for AND they express gratitude to those around them. A study in Forbes magazine showed the most attractive quality we find in others is gratitude. We as humans are attracted to people who say thank you.


Which leads me to a very simple conclusion- to become more attractive, successful and happy, we must practice gratitude.


Practicing gratitude doesn't have to be a huge process. I keep a gratitude notebook next to my bed and every night before I turn off my lights I write 3 things I am grateful for. There are no right or wrong answers to how to express gratitude. If you need a starting point, try one of the following:


-Write down the most important person in your life and why they are important to you. Now call them and thank them for specific things.
-Write down one time today you felt the most at peace and calm. Feel grateful you had a moment of peace and calm. When tomorrow gets crazy, think back on the moment from yesterday. Repeat everyday.
-Write down the top state of health you were most grateful for today. Did you get to hold a hand or smell amazing food or see an incredible sunrise? Be grateful for the senses you have which help you experience life.
-Write down the most important part of your health you are grateful for.
-Write down something YOU did today that was wonderful


There are so many places to start and I promise when you start looking your eyes will be open and you will be shocked at how incredibly blessed you are! Gratitude will change you. It will help you see the silver lining and will lead you on the path to happiness and wholeness.




Much love to you all,


Stef

Thought for the week:









(I don’t claim to be an expert, just a lover of new and useful information. I hope you enjoy new and useful information too! If you have a question, comment, suggestion or would like to be added/removed to the weekly email, please contact me at stef.wellness.coach@gmail.com)

Tri you say? Why not! And lots of gratitude along with it.

It has been a little over a week since I crossed the finish line and officially became a tri athlete. Weird. The race was amazing- freezing (high of 42 degrees), dripping wet (literally rained the entire time- it was dripping off my hat onto my face) and windy, but amazing. I’ve tried to cultivate an attitude of gratitude so even though the conditions were less than ideal, here is a list of things I became grateful for while trying not to shiver to death:

I’m grateful for:

-being able to put one foot in front of the other

-the ability to feel my fingers and toes and know when I am cold

-a body that functions

-RAIN! So our produce will be cheaper all summer and our lakes fuller

-Family that will stand in the rain to cheer me on

-Accomplishing a goal

-Checking something off my 30 ways to celebrate list

 

 

Did you know in China you are considered wealthy if you own a bike? Every single person competing in that race owns at least one bike. My running shoes cost more than most people in the world will spend on food for a month and they are only 1 of 4 pairs of running shoes in my closet.

 

I can’t think of any other non-first world nation that would pray for it to stop raining so you can swim, ride a bike and run. Seriously, dang first world problems.

I feel extraordinarily blessed to be able to do races. The adrenaline and energy is contagious and exhilarating. There is nothing like jumping in the water and pushing yourself to swim faster and harder than you ever have. You hit the finish, jump out and RUN to your transition to try and suit up (for those of us not in a tri suit), get your shoes on, helmet buckled and out to the mount line as fast as possible. You pedal and pedal and pedal until your legs are on fire and your breathing is coming in gasps only to get back to the transition area, loose the helmet and get back on the road. You ignore the jello-y feeling of your legs and force one foot to go in front of the other. Over and over and over until you look up and see the glorious finish line looming in the distance. This is the moment to dig deep and finish strong. All for this moment. Everything for one moment of glory. Is it worth it? Absolutely. Am I sure? Definitely. (Although it may be a personality disorder to want to push your body to its limits in 40 degree weather; I should check into that.)

 

I need to give a HUGE shout out to my second Dad, Todd Douglas. I LOVE this man. He is one in a million. When he found out I was doing this tri, he signed up for it so I wouldn’t have to do my first alone. He is much faster and stronger than I am but walked me through every single step and every transition. He made sure I was ready and cheered me to the end. I am so incredibly blessed he is in my life and so grateful he is family.

 

Here are some pictures!

Thank you Todd for being the very best second Dad around!

 

 

 

 

I may be crazy but I love this kind of stuff. Kristen and Luke always take such good care of me and made sure I got a celebration for accomplishing my goal. I know I’ve said it before but I will say it again, everyone should be as lucky as I am to have friends like Kristen and Luke. They are some of the most amazing and wonderful people I know. I love them more than words can articulate.

 

Next week I head to Disneyland with my family to check off 30 rides. I can hardly wait! It is destined to be an epic adventure.

 

Much love to you all and happy 30 to me-

 

~Stef

Happy April!

Where did March go?!? Seriously, I sat down more than once to write a post but always ran out of time. Life just gets away from me sometimes. I feel like I blink and a month is gone.

 

March was spectacular. I can’t believe my birthday has come and gone. You want to know my big take away from my actual birthday? I am SO blessed. My life is filled with such amazing things, opportunities and people. As I went to bed at the end of the day, I was so overwhelmed with gratitude words were not adequate to even express the whirlwind of emotions.

 

Since I live alone, my room is always quiet. (All you parents of young children can be a little jealous.:)) I stared at my gratitude journal wondering how to put it on paper. How to you articulate love? Service? Friendship? Family?

 

My day started by NOT going to the office. I took the day off. Why you ask? Why not! Sometimes we forget we are important and it is ok to spend some time focused on ourselves. It was ok to take a day to do exactly what I wanted without any other pressures. I’d been on the road for more than a week and was leaving the following so it is what my psyche needed- a rest; a break from the mundane of everyday; just to be. My mom and I spent the late morning shopping and eating lunch. We hit all my favorite clearance racks- Tommy Hilfiger, Banana Republic, Famous Footwear and J. Crew to name a few. I was determined to buy an entire outfit in one shopping trip to cross of one of my 30 ways to celebrate 30. Check that one off! I ended up with more than 6 shirts, 1 pair of jeans, 2 pairs of shoes, a purse and 2 pairs of earrings. I totally made out like a bandit while only spending just over $150. Have I mentioned how much I love clearance rack and outlets?

 

After my morning of shopping, I met up with Kristen and my 3 adorable God-daughters. For my birthday we made a tea hat because every girl should own one. I LOVE how it turned out! It is so fun and spunky yet not too far out there. Now I just need to plan a tea party to wear it.

 

The day rounded out with a birthday party with all my favorite people! Not only were my favorite people involved but we were also on roller-skates! My amazing sister-in-law and Mom went above and beyond to arrange the perfect party for the big day. It was filled with love, family, friends, good music, food and all around happiness. It was better than anything I could have planned on my own and I’m so grateful. I still can’t believe it has come and gone!

 

March was also a crazy travel month for me. I was on the road A LOT! I was super grateful I was able to actually be home before my birthday since last year I was stuck in an airport for 6 hours trying to get home.

 

I read a few books (finished 3 more), had lunch with Kristen, did a few random acts of kindness and made a plan to complete a few more things off my list. (If you want book reviews, leave me a note and I will send you a message.) I also have been training for my tri like crazy, signed up for the Dirty Dash on June 7 and have made lifestyle changes to promote health. I am down 14 pounds and 9 inches, have more energy, clear skin and healthier hair than I’ve ever had in my life! I am planning a post solely on how I have changed and improved for those of you interested.

 

April is almost half way done and I am getting more and more excited for the tri. I can’t believe it is happening in 2 weeks! I finally purchased a bike today and am happy I didn’t rush into the decision and found something I’m excited about. There is going to be a lot of bike riding happening around my house for the next while!

 

I finished a book last week (Dark Wolf by Christine Feehan) and will finish 2 more this weekend (The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz and The Gifts of Imperfection by Brene Brown.) I’m finalizing details on skydiving the beginning of June and should be purchasing my plane ticket to Europe next week.

 

Because I made the goal to do more random acts of kindness, I have found myself searching for ways to serve others. As I’ve prayed for guidance and opened my eyes, I am shocked by the many ways there are to serve. Whether opening a door for someone, taking a grocery cart back, helping unload/load a car, paying a big tip or being a listening ear, there are numerous ways around us to help. When I serve, I instantly feel grateful for the opportunity. When I feel grateful, I’m reminded of my many incredible blessings and when I’m reminded of my blessings, I remember my divinity and worth as a daughter of God. I hope you all remember YOU are unique and divine. No matter what is happening around you, NOTHING can change that truth. NOTHING.

 

Tomorrow I am doing something that scares me and I will post pictures to prove it!!

 

Much love to you all and happy 30 to me!

 ~Stef