How Exercise and Fitness Brings Friends and Families Closer | Tony ...
How Fitness, Faith and Mindfulness Brings Friends and Families Closer
It?s Spring and that equates to a bit of craziness in the Caldicott household. Dance recitals, baseball playoffs, track meets, soccer tournaments, 1st communions, graduation ceremonies, and teenagers stressed by final exams are just some of the items that fill our calendar. I?ve noticed that over the past few weeks our family has become so focused on what needs to get done and where everyone needs to be that we?ve distanced ourselves from each other and from the outside world.
Thankfully, the one event we do together is attending our Sunday service. This morning?s service was particularly inspirational?so much so that even my teenagers
commented on the words of our priest as we exited church. Today is the Feast of
the Holy Trinity for Christians. Our priest began by talking about how we all
tend to distance ourselves from others. He joked about how difficult it is to
get a human being on the phone with you call a business and how little we tend
to know or care about our closest friends and family these days. The Holy
Trinity means God is a three-Person but one God, a Triune God on which our
faith is firmly anchored. God communicated Himself and the Trinitarian family
to mankind in a language that could be felt, touched, heard, and easily
understood. The essence of today?s celebration is understanding that He cares for us and is not a distant God. Through Jesus Christ, God also revealed his main attribute which is love. ?God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son? (Jn 3:16). Jesus further said: ?If anyone loves Me, he will keep my word. Then my Father will love him and We shall?make our dwelling place with him? (Jn 14,23).
Love is the bond that unites the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Thus the more we
practice love, the more we live the Trinity not as an incomprehensible mystery,
but as a living, vibrant reality. Isn?t it funny then that so often when life
takes over we don?t focus on outwardly love? Simple compliments, acts of
kindness and gestures that can have a hugely positive impact on someone?s day
go by the wayside because we are so focused on ourselves.
This week, I offer some ideas to strengthen your family unit and yourself in Mind,
Body, and Spirit in celebration of the Holy Trinity.
- Exercise?together. (Well you know I was going to say this, didn?t you?!!) But
seriously I have heard countless stories from couples and families who?ve told
me that when they starting focusing on their health TOGETHER and supported and encouraged one another TOGETHER, ?they not only got great results but they became closer to one another and their love for each other was strengthened. Just this morning I heard from a friend who was inspired to go out for a run in the rain because her daughter inspired her by doing the same. Last week I heard from a couple who said their marriage was stronger than ever (and yes, the sex life too) because they?ve been doing P90X
together and ?lost a combined 50 lbs. Even I got an hour of quality time with my 15 year-old because he joined me in doing the P90X Chest and Back routine. We joked and struggled together during that hour and as a mom of a teenage boy, you may know how precious that time was to me. - Actively celebrate your faith together. Yes, there are many weeks when my
kids will complain about taking an hour out each week to attend our Sunday
service. Kids want constant stimulation and to be entertained, and let?s face
it, church is not always stimulating
However, I remind them that it is the
one hour per week when we can truly give thanks to God for all that we are
blessed with and to pray for those that are less fortunate than us. Our faith
is not just celebrated under the roof of a building with a cross above. It is
celebrated in the choices we make and how we behave every day. It is celebrated
by having discussions with our kids about what the scripture means and how it
impacts our lives. It is celebrated when we are in the car talking with our
teenager about life. My kids have many friends who don?t have a faith at all.
They joke that they are agnostic. I truly find that so sad. Your faith, not
matter what it is, is the compass that steers you through life. - Expand your mind and learn together. This is an area that doesn?t take
a big trip to a museum or involvement in a book club. There is a big world out
there and especially for teenagers, their lives can become consumed by their
studies and their after school activities. Sure, they are learning a lot in
school, but I also feel it?s critical to expose them to things that teach them
life lessons and help them keep an open mind. Even adults can get caught up in
their own filters of how they view the world and judge other people and it?s
important for us to do things that help us become more objective. We carpool
with another family to my son?s club soccer practices and games. Often these are
long rides in the car. When our son is riding in the car with this other
family, they listen to NPR (National Public Radio).? They listen, discuss, debate and laugh about
the great programs that public radio has to offer. Wow, getting your teenager
away from a pop music station even for 10 minute is worth it!! We also love to watch the History Channel and shows that teach us about other parts of the world. Or, how about allowing everyone to take a section of the Sunday newspaper and have each person tell the family something interesting they read? Whatever you do, take the time to become closer by learning something new together.
My Weekly Accountability Plan to You
My Beachbody 21-day Reset ended last Tuesday. I?m still eating clean and continue
to make many of the recipes I discovered through the Reset. Here is my workout report
from last week and workout plan for this week:
Wednesday: P90X Chest and Back, 5am?DONE
Thursday: 3 mile run at the track, 8 100
yard sprints and 10 sets, 15 each ab work, 6pm?DONE
Friday: P90X Plus Upper Body Plus and Abs Core Plus, 6pm?DONE
Saturday: Hot Power Yoga, 10 am?DONE
Today: Insanity Pure Cardio, 7 am?DONE
Monday: TH One-on-One Series 30/15 Routine and P90X Ab Ripper, 7 am
Tuesday: P90X Plus Intervals, 5:00 am
Wednesday: P90X-2 Shoulders and Arms, 5:00 am
Thursday: Insanity Plyo Cardio Circuit or go
for 4.5 mile run, 5:00 am
Friday: P90X Legs and Back and Ab Ripper, 7:00 am
Saturday: Bikram Hot Yoga, 8 am and potential UML workout at Boston P90X Certification
?
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By Phil Blain.
Today?s guest post is from Liz Jostes.