So What's Next?

Cynthia is a friend of a friend who, at 57, is the fittest female I know –  wiry with taut muscles and boundless energy.

She started running in her 20’s because she loved being outdoors and is a high energy sort of person.  It suits her. Her professional life in the field of therapy keeps her indoors and running is a great outlet I’m sure.

The last time she was here she told me about her effort to master the technique called Chi Running which many believe is the best way.  (This interesting philosophy is described as a “revolutionary approach to effortless, injury- free running/walking – go to ChiRunning.com to learn more about it. The novel Born to Run also provides insight into the natural human ability to run)  She was here for the Philadelphia marathon and improved her personal best time considerably using the Chi method.

At the ripe old age of 50, she set a personal goal to run 60 marathons by the time she turned 60.  She’s ahead of schedule since at 57 she has done 58 in 16 different states!  And many of these aren’t the urban runs you see on the evening news.

She lives in the northwest where marathons are held among the high mountains in places like Death Valley, Red Rock Canyon NV, and Choteau,  MT.  This is some serious running.  She must do cities like Dallas, Philadelphia, New York and Las Vegas for rest stops!

I was amazed when she sent me this description of a recent run in Lone Pine, CA.

“It was just a matter of 7 miles straight up against the east side of Mt. Whitney, 9 miles straight down into the valley, another straight up, another straight up, and yet another…. Absolutely gorgeous the entire time.

I loved it.  No spectators (good; the trail was dust so car-spectators would have stirred it up awfully); the best food and drink array ever; and…..I came in first in my division with a trail-time that doesn’t begin to compete with my personal best but those grades were insistent.”

Insistent?????   I can think of lots of other descriptive adjectives for that trip..…

In the run right before that one, she came in fourth BUT– the first three winners were all 25 or 26 years old.  Ah, Cynthia – you make us all proud!

In the time it’s taken me to get this written, she has completed her 60^th with The Prince of Wales run in Alaska and has signed up for 6 more this year.   Well done, lady!

She describes her training regimen as taking it easy.  She runs the marathons because they’ve become a fun way to see microcosms of lots of different communities for a weekend.  She goes back to the ones that were especially fun. Her advise to others is to continue to pay attention to good body rhythms;  swim, walk and bike in between marathons.  Add some tempo work or long-distance training runs, but focus om doing whatever exercise is enjoyable and not painful or boring.  She keeps her life in balance with Tai Chi, yoga, gardening and reading. enjoying music, friends, her cat and dog and her work.

Her inspiration for the rest of us is to:

Start where you are, not where you want to be.

Get advice for doing it well so it is physically helpful rather than harmful.

Don’t underestimate yourself.

Do what you enjoy!

I ordered my coffee and pastry and sat down anxious for John to arrive for our appointment.  It was exactly one year since we had met in a class for wannabe book authors and he was bringing me the galley print of his book.  I had seen parts and pieces of it throughout the year via email, but I couldn’t wait to see the actual finished product! Continue Reading »

As you pull up in front, you see this cute little garden abode with  flower boxes, rustic red barn wood siding and a quaint sign announcing The Yarn Cottage.    It’s part of The Red Brick Farm in Mayville, NY and actually used to be the milk house.

Susan Newman, the proprietor, told me that she knew she loved it the moment she found it and I know why.  It is small and cozy and yet open and bright at the same time.  I remember the first time I visited.   Continue Reading »

When’s the last time you wanted to throw a temper tantrum? Have you wished you could smash plates or bash a pillow to death to work out your feelings?   While Sarah Lavely was going through a divorce she found that smashing her china in the driveway brought her some therapeutic benefit and Voila – a great idea was born.   Her new business is called Sarah’s Smash Shack.

Like all great small biz ideas, it’s simple.  A store-front, a supply of cheap china and glassware,  permanent markers for writing fateful messages on the back of the plates and some creative marketing are all it takes. Oh, and some safety goggles.  She says her clients range from 8 to 65+ and everyone leaves feeling much better.

As soon as I read about this my brain started racing.   Add a room full of big pillows for pounding, and maybe a Screaming room where someone could just let it all out.  Write a great, fun press release and send it to all the papers, tv and radio stations and I think you’d be good pretty much anywhere.

Sarah’s place has two Break Rooms  – one smaller one for loners or couples and a larger one for groups.  You can gather your friends for a party.  You can buy things to smash there or bring something that you just need to destroy along with it’s memories.

She was an emergency medicine veterinarian who has turned her compassion toward fellow humans a couple of days a week.  “When I see my clients smile, laugh, and cry, let loose and transform, I know I’ve done something incredible here.”

You can check out the web-site at http://www.smashshack.com – or read the article by Erin Bell  in the February issue of Psychology Today.

With the prevalence of US citizens going to work in foreign countries around the globe, a new opportunity for folks who love art and also desire to do something meaningful with their work is quickly expanding.

I’m talking about an importing business for all the wonderful artwork, home décor products, clothing and jewelry that is being produced by indigenous artisans in villages in Cambodia, Brazil, Uganda, Thailand , Viet Nam, and Guatemala to name a few.

I know lots of people who do this in one way or another.  One got started when her husband was traveling to Uganda for business and she tagged along. She started out one day in search of a wall hanging for her home and found a village of talented women and young girls weaving beautiful pieces.   When she asked if she could buy one she discovered that they really didn’t know how to market their wares beyond the street market in neighboring cities.   She spent the rest of her two weeks locating other artisans and returned to the states determined to find a way to help these people earn a decent wage for their efforts that would then help them support their families and villages.  Her organization today supports schools and feeds children in two villages through the non-profit she developed from her sales and donations.

Another importer I know is an interior designer who traveled to Thailand on vacation, found a village that was making beautiful silk scarves from silkworm to finished product.  Again, they had little access to markets where they could sell their creations.  She has helped them design new items to produce including pillows and wall hangings that are sought after in the US. She travels several times a year (a business deduction!) to meet with them to decide on new products and to help them with their business plan.  In turn, she has created a business for herself that is unique and rewarding.

The third one I will mention buys hand-knit woolen mittens, hats, purses, scarves and sweaters from villages all over the mountains of Guatemala.  Again she gets to travel to her favorite part of the world, helps many women support their children and pays them a fair wage that slowly improves the life in these third world places.

One of these ladies maintains a storefront.  One sells through other designers and the third one sells at a street market in Philadelphia.  They all participate in the various Fair Trade Fairs that are commonly sponsored by churches and community groups.   They are earning income, traveling and helping others all at the same time.

If you have family living or working in another country, or just want a way to travel and learn about another part of the world, this is a concept that can be started small and grown in a way that fits your lifestyle.

Want to know more?    Comment below and I’ll get you resources and information.