Runner Insight

Let’s Get Real!

What’s more important than your health?  Oh I know there’s probably not one of you out there who would disagree with the concept that your health is your most important asset, but how many of us truly live by those words? 

Think about it like this:  Remember the last time you were really sick? I mean really feeling-crappy-death-melted-on-toast kind of sick.  Maybe you had the flu, or a 4 day long debilitating migraine.  Perhaps it was a bout of sciatica with lower right back pain (oops, …that one was me.) Or … you fill in the blank.  We have all been there. 

Now, answer me this. At that particular point in time – in between the moaning and wailing and feeling sorry for yourself, and wishing that the agony would end – were you thinking about your bank account? I know when I’m not feeling well, even just a little under the weather, all I can think about is wishing I felt better. That’s it: just aching to feel better.

All the money in the world does you no good if you don’t have your health.  So why do we ignore our health and put it off for another day? 

I know, I know. I understand all the human psychology stuff that indicates that we’re more motivated to avoid and alleviate immediate pain, and not much inspired to do things that involve work in the short-term, but result in long-term benefits.

Mostly, as a human race, we are motivated by what we see that is immediately in front of us…the bills that need to be paid, that pressing seminar we just can’t miss, the phone call we need to return, and the seventeen other things on our desk that need our immediate attention Right Now. 

I’ve heard it said that when you find a big enough why, you will make the changes necessary to propel yourself into your better healthier life-style. Think about how you feel right now.  If you feel pretty good, then why not be proactive and take the steps to insure you will continue to feel good tomorrow and next month and next year?

If you are suffering and have no energy, why not just start to take the baby steps to move you towards a better place in your healthier life?  Doing nothing at all guarantees that someday you will be asking the question, “Why didn’t I take care of myself when I had the chance?”  It truly doesn’t have to be that way.

Remember to take a moment to evaluate what is important.  We have a tendency, all of us – and I’m just as guilty of it as the next person – to focus on the financial aspect of things as if it’s the most important thing I need to be worrying about.

A friend of mine recently was so caught up in the spinning of her wheels trying to move forward in her business that she was neglecting her health. While she wasn’t literally sick or unhealthy, she wasn’t doing anything to maintain her health. She was just sitting at her desk all day every day trying to make things happen.

She was struck one day with the thought that it didn’t matter how successful she ended up being in her business if she wasn’t taking care of herself physically. She’s now made the commitment to doing some kind of physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day, whether it’s going for a walk or yoga or putting on the Latin Dance Workout DVD or whatever. And she feels that she can have the same amount of financial success, or even better, by investing at least 30 minutes a day in her physical well-being. The business and financial success will come, but your health deserves your attention and focus.

Even if you’re feeling okay, you could be doing even better. If you are sick, you can’t do all the things you deem important right now.  And you can have fun while getting healthy.  Find an activity that resonates with you and go for it.  Remember it’s all about baby steps. No one is saying you have to go out and run a marathon this year, or even run at all.  Just start moving!  Do things a little at a time.  Be gentle with yourself and start out slow. And celebrate all the baby steps! Hey if it’s more then you were doing just a day ago, it’s all forward progress. 

How ’bout it?

-Vision Runner

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Hic-ups…one of those pointless, annoying spasms that we all get to suffer from at some point in time…usually when it’s most inappropriate and embarrassing, like at a funeral or when your boss is raking your whole team over the coals in the main conference room. And don’t you hate it when you can tell the folks sitting next to you are annoyed and wish you would stop, while at the same time they’re kind-of relieved that it’s you and not them drawing unwanted attention to themselves.

Over the years I have used several different tricks to get rid of the hic-ups.  When I worked at the airport and would get the hic-ups, I would simply walk over to the lounge and ask the bartender for a shot of bitters and lime.  Boy that stuff tasted awful, but it sure did the trick.  But what was I supposed to do when I wasn’t near a bar? 

Well a friend told me about this technique.  Get a glass of water.  Put it on the floor in front of you.  Then bend over and with your head between your knees take a sip of water.  Repeat several times.  A warning though: you must do this before your hic-ups go on too long.  I don’t know why, but if you can catch it right away, this usually works.

The simplest and most amazing remedy I have ever used was taught to me by T, who learned it in junior high school from her science teacher.  Are you ready?

When you have the hic-ups, close your eyes then have someone else (preferably someone you trust) place their pointer finger gently on one eyelid in the center, and their immediately adjacent long finger on the other eyelid, like they’re holding the “peace” sign on your eyelids, but not touching any other part of their hand to your face.  The gentle pressure should be steady and consistent, but not hard.  Hold like that for 30 seconds, or a bit longer. I’ve never been able to make it work by doing it on myself, but with a partner doing it, this amazing technique works about 90% of the time for me. I’m not sure exactly why it works, but I suspect that there is some nerve or something behind your eyeball, and the gentle pressure placed on your eyelid must… I don’t know…maybe calm or relax the nerve somehow?

 Whatever makes it work, you’ll want to give it a try next time you are plagued with the dreaded hic-ups! It’s simple, it’s quick and very effective. Can’t you just picture it? Asking your boss to pause for a moment during his tirade while you have your co-worker place their fingers on your eyelids to alleviate your hic-ups for you? 

How ‘bout it?

-Vision Runner   

P.S. Just a reminder: As a part of my 1,222.25 mile Run Over To Ellen’s Fundraising Project, everyone who has donated $1 or more by Sunday May 24th will be in a donors drawing for a special, limited edition Vision Runner “Dare To Envision A New Reality” retractable ballpoint pen. Less than 10 in existence! Sure to be a collector’s item…We only need 30,000 people to donate $1 each for Guide Dogs for the Blind…so get your donations in today. You can make miracles!! $1 at a time! Click here: Run Over To Ellen’s Fundraising Project

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