Today I went swimming! Its funny because someone asked me how this whole challenge was going, if I'v lost weight, looked different, etc. and I commented that I looked how I looked in 8th grade when I was competitively swimming-- in terms of muscles. I have biceps again and I love it! I've missed that.
Swimming can be quite mundane, but I tried to switch it up- I did all of the strokes (butterfly, back, breast & free-- mostly freestyle), I did an old 5 X 50 freestyle sprint workout-- you start at the minute, then go again at the 55 sec, then the 50, down to 40 sec. I ended up swimming for about 30 minutes.
Swimming can also be a great time to reflect- and I tried to do that today. Emily has been posting this on the Crossfit Brigade facebook page, but there is a CrossFit Faith website. They post a goal/ verse to reflect on each day -- a spiritual WOD if you will- another great type of exercise. Without looking at today's verse, I picked my own and thought back to series our church did this time last year when I first started attending The Net--we covered the Sermon on the Mount, specifically the Beatitudes. Each Sunday they covered just one verse and really broke it down- I find for someone who wants things done fast and doing as many things during a day or at once- that this approach is very refreshing and applicable- helping me to comprehend all that the verses entail.
While that was a year ago, and these verses are quite complex-- the one main thing I remember from the series was that it boiled down to what truly matters in life is that we try our best. Not getting everything right and hitting obstacles is part of everyday life, but if you try to be pure of heart, if you are poor in spirit, recognize you are poor in spirit and want to do something about it or try to do something about it- you are blessed. How refreshing is this!? We don't have to have it all together.
1 Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them.
The Beatitudes -He said:
3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
So, my reflections:
With crossfit- I know I've been down on myself a little using smaller weights, and I might not have the form perfect, but I am trying! I'm there working at it, and I am trying to do my best, to beat my goals, set new ones- and a little at a time I get there and like Emily said I am truly making amazing progress. People around me may be bigger and faster and stronger- but I too am growing bigger and faster and stronger every day I step into that gym.
And in life, among many other examples- this is most recent :), I recognize I was not very nice to the customer service guy at Amazon.com the other night because I didn't like their broken kindle policy- he was very nice, the policy he had to enforce wasn't, but that was no reason for me to be short with him. The next day, I felt bad about it- but I know to try harder next time to be nice, its just nice to be nice, but it isn't always easy.
And at work, again, among many other examples, I know last week I should've been focused during a management training, however my mind was wandering to a situation at work that I had no control over at the present time- so I kept telling myself to be in the moment- and while its not close to perfect, I tried, and I was better off than if I ignored my will to focus and was able to pay better attention. I did my best.
Speaking of doing our best-- I read once that our best is always different depending on a lot of factors-- the situation, our age, our experiences, etc. I think that is refreshing as well. We'll never get it 100% right or we may even be lucky to get to be close to 50% right at times, but if we keep trying, we get a little closer, and we find a little more peace- and we let go a little more and get better at setting more manageable expectations of ourselves and others.
All that to say, I just read the Crossfit Faith verse today, and interestingly enough, it lines up really well with my reflections of the day.
Spiritual WOD – 1/26/2012
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
So, my reflections:
With crossfit- I know I've been down on myself a little using smaller weights, and I might not have the form perfect, but I am trying! I'm there working at it, and I am trying to do my best, to beat my goals, set new ones- and a little at a time I get there and like Emily said I am truly making amazing progress. People around me may be bigger and faster and stronger- but I too am growing bigger and faster and stronger every day I step into that gym.
And in life, among many other examples- this is most recent :), I recognize I was not very nice to the customer service guy at Amazon.com the other night because I didn't like their broken kindle policy- he was very nice, the policy he had to enforce wasn't, but that was no reason for me to be short with him. The next day, I felt bad about it- but I know to try harder next time to be nice, its just nice to be nice, but it isn't always easy.
And at work, again, among many other examples, I know last week I should've been focused during a management training, however my mind was wandering to a situation at work that I had no control over at the present time- so I kept telling myself to be in the moment- and while its not close to perfect, I tried, and I was better off than if I ignored my will to focus and was able to pay better attention. I did my best.
Speaking of doing our best-- I read once that our best is always different depending on a lot of factors-- the situation, our age, our experiences, etc. I think that is refreshing as well. We'll never get it 100% right or we may even be lucky to get to be close to 50% right at times, but if we keep trying, we get a little closer, and we find a little more peace- and we let go a little more and get better at setting more manageable expectations of ourselves and others.
All that to say, I just read the Crossfit Faith verse today, and interestingly enough, it lines up really well with my reflections of the day.
Spiritual WOD – 1/26/2012
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, 7 casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:6-7)
I thought that was pretty neat! So there you have it-- lots of reflections from me today- probably more than you signed up for. :) Although I hope you can find something here to help fuel your day and remind you to be good to yourself!
Okay, here are the goods:
I thought that was pretty neat! So there you have it-- lots of reflections from me today- probably more than you signed up for. :) Although I hope you can find something here to help fuel your day and remind you to be good to yourself!
Okay, here are the goods:
S: Larabar
L: Leftover sausage, s. pot & kale soup/ stew
S: almonds
D: A lovely quick dinner-- leftover spaghetti squash with sauteed spinach with Italian seasoning and mild Italian chicken sausage.
S: paleo tart
Drinks- I always forget drinks! I haven't been drinking coffee, but today I did. I was wired last night and couldn't sleep. Been drinking all kinds of tea.
Thanks Emily and Mary for sharing recipes today! I look forward to testing and sharing.
That is it for today. Have a good one.
Love love love the Beatitudes! Thanks for putting that in there - I always forget how powerful and encouraging it is:)
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend, friend...can't wait to see you soon!