Grass isn't always greener

I was at a physical therapy appointment the other day.

Here's a quick "small world" story on how I got to this particular clinic.

A couple years ago my mom and dad went to a physical therapy at a clinic in Marshalltown, Iowa, my mom chats up her physical therapist. 

• Where did you go to college? (Truman State University)
• No way, so did my daughter. What year did you graduate? (2006)
• No way, same year as my daughter. What program were you in? (Exercise science)
• No way, same as my daughter.
• Did you know her? (I don't think so)
• No, you don't remember...cool...I will ask her.

So my mom relays the conversation to me and I say "I think I remember having classes with him." Fast forward to last year and my mom's pt Grant and his wife (my dad's PT) are moving to the Twin Cities to start a physical therapy business. Fast forward to now and I go there for physical therapy as well. Small world. 

Anyway, I am in the clinic doing a challenging exercise and I hear a song coming from next door. There happens to be a custom car shop where many of the Minnesota Vikings go to get their cars all tricked out. The song has these lyrics....

"The grass isn't always greener on the other side, it's green where you water it."

10 seconds to guess the song.

I say to Grant, "isn't that funny...they are playing Justin Bieber next door?" He laughs and I say "it's even better that I know that song" And then I picture a MN Viking driving their newly tricked out car jamming to Justin Bieber. Hilarious visual. Pause and picture it :)

Now before you make fun of me for liking that song, that particular lyric has some darn good meaning. 

"The grass isn't always greener on the other side, it's green where you water it."

Don't we always want what we can't have? Or what we don't have at the moment? 

• More money
• More friends
• Better job
• Better house
• Better car
• More vacation
• More time
• Etc
• Etc
• Etc
• Etc
• ETC

But instead, let's take time to think about what we do have and how to make it better. It can be challenging, but so rewarding. 

I have been blessed with so many things in my life. Here are just a few. 

• Great family, friends, co-workers, job, clients
• I had the opportunity to go get an education
• I have a roof over my head
• I have two of the greatest dogs
• I can travel and compete in running and crazy events
• I have a working vehicle
• The sun is shining today
• I live in Minnesota (yes I love MN)
• I wear a tutu to run in
• My list could go on and on. I have green grass.

I recently had a friend make a list of 58 things she was proud of herself for. Amazing what items came up on her list. Her grass just got greener.

Go make YOUR grass greener. 

In case you want to hear the whole song, here it is. Enjoy.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4em3LKQCAQ Feel free to start at 1:30 and skip the beginning. 

Have a great week and if you enjoy my blog, please do me the honor and pass it on to your friends and family.

Lindsey

Deep Fried Butter

I draw the line. Deep fried butter. I refuse to eat it. There is nothing in this world that sounds more unhealthy (and I am even on the good side of butter). I'm at the Iowa State Fair - the best one in the country. Where else would you find such a crazy food item?

I enjoyed many delicious food at the state fair.

• pork chop on a stick
• 1 mini donut
• half of a breakfast sandwhich (no bun)
• a few bites of biscuits and gravy
• half a double bacon wrapped corn dog - yum
• half a hot beef sundae (mashed potatoes, hot beef and gravy, cheese)
• a few bites of a "Nothing Spared Fair Square" (rice krispy treat on a stick with potato chips, pretzels, M&M's, and Oreo's)
• a few bites of a pulled pork sandwich (no bun)
• about 5 mini choclate chip cookies (but no bucket)
• and then.......THE DEEP FRIED BUTTER
• tons and tons and tons and tons of water
• tons and tons of Diet Coke

The deep fried butter must have been inspired by the butter cow and the yearly butter "statues." This year is Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs. 

My relationship with food has evolved over many years. I remember portioning out my SnackWell's mini choc chip cookies into small containers but then adding about 10 cookies more than the serving size (but those don't count!) In college I ate a lot of hot pockets and whole wheat bagels. Most recently I have moved towards more protein, fewer carbs, very little wheat products, a little dairy, and lots of vegetables. 

I was reading the book "Co-Active Coaching" the other day and it talked about the catchy word "balance." I have been especially interested in helping people achieve "balance" and incorporating it in my life. I feel like I have a pretty good balance between work and life. But the question is: do we ever fully achieve "balance?" This book makes the point that we work towards it on a continuum. Are we closer to balance or farther away?

I feel closer to balance in my relationship with food now more than I ever have. Protein makes me feel full, carbs make me feel crappy, healthy fats like avocado, nuts, and oils are awesome, and vegetables can actually be delicious.  Approaching the fair I didn't want to eat tons and tons, but I wanted to experience it. My solution: share, eat a little bit of a lot of things, and drink a TON of water. Did I also mention we walked almost 20 miles while there?

I do not believe in depriving myself of food, even if it is not the healthiest. This is my balance with food.

Ask yourself, where am I on the continuum of balance? Closer or farther away? 

And yes, I did try the deep fried butter. Two bites.

Surprise

It was beautiful weather last Saturday and I enjoyed the evening at the Minnesota Stars soccer game. I go in, walk around, buy a Diet Coke (guilty pleasure) and notice a sign at a booth that says "sign up for the halftime challenge" I think to myself...I should sign up my friend because that would be be hilarious if her name got pulled. But just as soon as I had the thought, it passed. I ran into a client, chatted with her, and went back to my seat.

Great weather, good game, and then it's a few minutes before halftime and all of a sudden I hear my name called on the loudspeaker. "Lindsey Heiserman please report to the booth by the entrance a few minutes before halftime to participate in the challenge."  I knew what had just happened. My friend did to me exactly what I had thought about doing to her. By now she is cracking up, rolling with laughter, and causing a scene. 

I think to myself....

there's no way I'm doing this

this is stupid

I can't believe she put my name in

I'm not wearing the right shoes

what if I look dumb?

what if I lose?

how embarassing!!!!

no one knows me here...oh YES they do...my client is here

After some coaxing and encouragement, I get over it and decide that maybe it won't be that bad.

See for yourself...

In reality...it was really FUN!! Why had I been so uptight? The guy I competed against thought this was the best thing ever and was out there to have fun. So I took his cue and had a great time.

But the best part of the story is my friend. I'm pretty sure this made her day. So when was the last time you surprised your friend or your spouse or significant other? When did you call someone spontaneously? Or buy a card or plan a surprise day or evening?
Or when was the last time you volunteered and got out into the community?

I challenge you to go out and surprise someone and you might even surprise yourself in the process. 

Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.  ~Leo Buscaglia


Have a great week. 

"Don't Pants Your Poop"

If you are a runner or have ever thought about being a runner, especially a distance runner, then this video is for you. 

Watch the video and then continue reading. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsMw10KVVCk

I nearly fell out of my chair laughing. This is EXACTLY what running a marathon is like. You start off strong, fade away, second wind, start losing your mind and seeing things, start singing to yourself, start worrying about pooping your pants, become delirious and then the FINISH LINE.

There is nothing like the finish line of a race. I decided to do my first marathon in 2003 after my freshman year of college. I needed a goal, I needed to do something that would stretch me past my limits, I needed to do something extreme, and I wanted to prove to everyone I knew that I could do it.  I could hardly finish a mile in my physical education tests in school....I was going to do a marathon.

I do not remember the training or the miles I ran by myself but I do remember how dedicated I was and how determined to meet the goal. Having that goal made my life so much more organized, efficient, and it had a PURPOSE.

I cried at the finish line. It was Grandma's Marathon (never doing that one again!). I had done something way past my limits and it was amazing.

You do not have to run a marathon, but what have you been wanting to prove to yourself? What have you wanted to accomplish? When you find that something that will test you, go out and AMAZE yourself! There is nothing better than the finish line.

Do not keep it to yourself....tell the world...but remember...DON'T PANTS YOUR POOP :)

Have a great week.

There is no happiness except in the realization that we have accomplished something.
Henry Ford


SMART GOAL SETTING

Courtesy of:
http://www.smart-goal-setting-tips.com/

Stuck

So I found myself in quite the predicament the other day. I set off on a journey to a Minneapolis store I had heard so many good things about... "I Like You" Now.... I am a self proclaimed girl from the suburbs, so this was outside my normal comfort zone. Once I found the store after being lost, I turned onto a residential street to park. There is absolutely no one on the street so I just pull up, park and walk happily to the store.


After spending some time browsing and picking out a few very unique items, I walk happily with my purchases back to my car. I walk down the street and can't find my car until I see it.....

I have been sandwiched in given only one inch on the back side of my car and only about two inches between me and the front car. Now what??? I panic, my heart starts racing, I jump to conclusions.


"How long will I be stuck here?"
"How the H am I going to get my car out?"
"What if they never come back?"
"Who can I call?"
"Why did this happen to me?"
"I'm never leaving the suburbs again!!!!"


On and on went my thinking until I finally sat down under a tree and started to think.


A few angry texts to friends, a call to the non-emergency police (who did nothing) and 90 minutes later...my car was free as the young boys came back to their car (the front one).  In my anger, I yelled at them, but they proceeded to just drive away.


My challenge to you as I start this blog is to think about somewhere in your life you are STUCK.  Stuck in a job you do not like, a relationship you are unhappy with, a health and wellness state that is not healthy, not getting enough sleep, and the list goes on. Often we get wrapped up in our thoughts (as I did above) and our anxiety raises and we can't move forward.


Once you have identified how you are STUCK, take out a piece of paper.  Write down just one thing to do this week to move you out of STUCK.  Share your idea with someone.


As simple as this sounds, I get stuck with my electronics before bed which makes me stay up later than I should. My goal (after the Olympics) is to put my phone and computer away an hour before bed.


Sleep is so important for so many health reasons. I have attached an article below on the importance of sleep.


http://experiencelife.com/article/sleep-deficit-the-hidden-debt-thats-hurting-us-all/




Have a great week!

Welcome!

.... to my new blog - Laughing and Learning with Lindsey.


I have decided to start a blog in order to share with you funny things in life that will hopefully make you laugh.  But I also want to share articles, tips, and fun facts relating to overall health and wellness. There will be information about nutrition, wellness, fitness, exercises, sleep, goal setting, prioritizing, etc. If there is something in particular you want to learn about, please let me know!


My hope is that you will take time to laugh, learn, and share with your family and friends.