Monthly Archives: September 2013

Upside Down…You Turn Me Inside Out…

yoga-headstand

Hey! Welcome to 52 weeks until I’m 50 years old! Actually it’s now 15 weeks until I’m 50! If you are new to my blog, to the right are other subjects I’ve written about. Some may resonate with you or at least give you a chuckle. If you are counting down with me…holy crap! I’m in the last quarter of the year! I’m so glad you are still with me!

“I said, upside down, you’re turnin’ me, inside out, round and round you’re turnin’ me.” Ever hear that song by Diana Ross? I started singing that in my head the other day after reading an article in Women’s Health. Or maybe Men’s Health. I read them both just in case. I don’t want to miss anything just because I am the female gender! Maybe the Men’s Health has secrets for things I should know? The article was “Turn Your Workout Upside Down.” Great! Just when I thought I had figured it all out and Tony Horton training DVDs have beaten the crap out of me, I have to stand on my head? Really…what else could the “they’s” come up with to inspire people like me? I wonder if anyone else tries the crazy stuff I do sometimes. So, do you?

Think 40 years ago Randi. Remember when you could do handstands and headstands with no problem? Did I actually just write 40 years ago? These inverted positions have been credited with banishing back pain and improving how well you breathe! Well hell yeh! If you are standing on your head, you have to figure out how to breathe at almost 50! I remember gravity boots. Hmmm. Richard Gere sported them in American Gigolo. You probably don’t remember because why would you? Who was looking at his boots? And if all this sounds like a head rush… it is! I decided to give it a go and put my mat down, “place the crown of my head on the floor,” legs straight and heels touching the wall. You thought I would try this without the wall first? I decided that my head wasn’t made to be on the floor, but it may have been made to wear a “crown!” LOL! Have to say…my back felt great for a moment. But most of all, the world looks pretty interesting upside down. My kids laughed at me and told me I was the weirdest creature alive. Mission accomplished! I continually live up to that description and proud of it. Normal isn’t something I want to have as an adjective describing me.

There are five perks of going upside down. Healthy heart (reversing issues like an abnormal heartbeat), strengthening your diaphragm because you have to control breathing, ease back pain as upside down takes pressure off the disks, zeros in on your core/abs and research shows that inversions can decrease your body’s fight-or-flight response which can beat stress. If I could just find a way to make the floor softer it might be worth it!

Not willing to stand on your head? I do dig the other option for toning abs…the hula hoop. And now I can’t get the tune…”You spin my head right round, right round when you go down, when you go down…” “Just Do It!” Whatever the “it” is and have fun. Live fearlessly and let me know if you tried something that I “Just Have To Do!”

Thanks for visiting and I hope you had a chuckle. You can subscribe to be notified when I blog below by signing up, follow me on Twitter @GatorgirlPress or Twitter @Diningduchess, follow me on Facebook @RandiAileenPress or Facebook@DiningDuchess. Or if you’d like to write me directly, my email is randi@52TO50.com.

IT’S ONLY WORDS…AND WORDS ARE ALL I HAVE…

only-words

Hey! Welcome to 52 weeks until I’m 50 years old! Actually it’s now 16 weeks until I’m 50! If you are new to my blog, to the right are other subjects I’ve written about. Some may resonate with you or at least give you a chuckle. If you are counting down with me…Wow! What the hell!!! This year has flown and I’m starting to freak a little but… I’m so glad you are still with me!

I believe that the Bee Gees captured how profound words can truly be. The lyrics to this song, while short and concise are so meaningful to me with 16 weeks left until 50. Words are not only words to me. Followed by actions, your words spoken or written can define you, give you purpose and sometimes even inspire others. “Talk in everlasting words and dedicate them all to me, and I will give you all my life, I’m here if you should call to me.You think that I don’t even mean a single word I say, it’s only words and words are all I have to take your heart away.”

Do you ever feel like there’s many words that define you? Not sure you would want the rest of the outside world to know these words describe you? I started wearing my freak flag outside of me a while ago because I wanted to use the word “fearless” more often. I also love the word “fanatic” so I decided I would like to resemble one of those as well! Ha! And, the words “direct” and “concise” are two of my favorites because if you know me…I can ramble on for quite a while when I want to share something. I’m detailed and that takes time to explain so you can “see” my story and experience it…not only hear it. Blah blah blah blah blah blah! Yup. I am also “acutely aware” of my love of using words to express myself. I have my actions but together…the power of words and the follow-up is more real than anything else I can share with you.

I am speaking generally when I say that I’m surprised at how quickly people use judgement and words to define others. I hear it often. See it in writing also. Words that define another who they may not even truly know. I was horrified recently when I read a post by someone on Facebook that used the platform to slander another. I decided that day to no longer be part of that friendship and to share once again that I look for the positives in another or simply keep my mouth shut. Sometimes it’s a challenge to keep quiet but I find biting my lower lip is a great tool! And, afterwards I always feel better that I refrained. I mention that I don’t feel the same way so my silence isn’t supporting the others judgement. On the flip side, I am profoundly moved when I witness public admiration/love through words for another whether it’s in business or a personal relationship. I find myself moved and teary eyed. No, it’s not menopause and hormones although I am sure for others that may be true. It’s the realization that now is the time to say what we need to say and not wait any longer. Life is precious. Time is fleeting. I am almost 50 damn it! LOL. And, although I smile constantly and I’m filled with joy, I am fearless and will tell you how I feel…just in case.

So, if we haven’t caught up in a while or you catch me in person, I’m going to use my words…because words are all I have to take your heart away…

Thanks for visiting and I hope you had a chuckle. You can subscribe to be notified when I blog below by signing up, follow me on Twitter @GatorgirlPress or Twitter @Diningduchess, follow me on Facebook @RandiAileenPress or Facebook@DiningDuchess. Or if you’d like to write me directly, my email is randi@52TO50.com.