Author Archives: tam

Your Body Won’t Take Care Of Itself

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And neither will your mind.

Taking care of ourselves physically and mentally/emotionally takes time and thought. If we don’t do it, it’s not going to happen on it’s own. If you are feeling headachy, stressed, anxious, depressed, tingly, heavy or whatever else, here is a list of things I’ve tried and have found success in getting myself back into physical and mental shape.

1. Get a massage – I mentioned this in another post not so long ago. Just do it. Get all your knots worked out. You’ll thank yourself.

2. Try acupuncture – Get your energies balanced so your body can function properly and you can feel calm and relaxed.

3. Go to a naturopathic doctor – Try some herbal supplements to regulate your body naturally and without side effects. When your body feels healthy, your mind will follow.

4. Get outside – Engage in physical activity. Go walking, jogging, biking, hiking, yoga, or anything to get your blood flowing.

5. Meditate – Train your mind to be peaceful and serene.

6. Reduce your consumption of caffeine – Try decaf like I am to reduce the jitters and physical effects of anxiety.

7. Be social – Nothing takes your mind off your stressors like talking with friends or meeting new people.

8. Hypnotherapy or therapy – Let a trance and a calm voice help you work through limitations and/or talk through your stressors, anxieties, life with someone who knows nothing about you.

Taking care of your social emotional needs will help you stay physically healthy. Never dismiss the effect of your thoughts on your physical well-being.

Happy Sunday!

Race Frenzy

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Well, I did it.

I registered for 4 races! Ah! I feel better. Still deciding on a few more… but it’s a start.

Check out my race widgets for updated race events!

Missing All Those Races

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From September of last year to this past June, I participated in so many races. Fifteen from January to June alone. All over the city, Philly, DC, California. And now, only two races in the next three months.

I can’t stand it anymore! I need to go crazy and start registering for some! I have been holding off because of many upcoming changes and travel, but now that I have an idea of what’s happening in at least the next few months, I can go nuts registering!

Seriously! I miss the corrals, costumes, bibs, expos, medals, bagels, volunteers, scenery, everything! So here I go! By tomorrow, my widgets will be updated. First up will be finding one in or near Dublin, and then I will add to my September and October line up locally. Stay tuned! 🙂

lightlifealliance.com

lightlifealliance.com

Meat On Sticks

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I bet you thought of “Something About Mary” didn’t you? Well, that’s not where I’m going with this.

You see them in all urban areas, people with their signs who need help. Harmless, but it makes you wonder how people up this way.

So today as I walked by a young guy with his head down, reading his sign. I appreciated the fact that he would work for food. I walked a couple blocks and stopped at a food cart. Not just the hot dog cart, but the kebab cart. I actually took into consideration this guy’s need for appropriate food. What if he was allergic to the nitrites in the hot dog? Yes, I seriously think of these things.  So I went the kebab cart next to the hot dog cart, asked the cross-eyed gentleman for a chicken kebab and a water.

After the chicken was ready, I walked back the couple of blocks and said hello to the boy who is down on his luck.  He looked like he hadn’t eaten for a couple of days, or was coming off something, not sure. But regardless, he needed to eat.

When he looked up, his dreary eyes lit up as much as they could. He was happy in that moment. I saw gratitude. Definitely not like the time I bought a coffee for a lady and then she had the nerve to ask if I stirred it. He accepted the meat on the stick (and in a bun) with the water very graciously and carefully unwrapped it to eat. That meat on a stick made someone’s day today.

chicken-kebab-grt-lrg

I crossed the street and watched him enjoy his chicken. That made me smile.

 

The Red Haired Lady

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The red-haired lady adds her sense of style to my block. Her hair – red like kool-aid, yet it’s clearly not a kool-aid dye. But the color is definitely her.

She emanates old New York.  Her hair is elegantly styled and she’s dressed in the cutest outfits that add to her charm and appeal. Her tapestry bag at her side. In her bag? I have no idea, but I imagine it’s full of old letters from her deceased husband, scratch tickets, old newspapers from the 1940’s, maybe a picture of her cat with a crown.

She perches on one of the stoops along the blocks or in the worn-out office chair that stays outside the whole-in-the-wall magazine/lotto/candy stall. She just sits and observes, sometimes scratches her lotto tickets or reads the paper, smiling and enjoying her time.

Part of me envies her, having the respect of others or authority to sit in that chair.  She’s clearly build her relationship with the magazine/lotto/candy stall owner. I look for her daily, but she’s not always there. And I wonder where she is. I wonder where she lives and if I will see her again.

I wonder if she knows Gilligan, the man with the hat that sits at Pescatore.

Post Withdrawal

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I was looking at my post calendar and realized that I haven’t made a post in over a week! Egad! I am having withdrawals!

I came back late from California late on Tuesday night and headed to an awesome leadership event in Virginia the next day soooo I have neglected posting because I’ve been busy!

A few drafts are in the works and will finish those up in the next week. Stay tuned…

 

No Running For Four Days?!

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Don’t worry, this definitely doesn’t mean I was doing nothing. This trip to California was actually a great opportunity to do some cross training as part of my marathon training (or at least I tell myself).

So here’s the breakdown of activity since I’ve been here – 10 days so far.

Day 1 (Thursday 7/10): Paddle board yoga at Mission Beach and biking around Coronado Island

Day 2 (Friday 7/11): Morning 3.66 mile run, evening kayaking at La Jolla (complete with seeing baby seals in caves and dolphins swimming in pods!)

Day 3: (Saturday 7/12): Afternoon walk, probably 2-3 miles

Day 4 (Sunday 7/13): Morning 5 mile run

Day 5 (Monday 7/14): Morning 2 mile run, afternoon 4.5 mile walk

Day 6 (Tuesday 7/15): Morning CrossFit class

Day 7 (Wednesday 7/16): Afternoon 6.5 mile hike (I thought this was 8-9 miles, and it definitely felt like it) at Mount Woodson, evening kayak at Coronado

Day 8 (Thursday 7/17): Morning CrossFit class

Day 9 (Friday 7/18): Rest

Day 10 (Saturday 7/19): Morning 4.62 run so far… and just came back from a nice long walk (guessing 2-3 miles).

Upcoming:

Day 11: Chargers 5K Bolt to the Q. Had to sign up for a race here, it wouldn’t be right if I didn’t!

Day 12: probably another early run, hike, bike ride

Day 13: potential early morning run

I’ve rested this vacation but I’ve also kept my body very active – and it feels great! And when you have views like this, it’s easy to keep active outdoors. 🙂

Potato Chip Rock @ Mount Woodson

Potato Chip Rock @ Mount Woodson

Oops! I Forgot My Anniversary!

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As I was sitting here writing, reading, thinking – I realized that it was one year ago this month that I introduced Jibber Jabber & Happenstance to the blogosphere!

What? A year! Yes! I actually missed my bloggy anniversary on July 7th. How dare I? After all the writing, thinking, observing, thinking, writing, running, writing, finding pics… and I forgot?

Happy Bloggy Anniversary to me!

Thank you for all your follows, likes, comments, award nominations and time you take to read my daily life occurrences. I have learned a lot about myself as a writer, about people in my life, and what’s necessary for happiness. When we invest in ourselves, we can accomplish so much.

Thank you!

tmb

tolmanchronicles.blogspot.com

tolmanchronicles.blogspot.com

I Realize This

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I realize that my latest posts from let’s say – June until now, haven’t the most thought-provoking or super entertaining.

Some weeks I rely on posting a semi-pleasing visual to capture your attention for my JJ&H version of Wordless Wednesday or Throwback Thursday.

Well, I realize that there has been some lack-luster tidbits. And trust me, it’s bothersome.

However, I will let you know that there is a reason for this. There are just a bazillion thoughts in my head and my mind just doesn’t want to sort out the good stories this last little while. I guess you could say, my mind is a little tired, and maybe the stories I want to write are just not ready to be written yet. But don’t worry, they will come.

I always have a lot to say, sometimes too much. Organizing all the thoughts, ideas, word mirages in my mind takes longer than I want it to sometimes. And other times, the meaning of what I want to write has been lost somewhere in a muddle of thought or the abyss of time passing. But it’s there. Soon I will write about Sunscreen Lady and Gilligan again or other supporting characters in my life’s play book. I will write about characters who make me think about the seven billion lives that take space on this planet.

Sometimes that change of scenery, deep conversation and fresh perspective generate a spark for writing inspiration.