Awe & Wonder

6.13

"Some of the most promising innovations in healthcare seem to be things we've recently discarded. Maybe we need food that wasn't developed in a lab. Maybe we need to talk face to face. Maybe we need some time outside."

That's a quote from the May issue of Outside magazine in a feature article on 'Nature Rx' stating, "a grassroots movement of physicians are prescribing time outdoors as the best possible cure for a growing list of ailments."

I've been a subscriber to Outside magazine on and off for almost 30 years, and it continues as a tremendous resource for living bravely, and making nature and simple nutrition part of our wellness journey. The benefits are real, and now, thankfully, there are numerous bodies of research developing around the reality of wellness through natural living and whole foods.

Growing up in the 70's, it was normal for my brother and me to spend a lot of time outside. Riding bikes, climbing trees, searching for crayfish in the local creek, adventuring in the nearby cornfields - it was all fair game. There are memories that still come flooding back at the simple suggestion of a smell or sound or a humid afternoon...

One aspect of nature's healing power is the reality of awe, and how it inspires our spirit and lends to our wellness. The Nature Rx article offered this on awe: "...the kind of amazement we experience during outdoor activities has a singular ability to predict lower stress and higher levels of well-being and life satisfaction." That's a great prescription for health, if you ask me.

The sense of awe and wonder is a main draw for me in my running habit, my training workouts, and Spartan racing. I don't wear earbuds or sunglasses (or even a hat) because I want the full experience of the glare of the sun in my eyes... I want to hear the woodpeckers and blue jays in the woods... every time I'm out, I want to be humbled by what God has placed in this world for us to enjoy.

There is a simple prescription from the Outside article that we can all benefit from: scrap your gym membership. Whatever we might possibly do at the gym, simply do outside. Yes, we may hike in the rain and run in the snow, or bake in the heat and humidity of a hot summer day. But if we prepare for those conditions and go play outside, our wellness will move ahead much more successfully.

By the Way

In order to be awesome, I think we must experience awe. One encouragement we've always given to our kids is, "Go Be Awesome". Being awesome looks different for each and every person, and certainly depends on our circumstances and giftedness, but I believe we all have the chance to be awesome every day. So go find a sunrise or a mountain peak or a soaring eagle or rushing river to inspire some awe in you today... then go be awesome.

Simple Resources

2.19
Last year I wrote a post on Jack LaLanne and how he was a staple in many healthy households of the 70's and 80's, promoting good eating choices and daily physical activity. Part of Jack's approach was that everything we need for health and wellness is well within our grasp - we don't need a gym membership or a weight/calorie tracking prepared-food service or even a tread mill in the basement. All we need is conviction and some good guidance.


Thankfully, some things never change - and there are great resources readily available regarding in-home workouts. Have you heard of P90? P90X? Or Tony Horton? Well, you have now... Tony, at 56 years young, is relevant, engaged and vibrant, and subscribes to very much the same health and wellness philosophy as Jack LaLanne: Everything we need for great wellness is right at our fingertips. Having been a personal trainer to movie moguls and stars in California, Tony has gone on to create a whole genre of workout videos and resources. He has been featured in numerous national publications, news programs, and on all the national networks. Learn more about Tony's background and accomplishments from his website or Wikipedia. He has a great YouTube Channel, with lots of cool videos as well. Check out the one about him here.

What I like about Jack LaLanne and Tony Horton is that I can relate to them. They come off as regular guys, even if they are actually exceptional and do awesome stuff. Nonetheless, I can relate. I just want wellness to be a key part of my life. I'm into healthy eating and having my days full of activity (physical, social, spiritual, community and beyond.) And when I look at what guys like these are promoting, I see many of the same things.

I haven't yet subscribed to P90X or a new release of a simpler, more user-friendly version, P90, but maybe it's time. Maybe you're at the point of getting some great guidance from resource like P90... take a look, and maybe you'll get the bug to jump in.

By the Way

Have you heard of Beachbody? This infomercial-producing corporation thrives on the very kind of resources Tony Horton produces. Some of their best-selling workouts are the P90X and P90 series. Joining Tony are others like Shaun Thompson (with his T25 and Insanity workouts), and Chalene Johnson. If P90 isn't quite for you, maybe there are other Beachbody resources that would fit (pun intended.)

Love is Louder

1.14
You have to love 'Kid President', Robby Novak. Whether you need a pep talk or need suggestions on how to change the world, Kid President has you covered.

I want to share this video from earlier this year...it's a letter to a person (baby) on their first day. To me, Easter is an awesome time of year, about renewal and a way that everyone can get a do-over because of how much God loves us. I think Kid President gets that, too, and he's good at spreading his flavor of love and awesomeness.

Spread some love today, and share this with someone you care about.

By the Way

Robby and his brother-in-law, who make all the zany and inspiring Kid President videos, didn't set out to be famous. Robby actually battles a rare genetic bone defect daily... maybe that's why he's so compelled to make the world a better place. Check out their story here:

So, what will you create that will make the world more awesome?

Remember to Be Awesome

1.3
A wellness lifestyle is more than just great food choices from a powerful pantry. It touches everything we do: how interact with others in community, how we see ourselves, even our spirituality... Sometimes we just need a pep talk, and that gives us a reset.

Soulpancake has good content on YouTube - over 500 videos. Below is one of the best: the Pep Talk by Kid President. Anything that's been viewed over 30 million times is worth three and a half minutes of our day...

Remember to be awesome!