Things to see on a rainy day

The weather here in Freeport has been subzero for almost the last two weeks. I have a very high cold tolerance, especially with snow pants, but even I must draw the line. The worst part is, the days have been beautiful apart from the temperature. Sunny and clear. Looking out the window, all I wanted to do was walk. Stepping outside told me otherwise.

So yesterday, when the temperature rose, I couldn't stay in any longer. I walked to work in the morning, which was a bit treacherous since ice, snow, and water were all coexisting quite happily with an outside temp of 34 degrees and a real feel of 20. Amazingly, I did not fall on my butt on the way to work! (I may have to keep a change of clothes in my locker just in case if I plan to keep this up.) Lunch time was perfect though. 39 degrees. All the ice had melted and there was a steady rain with almost no wind.

Don't get me wrong. It was not a pretty day. The sky was grey. Everything was wet. And it was still a little cold, but being outside walking was amazing. There are some things you can only see in the rain.

I love the concentric circles the rain makes as it hits the puddles. It doesn't matter the shape or size of the drop. It always makes a perfect circle when it hits the water. I also love how the water reflects the sky making the world seem like a much bigger place.

A rainy day is the only time my parent's dog stays close to me on a walk. I think she likes the umbrella more than I do.

Everything glistens on a rainy day. The rain gives everything a beautiful sheen...

And the rain drops cling to branches like diamonds. 

I love watching the moving water. It cleans the dirt out of the cracks and pushes everything away. The rain also helps you see inclines you might not have noticed before. The smallest hills suddenly become raging rivers. Though they be but little, they are fierce.

And lastly, something that you will probably only see on a rainy day. A pair of socks drying on a radiator. Don't mind the grey. These are one of my favorite pairs and they don't get white anymore. I can't begin to tell you how lovely they were to put on when they were warm and dry!

Today's Motivation:

This poem is attributed to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. I was reminded today that we need rain as much as we need the sun. A perfect day is up to us to make.

Walking for Cookies

Today I was wondering how many calories I burn while walking. You know, just a rough estimate. I have a habit when I am doing a lot of exercise to assume I can eat whatever I want to because, hey, at least I'm exercising. It usually doesn't work out like that. I almost always consume more calories than I ever burned while exercising.

Well, today I found out that you can estimate about 100 calories per mile of moderate walking. For me it's actually a little more because of my weight, but honestly it's better for me to estimate on the low end. That means in 9 mile walk, my body could burn about 900 calories. Cool. Also good to know because it means I cannot come home and consume a whole Little Caeser's Pepperoni pizza like I really want to after walking that far.

Here's the downside about having this reference for walking though. Girl Scout cookie season has started and now I am measuring my walks in Girl Scout cookies.

For example:

Walking to work in the morning = 3 Peanut Butter sandwich cookies (Do-si-dohs)

Walking my parents dog = 2 Caramel Delites (Samoas)

A 5k = 10 Shortbreads (Trefoils)

An epic hike = About 21 Thin Mints... Score!!

Maybe not my most productive train of thought, but you know, sometimes it's whatever motivates you.

Today's Motivation:

With a Daisy Girl Scout in my house selling cookies this year, I think I'm going to be using these calculations quite a bit. All joking aside though, I'm grateful for the perspective. Exercise is important, but knowing how much I am putting into my mouth is really what is going to help me in the long run... or walk.

Do it anyway.

I was looking for advice today on what to do when you don't feel like exercising. Not that that ever happens to me. Never.

Well, that was a fun fantasy. The reality is, not feeling like going out happens a lot more frequently than I would like it to. It's not that I am nursing an injury, or I'm feeling tired. I'm just feeling obstinate. I don't want to do something good for me! I want to lay around wrapped in a blanket and make life as easy as possible.

Making life as easy as possible is OK every once in while. The problem is when it becomes a habit. Been there. Done that. Don't want to go back.

Challenges are good. Yes, they can also be annoying and occasionally frustrating, but they also shape us and help us to improve. So here's some of my favorite pieces of advice to get moving when it's not what you want to do.

1. Baby steps - Start by just putting on your workout clothes and then your sneakers. Sometimes that is enough to get you motivated. If not, at least what your wearing gives you a good range of motion and you will be more inclined to move more.

2. Music - I made a mix of songs on my Ipod to exercise to when I was training for my first Disney race. Now everytime I hear those songs, I just want to start running! I love them and I love moving to them. They can get me going even on my worst days. I highly recommend "Me First and the Gimmee Gimmees."!

3. Support - Call the person who is most likely to talk you out of your slump not the one most likely to talk you into it. My friend Sarah is the person most likely to motivate me into getting out... partly because she is still sending me the countdown of weeks I have left to prepare for the Princess Half-Marathon. Terror is motivating.

And finally the best piece of advice I got today came from Ben Folds:

Do It Anyway, baby!!

So now I am working on a new playlist for the Princess. So far I have:

Do It Anyway - Ben Folds

Check Yes Juliet - We the Kings

I Feel Better When I'm Dancing - Meghan Trainer

Shut Up and Dance - Walk the Moon

When Can I See You Again - Owl City

Work This Body - Walk the Moon

I Will Survive - Me First and the Gimmee Gimmees

Build Me Up Buttercup - Me First and the immee Gimmees

Leave a comment a let me know what I am missing.