Set Your Precedence and Make Yourself Move
Written By Katie Oldham
How could I resist sharing a couple of photos from an adorable toddler birthday party? Evie and Mommy happy to sample sweets....in modertation!
Today I had a birthday party for Stella and Evelyn. Stella turned 4 and Evelyn will soon turn 2 (although she giggles as she tells everyone she is turning 3). It was a ‘Fairy Garden’ party complete with fairy wings, an adorable sweets table, butterflies galore and even pixie dust for each girl to glitter herself with. It was so sweet yet so surreal. Celebrating their little lives this year was something I would have never missed yet at the same time part of me wanted to avoid it. It is their first birthday celebration without Daddy here with us..and will be one of many. During the preparations, I knew I would cry at the party. I knew I would prepare the house with excitement yet a heavy heart. But, I also made a very conscious choice to try my best to be in the moment as I celebrated in the fairy garden we created. I sang and danced with the girls. I hugged and kissed them. I enjoyed every moment of watching them prance around in sparkly wings as they waved their fairy ribbons in the air.
I moved despite my desire to avoid.
Why?
I had to set the precedence. If I allowed myself to avoid, it would be easy to continue in that trend. I had to set the expectation despite the barriers.
Break thru the barriers
That’s how I believe many women need to approach fitness. It can feel daunting or uncomfortable or even something that just will not fit into your busy life. Not everyone has an adoration for making themselves sweat, for releasing physical energy or stretching to de-stress like I do! Not everyone feels a need to exercise. But, undoubtedly, exercising IS something that EVERYONE should do especially in this increasingly sedentary society with stress hormones running rampant through our bodies. Women used to knead dough, iron clothes, walk to the store, etc. Now, we sit at computers, drive cars, and watch television in the evening. So, yes, I am saying it with strong conviction:
**exercise is something that EVERYONE SHOULD plan as part of their weekly if not daily routines.**
And, Stella....determination is an understatement when I think about all the blessings I have to stay fit and well for!
So, regardless of what you FEEL or the reasons that you want to avoid a dedicated exercise routine, set a precedence—and MOVE. For some of you that may mean upping your fitness regiment, taking the next step in eating well or incorporating some strength training into your cardiovascular routine. For others that may mean simply going for a walk, taking the stairs, parking further away, committing to moving more with your children. Everyone’s life differs when it comes to what fitness routine fits for YOU. But we are all the same when it comes to the simple fact that we need to MOVE.
Once you have set the precedence and started moving on a more regular or more rigorous basis, you can start to figure out what type of routine you can eventually fall in love with. Personally, I don’t LOVE every type of exercise I do just like I don’t LOVE every healthy food that crosses my lips. But I do it because the payoff is greater than the SMALL SACRAFICE (and believe me, I am normal because my passion for sweets is not ignored amidst my dedication to a healthy lifestyle!). But, I do have a certain love affair with some types of exercise so I simply ensure that those get into the routine a couple times a week so that I can feel that intrinsic satisfaction with fitness.
I guess what I am saying is that you must start to move….and don’t wait for the perfect time to make a change. Create expectations for yourself, set your precedence and don’t waver.
Be determined!
2 Responses to “Set Your Precedence and Make Yourself Move”
September 06, 2011 at 11:48 am,
Sharon said:
Hi Katie – thanks for the inspiration and sharing such adorable pictures!
Sharon
September 06, 2011 at 2:20 pm,
Katie Oldham said:
You are so welcome! I hope that every reader is able to find something that inspires them to MOVE and LIVE WELL. It is a daily choice that we make to stay on the path to healthy living. And so I thought sharing those photos would reveal one of the things that keeps me making those choices !
Katie