This week I have been intrigued by the happenings on the playground. Now I haven’t actually been on a playground this week, but I drive by one quite often at noon and I am curious about what I see. This week, with the beautiful weather, if no one is behind me, I stay a little longer at the stop sign and I watch and wonder…
It seems as if there is always a group of girls tucked in the corner along the fence. They are sitting in a circle and it appears they may be playing house. They skip, they link arms, they seem to often be talking….
There are groups of boys towards the center of the field. They are usually playing a game of some sort that involves running or tackling, and it seems at least one in every group is in the process of falling or on the ground.
And then there is a boy in an orange jacket. He is tall and lanky and he is walking alone. I have seen him alone each day I have driven by. He is walking circles of sorts in the middle of the field. I wonder if the other kids see him. I wonder if he feels lonely walking in the midst of the activity that surrounds him. I wonder what the thoughts in his mind are….
And I wonder what we learned to believe about ourselves on the playground way back when….
And I wonder how we can ensure as adults that we don’t lose the freedom and ability to play….
And I wonder about the kids I have stopped to watch this week…
And I wonder what their stories are…
And I wonder if the playground is a place where they forget about their struggles and have fun just playing….
Tonight I am ending my day with a sweet feeling in my heart.
I spent the last hour talking to a friend. In the last hour I have laughed and cried. I have listened to my friends story and I have shared some of mine. I have listened well and I feel heard. I am thankful for this girlfriend and her commitment to our friendship!
We shared heartache, dreams, longings, frustrations and hope!
I was reminded how good it is to pick up the phone and connect…
I wonder who you have been wanting to call. I encourage you to pick up the phone and share some time with a friend or family member. I often resort to email or Facebook. I am reminded tonight, there is nothing like hearing each others voices!
Three weeks from today, January 29, I will be settling in for my first night at U1st Fitness in Sugar Land Texas. I met my dear friend O’Neil in November of 2010. He has been a great encouragement to me to stay focused and continue to pursue my wellness journey.
You can visit the U1st website at http://u1stfitness.com/index.html to learn more about it, but the following is a bit of how U1st Fitness came to be. “O’Neal Hampton and Cherita Andrews both former contestants on Season 9 of NBC’s top rated show “The Biggest Loser” have joined forces to create a fitness experience that’s not just about losing weight but about gaining life. The life changing journey that O’Neal and Cherita began 2 years ago ignited a passion in both to help people realize the same “new beginning” they did. Out of that passion U 1st Fitness was born.”
But I must say that I have a pretty good perspective on wellness by now. I know that one week out of 52 will not make me successful in my goals. My success will come from being faithful every day of every week of the year in my diet, exercise and sleep routines. So, why do I go? I do believe it will remind me what I am made of and that I have what it takes to reach my goals. It will give me a community of support and expertise and I know for sure that one week WILL expand my world.
And so as I thought about what am I doing to prepare in these coming weeks, I realized that I hadn’t really set my challenge goal for the year yet. Well, not until today. I am committing to 10,000 steps every day for 2012. In order to achieve this goal, I will be required to set some new habits. I find that I am enjoying strength training more than cardio workouts and I need to keep my feet moving every day, without excuse.
And so, every day I will wear my Fitbit (http://www.fitbit.com/home) and count my steps and commit to hitting 10,000 before I sleep every night. I have a routine of settling in and blogging and that now feels like my routine. I am ready for a new challenge. Will I make it for 365 days straight, that is yet to be known. I want to set a high goal for myself and have grace for myself if there is a day or two or three that I don’t achieve my goal for good reason. It is less about if I make the mark and more that hitting 10,000 steps will come as naturally as a daily blog!
Why don’t you order up a Fit Bit or pick up a pedometer and join me in the challenge.It is a great activity towards a successful PhD. http://trishborgdorff.com/2012/01/05/
Opportunity is always present in the midst of crisis
The Chinese word for crisis carries two elements, danger and opportunity. No matter the difficulty of the circumstances, no matter how dangerous the situation, … at the heart of each crisis lies a tremendous opportunity. Great Blessings lie ahead for the one who knows the secret of finding opportunity within each crisis.
I read this last week and have found it very interesting to think about and share in conversation. I have been thinking about scenes from my own story and considering where and how times of crisis were perhaps also filled with opportunity. Some of those I had been aware of, but some are coming clear as I reconsider those situations….
I wonder about your scenes of crisis. Are you able to identify the opportunities that lie within? Perhaps you are living out something today that feels more bleak than hopeful. Consider taking a look at the situation from a new angle, perhaps could there be some hidden blessings of opportunity? I do believe that there are times when we may not see that opportunity for a very long time….
I really like this Chinese symbol…and IF I was up for a second tattoo, I might consider this as a reminder, but I am not, so I will just come back to my blog to read it when I need a reminder!
Some know my Aunt Dot as Dorothy, others who know her well may call her just plain Dot. There are lots of us who have always known her as Aunt Dot and now there is a whole next generation who call her Beppe Dot. She has a variety of names, but one things is for sure, she is loved by many!
Aunt Dot is the youngest sister in the Kuperus family. She is quiet by nature and doesn’t require or demand much of anything. She is self -sufficient and can handle life in an amazing fashion. She is well-respected at work, productive and proficient in most things she does and she can handle the snow blower, home repairs, workshop tools and anything a garage houses in amazing fashion! She has always had a place at the Borgdorff family dinner table, a room on our family vacations and a very special spot in our hearts.
I am fortunate to also be neighbors with Aunt Dot. When I bought my house almost ten years ago, I never would have dreamed that my Aunt would also be someone I enjoy seeing every day. It is not uncommon for us to share conversation, laughter, tears, a walk, a meal or a glass of wine together….
She has been a role model for me in how to live well as a single woman. She paved the way and I believe modeled that being single is a very acceptable way of living. I am so thankful for the woman she is and all she offers. She is the editor of our family news letter Treasured Ties and she values documenting the legacy of our family story. We are all blessed in so many ways through all Aunt Dot so generously offers.
Aunt Dot (far left) joins us Borgdorff women on every girls outing we enjoy!
Aunt Dot, Happy Happy Birthday. I hope this coming year is filled with good moments and memorable experiences. I am thankful for the travel partner you are for me and enjoy visiting London, South Africa, Hawaii, California, Washington, Nebraska, (and many more places) with you. But even if we are just walking around the block, your interest in my day-to-day life and honest feedback you offer is welcome and appreciated. I love you and celebrate you today! ♥
Anne, Trish and Olivia at my Tapestry Party
And Olivia Grace, my sweet sweet niece. Happy 15th birthday to you today. You remain full of wonder and life. I marvel at how your middle name really does reflect how you engage so much of life. I have seen you offer grace to many with such beauty. You bring a radiance that is contagious, even over Facebook!
You are willing to speak your mind but listen to others, stand firm in what you believe and invite others to be curious about what they believe, express your creativity in the wild colors of your hair and still have great understanding and respect for those who express themselves differently. I admire how you are rarely at a loss for a kind word or encouraging act and I see how you make choices every day to believe the best in someone. That is an amazing gift you offer many!
Olivia Grace, I hope you continue to dream big, live boldly, love deeply and marvel at the work of God through you and around you. Remember that to love people well is painful sometimes and to allow others to love you is a big risk sometimes, but in the end, when you love and are loved, life with be filled with many good moments!
Janneke, Anne, Noah, Sonta, Olivia, Jean Marc and Ellie at my Tapestry Party
I want to end with one of my favorite pictures from my tapestry party. It doesn’t include all your cousins, but it is a beautiful picture to me of how you are all growing up. You are no longer the mob of little kids when we all gather, you are all now individual young people with hearts that love God and your family. You are funny, engaging, goofy and sometimes loud. But I am proud of you and love the young woman you are. Happy 15th birthday Livi Lou. Enjoy all life has for you and it is my hope you will live it fully in the daytime and rest deeply every night, knowing you are not only deeply loved but also very well liked! ♥
My brother Len and I celebrating a beautiful day in April of 2000
As I reflect on my years of education, I can easily remember that school did not come easily for me. I learned to give it my all and managed to graduate from Holland Christian, Calvin College and Western Michigan University.
And so over the last few years I have been pursuing my PHD. Now this is different from my Bachelors of Science in Recreational Therapy or my Masters in Social Work. This is years of focus and lots of dollars in the area of Personal Health and Development. This learning has not been done in the classroom. These are lessons mostly learned in the gym, in the great outdoors or in the kitchen!
As I thought about my many sessions with varied personal trainers, I was struck by how my journey to my PHD parallels my academic journey.
Although each of my personal trainers have different styles and challenge me to complete a wide array of exercises, each of them has pushed me to my point of weakness. It is difficult to feel confident for longer than a moment, because if I can achieve something, adjustments are made to challenge me yet again. I have had to learn to trust that the vision my trainer holds for me is going to produce a sweet outcome some day. Honestly though, in the moment, it can feel discouraging when fatigue sets in. I must remember to speak positive thoughts about my potential and not listen to messages in my mind of perceived weakness or failure…
I had to battle those same messages when I was pursuing an education. Today, I am thankful and proud of my educational journey. It was not easy and I had to push through many difficult moments. I have faces of teachers and professors who served as educators, coaches and encouragers. I thought of quitting often and yet I persevered. I face the same struggles in the pursuit of my PHD. I desire to have a life long commitment to my Personal Health and Development. In order to journey that well, I must remember that to be pushed to my point of weakness and to remain committed to the task at hand, will produce sweet results….in time.
I wonder where you are avoiding facing your weakness’? I wonder what it would take for you to strive towards a goal just beyond your reach? I wonder what you would need to tell yourself when your inclined to take the easy way out and quit when coming face to face with your weakness’?
Won’t you journey with me on your path to Personal Health and Development?
I wonder if there is anything better than freedom…
I have heard stories from a dear older man who speaks of the freedom after being a prisoner of war….
I have sat with men and women who have journeyed through childhood abuse and years later found freedom by embracing their stories….
I have witnessed individuals walk out of the cancer center, finding freedom from their chemo and radiation treatments….
Freedom comes in many shapes and sizes…..
I believe we are all held hostage by something on this side of heaven. Perhaps it is addiction, fear, abandonment, anger, shame, bitterness….
Perhaps you find freedom in one area only to lose a piece of yourself to a new battleground…
I believe that the journey to freedom is a journey worth traveling. I wonder what you would name as something that keeps you from living fully alive?
I wonder what you would name as something that you long to be free from…
I invite you to look at this picture and marvel at the journey to freedom. It is an everyday journey, but freedom can be found! And when freedom is found, freedom should always be celebrated!
I like the focus I feel of the first week of the year.
I like thinking strategically and intentionally and wondering, dreaming and hoping about what this year will hold.
Today I found that I began to wonder where my heart will ache this year? Where will I be disappointed? Where will I grieve? Will I be faced with saying good-bye to someone I love? Will I encounter illness in my own life or in those I love? Will I experience events or relationships in my life that are painful before I see them as valuable….
The unknowns of 2012 might be filled with wonder and joy and there may be seasons of despair or sorrow. And most days will likely fall somewhere in between. As I was thinking through this one of my favorite songs came on. It fit with my wondering and it is a song I will play often throughout 2012….(the first two verses speak to what I believe and the last four speak to the journey of living.)
Last year I selected a word that I wanted to be a theme in 2011. My word for 2011 was movement. This was about movement in all areas of my life. I do believe that I lived true to my word this past year. It is not over, I continue to strive for movement that will benefit my body, mind, heart and soul! To read about my 2011 word, visit my blog http://trishborgdorff.com/2011/01/09/what-is-your-word/
And so I have been thinking and contemplating what word might carry me through 2012. I pondered many of them, but I believe the word for 2012 is……
I would like to live with a stance of curiosity in my own life and with each person I interact with every day. I would like to be curious to understand, to listen, to know more….I would like to drop any sense that I may give out that I know better or have an answer for someone else’s life. If I am going to commit to curiosity, I must recognize that it takes time to live with curiosity. I can not commit to being curious and run in and out of people’s lives. In my commitment to being curious, I am committing to taking time to wonder about my own journey and the journey’s of others…
I like the idea of a year of curiosity. I am curious what it might teach me and how it will enrich me. I wonder where it will lead me on my own journey and with others….
I wonder what word will mark your year….
It would be fun to have you respond with a word….I am curious!
I think this quote is quite appropriate for today’s post. I spent a good part of this evening mapping out my calendar for 2012. I have never really done that for the year, but I am aware of a few things as I consider what I want 2012 to look like…
I have really embraced the truth that Failing to Plan is Planning to Fail….
I realize that often the ruts I am living in (and complaining about) are because of my lack of planning. I have an odd sense of adrenalin tonight as I wrap up getting all my board meetings on my calendar, considering my workout goals and when I will be working out each day in January, setting up my finances on Mint.com and mapping out my nutrition goals for January as well. Now, as I planned, I spent less time on Facebook and still have to catch up on my Words with Friends and Scrabble turns, but I feel a different sense of order. I believe that planning will take discipline and time, and the benefits will be much greater than the cost!
I love the free-spirited spontaneous side of me. I also realize that my strengths can be my struggles. I am very aware that often my spontaneous ways can take me out of what I was planning to do. I once learned that every time I say YES to something, I say NO to something else. It is a basic principle and one I look forward to allowing this to guide my commitments in 2012. I practiced tonight when I was scheduling a massage appointment. The appointment I was offered was a later evening appointment, but it would likely get me home late and that would result in a difficult morning following for my workout. I realized that it was not imperative that I had a massage right away and I could wait a few days and get a late afternoon appointment, which would allow me to stick with my plan. Saying No to an evening massage appointment allowed me to say yes to my new routine.
I have many goals I set in 2011 that I did not reach. I have new goals for 2012 which I want to believe with everything in me, that I will reach. I want to look ahead and live in the wonder of the unknown. I want to focus on the opportunity of tomorrow and delight in what each moment holds. I want to live intentionally, with a healthy balance of freedom and routine. I know what my goal weight is that I plan to reach, but I want to focus even more on having a generous, compassionate and tender heart. I want to know the feeling of a good workout, but experience even more, the wonder of sitting with friends or family in celebration or sorrow. I want to find time to listen well, share a smile, ignite laughter and unite my heart with others as I journey to my heart!
I hope you will join me this year and share with me as you also journey to your heart….for it is when we live from our heart, that we offer those around us a gift of great value!
Journey on my friends….2012 is upon us and waiting to be experienced! ♥
