Stoked on the lyrics to “On a Good Day”. You can listen to a sample here.   This is perfect music for running or circuit training.

On A Good Day Lyrics

Little bit lost and…
A little bit lonely
Little bit cold here
A little bit feared

But I hold on
And I
Feel strong
And I
Know that I can

Getting used to it
Lit the fuse to it
Like to know who I am

Been talking to myself forever, yeah
And how I wish I knew me better, yeah
Still sitting on a shelf and never
Never seen the sun shine brighter
And it feels like me
On a good day

And it feels like me
On a good day

This is some serious HIGH energy music – use it when you need an energy boost.  I use it in the mornings to get my workouts started.  Makes me want to run sprints, dance, do cartwheels, and handstands. http://www.arminvanbuuren.com/

On this album, I like, “Simple Things“.  You can listen by clicking the link.  Scroll down, to listen to it – it’s on Disc 2 Song 8

I especially like the last line.

Super stoked to pass the 600 mile mark, on my way to run 1000 miles in 2011. Deeply grateful to have access to the strength that runs through us all. And, for the endorphin bursts that start my day.

Love the hugs I get when I get home.  I am just so excited to be able to run! 1 year ago i was on “bedrest”, and recovering from my 2nd c-section. Both of my babies were breech, with low amniotic fluid surrounding them.  I remember laying in bed, nursing Skye, not being able to move, wondering how I would ever run again.

Absolutely the best motivation for a run, to have more energy, strength, and balance to be the best Mom I can be.  My average pace on this screen is 14 minute miles, because I walk, when I need to, and run lots of hills (which takes longer). I’m still very excited to get out there every day and get euphoric, stoked, activated.

What motivates you to get out there every day?

Sweet honey!  And, energy, B vitamins, and a natural energy boost.  I once read that you could live on honey.  I made the decision to switch to honey, as my only sweetener after releasing sugar and stevia.  I used to put stevia in my coffee every morning, and it was so sweet!!  It was yummy, but processed, and I read that our bodies react to stevia just as it would to regular sugar – getting high, then crashing and storing it as fat.

And, I was totally addicted to Oatmeal Raisin Cookies that I made with brown sugar.  And then, I would just make 1/2 a batch, (24) but then eating half!!  The sugar was like crack to me.  I would CRAVE those cookies, probably like a crack addict.  It was brutal.

To break this habit that was no longer serving me, I did two things.  1.) I would have a huge crash in the afternoon between 2-4pm, and make the cookies to get my energy back.  Now, I eat more veggies and protein in the morning, lots of water, 60oz by 2pm, and do a second workout mid-day, to keep my energy up.  If I workout before the crashing time sometime between, 11am- 2pm, that I have sustained energy to last the rest of the day. Energy to keep up with an energetic 4 year old boy, and a crawling/cruising 1 year old, and breastfeed her.

2.) When I have a sweet craving I go for this yummo concoction:

1 rice cake

1 Tbsp almond butter

1/2 banana

A drizzle of raw organic honey

A shake of cinnamon on the top

What do you for extra energy?  Do you use food when you feel tired, or something else?

Stoked on the song Let it Rain, by 4 Strings on their album, Believe.

“Let it rain, wash away my doubts and pain.  I wanna discover.  I don’t want to make believe”.

What music stoked you this week?

I get the “Notes From The Universe” emails 5 days a week from Mike Dooley, and www.tut.com.  I love Mike Dooley’s message.  He is super motivating and gets me into the right frame of mind in the morning.  Check out his site and sign up for his emails, they’re FANTASTIC.

Here was the one from today:

“Quickie Happiness Workshop for Increasing Profits at Times of Seeming Peril: 

Think as much, if not more, about growing your income as you do of trimming your expenses. 

And for extra credit, focus on customers more than vendors; smiles more than frowns; possibilities more than risks; options more than commitments; vacations more than overtime; detours more than setbacks; opportunities more than obstacles; and Goldilocks more than the bears. 

End of Workshop - 

 The Universe

And on your way home, buy more flowers than normal”.

How do you stay focused on the positive end result, on JOY, and on sharing happiness?

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Jack Canfield talks about being “On Purpose”.  To first of all, know your purpose, what makes you happy, what you love doing, and figuring out a way to make a living doing it.  He recommends stating your purpose in clear terms and posting it somewhere that you will see it everyday, several times a day.  It’s a fantastic practice for clarity, and happiness.  When I wake up everyday, and remember my purpose, my mission, my dream, I am energized, excited, activated!  I feel like anything is possible, and I get excited for my day, knowing I am on course.

Can you imagine being in a boat in the sea with no course heading? No destination, bobbing around?  Even if you have no idea how you will get there yet, simply know what you love, and start doing it. Even in small amounts daily.  It will grow, and you will get more clarity about how to move forward.  At least you will have a heading, and being able to set your course.

I went for a morning run on the beach with my dog, in the bright, warm sun.  I was listening to OceanLab (music I love), and after awhile, I decided to dance.  Which to me, felt AMAZING.  To other people on the beach that morning, I may have looked like an aerobics instructor without a class, but I was following my inner voice.  Instead of endless hours of running, I wanted to break free, loosen up my energy, and the confines of “what is expected”.  Simply dancing on the beach, in the morning sun, got me totally High, Happy, and In Love – in a word – Activated.  No one could have told me to do this, I just listened to what came up, and followed it.  I still remember the freedom of that day, that moment, weaving the things I love, and Acting on them – I was “On Purpose”, and absolutely stoked.

Here is my course heading, my “Purpose” that keeps getting stronger and clearer, the more I listen:

My purpose is to help myself and others to ACTivate, to turn “ON”, to do what they LOVE. That energy, that LOVE ripples out and changes the world. To share Hedinism –  a life of pleasure – love and happiness through living life “on purpose” and “activated”. To get higher and go deeper, through obstacles, fear, and inertia, and stay activated as long as possible. To remember, embody and share LOVE.

My vision with this blog and with Hedinism HD, Higher Deeper – is to live a pleasure-filled life of going Higher, (not with drugs or sex, like the old school Hedonists) but by living with intention.  Getting deeper, by letting go, surrendering, instead of fighting or resisting. Then, going even Deeper, by moving through obstacles, getting higher, by remembering your dream, having the courage to follow it with determination and belief in your importance and beauty.  By living “On Purpose” and by getting and staying ACTivated.

What Purpose are you being urged to follow?  If you are confused, ask yourself this question when you’re activated – after or during a run, listening to your favorite music, during a walk, or after yoga.  Basically, when you are open and feeling good.  That’s when the answer will flow.

Let me know what you find!

I love these smoothies for rehydration, after a workout, but they are also great about an hour before too.  It’s quick, and can be done while holding baby Skye. And, she loves to drink them with me.  As a breastfeding mom, I’m a bit obssesive about being hydrated, because when I’m not, my milk supply suffers, I get headaches, and am super fatigued.  And, unfortunately, it’s a fatigue that coffee makes worse.

This morning, I ran 12 miles, and this smoothie helped me re-hydrate, and keep me going as we headed to the beach for a SUP (Stand Up Paddle).  I opted for a kneeling paddle, as my core and quads were quivering and burnt after the run.  People were waterskiing and sending out huge waves with their ski-boats, so keeping afloat in the chop was more challenging than on a clear, flat day.  Just being on the water was fantastic though!

The Green Smoothie:

1 scoop protein powder

1 big handful baby spinach leaves – 3 cups

1 small banana

4 frozen strawberries

4 frozen mango chunks

1 dash of lowfat milk or soymilk

Sometimes I add a spoonful of honey if I’m particularly depleted, and/or 1 tbsp almond butter.  You could also subsitute the greens with kale, or any dark leafy greens.

What’s your favorite recovery/hydration meal/drink?

Lately, I’ve been doing long runs, and lots of lifting at the gym.  This feels fantastic, but has been leaving me feeling intense and heavy feeling at times, with a nagging low back pain.  Until, this morning.  On this glorious morning, I was moved to take myself outside, onto my lawn and do an hour yoga practice.  I can’t tell you what bliss this was for me.  Maybe my neighbors think I’m crazy, but honestly that was exactly what my mind needed, to rest on the earth, onto the warm grass, and to let go.  The more I relaxed into my breath, the more I surrendered to my highest self – the true me.  Not the one who thinks, but the one beneath that one.  The one who is love, and feels connection with everyone and everything.  It was so peaceful, so calm, I was completely warm (from the inside), loved and safe. Adios ego, you can’t reach me here.

Amazing what one pose can evoke. Give it a go, and let me know what you think, or not think…

You can also do this pose sitting down, if the standing one hurts or inner thighs or hamstrings too much too relax.  Use some pillows under your head.  I could have used a couple more, so my upper spine wasn’t so rounded.  Enjoy. In joy.

It’s not always easy to overcome lethargy, lack of sleep from a new baby, bad nutrition, overtraining, and get out of bed to activate.  These are some of my favorite helpers.  I use one or two, or sometimes all.  They help me get myself going, and help the cobwebs steer clear.

My current Activators:

1.) Coffee

2.) Brush teeth – Jason’s PowerSmile (sounds so simple, but one of the most powerful motivators)

3.) Wash face

4.) iPhone/iPod charged and earbuds

5.) OceanLab, Siren’s of the Sea Remixed  (also great as a Station on Pandora.com)

6.) Headstand, Handstand, Downward dog – going upside down

7.) A goal – a weight to reach, miles to run, pounds to lift, time to shoot for,  - my current top motivators: Handstand in the middle of the floor, 20 mile run, (1000 miles run in 2011), goal weight of 135, by my birthday, on September 12, 2011.

8.) A friend or trainer – someone to meet to hold me accountable

9.) Comfortable, fantastic, no -chafing workout clothes (my fav www.lululemon.com)

10.) An awesome audiobook – my current favs The Success Principals, Jack Canfield, and The Big Leap, by Gay Hendricks

11.) FRS – For sustained energy, and an energy burst

12.) Smiling

13.) My Dog, Diesel.  Fantastic running partner, so excited when I get my sneakers on in the morning.

14.) My yoga mat, Manduka Pro Lite, Blue, rolled out

15.) Sunrise

What are your activators?