Peaceful Pursuits and Pleasure

Mornings are always hectic for me, I try and pack everything in, exercise, grocery shopping, and laundry, anything I can do for myself or my home before the phone rings or family commitments get in the way. Right now it’s been about finding a job and a purpose and suffice it to say all of it can be quite taxing on the body and brain.

Tomorrow is Mother’s Day and if there’s any advice I can give it’s to slow down and find peaceful pursuits and pleasures to regenerate and renew. It's the slowing down that will get you to your goals in weight loss and maintenance.

As I got up this morning my first bit of pleasure came unexpectedly on the way back from picking up my favorite cup o' joe. Just as I was driving to cross off another item on my list of “To Dos” for the day a mother duck, her babies and a father duck were crossing right in front of me. Slowly and methodically the parents ushered their sweet furry babies across a very busy highway forcing me to stop and watch. The family of ducks forced me to slow down from my busy day. In many ways it was a relief and a peaceful pleasure.

Peaceful pursuits and pleasures can bring us joy and happiness. Injecting these pleasures into our day can definitely heal our hearts and and give us peace of mind.

Taking this action to pursue peace and pleasure helps with weight loss. I know that when I’m at my happiest or when I have slowed down it's much easier to try and maintain or lose a couple of pounds.

It’s been said that people tend to burn more calories and reach their goals when they’re happy. The negatives out of my life I found I could concentrate on what was important to me and for my health. It’s not always easy but I'm learning to be conscious of it.

What are some Peaceful Pursuits and Pleasures that you can incorporate into your day?

These are some things that I’ve practiced over the years:

1. An early morning talk with my 20 year old son.

2. Having my daughter spend an afternoon with me at a movie in the middle of the day.

3. Feeling a soft warm breeze while sitting outside on my patio.

4. An afternoon walk and feeling the sun on my skin.

5. Sitting next to a beautiful lake watching a sailboat go by in Michigan.

6. Listening to a favorite song.

7. Reminiscing over old photos.

8. Working with a purpose. There’s nothing like knowing you’ve made someone else happy.

9. Cooking a healthy comforting meal that my family loves.

10. Flying a kite.

11. Immersing myself in a favorite hobby.

12. Meditating and listening to my own breath.

13. A long nap.

14. A picnic with my husband.

15. Hearing leaves crunching beneath my feet in the fall.

16. Building a fire, staring at the flames and feeling the warmth.

17. Journaling

18. A candlelit dinner for two.

19. A good book and a cup of tea.

20. A bike ride on a tree covered trail.

There are so many peaceful pursuits and pleasures if we’d only take time out to revel in them. This Mother’s Day give yourself the gift of happiness and find something that will give you your peace.

Pedaling for A Purpose: Healthy Strategies for the Novice Bike Rider

I love to ride my bike. I have loved bike riding since I could get out on my own as a child and ride through my tiny neighborhood in Warren, Michigan. I remember sprucing it up with lights, orange flags, wicker baskets with flowers on them and a transistor radio. My bike took me to my friend’s house, to the corner 7-11 and to the park. It took me down dirt trails when my parents took us camping and it gave me some of the happiest memories.

Now, as an adult it's an inexpensive way to enjoy the company of my husband who works long hours during the week. It’s our date night on a Sunday afternoon and something we have in common after 22 years of marriage. It fills many purposes. It provides a healthy alternative to all the aerobics and strength training I do indoors and it decreases the stress in our lives. It’s fun, relaxing, and adventurous.

Now that the warmer weather is here I'm anxious to get started again. We are not entered in any bike races or marathons. We are the novice bike rider who enjoys the winding bike paths, the wide open areas filled with trees and streams, and the occasional wildlife sighting. Our last trip was to Traverse City, Michigan where we found several trails that led us to quaint towns and wineries, tiny lakes filled with sail boats and places to stop for a quick bite to eat and a hot steaming cup of coffee to get us going again. We watched wild turkeys cross our path and raccoons run into the brush.

Our purpose this spring is to join other novice bike riders and experienced cyclists on a bike tour in Frankenmuth, Michigan. The local Optimist Club holds a 15, 25, and 50 mile bike tour through the back roads of this little German town called “Michigan’s Little Bavaria”. The routes wind out of the village, along the Cass River, and across the lush farmlands of the Saginaw Valley. We are taking on the 15 mile tour with my brother and sister-in-law. They call it Fahrrad or Bicycle in German (pronounced Fa – Rod with a little roll in the “r”). The tour is held every May and cyclists range in age from tiny tots being pulled by their parents to 80 or 90 year olds who return every year. It’s exciting having something as simple as bike riding in common and the proceeds help their local club.

Before you start out on your own bike tour or for a ride in your neck of the woods take heed of these tips:

1. Wear a helmet

2. Take a water bottle and maybe a small snack for longer journeys.

3. Buy a portable pump and repair kit in case of a flat.

4. A Gel padded seat is a nice investment for longer rides.

5. Wear comfortable shoes and clothes. I wear good fitting tennis shoes and workout shorts with a t-shirt. I usually bring a sweatshirt in case the temperature drops. I also bring my sun glasses.

6. A nice rack for the back of the bike and a cycling bag is great for carrying essentials on longer trips. I usually put my water, snack, sweatshirt, some Kleenex, aspirin, allergy medicine, money for stops along the way etc. Just in case.

7. Make sure you have a bike in working order. Take it to a local shop to fine tune anything you may not be sure of. I have a mountain bike and it works fine for what I’m doing. The more experienced you get the better bike you will need.

8. A mirror that attaches to the handlebars is also a nice idea.  The mirror helps to see traffic.

These are just the basics. As you progress and get more involved with cycling you’ll want to research more ideas or head to your nearest bike shop for more information and advice. There are guides for braking, safety, gears and shifting at Amazon.com.

Pedal for your health, pedal for fun, and enjoy your path to wellness.

Also see:

Michigan Biking

Bike Buddies

U.S. Bike Trails

U.S. Bike Trail's Store

Great Bicycle Trails

Great Bicycle Websites Link