Walking

This past week I have rediscovered the joy of an early, brisk walk. Since I started working out consistently to take better care of my body, I started walking... Considering myself a sedentary person before, walking was an easy and confortable approach to exercise... I only needed to grab my sneakers and had some confy clothes... And voilá!

But my morning walk proved to be different in many ways... First, I really liked it very much. Not only because I started to notice some physical changes, that helped me to continue being motivated... But some intelectual and spritual changes too!

My morning walk has helped to define and organize my day in a better way! The music I walk to, help me relax, energize or simply continue to be or feel the way I wake up... Music and walking have help me in relaxing and being more focused... While walking, I also meditate and reflect on issues that I consider important to achieve during the day, on sharing with my hubby and the girls... Or I get ideas that I need to put in writing like these posts or things that needed to be done! It' also a great opportunity to enjoy nature... Love to watch the changing colors in the sky!

Maybe in the future, I will start running (I have the dream of running at least a half-marathon), but first I need to prepare my body in a better way... Meanwhile, I will truly enjoy my morning walks!! Give it a try, you'll enjoy it! Happy trails!

Ps: In case you are wandering... I walk for 45-60 minutes daily (including weekends) or at least 5 times a week, in order to make it a great cardio routine!

Circle of Influence

Yesterday, I didn't post... Although I didn't forget about my daily post, I really wasn't in the mood for writing... After finding out that the great Facundo Cabral was shot and killed in Guatemala; I was very impressed and with lots of emotions... I'm certain that many people will write about him and about our country...but I don't want to...

I'm determined to write about my memories and let me explain... I want to share experiences that have been significant in my life, good or bad; and that's why I'm not going to write about the latest news in Guatemala... I'll write about how we can change to make better headlines...

I believe that we live in a what I call a "circle of influence"... Given that we daily interact with many people our actions, thoughts and emotions have a deep signifance in the lives of the ones we relate to. Don't be skeptical, we are constantly on the spotlight and sometimes we are not even aware. In my case, being a mother, I try to always remember the "do as I do, not as I say" motto; although sometimes it has been very difficult, even impossible.

I believe that we can change the world by behaving well,really! By respecting others, no matter how different they are from us, no matter how bewildered we are by their ideas... I believe that even from the outrageous we can learn... And as many persons are influencing us, we are doing the same to them and others... As confusing as I may sound, I just wanted to make you reflect and think and pause for a moment... You too, are on the spotlight and your thoughts and actions are being observed, analized, imitated and even judged... Creepy and/or scary? Maybe... But meaning that we have the power to change and influence others do so...

But with a significant clarification from me... My peronal mantra: My thoughts and actions are only mine, and will reflect me... meaning that I will think before I act or express my thoughts; respecting others... My thoughts and actions will not come of others' decisions or coercion to fit in, to be trendy or to be accepted... We we start to truly value individuality and uniqueness; we will discover the inmense treasure everyone has inside.

Individuality is an amazing gift and by embracing it I will accept my failures, value my capacities and always remember that people around me will be influenced by me... A little or a lot, so why not make it positive and worthwhile??

So as one final thought, headlines in Guatemala can be very tragic and negative... But we have the power to change that... I can do it and you can too!!

"Always with what you have, you can, you must start again. You have the duty to be happy." Facundo Cabral