Day Four: Are We Having Fun Yet?

On "Day Four" of our challenge, it is quite possible that our initial enthusiasm may be starting to get splashed a few drops of discomfort. Not that we would pretend there is NO discomfort in a challenge. In fact, most challenges of this nature have some (or a lot of) discomfort, stress, struggle, or even pain. The point is not simply to experience or even seek discomfort, as the ascetics might have done.

The point here is that, by challenging ourselves to do something beyond our present ability, we will actually improve ourselves. Get better. Grow. Develop. Strengthen. If you look up the definition of challenge, you will find among its meanings the idea of simulating especially by presenting difficulties (Merriam Webster online dictionary).

It's not about the difficulties; it's about what the difficulties stimulate. That principle applies across many domains, from plant and animal biology to human psychology. And, because we as individuals are really a complex of biology and sentience (awareness, ability to perceive sensations), we have the potential to become better, stronger organisms, depending on our response to challenge.

If - no, when - we find ourselves asking, "Are we having fun yet?" as we're stretching ourselves with more walking, planking, swimming, biking, reaching out socially, kettlebells (those MUST count here), we're probably in the right place. Doing a challenge, we need to be aware of those sensations; and we need to recognize that those difficult sensations can stimulate growth at many levels:  personal, emotional, cognitive, social, physical, and more. When we recognize this, we have the potential to "embrace" challenges and respond by growing.

When you find yourself at a growing edge in your life, you probably will experience some less-than-pleasant sensations. Knowing what you know, look for how you can grow stronger in the face of that  unpleasantness.

Day Three: 730 Days Later...

Our first Day Three was two years ago - 730 days, more or less. What can happen over 730 days? In particular, how can a four-week "fitness challenge" bring about a change? Basically, I think the most significant change is perspective; 730 days ago, my perspective was that a fitness challenge was about fitness - doing something active for a month to "get in better shape."

I don't deny that this can happen. but taking part in a simple challenge can actually have a more gradual, but broader, impact on your whole life. Doing the challenge once activates something in your motivation system - literally. If you can identify some aspect of your own wellness, and then actually do something intentional and positive to improve your wellness, you have not only flashed your motivational circuits. You have turned the switch ON, even if for a month. I didn't say "just" a month.  A month is a significant amount of time to sustain a new behaviour.

What I'm driving at with the 730 days thing is this: if you did this challenge, and then came back and did it again a year later, your perspective will have changed. You are no longer someone who did a challenge once (which, incidentally, is an accomplishment). Your view of yourself has been indelibly altered by your accomplishments. Once is great. Twice is awesome. And if you are at it again for the THIRD time, you are demonstrating a trend.

I have been grappling with the whole idea of what happens to you when you do "self-improvement" kinds of things on a regular basis, but has just been coming into focus this year as we approached the third annual challenge. Change over time shows trends, so, if you are trending up and to the right on your personal wellness activities, it says something about you.

My hope is that you have found the motivation to try this challenge. If you have taken part in previous wellness challenges, I encourage you to reflect on how your perspective of your own wellness has changed over time. You are no longer the same.  I would argue that your ability to tackle and accomplish challenges has significantly improved.  Way to go!

Day Two: Enthusiasm

Some days, you are sitting at the computer writing your blog post when your house phone suddenly rings. It's barely 7:00am! You answer the phone, and excited young voices compete to tell you how many kettlebell swings they have done (two more than their dad, incidentally), or how many minutes of plank they did until they got busy (watching their iPad). You hear the details sprinkled in the conversation and then, in a flurry, it is over. Wow! What was that?

Well, basically, it was enthusiasm. Not even bottled up like adults are so good at doing. This was just crazy, wild enthusiasm. Spiced up with a bit of competiveness. Okay - quite a bit. But it was the enthusiasm that is still ringing in my ears. I'm going to bring it to work with me today. I bet it will even last a few days.

Enthusiastic people have an impact on others. If you have sails, enthusiastic people fill them. And full sails drive you forward.

So, THANKS, Mac and Casey, for the great surprise call today. Hearing about your hard work and feeling your enthusiasm makes me want to do better. Enthusiasm is infectious, meaning it easily spreads from an enthusiastic person to those around. Keep up the great work!!

Let's Get Started!

Alright - we're off again! It's been just two years since we started the 10,000 Kettlebells for Parkinson's challenge. If you've been with us since then, I trust you are now starting to benefit from the "lessons learned" aspect of repeating a challenging experience.

My own understanding of the idea of "wellness" has been turbo-charged, and it has widened my field of view considerably. Wellness goes well beyond just "physical fitness", although that certainly is a component. So whatever you've chosen to do for your own personal fitness challenge this February, I salute you and encourage you to spread the word.

Let's get started!