Getting back on track

Yeah, I haven’t ran in a while, once again.

Through the busyness of my life, I have resorted to the old, fast food eating habits that I keep vowing to change from, and now I’m the heaviest I’ve been in a long time. Also, there’s been so much snow and so much cold that running outside, my favorite form of exercise, hasn’t been appealing to me.

It’s the excuses I keep coming back to for years. At least I am honest with myself that I’ve lost track of my goals, but that’s still no excuse.

On the bright side, it inspired me to schedule my first doctor’s appointment. Once I hear what part of my health I should work on, such as my blood pressure, then that usually motivates me to get back on track.

I still have one of my New Year’s resolutions that I’m working to keep — run in 10, 5K events this year. I have already browsed through Facebook and noticed the first one I intend to run: the Des Moines St. Paddy’s Half Marathon & 5K.

I’m also looking forward to seeing what Newton has to offer when it comes to running events. When the snow is gone, that is.

One other thing I have to make sure I’m doing every day is making my own breakfast. Too often lately, I’ve been finding myself rushing to get out the door , go to work and to a gas station to buy snacks to fuel my day.

If I can wake up a bit earlier and take the time to make something healthy such as a fruit smoothie, give myself the energy I need for that day while saving a couple bucks.

As important as physical health is, mental health is equally as important. It can get so easy to get caught up in our jobs, school work or any sort of training that even a gloomy mood or a forgetful mind can occur.

To combat this, meditation is usually my solution. Just eight minutes a day of me sitting upright in a chair with my eyes closed, focusing on my breathing and the sounds around me as if those thoughts are clouds passing through the sky that is my mind.

The other thing I do, aside from eating healthy, is play the kindness game. I make a list in my head of all the good deeds I have ever witnessed in my life and let that fuel my soul. I learned that form of kindness meditation after watching the epilogue of “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 2.” It’s the ending scene Jennifer Lawrence’s character explains how she uses that game to cope with the nightmares she’s had from what she was put through.

Any of those things, I’ll have to try. Or I might have to find and try something new to get back on track with my health. These old, unhealthy habits will have to go, one way or another.

Whatever it takes.

Contact Orrin Shawl at
oshawl@newtondailynews.com