Health... the nature walk

Let's go ahead and hash this one out... HEALTH.  It was Firday morning, and we started the morning with a study on HEALTH. It is one of the Daily Dozen that John Maxwell discusses in his book of things that can make an immdiate impact on your life. 

As I read John's books, I am constantly struck by how alike I feel we are.  I am sure there has been a similar feeling you've had, like, "I am just sure we'd be good friends.  If only I could meet her."  Well, that's how I feel about John.  He admits right off the bat that he was never all that concerned about his health.  Every time he went to the doctor, he was healthy as a horse.  "I never get sick", he used to brag, "And I've always had lots of energy."  Sounds like someone else I know! He could maintain a very high pace lifestyle, and never took the time to exercise nor really pay attention to his diet.  Yep.  That's me!

And then it happened, he had a heart attack.  At the age of 51.  And that was his turning point.  He decided to make a daily conscious decision to eat right and exercise 7 days a week at least 35 minutes a day.  When asked, "Have you lost your craving for desserts?"  He replied, "NO.  But my craving for life is greater."  That's powerful stuff!!  

And so, for HEALTH, we took a little walk.  A little walk all around the BAH!

I encouraged everyone to spread out and go in search of foilage that would lay flat and that we could spray paint on a canvas. 

Let me tell you anothe big part of maintaining a healthy lifestyle.... reducing stress.  Maintain a pace that is right for you.  If ou take life more slowly than your energy level is capable of, you can become lazy.  (That'd be me... I LIKE TO GO, GO, GO)If you continually run at a pace faster than you are capable of, you can burn out.  Sometimes, I have to watch how much I push my employees, because I expect everyone to have the same energy level as I.  But, that's simply not the case.  We are all different, and it takes different speeds and activity levels to make our engines run. 

I am not so sure why we have these multitudes of photos of around my house, but I was given these pics by Riley, so I'm just sharing them with you!

This is my new porch that I am just starting to "fix up".  It is very relaxing.  I am dragging things from all over my property (the cottage, the attic, junk in closets, etc.) to get it looking and feeling homey.  However, it still needs its screen.  That will be the cherry on top!

Regarding eating right,  John said he decided to "Just try to eat what's best for you in the moment." Well, that's one way to think about changing diet for positive changes, vs. a "diet" per se.  And could actually be quite doable.  Just make the decision IN that MOMENT!!

As for exercise, obviously, it is about consistency.  You won't necessarily see a result each time you exercise.  But, with consistency, the scales will show the change. (i've not personally made this commitment yet, but hey, 11/12 ain't bad!)  And there were a couple in our group who DID make this decision... one last year and one several years ago.  It totally changed their lives, and it was good to have a testimonial in the group!

I actually had an epiphany during this study.  I realized that, as I have known for a long time, I am a stress eater.  But that sounds so much like an excuse.  Being a therapist, and working with parents and teachers to realize the coping/ calming strategies used by the kids to get their engines in the right zone for learning and attending. 

I have realized that when I need to lower my engine (i.e. when I am nervous, anxious, stressed), I put something in my mouth.  And it is typically something that requires "deep work" with my mouth muscles.  Our mouth muscles can do easy work or hard work.  If I am crunching chips, I consider that easy.  And that would actually rev my engine up.  That, or eating ice.  But, to lower my engine, I'd drink a milkshake, eat something with caramels or peanut butter, or chocolate.  And that is precisely what I do.  Thus... stress eater. 

That might have seemed totally random, but to me, it makes perfect sense.  You know we use the practice of sensory integration all the time at MMPT.

Jennifer was studying the plants to get the perfect ones for her canvas.

And then we all trekked it back up to the house for some painting in the art room.

Tonya looking for her plants! And I forgot to mention this too....

One of the ways you can tell you're working in an area of strength (and thus low stress), is that it actually gives you energy.  If you are doing work that you don't think is important, or that you feel adds no value to yourself or to others, can quickly cause stress.   It  is vital to have meaning in your work, and to feel it is an area of strength.

Mistakes that challenge you show your areas of strength. Mistakes that threaten you show your areas of weakness.

When Riley send me her photos, this was on her flash drive. That girl got up every morning before the group got up and went running. On Saturday, she did a circuit workout. Way to go, Riley. Way to be an example!!

This was her canvas for this project.  It was made by a single papyrus plant.  Also sometimes called papyrus plant.

This is the view of the farm across the pond from our house. 

And this is, of course, the awesome cottage that I totally adore.  Look at Todd's pitiful garden to the left there.  He says next time it will be 4 times as big.  We'll see in time!

So once we had our plants chosen, and we had our canvas backgrounds painted.

We took the plants and laid them on the canvses and used actual spraypaint to paint over the stencil of the plants.

Cool, huh?  It was a pinterest project that I've been dying to try!  And because we got up and took a walk, we could focus on HEALTH as we'd just studied.

Here Emery is giving a little instruction as well.  She went through all the projects at my office prior to having the participants try them.

I had to try this one myself.  I found some creeping fig that I am trying to get growing up the side of my garage on the brick. 

Here, Lisa also chose papyrus plant!

There were all kinds of plant projects, but I failed to get some close ups.  Sorry!

Next up is "FAMILY".  Are you reading?  hello?  Helloooo??  I would love to hear from a few of you.  More than the 3 or so who have been commenting.  Although I am VERY happy those 3 are commenting!  But, I am going back through my book and power points to take quotes and hit the highlights of the study, so show me some love, peeps!!  Comment and tell me what you think.  Or give me an example.  Or which art project you particularly like.  Or which work resonates with you.  We'll start on number 4 tomorrow.  There are 12 total.  You ready?!

MO