Centering, the Importance of Slowing Down

"See how nature -- trees, flower, grass -- grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence.  We need silence to be able to touch souls." -- Mother Teresa

I used to be running from instead of to.  Not comfortable with the space of myself, I used running as a means to get out from under my thoughts and run away from the discomfort of my own skin.  I could somehow avoid problems by numbing them out witht he miles, the training and the exhaustion that comes with it.  All of that changed somewhere in my 30's.  I found silence on my early morning runs - the silence of joy, the silence of gratitude, the silence of peace with myself and my htoughts.  Today while you run, consider the importance of silence in your life.  Let your breathing get into sync with your footsteps and listen to the harmonious rhythm they create.  Let your mind wander and make note of where it goes.  Celebrate the sanctuary of silence that running provides and when you are done, feel it settle comfortably within your day.  You are centered, silent and calm.  Very likely, this will be an awesome run!

Positive Self Talk and Why I Choose It!

"Every day of my life, I feel fat.  It's not correct thinking in the natural, normal human being's way of life."  Angie Everhart

Hard to hear itsn't it?  I find my soul shrinks a little bit, every time I hear a woman or man insult himself.  "I'm too fat." "I'm too old."  "I'm not good looking." "I'm too short."  How often do we use negative self talk to bond with other people?  As a Girls on the Run SoleMate, pledge right here and now, that you will do your best to stop the negative self-talk by recognizing it and replacing it with positive self-talk.  Practice this skill today on your run.  Anytime you catch yourself or your running buddy(ies) using negative self-talk, holler out a big "NO WAY" and then replace it with a postive comment instead.  Be honest with yourself.  If the negative self-talk is internal, still shout out your "NO WAY!" and re-energize with a positive comment about yourself!  I think you'll discover this will be your best run ever!

Celebrating Gratitude

"When we are grateful, fear disappears and abundance appears." Anthony Robbins

Ahhhh! Gratitude abounds!  Oftentimes, the boxes that confine and define our spirits are steeped in the belief that we are not enough and that we do not have enough.  The most reliable and rapid way to step right out of the Girl or Boy Box is to proclaim your gratitude for something... anything!  Say it out loud!  Right now, shout out something for which you are grateful.  Go for it!  Set your intentional-dial to gratitude today.  Every step of your next run, feel the gratitude that comes with being outside, moving your body and sharing time with friends.  Say it out loud or just say it to yourself, but become conscious of the way gratitude affects your workout this day.  Very likely, this will be an awesome run! 

Understanding the Girl Box

"I don't want to go in the Girl Box, EVER.  I love myself just the way I am."  Maddie, third grader in Girls on the Run

The "Girl Box" is a phrase we've coined at Girls on the Run.  The Girl Box is the place where many girls go around middle school when they begin to morph into what they think they should be instead of being who they really are.  The messages of the Girl Box vary but the overarching theme comes from a culture rooted in the belief that girls and women must conform to a set of standards that are unattainable and dangerous to our health and well-being.  "You're not smart enough," "You're too smart," "You're not thin enough," "You're too fat," "You're too loud," "You're too quite," "you're not pretty enough" are a few of the more well-known "Girl Box" messages. Today while you run, consider what messages came from your "Girl Box."  Somewhere over the course of the distance you cover today, toss those messages aside and consider what messages your run today provides you.  "I am strong," "I am powerful" and "I am beautiful" are some of the messages I hear every time I set out on my early morning run!