Lessons Learned from 1 Million Steps in 100 Days

“I move, therefore I am.” 

– Haruki Murakami 

Japanese Writer

(b. 1949)

While I am not professing my being "grounded" is better or worse than anyone else experiencing Safer at Home and/or Stay at Home, I have been grounded from flying, and with 60%+ of my business coming from outside Florida, it has certainly been a change.

While I have been a workout warrior for many years in order to maintain health and stamina, process through ideas emotionally and physically as the sweat left my body.

With such a change in our dynamic regarding moving about the country, I decided to take movement to a new level by committing to 10,000 steps a day for 100 days. It was about being focused, committed and yes, scheduled at 5:00 AM to get those steps in before sunrise through running or walking or both.

Three people joined me at different times, Lynn, Supna and Michael. Thank you! Each day, I offer 😃 smiles, 👋 waves, and verbal “Good morning!” greetings to those I encountered.

On the day 1 MILLION steps were exceeded by tracking the #10000StepsToSunrise this past  Monday, the 100th day as we remained  #SocialAtADistance the entire time once we were directed. In counting steps, masks, dolphins, people and more...mostly I realized, I was counting my blessings of a new day each sunrise! This was a #KindnessNeedNotBeQuarantined project filled with hope, movement, happiness and health!

Lessons learned included:
1) Routines serve us well if they are well-serving routines.
2) Blisters can "grow" on other blisters, and yet walking or running with blisters is possible.
3) Most people respond to a smile with a smile, and to a "Good morning" with a "Good morning", and a wave with a wave or a nod.
4) Not all people will come around to engaging with others, and that's okay.
5) No matter what is going on in the world, paying attention in your community, and being present in your community is important.
6) Kindness counts. Kindness doesn't go out of style. It's not too early or too late for kindness.
7) Goals are good, and goals drive us to keep moving.
8) Sharing a message and/or a photo each day is about sharing with others to let an experience and a story become part of theirs.
9) Letting something, a person, an experience, or something else evolve can be a way to make that experience become bigger and better than it would be if it were planned.
10) Even though 1 Million steps were taken in those 100 days, a project becomes a passion when the days and numbers fade, and the memories and learnings shine!

Directing Energy Positively!

"People like to be around those who give off positive energy."
~ Erin Heatherton
American Model.
(b. 1989)

Sure, the days can sometimes feel long, and the nights can seem short. It's true. It's been true long before this time in history. That sense is in our mind, and it also can be real. That sense of "a lot", if not considered and owned for change, becomes burdensome, and then, it becomes part of our narrative internally.

Thoughts like this can become words that support that disposition, and such a disposition of not having enough time or feeling taxed leads to language that positions us as lacking in ownership or perspective regarding time and productivity.

People have been claiming that they are busy, too busy, or so busy for quite some time. It seems innocent, and yet it tells ourselves and others nothing other than the fact that we are not owning our time and energy.

Changing language to productive, productivity, and accomplishment says to each of us that we are in control of the time we have available. It's not just about the words, it is about the attitude and actions that follow. Being focused on busy keeps one in that place of circling, where putting energy towards productivity leads the attitude and actions toward getting things done.

Similarly, many do not want to be scheduled too much, so there is a resistance to make a schedule because it feels confining or burdensome. Really, though, calendaring, booking, and having order leads to being structured. Structured days, and therefore, structured people have organization and the ability to create boundaries to stay true to structure for the purpose of a sense of order and direction.

It's not that every day is to feel easy or light, rather it is about being able to assess and address each day, and each night with confidence in self through thoughts, words, and actions. Through those subtle changes, they will add up to a large change in how you direct yourself and your energy.

Allowing, embracing, and directing feelings from busy to productive & scheduled to structured is an empowerment practice for moving forward with strength and purpose!