I couldn’t find a beat in many songs, I couldn’t get the correct poses, I couldn’t follow the choreography, I couldn’t look at other class members in the eye to coach them… All this as I was working hard to get certified in Les Mills, Body Flow program. Against all odds, after three attempts, I finally am a certified Body Flow Instructor! I’m so happy about it. I love this program all the way to my heart and soul!Against the Odds
A beautiful day! Indeed. Sir Thomas and I were on our familiar path, enjoying the nice cold and sunny weather. At a distance Sir Thomas smelled a friend. We sped up our stride and Miller was waiting. Tails were wagging right and left. Happy to meet, undoubtedly!
Us moms, Miller’s and I, were equally happy to see each other. The good weather had made many come out for a stroll. We caught up a bit. Laughed a lot. And, said our byes.
Forty minutes into the walk, I saw dark clouds quickly moving in. A few at first. Then the sun was covered. The breeze felt colder now. Time to get home, I thought.
Dark clouds suddenly covered up the sunny day…
As I was making my way into the last stretch of our walk, I saw a woman with a little puppy…waiting for our approach. I felt like not stopping, but Sir Thomas had to say hello to his kind. The woman did not say hello, but started with, “Do you live around here?” Before I could answer, she threw another question at me, “Do you work?” Again, before I could answer, she asked, “When did you move here?” I managed to say 11-years ago. She then expressed that she moved here two years ago, and paid a lot for her home, but I must not have paid much for my property back then. She added how much she dislikes living in this part of the town. I started to not like this talk at all; this was in no way a two-way conversation. And this stranger was certainly very strange!
She was not done with me. But I was! I was ready to flee. Sir Thomas was done with the hello part and was now busy sniffing. I pulled the leash, his paws tightly fixed to the ground. This gave the lady a chance to throw another question, “Do you have kids?” Pissed off, I said, “No.” Pulled on Sir Thomas again, his paws came lose and I quickly said good-bye and moved in the other direction from her. This interrogation was OVER!
As I made my way home, I kept thinking why did I have this encounter. Why did I allow this encounter? Why did I even answer to her idiotic questions? Why? Why? Right in the beginning, I should have said, “None of your business, lady,” and moved on. This lady was very nosy right from the get go.
I wanted a positive out of this encounter. I knew I could do it, too. I thought, “I am an UNSTOPPABLE OPTIMIST!” “I’m going to find the good in this encounter.” The good I found was that – If I meet this stranger again, I’ll control the encounter – I will not stop for the talk! (Rain started to come down. Thankfully, we got home right then.)
My first encounter was a heartwarming encounter. Second was strange! Weird! An encounter, nonetheless. Sir Thomas seemed happy and satisfied after his walk. I felt tired. That second encounter drained me. But, guess who went to sleep after our walk? 🙂
Sweet dreams dear Sir Thomas… (snuggled in our love seat)
Good Valentine’s Day morning! I woke up to tell you that I LOVE YOU FOLKS, dearly. Now, go and have a good time because you are loved!” Sir Thomas’ wishes for us all 🙂
I’m a grown-up but will always be a kid at heart. My optimism, always colorful!
Things around me are blurry often times, and I understand that’s because the world has infinite offerings. They all overlap and become out of focus in my mind. But, one of the infinite offerings is always clear in my head. I completely embrace it. And, it’s being optimistic. Simply put, I live it! It motivates me. I am, after all, the Unstoppable Optimistic blogger.
…thank you for visiting my blog…until next time…be optimistic😊
Workout finished. Not exactly the way I wanted it to. I hurt my lower back. Excruciating pain. No idea how it started. It did not happen during my workout, but right after. Maybe while I was putting away weights, steps or risers…who knows. (I heard that)…it has nothing to do with my getting older! 🙂
Having low threshold for pain, I immediately hit the websites – read, and read on lower back pain. Started treatment. Iced the affected area, then used heat. Alternated that for a good couple of days. Took ibuprofen as well. Consulted my dear websites, again. Next step – added some stretch exercises. (I heard that, too)…I’m not going to the doctor! And, stop telling me what to do!
After two days, I felt well enough to try my Body Pump class. Using my body weight for squats and lunges; and low weight (about 5 lbs) for the rest of the class; I finished the one hour class. For the rest of the week – I kept low weight and focused on my form. The week ended well. Pain level, in control! (Heard that)…Awe, that’s sweet! Thank you for believing in my research and treatment. 🙂
Source of my back pain – who knows! But I do know that nursing that pain, helped. I’m happy now – that much I definitely know.
“Sir Thomas, what do you see?” I’m asking him. Calmness in his expression is a recent behavior…an indication of his getting older…and, of course, wiser 🙂 (As a pup, everything was basically a trigger for chase-time)
I have, recently, realized that I motivate people at my workout. And, I didn’t even know about it, until now. My workouts have been mainly for me. I do have to push myself! Every workout that I complete motivates me for the next one. I self-talk; I do that a lot. And, that helps me get to the gym, 99.9% of the time! I have become, what you would call, a “Regular” at the gym. And, that has motivated some gym goers. They have come up to me to tell me that. That really feels good.
Reasons I workout… It just feels great all around! I am able to deal with the demands of the day so much better.
This brings me to the next step, which I think involves my wanting to help others get motivated. Motivate them to not only workout, but create a sustainable routine for a healthy lifestyle.
My goal: To get certified in workout/healthy lifestyle field. I am writing this on my blog because I think this will keep me motivated to remain focused in achieving my goal.
My ultimate goal: To help make a positive change in people’s lives, who need a little push in the direction of leading a healthy lifestyle.
….thank you for visiting my blog…until next time 🙂
It’s been cloudy and raining, intermittently, all day since yesterday. Still, a nice fall day. Today, however, it’s chilly, due to cold gusty wind. I’m all ready for my walk, dressed in layers, for this day. But my walking companion, Sir Thomas, still in the same spot since 7:30 AM. It’s 11:15 AM, now. He looks like a hot-dog stuffed in a bun on our couch.
Hot-dog Sir Thomas
“Let’s get you ready boy, and go for our walk,” I say to him. He gives me a stare, which, I can hear loud and clear, “I am not going anywhere, today; you carry on alone, without me…I’ll try losing my extra pounds later.” “I’m not giving up!” determined, I said. Enough bugging from me finally gets him off the couch. Without wasting time, within seconds, I get him ready. We head out the garage door, and I turn left to walk out of our neighborhood. Suddenly I’m pulled! In the opposite direction!
“Let me…” Sir Thomas seem to say to me, pulling me to a spot in the middle of our front yard, “Pee!” Relieved, he looks around, and sets his stride back toward the garage door, to go inside. “No! We haven’t even started our walk!” I scream.
It’s ever-so-slightly sprinkling, and the wind has picked up…it’s gusty, for sure. He really wants to skip this walk! I pull him away from our house to get out of the neighborhood. He pulls me toward the house. I pull him away. He pulls me toward…I pull him away…he gives in…he has no choice. Sweet thing. I love him.
Off we go, outside our neighborhood. We hurriedly cross a street to get to our walking path. Those darn trees! Sir Thomas takes forever to move from there. He sniffs every angle of this one particular tree trunk. Then, of course, marks a spot on it.
“Hi, it’s not too bad out here.” Enjoying the sniffing.
We make a move again. He’d rather be snuggled, today, comfortably on the couch. He’s walking, today, because of me. He loves me!
Despite the weather today, we are enjoying the nature. We hear the birds chirp, the leaves rustle, the wind whistle, whisper and swoosh. We see no one else out here, today. But, we see hundreds of leaves here today, flying and falling to the ground.
“Leaves, leaves, and leaves! Every leaf has a potential to be sniffed and marked, by me. “
As we head back home from our walk, Sir Thomas’ pace gets faster. I smile at his eagerness to get home. Once inside the house, I notice his tail go up, completely.
“Glad that’s over!” Sir Thomas tells me; actually, his eyes tell me that! He hits the couch; yawns, stretches and gets ready to snooze. “Life, you are too good! If you leave, I’m following you.”
Never! Ever (ever) EVER am I leaving this couch!
Just so you know Sir Thomas, I had a wonderful time today. Those moments are now in the past. Those beautiful moments are behind us! This weather – if you leave me – I know you’ll be back again. This gusty wind and this chill – if you leave me – I know you’ll be back soon. Time – if you leave me – you are not coming back. Life – if you leave me – you are not returning. And, that’s the reason I take the time to enjoy my life with you, Sir Thomas:) Our walks are always interesting. We won’t let our walks leave us! We will walk tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, and everyday after that!
In response to The Daily Post’s writing prompt: “If You Leave.”
“What in the world do you think you are doing?” Sir Thomas is perplexed watching Dixie, our pit bull, attempting to catch her own tail. She chases it, and goes round and round in circles.
The Unstoppable Optimist! 