Random Thoughts

Hey there,

I kept going back and forth on what I wanted to write about today, so…

Things that have caught my attention, run through my mind, and other such happenings this past week.

Last week was a little rough as far as workouts go. My schedule went out the window for a couple of days due to some small but annoying health issues. You all know how I love my schedule, so this was not ideal. I ended up having to start my weekly workouts on Wednesday instead of Monday. You know what happened? Nothing. The world continued to spin, and I got a chance to practice my “going with the flow” mentality.

Reminder: Life is all about change. Be ready to adapt as necessary.

I spoke with my son over the weekend. I’m ridiculously proud of him; not only his achievements, but also how he overcomes challenges and failures. He’s also a great conversationalist. We can talk about any subject under the sun. He’s not afraid to voice his opinion or to consider another point of view. I have learned much from him. It occurs to me how often a person is dismissed because of their age as having nothing of worth to say because they haven’t lived a certain number of years. What a shame.

Reminder: Don’t mistake youth for ignorance or age for wisdom.

Did you know that we have less tolerance for pain as we age? I love reading new studies, and this one talked about how progesterone and estrogen suppress pain by producing opioids. I wonder if that’s because we theoretically need more pain tolerance during childbearing years. I don’t know, but it is probably why I see so many older women with chronic pain from joint issues, fibromyalgia, etc. The good news is that this knowledge opens up new avenues for pain relief and helps doctors prescribe better options now.

Reminder: There are new discoveries every day. Doctors aren’t always up on the latest research so you should be. Don’t let anyone dismiss your pain. It’s not your imagination.

One of my clients is 89 years old. You would not know it if you met her because the typical 89-year-old doesn’t look or act like her. She is constantly looking for ways to challenge her mind and her body. She did chest presses with 15# dumbbells this week and will easily go up to 20# next week. Another client, 78 years old, does plank walkouts with pushups and side planks with ease, and we aren’t talking on the knees. These are full pushups. She wishes she had started strength training long ago. These ladies, and many others, inspire me every day.

Reminder: Age is just a number. It’s never too late to start. Never stop challenging your body and mind.

Speaking of clients. One of my favorite things is to see someone progress. It could be a movement or breathing becoming instinctive instead of jerky and forced, or the look on their face and the sound of their voice when they get it (whatever it may be), or the pride over lifting a weight or finishing a workout that would have been impossible not long before. The absolute best is when they tell me how a day-to-day activity or habit has suddenly become easier (or possible). It always happens, with consistency and effort, it happens.

Reminder: Progress has nothing to do with perfection, and consistency is key. Just keep going.

Recent conversations with different people this week have covered: Buddhism, meditation, Franciscan monks, Methodist beliefs, predestination, sovereignty of God, universal connection, political viewpoints from both sides, arguments for and against alcohol, and nihilism.

Reminder: Be open to other viewpoints, you never know what you might learn. Listen to people to understand where they’re coming from. Listen to people because they deserve to be heard.

I think that's about it for me. Oh, and for those of you that take the time to consider the questions in Thoughts to Ponder; I would love to hear what comes up as you answer them.

Stay well, my friends.

Alicia