Wayward Walker

Thank you, Kiazi! I am too. The goal picture is far down the road, something I am aspiring to. Thank you for approving of it

Uncluttering, destressing and starting from a base free of complications can be a great way to start. I wish you the best in completing your goals!

Hi Mad, I can empathize with failure. A year ago I did my first challenge, was active for three weeks and then life/work/excuses got in the way. I still did everything I was working on, but I dropped off the forums. In the end, I made it to the very precipice of my journey, I'd lost almost 20lbs, but it wasn't enough. I missed my measurements by a 1/2 an inch. So, they are processing me out of the military. I completely understand what it's like to fail at something you were working so hard for. But you know what? It's not about being perfect, always hitting the bullseye or winning every time. It's about moving forward, when you fall, getting back up, dusting yourself off and moving on. In writing, cause I'm a writer and have to bring it up, a great story isn't about the hero always succeeding. Think of Luke in Star Wars. At the end of the Empire Strikes Back, what did he succeed at? Everyone was scattered, his best friend was frozen popsicle, his sister was enslaved to a giant slug, everything was in disarray, but that's not the end of the story, he keeps going on. Time for us to do the same thing. Learn from those failures. Stand up. Dust ourselves off and move forward. I'll keep checking in on you.

Hi ShadowLion and Annie, I'm Wayward, or Darius, or D... whichever you prefer This sounds like one of the places I would like to hang out, I love creativity. I'm a writer, been writing since I was 10. I am currently working on a triology of books, the first one finished, the second one in work. My life quest side this challenge is finishing that second book, so a creative place to be accountable to and get encouragement sounds right up my alley. Looking forward to spending time with you all.

I use an app on android called Daily Yoga. It has a ton of different sessions you can download. There's a beginner's yoga, yoga for flexibility, yoga for a healthy back, etc. The videos are very detailed, easy to follow. The narrator is very detailed and most of the time I don't have to watch, I just listen and follow the instructions. Whichever you pick make sure that you start with learning to breath properly, it's the key to yoga, tai chi, qi gong and meditation. Many people breath with just their chest and upper lungs. If you've ever watched a baby breath, they fill their lungs fully, expanding their bellies and then pull them in exhaling. That's proper breathing. You inhale, fully filling your lungs and expanding your abs. Then you exhale, pressing your abs in, completely emptying your lungs. Inhale for 4 seconds, hold for 2 seconds and exhale for 4 seconds. Hope this helps!

I took Tai Chi in college and loved it. I should have continue, but I did not. I was a brash, stupid young man who thought he knew everything. I've since wisened up in my old age and am working to bring back my learning in Tai Chi, Qi Gong and Yoga. I am a Taoist, and on here I claim being a Barbarian Shaman... a bit like a Druid, just rougher around the edges and a bit more wanderlust. Love talking about all of this.

Ok, subscribing to this post, I love it! Mags, in regards to having issues with sitting, I would recommend standing or even walking. Meditation does not have to be just sitting on a cushion or rug, hands at a mudra, eyes closed. I meditate while walking. I let go of any goal, any place that I am set to get to and just walk. I work to clear my mind of everything that I can, and simply experience everything around me. I hope this helps, and I'd love to keep talking with you all about this!

I agree with Elinox. I use Daily Yoga app on my phone. It has really good videos that show you exactly how to perform the exercise, and the voice narration is strong enough that you don't need to watch the video all the time. Only bad aspect is that the voice narration is just a bit computer-digitalized. Her voice can be wonky in spots. Hope it helps!

My tip for beginning meditators is to concentrate on breathing. Think of how a baby breathes. They take in air, expanding their little bellies as their entire lungs fill up with air, then they push their bellies in and exhale all of the air. Start by working to emulate that. Sit comfortably, inhale using your diagphram, taking air into your lung and expanding your abs. Then exhale, pressing your abs in, and releasing all of the air. When you're comfortable doing this, count. Inhale for 4 seconds, hold that breath for 2 seconds, exhale for 4 seconds. Repeat until it feels natural. Most people, especially runners and weight-lifters, only breath with their upper chest. I know this may sound a bit basic or even wonky, but it works. As a testament I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and put on medication. When I incorporated this type of breathing into my day my resting blood pressure went from 148/99 to 128/87. Hope this helps you!

I am definitely on your team! Any time you need some encouragement, someone to talk at, grab me... right now I am at sea, so I am pretty much a kept prisoner.

Thank you, Emma! Good to see you!

So very true. I will make a note to kick your butt come week two Also, I love your quote. So much wisdom. Fitness, health, all of it is about loving ourselves and others, not about hate.

~chuckles at the antics, the run and the swimming~ You all seem to be a fun group... I'm going to like it here. ~finds a nice tree, with a bit of moss on the bark, sits down just in the sun and relaxes, preparing for Monday~

Eve, illustrious & wise guild leader! I love your goals, I love that you connect these to being happy. Finding happiness is sometimes better than being a certain weight, or lifting so much or running so far. I love your life quest of beauty, remember that beauty isn't any of those things either, it comes from your soul. I look forward to being here to encouraging you! p.s. I love your swooshy smiley-start face

As a former WoW-Addict, I love your story and goals!! For the Horde!! It looks like you have a clear, strong path ahead of you and this old shaman hopes to be around to encourage you on to the end!

Welcome! Burnout is no joke. I love your overarching goal of being badass and silly all at once. I believe you can achieve it! I know that I am here recoverying as well, though I know the druids' grove and lake is my home, I will eventually branch out for some lessons in Parkour from the assassins. I wish you all the best in completing your goals and hope to be here to encourage you through them!

Always a good idea to declutter, defrag and start from a clean slate. I always find its easier to accomplish my goals from a base of cleanliness and orderliness, so I wish you the best in completing those goals!! I love - - Buy a little zen garden, so I can be all zen and shit That tickles me to no end. Perhaps you could make your own. There are several flower delivery sites that also sell plants, like Bonsai trees. Add in a section of beach sand and get a minture rake and presto! Zen garden and shit

I love the quote in your picture, Heidi. Very sound advice for everyone It looks like you have some good, smart goals. I wish you the best in completing them and hope to be around to encourage you!

Very impressive goals! I like that you are mixing a lot of things up, it's always good be diverse. I wish you the best in completing them!!

Hi DeadMary! Reading through your goals, it looks like you have a really strong start and a lot to work on, very impressive. My favorite is reading philosphy books, one of my favorite things to do. If you don't mind I have four recommendations: - The Tao Te Ching complied by Lao Tzu - The Empty Boat by Osho - The Tao of Inner Peace by Diane Dreher - Meditation for your Life by Robert Butera Hope these help and look forward to seeing you meet your goals!!

Wow, Hi Mags. Powerful, crazy-powerful post. First, thank you for helping a fellow Devil Dog. I started in the Corps and have a special love for the boys in green. Looks like you have some good goals laid out for you. I'd also love to encourage you. I wish you the best in everything you do!!

Broba! Welcome! Glad to see someone from the Warriors taking the time for introspection, it always helps to evaluate. With the determination of a warrior I see you have a strong set of SMART goals. I wish you the best in completing them. I'm not sure how much experience you have with meditation, but I'd like to share with you the first thing I was ever taught. It took me from having high blood pressure of 149/99 to a normal pressure of 129/88 and took me off medication. In the most basic block of meditation, tai chi, qi gong or yoga BREATHING is vitally important. Many people, esepcially those who run a great deal, or lift weights, breath from their chest. If you've ever had or been around a baby, you might recall how they breath. They draw in a breath, fully expanding their lungs so that their abs push out. On exhaling, they contract those abs, forcing all of the air from their lungs. That's the natural way to breath, using the abs and diaphragm. Spend some time working on breathing in that manner. Draw in a breath, allowing it to fill your lungs fully, pushing out your abs for 4 seconds. Hold that breath for 2 seconds and then use your abs to exhale all of the air for 4 seconds. Hope this helps you in some way!

Hi Little Turtle! It looks like you have some strong goals for this challenge and they definitely look attainable! One thing I would like to give you, because I have a very good friend who suffers the same, and I am currently working towards being a Marriage/Family/Life Therapist... You are not OCD. You suffer from OCD, but it is not you. I once had someone use that same line of thinking on me. I said, "I'm fat." he said, "you're not fat, you have fat. Now lose it." That which we daily dwell on, becomes our reality. Wish you all the best, and hope I can be here to support you!

Hi Otter! Glad to see you here. It looks like you have some smart goals set for yourself. I have no experience in Paleo, so I can't help there, but my brain is always open to be picked Love the yoga and the gardening in there. A lot of people, when thinking about fitness, fail to remember that their mind-body-soul are connected and they need to nurture them all. Wish you all the best!

I understand your frustruation with your job. I'm in the Navy, albeit at the end of a 20 year career, and I'm realizing I gave up so much, just for something to pay the bills, and most of those bills are because I'm in the Navy. Minimizing, removing the clutter will help you find the path. I'm impressed by your meditation. I'm able to devote 20 minutes tops each day because of my work schedule, but it helps. I wish you all the best.