10 minutes / 30 day commitment, who will join me?

[lynnmarie219]

When I  went out on my back porch with the dogs today.....it was cloudy outside but no rain yet! I then saw a deer running in the field very close to us...most all I could see though was his big white tail up in the air and then he disappeared into the corn field that hasn't been cut down yet! It was a nice thing to see when first going outside today....I love to watch them run free!

[RobinBat]

Well I have spent quite alot of time outside this weekend. We spent a good part of sat. and sun. at car shows(we have a 1957 BMW Isetta) Weather couldnt have been nicer. I had my folding chair and was out in the sun/or under a tree out by Tampa Bay....Was lovely! Restful and the sun felt so good, I think I am solar powered...LOL! Hope you all had good weekends....Tomorrow I start orientation for my new job.Hope I have a chance to get out in the sun before it goes down....if not will just get moonbeams....
RobinBat

[lynnmarie219]

Good luck at your new job tomorrow RobinBat!

[Gail]

It is a wonderful thread, I got to tell you!

I started walking outside in October because the weather got cooler. I started with a half of mile, and now I walk about a mile. I think my body gets ajusted to walking, and it also feels really good to be outside. So, I am outside longer than 10 minutes now walking, but I started with 10 minutes.

I really hope that we can do like 20 minutes commitment for 30 days next time, and then 30 minutes. It makes me feel that I am somehow normal again when I walk outside.

Movement is contageous. I feel like I got to go walking every day now, even if I feel ill. Music helps too. I plug ipod in my ears, and it keeps me going.

Gail.

[Bucky]

Day 27

Good morning . . . happy Monday to you!!     Today is Day 27 of our 30 day commitment to being outside for at least 10 minutes each day.

To date, we have 46 members who are participating in our little 30 day venture.  Welcome Gail.   

This morning was another front porch morning as it is raining.  I am thankful I don't like in Denver, Colorado where they are expecting 10 inches of snow!!     I could hear a rooster in the distance . . . he's a little slow in his alarm clock, it's been daylight for a while now.  LOL  Miss Spooky enjoyed my company again this morning.  She adores me . . .    She is so funny, she will keep nudging me so I will pet her.

I must admit, I couldn't wait for my 10 minutes to be up this morning.  The dampness from the rain just makes my bones ache - I was looking forward to getting back inside the warm house.  Hmmmm, maybe today I will do some baking.  Warm up the house with the wonderful smells and also make some breakfast muffins for the week (yeah, like they will last that long with a teenager in the house!!  ).  I wished we all lived closer so we could get together - it would be nice to meet you all in person.  I would even bring some muffins!   

RobinBat - good luck with your new job!

Everybody enjoy your day . . . we're getting down to the last few days of our 30 day commitment.  You all are doing a great job - don't quit now, we're almost at the finish line.   

Bucky

"Remember that everyone you meet wears an invisible sign.  It reads, "Notice me.  Make me feel important." "         H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

[jaygee]

Good for you Gail!   Your post really made me smile      xx

[fatburningmachine]

It is hard to stay outside when it is freezing and the wind and snow are blowing in your face as it was on mine Saturday---but I am committed and I am grateful for the challenge. We have to keep moving!!

[Bucky]

Day 28

Good morning . . . it's Tueeeeeeeesday!     Today is Day 28 of our 30 day commitment to being outside for at least 10 minutes each day.

Once again it is a rainy, windy, stay on the front porch morning.  Ahhh, to be somewhere warmer walking along the beach.  This morning I heard a train in the distance.  I don't hear the train very often - I guess with the leaves sound barrier gone and the wind blowing that the sound carries.  That has always been something my husband has wanted to do, take a train ride out west.  I don't know if I would like all the rocking motion.  I think we'd better try a little "local" ride first.  There is a train we can catch that heads up to Chicago which is three hours away - maybe some day we'll try that. 

I can tell already that it's going to be a "sweater on, sweater off" kind of day.     I'm going to leave my boots on right now for a while inside the house - my feet were freezing yesterday after being outside and took a long time to warm up.  Time for hot oatmeal . . . come on over and we'll have breakfast together.   

Enjoy your day.   

Bucky

"All of us are here on this Earth with Work to do, but your Work has nothing to do with your job.  Your Work Is Your Purpose.  It is learning to treat others with compassion, learning to love yourself even with your imperfections, learning forgiveness, learning courage, learning trust, learning love."               Dr. Barbara DeAngelis

[genko_b]

Yesterday I had an all-day meeting at the state capitol - drove down and back in the pouring rain, parked a distance from the building and got my walk in going to and from the building where the meeting was held.

Today looks to be a better day for a longer walk - maybe to the neighborhood bookstore.

I hope you all are enjoying these brief out-of-doors excursions! Thanks, Bucky, for thinking of this.

Genko

[kimbo]

Hey Buckey, you have forged a great journey/thread here.

I really have enjoyed reading it. And I love your quotes at the end.

I probably get my 10 minutes and more on most days. We have had basically great weather.

We had our first fire of the year in our fire place last nite.  Makes me think , I better get my humidifier out before the dry heat attacks me.

Thanks so much for always leading a boost in our moral.

blessings kimbo

[Bucky]

Day 29

Good morning . . . it's Wednesday already!    Today is Day 29 of our 30 day commitment to being outside for at least 10 minutes each day.

It's going to be yet another wet day here in Illinois.  Sigh.  This morning I stood out on the back step to breathe in the fresh outdoor air.   We have a pond down the road and I could hear several groups (I guess the proper word is "gaggles") of geese heading to the pond.  My guess is this is the meeting place for instructions on their flight North for the winter.    I could also hear a cow that sounded like he was very uncomfortable (you know, the feeling when you've eaten too much) . . poor thing was sounding so pitiful.  Maybe "she" needed to be milked??  I don't know if there is a "I need to be milked" sound or not for cows.    LOL  I could also hear the drip, drip, drip of water from the gutter.  We really should clean out the gutters before winter actually gets here.  Ha, I say "we" . . more like ME . . as hubby doesn't like to climb ladders because of his vertigo.  Hmmm, maybe this would be a good job for our teenage son.  

I  can't believe that tomorrow wraps up our 30 day commitment.  Back on October 21st, November 19th seemed soooo far away.   In this time frame I have seen the metamorphosis of our trees go from beautiful fall colors to bare branches.  From our grass growing like a weed needing weekly mowing from all the rain - to stop growing and more or less hibernating until next spring when the process starts all over again.  I have watched animals gather food, make nests and prepare for the winter ahead.  We have had a mixture of weather from lots of rain day after day, beautiful sunny days with temperatures in the mid to high 70's, and cold damp days when you could see your breath outside.  Of course, my favorite are the sunny, low 70's days where you don't need a jacket on and you can be outdoors and enjoy your walk, etc.  

Not a day has gone by that I haven't thought of all you fellow sjoggies and the daily journey we are all on.  I hope you continue to find things that you CAN do that bring you joy, happiness and a smile to your face.    There are lots of little things you can do to make someone else's day special . . send a card and or letter thru snailmail to someone telling them you're thinking of them, make a phone call to say "hi", read a book to a child or to a shut in in the nursing home, make a donation of either money or your time to a worthy cause, buy a hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate for the bell ringer collecting  monies at the holidays.  The list is endless.  I have found for myself that if I look for opportunities to help someone else that my aches and pains are bearable and even put on the back burner for a while.  It lifts my spirit.

I hope everyone has a good day today . . . enjoy.  

Bucky

"Yesterday is experience . . . . Tomorrow is hope . . . . Today is getting from one to the other."             Barbara Johnson

[Linda196]

I haven't been posting daily, but I have had my daily excursions outside. With the exception of Sunday, when we had torrential rains that did let up long enough for my walk, the weather has been most cooperative, and I've enjoyed my highway hikes and city strolls equally.

I just wanted to mention that the geese are heading South right now, not North...they seem to have much more sense than the rest of us Canadians who stay here for the ice and snow!

[lynnmarie219]

This is for everyone who participated in this little venture!

[Bucky]

DAY 30

Today is Thursday, November 19th - Day 30 and the final day of our 30 day group commitment to being outside for at least 10 minutes each day.

As I mentioned yesterday, I can't believe how quickly these past 30 days have gone by.

Aloha this morning as I walk along the beautiful shores of Waikiki, Hawaii.  The icy blue water is breathtaking.  The palm trees are blowing ever so slightly in the breeze.  Today I am going to learn the hula dance . . . shake those hips, baby!!    Wait . . . . ok, reality has stepped in and I have really returned from the chilly, wet front porch of Illinois.    Hey, a girl can dream can't she??   I've never really been to Hawaii, but would love to go some day.

This morning I saw two gaggles of geese flying overhead heading NORTH.  Linda - their GPS system must be broke as all the flocks I have seen are heading North, not to the South like they should be flying.  

I want to thank each and every one of you who stepped up to the plate and joined in this little 30 day venture with me.  I am thrilled that there were 46 members who participated.    The road we travel is easier when we are united and travel together rather than alone.  It almost makes me feel like Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz as she links arms with the Tin Man, Cowardly Lion and the Scarecrow and goes skipping down the yellow brick road.  

I hope you have enjoyed your time outside for the past 30 days.  I know I heard and saw things that I wouldn't have otherwise seen or heard if I stayed indoors.  Just like in our daily day-to-day lives living with a chronic illness we endured all different kinds of weather (trials) these past 30 days.  We had to adapt to different circumstances when it rained on our parade - yet we pursued.  You should each be proud of the effort you put into this little venture.  Good job!!  

Just because this little group venture is now completed - feel free to continue this on your own.  I'd love to hear your stories.

I'm going to end this post with some words from a book, Real Life - Preparing for the 7 Most Challenging Days of Your Life by Dr. Phil McGraw.  "Although a health crisis can rock you to the core of your being, it's not the end, and you need to get a grip on how you perceive, talk about, and act on the situation so you don't run the risk of contributing to the problem instead of the solution."

"Managing this challenging day of your life isn't something you should try to do on your own, and I'm betting you need the support of others to get you through and win this health battle.  The key is to assemble a winning team, and that means making sure all the players are supportive, positive, and helpful.  You need people you can trust and people who can energize and inspire you because there is strength and power in support."

Thank you all for your support through this 30 day venture.  Job well done!!    

Hugs,
Bucky  

P.S.  Thank you for all your kind comments these past 30 days - I had fun "hosting" this little venture.  Just wondering - how many had perfect attendance participating in these 30 days?

[Katybarstool]

Bucky

I have enjoyed my 10 minutes each day, but I have especially enjoyed your daily diaries, and would love for you to carry them on. It's wonderful to get some insight into life 3000 miles away, but from someone who understands the trials and tribulations of all her Sjoggie family, however far away they are. Thank you so much for that.

Your thought for today has touched a nerve - in a good way. Last night I had to see my bowel speciliast again. The last procedure I had didn't do what it was meant to, which was disappointing, but I knew it might not work. However, I was unprepared for the news last night that it looks like I'm heading for more surgery in the spring. It seems the rectal prolapse I had in May is holding, but I have developed another internal one, higher up the bowel.  It will need fixing abdominally with mesh and having some tissue (can't remember what) pinned to my pelvis. Anyway, I can't consider any surgery, physically or mentally, just now, so we have agreed to wait for my next appointment in 4 months, before making a decision. Always, bearing in mind of course, that if the situation worsens, I will contact him.

So, I will take the advice about the 'health crisis' and thank Dr Phil McGraw for his words of wisdom, and our dear Bucky for sharing them.

Hugs
Kathyx