Even retirees need a vacation

There is a face of a lucky man

Our vacations can help us with our health. Many people choose to do a vacation where walking, swimming, biking are part of the vacation. My cousin Rich and his son Hunter walked part of the Appalachian Trail on their vacation. Their walk was quite a workout at times. When you share a hard walk you build memories that will last forever. One late night, a bear walked right near their tent. They will never forget the sounds of footsteps as the bear walked by. Bears are always bigger in life encounters then what you see the zoo.

On my vacation there walks every day. My walks for shorter but they also included a daily swim. I did some swimming but mostly I ran around. The water exercises allowed me to really stretch out my muscles. As you get older and flexibility becomes a problem get into the water and move. In the gulf due to the salt content I am able to be in deep water moving my arms I'm running in place. I have my T-shirt and Straw hat to help protect me from sun as well as a good layer of sunblock. I can do this activity for a couple hours. Slept like a baby.

Walking the Appalachian Trail my cousin and son,
Hunter and Rich Reeves - awesome

On my list of workouts that I can do will be water resistance. 

I have my exercise bands with me was able to do four workouts. In the second week on the beach I took short walks each day. By the end of the week they were just a little bit longer. It was very hot in Florida and some of my medicines don't like to heat. There were days were aged indoor walks. I am a goal this summer to do 20 minutes. 

This sunset is for you

In two weeks in the airport I was able to do much better. Walking and breathing normal was significantly better. Vacations can be a plus to get moving again.

In the two weeks I was able to improve my bond with my grandkids. My granddaughter every day sought me out and we played together. Both of them came to me when they wanted something their parents had prohibited. We had a little fun within limits.

Barb and I listened to audio books as the sunset turned into dark. Visited some of our favorite restaurants. Being surrounded by family was really good even in record heat in Orlando. Give me the ocean any day to the work it takes to move in the amusement parks.

Keep moving and walking

Enjoying grandkids

I'm here in sunny Florida and enjoying the 97° heat. Actually I'm in the shade with the fan blowing on me looking at palm trees. Liam and Skyler are real troopers in the heat. They really enjoyed the Magic Kingdom, see world, and today the animal kingdom. The air-conditioning got to me and I was it with a cold. To see the delight in the children when they view the animals or go through some experience is really fun. Well and Tanya are fun to be with. 

The Disney people need to arrange trees and shade for people to walk through the park. Other times OK, but the summer need shade. Everybody is happy at 9 o'clock in the morning but the heat drains tour uncomfortable experience in the afternoon. At Disney World there long walks between events and making the walks more shady would encourage the costomers. 

Tomorrow Barb joins us on the West Coast for a week at the beach. This is always my favorite time. Keep walking

Confessions of a putter

"Make sure that God is in the center of everything you pursue today." Wayne Styles

Sometimes, more often than not, “Billy" (myself, not my son) I am more of a putzer. I move from one activity to another.  To be honest God isn't to far from my thoughts except when I am focused on this or that. I think God made us this way. Putzing is a way of wondering. 

Following, ferreting, seeking some interest is something I do pretty good. Such may interest no one but myself. 

It is good to read a line like what Wayne writes to break through the putzing to refocus a few moments asking what would God want me to do? Now don't assume God is against the putzing? It may be part of something God has for us. But it is also true God really wants to interrupt the putzing because it may be a waste of time. I have done this a few times. 

In the movie Dead Poets Society Robin Williams will be remembered much longer for his line, “Listen, you hear it? - - Carpe - - hear it? - - Carpe, carpe diem, seize the day boys, make your lives extraordinary.” In the film there are many lines of poetry where the boys are trying to live to the ideals of the poets. Sometimes the poets hit a home-run and sometimes they give us a red herring. Making the most of one’s day maybe in part what happens when we put God the center our lives. 

There is at least another element that is involved. Refocusing our mind on what is important, yes but putting God at the center also refocuses our mind on Him and opens up the door to his purposes. Now in the context of the Dead Poets Society this isn't what they really had in mind. For them the focus was human and not divine. When we re-center on God we don't have to worry that are human concerns will be ignored because he made us who we are. Again I go back to putzing maybe what God wants us to do at times. Now we are also including at the forefront God's perspective. Thought up on thought we put it into our lives principals that will bring full meaning into the phrase “seized today”.

Do you remember the story of Mary and Martha? Because of Jesus temporary stay in human terms, His teaching what's the thing to be seized at that time. Mary normally would have worked along side her sister in caring for the guests, but she chose instead to listen to Jesus teach. Wouldn’t you love to be able to listen to 20 minutes of Jesus teaching? My self I could listen for hours, if I only knew Aramaic. Preparing a meal, housework all good activities were a distraction at that time. Martha worried and concerned missed a great opportunity of listening to God. She knew the language. Jesus broke into her busy world, “only one thing is necessary,” "Make sure that God is in the center of everything you pursue today.”, rings true. 

As a putzer it is good for me to grasp something from God everyday. This is especially true since putzing can be a very self-centered activity. Whether is done in the kitchen like Martha or on the computer like me weekend mess what could be entirely the most important very easily. Putzing can make us unaware of the most human of relationships. Face to face encounters that are 10 times more important. And what is true up people is true of God as well. 

Up to 10 minutes now, it ain't pretty

I made my first 10 minute indoor jog in a few years. Running in place with a workout design for 26 minutes. Every 30 seconds is a body strength move like a squat, push up, side steps. Halfway through I did a stretch, and every minute I went for a run through the house. Now I have to admit that my jog what's more like a slog. No matter what it make look like I was able to take deep breaths throughout and my recovery took less than a minute. In about a half hour I'll take my bike ride. My goal in the summer is to be able to do 20 minute runs. 

Every other day I do my strength moves with dumbbells, TRX, or bands. Those of you who are getting older like me look into the bands. They vary with all types of resistance. You can start with light resistance for many exercises; but there are several exercises that you can do with a little more resistance. Using a bad with a squat can use resistance. In time, your lightweight band can be used for exercises to help your rotator cuff and you can move up a level with your curls or presses. Follow your doctor's orders, look into senior fitness training to how you can challenge yourself.

I am taking my time on running but I'm also moving forward as well. I can do the same program with indoor walking; but I would consider short bursts of running intervals. Either way I have to pay attention to what my body is telling me and if necessary slow down to get my heart rate in a healthy range. It's different when we are older. 

Jessica Smith has online programs for running. For me it
means no falls. Hurrah!

Actually when I reach my 20 minute goal, I may switch over to a walking program with the goal of doing aerobic walking 40 minutes. I tried this before but my back did not do well. Indoor biking helped to get me moving. In such a program I can speed up my walk for aerobic intervals and even run movements. In-home walking programs can also work on balance. I maybe moving ahead of myself right now because it is work to do this.

One thing that I've noticed from today's run how it improves blood circulation. In our senior years, daily walking or exercise goes right to our fight to build our immune system and improve her blood sugar, help keep our arteries clear and gives this muscle and bone to help us stay more independent. It may never be easy, challenges grow like tomatoes in summer. Keep walking