“Give each day the chance to become the best one in your life” – Mark Twain

The high point… of the day was driving and walking and taking mad photos of High Point State Park in NJ. Chris tells me the wind up there (by the monument) is always perfect. I gotta say, I really did feel like Mother Nature was welcoming us with her grace and beauty, and inviting us to stay as long as we needed.

It was really fun, truly beautiful, and all around blissful.  My sis decided we ourselves need to be living happier, more active lives – following our own bliss too. How are you all doing on this front? As we throw suggestions your way, I’d love to have some thrown back at me :)

It was so therapeutic to discuss these issues with her. She was always my confidant growing up – the person I confessed everything to. Her opinion always mattered most. We talked for a long time about high school sweethearts, first loves, and moving on. Despite the fact that nothing is ‘ever the same’ as your first love, sometimes it pays to get on with things and put things into perspective.

I know, for me, my first love will always be the person I measure all my expectations against. Even if that is not ‘fair,’ I’ve definitely lucked out. I now have a fiance that is 100% open, honest, and will discuss all my thoughts and feelings without any sort of defensiveness. I had to realize that I chose to move on for a reason.

We must be true to ourselves.

Talking with others in our lives can definitely be a good thing. Even acquaintances met on the internet can be a great help – as my sister has told me time and again. A long time ago, I worked for a company called HealthyPlace.com. Valerie once wrote a paper that discussed suicide. I found this paper incredibly helpful and informative and included it on a site I built for my company at the time. Many people over the years (I think it has been 8 long years now!) have emailed her with questions or just to tell her how helpful it has been.

The most amazing thing about this is that she wrote this paper as a way to help herself, never realizing the positive impact it would have on others out there. The point? You never know how you can help someone else unless you try – unless you have those doors opened to you. All you have to do is reach out… I encourage anyone out there to email or comment with questions or your own personal advice. We are all ears! :)

• Have heart disease, high blood pressure, or ANY other chronic medical conditions
• Have ever had chest pain, shortness of breath, or dizziness at rest
• Are over age 50 and have not exercised regularly
• Are pregnant
• Have been inactive for over a year

 Once you have been cleared to work out (if necessary), you need to ask yourself why you want to exercise.  The potential benefits include weight loss, increased stamina, less stress, “improved appearance,” superior immune function, enhanced mental function, new friends/contacts, and decreased heart disease/cancer/high blood pressure/cholesterol.  All you have to do is decide what you would like to pursue!  Having specific reasons for exercising is important because this makes our workouts more meaningful, an important mechanism for staying motivated and keeping things going.  When we have exercise goals, we develop a real sense of purpose behind our efforts, and we also gain an objective means to monitor our progress along the way, depending upon our specific goals.  Am I losing weight?  Do I feel more energized?  Is my blood pressure improving?   It’s not necessary to have an exhaustive list of goals, just a general idea of what you hope to accomplish with your exercise program.  But please remember: try to be realistic about your fitness goals so you don’t become discouraged early on should you fail to meet your goals right away.  The end result is a greater likelihood that you will stick to your plan and not burn out in six months or less.   Stay tuned for more on passing through that portal to physical fitness:  avoiding potentially disastrous musculoskeletal injuries early on and strategies for keeping the dream alive!  Happy Wellness Wednesday!

Yesterday I came across a very neat website with personal travel videos. I watched only a couple, but it’s definitely something I’ll revisit. The site is lonelyplanet.tv if you feel like taking it for a spin and whetting your appetite for places as yet unexplored or stirring up a bit of nostalgia.

We’ve spent almost the entire day indoors, hiding from the heat which is already in the upper-90′s, uncommon in May – even for Texas. Catching up with family and just being together is so important and special. For us, it’s only been 6 months since we’ve been home, but that definitely feels too long. I encourage you all to pick up the phone or hop in the car if it’s possible, and visit with your family members. You, and they, will be grateful if you do.

Another awesomely wonderful thing to celebrate is that one of my daughters (Vanessa – yes), along with her boyfriend, Justin, will be in town visiting this weekend. YEA!! And, the puppies too, of course! They have just landed at the airport and I can’t wait.

Oh, and it’s supposed to be a little cooler for the rest of this weekend, so, we’ll be able to get out and about, if we so desire. So, everyone find someone to share some of this weekend with and enjoy whatever wonderful weather you are having, even if it’s rainy, as it seems it will be for Val! on her getaway to Boston. Go splash a puddle! :D