Build a Healthier You
Build a Healthier Community
Lower Health Care Costs
It starts with you; a commitment to use the gift you were given at birth – your body. You are an important link in our entire health care system. When you stay healthy, it’s more likely your family will be healthy, your peers will be healthy, your neighbors will be healthy, and your community will be healthy. Your decisions multiply as others engage others that engage others that change behavior that change norms that change our culture that change our community, that change our nation. You are the beginning domino, the stone that creates the ripple, the vote that counts, the snow that begins the avalanche, the Paul Revere of our community. It begins with you!
There are many critical parts of living a healthy life. Some we can impact with simply choices like eat more fruit, laugh more often, breathe more deeply, smile, sing, skip and pray. However, others take more effort both mentally and physically like eat less, move more, find quiet in your life, listen intently without interruption, heal a wounded relationship. These are health actions that open the spirit and find new connections to a meaningful life.
I invite you to join in building health; and then inspire your family and friends with your choices and accomplishments.
We all need you to be healthy!
Keep Moving
Chris
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
It is time
2009 - Time to invest in yourself, your relationships, your community.
It is time – time to commit to you.
It is time to open your sense of possible beyond what your mind has told you that you could do. It is time to challenge yourself to find the capacity within your body that you may have forgot or never knew. It is time to remove barriers both real and imagined that stop you. It is time to find the discipline to change habits. It is time to eat less and move more. It is time to invest in you. It is time to look in the mirror and state – I am a great investment.
It is time – time to connect with people in healthy positive ways.
It is time to listen and learn. It is time to bring others onto the path of fitness. It is time to support one person in a healthy achievement. It is time to be strong and challenge a friend to be fit with you. It is time to be vulnerable and ask a friend to support your path to fitness. It is time to share the roads, trails, gym, and courts and find the friendship at the end is the greatest accomplishment. It is time to invest in the relationships that build health. It is time to look in the eyes of another and say I will invest in you and commit to support your path as you support mine.
It is time – time to build our community into vibrant healthy enclaves of active lives.
It is time to know that we are all one and our community’s health is our own. It is time to share your talent, wisdom, and energy so that others can find a path to health. It is time to invest in the groups and organizations that provide healthy change in our community.
As we all make these investments, we will grow assets that are valuable beyond finance – the gifts of health, love, and a nurturing community.
Make the investment. It truly is a great investment.
Keep Moving,
Chris
It is time – time to commit to you.
It is time to open your sense of possible beyond what your mind has told you that you could do. It is time to challenge yourself to find the capacity within your body that you may have forgot or never knew. It is time to remove barriers both real and imagined that stop you. It is time to find the discipline to change habits. It is time to eat less and move more. It is time to invest in you. It is time to look in the mirror and state – I am a great investment.
It is time – time to connect with people in healthy positive ways.
It is time to listen and learn. It is time to bring others onto the path of fitness. It is time to support one person in a healthy achievement. It is time to be strong and challenge a friend to be fit with you. It is time to be vulnerable and ask a friend to support your path to fitness. It is time to share the roads, trails, gym, and courts and find the friendship at the end is the greatest accomplishment. It is time to invest in the relationships that build health. It is time to look in the eyes of another and say I will invest in you and commit to support your path as you support mine.
It is time – time to build our community into vibrant healthy enclaves of active lives.
It is time to know that we are all one and our community’s health is our own. It is time to share your talent, wisdom, and energy so that others can find a path to health. It is time to invest in the groups and organizations that provide healthy change in our community.
As we all make these investments, we will grow assets that are valuable beyond finance – the gifts of health, love, and a nurturing community.
Make the investment. It truly is a great investment.
Keep Moving,
Chris
Sunday, February 8, 2009
Sick
So my being sick was…
Denying – I will not get sick, I can not get sick, I do not get sick, I am not sick, I will take some extra vitamins but am not sick, I have a little scratchy throat but will be fine tomorrow, I can still work while I cough and hack…
Ignoring - I am just going to keep my appointments because I have too much riding on my involvement, I will get going early tomorrow and do some extra meditation, I can do anything I set my mind to do…
Catching – I feel terrible, I ache everywhere, my throat is screaming sore, I can hardly breathe, my head is ready to explode…
Succumbing – I am sick, I can’t do anything on my schedule – in fact I can’t do much of anything, I will cancel my work schedule and call the doctor…
Suffering - I can do little more than sit, cough, blow, and spit, can I find the truth of life in this suffering – no, I can’t even think…
Nothing – sleep, silence, warmth, no physical, no mental, no emotional - the doing of nothing is the now of my existence – keep moving is now not moving…
Meaning – I can learn from this low, sickness is part of life’s balance; I have had little balance as of late, my level of stress is extreme, I don’t sleep near enough; my long term health is a commitment to my family…
Understanding – I find a simple idea or action to be exciting and valuable again, life is an adventure race and should be well planned, focusing on the long range goal, and allowing a slower pace to take in and enjoy life’s extraordinary views, meeting people and discovering new places while learning about myself…
Moving beyond – I make mistakes and will again, the polarity of this life will test me again, however, I will pray (and act) with more balance along the way.
Denying – I will not get sick, I can not get sick, I do not get sick, I am not sick, I will take some extra vitamins but am not sick, I have a little scratchy throat but will be fine tomorrow, I can still work while I cough and hack…
Ignoring - I am just going to keep my appointments because I have too much riding on my involvement, I will get going early tomorrow and do some extra meditation, I can do anything I set my mind to do…
Catching – I feel terrible, I ache everywhere, my throat is screaming sore, I can hardly breathe, my head is ready to explode…
Succumbing – I am sick, I can’t do anything on my schedule – in fact I can’t do much of anything, I will cancel my work schedule and call the doctor…
Suffering - I can do little more than sit, cough, blow, and spit, can I find the truth of life in this suffering – no, I can’t even think…
Nothing – sleep, silence, warmth, no physical, no mental, no emotional - the doing of nothing is the now of my existence – keep moving is now not moving…
Meaning – I can learn from this low, sickness is part of life’s balance; I have had little balance as of late, my level of stress is extreme, I don’t sleep near enough; my long term health is a commitment to my family…
Understanding – I find a simple idea or action to be exciting and valuable again, life is an adventure race and should be well planned, focusing on the long range goal, and allowing a slower pace to take in and enjoy life’s extraordinary views, meeting people and discovering new places while learning about myself…
Moving beyond – I make mistakes and will again, the polarity of this life will test me again, however, I will pray (and act) with more balance along the way.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Discover running
Discover running
The decision to become a runner comes from many places in life; a young person’s desire to compete, a midlife desire to find fitness,
a friend’s encouragement, and on and on.
However once we become a runner, we discover some of the same attributes. First, we find our body’s response changes from struggle to freedom. Our body’s systems become more efficient and we become fit.
As our bodies change, we begin to find the happiness in running, a joy that comes from a place where we have overcome discomfort and moved into a new ease of movement. The joy of running does not come everyday but often enough to give us the motivation of constant pursuit.
The happiness of running then leads to new awareness of ourselves, and we find the spirit of running takes us inward. Touching the part of us that only comes through consistent discipline and the full engagement of ourselves in each single moment, we are whole.
Beyond the body’s fitness, the mind’s joy, and the spirit’s awakening is the quest for challenge. For many of us that leads us to a first 5K, the half-marathon, marathon, ultra marathon, triathlon, or multi-sport adventure racing. The acknowledgement, the commitment, the pursuit and the accomplishment of the challenge take us to a place that our modern life does not offer. It may be only once that we give our full attention to these mountains, or it may become a part of each year’s goals. In every case meeting a challenge that is beyond your normal capacity enriches a life forever.
Enjoy the challenge that you are pursuing!
Keep Moving,
Chris
The decision to become a runner comes from many places in life; a young person’s desire to compete, a midlife desire to find fitness,
a friend’s encouragement, and on and on.
However once we become a runner, we discover some of the same attributes. First, we find our body’s response changes from struggle to freedom. Our body’s systems become more efficient and we become fit.
As our bodies change, we begin to find the happiness in running, a joy that comes from a place where we have overcome discomfort and moved into a new ease of movement. The joy of running does not come everyday but often enough to give us the motivation of constant pursuit.
The happiness of running then leads to new awareness of ourselves, and we find the spirit of running takes us inward. Touching the part of us that only comes through consistent discipline and the full engagement of ourselves in each single moment, we are whole.
Beyond the body’s fitness, the mind’s joy, and the spirit’s awakening is the quest for challenge. For many of us that leads us to a first 5K, the half-marathon, marathon, ultra marathon, triathlon, or multi-sport adventure racing. The acknowledgement, the commitment, the pursuit and the accomplishment of the challenge take us to a place that our modern life does not offer. It may be only once that we give our full attention to these mountains, or it may become a part of each year’s goals. In every case meeting a challenge that is beyond your normal capacity enriches a life forever.
Enjoy the challenge that you are pursuing!
Keep Moving,
Chris
Monday, January 19, 2009
Seduced
Seduced
It is so easy to be seduced by entertainment and information that flood into our lives. The ease of access to entertainment and information though readily available low cost technology and its marketing capitalization lure us to become addicts. As our time within a day/week/month is spent not just in front of a TV, but reading blogs, on Face-book, sending e-mails, watching You-tube, listening to pundits or being spectators to events, we are stimulated into an inactive paralysis. The stimulation is exciting and can create deep emotional and mental responses. However, it demands little or no participation of our body.
We must use the body as a means to free our minds and engage our spirits. We are a spirit experiencing this earth in a physical being and must utilize physical movement and challenges as stimulus for aliveness. That does not mean that the most physically strong or fit are the most successful, or that a rich life exists only through the physical, it is meant as an awareness of the value of physical in each of us. As Bill Bowerman, co-founder of Nike and coach of University of Oregon, is quoted “If you have a body, you are an athlete.”. We are all athletes and all need physicality to enhance the magic and glory of life.
It is so easy to be seduced by entertainment and information that flood into our lives. The ease of access to entertainment and information though readily available low cost technology and its marketing capitalization lure us to become addicts. As our time within a day/week/month is spent not just in front of a TV, but reading blogs, on Face-book, sending e-mails, watching You-tube, listening to pundits or being spectators to events, we are stimulated into an inactive paralysis. The stimulation is exciting and can create deep emotional and mental responses. However, it demands little or no participation of our body.
We must use the body as a means to free our minds and engage our spirits. We are a spirit experiencing this earth in a physical being and must utilize physical movement and challenges as stimulus for aliveness. That does not mean that the most physically strong or fit are the most successful, or that a rich life exists only through the physical, it is meant as an awareness of the value of physical in each of us. As Bill Bowerman, co-founder of Nike and coach of University of Oregon, is quoted “If you have a body, you are an athlete.”. We are all athletes and all need physicality to enhance the magic and glory of life.
Monday, January 5, 2009
2009 John Daley One One Run
2009 John Daley One One Run
New Year’s Day at Spring Valley Park on the east side of Kalamazoo was a day to run, walk, smile, laugh, high five, hug and shiver a bit too. A herd of people (and pets) braved the cold wind but warmed their hearts with friends – old and new. At One o’clock, the participants started to run/walk, and moved in a steady stream around the park finding that movement is a great cure for cold, and a fun way to share memories and build friendships.
We at Gazelle Sports have had the privileged to host the One One Run, and reconnect with people who we love (or at least like a lot) and bring the New Year in with the energy of happiness, celebration, friendship, family, and movement.
We understand that some of the most important aspects of our lives are what make the One One special and important – building positive relationships, supporting a great local organization, and being healthy.
In a moment in history, when we can be anxious about issues we don’t often control, it is good to find a way to connect with the spirit of movement and health and friendship and fun. That is the spirit of John Daley and the One One Run.
I want thank all who joined us and those who were there in spirit.
And thank all our sponsors, City of Kalamazoo, Gazelle Sports staff, volunteers, and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kalamazoo for their support.
And thank the incredible effort of our event committee, Greta Faworski, Rob Lillie, Alycia Vince, Dottie Sullivan, and Cassie Hunter.
Happy New Year – may 2009 be full of the spirit of the One One Run in your life.
Keep Moving,
Chris
New Year’s Day at Spring Valley Park on the east side of Kalamazoo was a day to run, walk, smile, laugh, high five, hug and shiver a bit too. A herd of people (and pets) braved the cold wind but warmed their hearts with friends – old and new. At One o’clock, the participants started to run/walk, and moved in a steady stream around the park finding that movement is a great cure for cold, and a fun way to share memories and build friendships.
We at Gazelle Sports have had the privileged to host the One One Run, and reconnect with people who we love (or at least like a lot) and bring the New Year in with the energy of happiness, celebration, friendship, family, and movement.
We understand that some of the most important aspects of our lives are what make the One One special and important – building positive relationships, supporting a great local organization, and being healthy.
In a moment in history, when we can be anxious about issues we don’t often control, it is good to find a way to connect with the spirit of movement and health and friendship and fun. That is the spirit of John Daley and the One One Run.
I want thank all who joined us and those who were there in spirit.
And thank all our sponsors, City of Kalamazoo, Gazelle Sports staff, volunteers, and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kalamazoo for their support.
And thank the incredible effort of our event committee, Greta Faworski, Rob Lillie, Alycia Vince, Dottie Sullivan, and Cassie Hunter.
Happy New Year – may 2009 be full of the spirit of the One One Run in your life.
Keep Moving,
Chris
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Kick Your Own Ass
Yeah I have not posted in forever, but it is not because I don't have ample issues to discuss and share. It's just that I found that I have blogstipation (that is constipation of the blog).
So although I am excited that my running is groovin, and that Usain Bolt is the most outrageous track athlete maybe ever, I want to share the idea that in this active life and maybe not so active life, it is up to you to KICK YOUR OWN ASS! Sorry to offend anyone, but you know I can't tell you what to do, when to do it, where to do it, or how to do it, although it sure seems that alot of people want to have that enabling screaming parent making our lives accountable. You need to wake up, take charge and KICK YOUR OWN ASS and get moving.
We all know what to do - eat a balanced diet and less, exercise, laugh and have fun, learn and explore, live in faith and pray, share and love openly, work with meaning, hold gratitude in your heart - not in that order or maybe in some different words. But you know what I mean - Nike said "Just do it" and I am saying KICK YOUR OWN ASS.
Quit complaining about your circumstances and about other people - don't kick their ass - kick your own ass and get moving. Quit waiting for your parent or surrogate parent to kick your ass. Now is the time - be accountable to be you, not someone else.
OK - I may be pushing the limit in the words "kick your own ass" of how a balanced life would feel, but you can't have balance without a commitment to perform your best, give your best, achieve your best, love your best, or align with your best intentions. And you cannot move forward into a rich life without pushing yourself to be your best.
Kicking your own ass isn't about beating someone, replacing someone, proving you are better than someone, it is about focus, determination, and doing your best. It doesn't mean you do everything, or that you do it alone; it may mean in a team, or that you let go so that movement and circulation continue, or simple surrendering to the Grace of God that is in all our lives every moment. You know how to do your best, hold yourself accountable and KICK YOUR OWN ASS. So do it.
Let me know how it is going.
Keep Moving,
Chris
So although I am excited that my running is groovin, and that Usain Bolt is the most outrageous track athlete maybe ever, I want to share the idea that in this active life and maybe not so active life, it is up to you to KICK YOUR OWN ASS! Sorry to offend anyone, but you know I can't tell you what to do, when to do it, where to do it, or how to do it, although it sure seems that alot of people want to have that enabling screaming parent making our lives accountable. You need to wake up, take charge and KICK YOUR OWN ASS and get moving.
We all know what to do - eat a balanced diet and less, exercise, laugh and have fun, learn and explore, live in faith and pray, share and love openly, work with meaning, hold gratitude in your heart - not in that order or maybe in some different words. But you know what I mean - Nike said "Just do it" and I am saying KICK YOUR OWN ASS.
Quit complaining about your circumstances and about other people - don't kick their ass - kick your own ass and get moving. Quit waiting for your parent or surrogate parent to kick your ass. Now is the time - be accountable to be you, not someone else.
OK - I may be pushing the limit in the words "kick your own ass" of how a balanced life would feel, but you can't have balance without a commitment to perform your best, give your best, achieve your best, love your best, or align with your best intentions. And you cannot move forward into a rich life without pushing yourself to be your best.
Kicking your own ass isn't about beating someone, replacing someone, proving you are better than someone, it is about focus, determination, and doing your best. It doesn't mean you do everything, or that you do it alone; it may mean in a team, or that you let go so that movement and circulation continue, or simple surrendering to the Grace of God that is in all our lives every moment. You know how to do your best, hold yourself accountable and KICK YOUR OWN ASS. So do it.
Let me know how it is going.
Keep Moving,
Chris
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