2016.011: Misc. Monday Musings

Hey friends! I hope that Monday treated you kindly.

We woke up to a very chilly morning, the coldest morning we’ve had yet this winter in fact. The actual temperature was 30, but the feels like temperature was 27 when we woke up. I had 4 – 6 recovery miles to get in and so Daniel and I bundled up and headed out early this morning. It really wasn’t as cold as I was expecting, but I was definitely dressed to handle whatever we encountered. I always think of the Friends episode where Joey wears all of Chandler’s clothes when I get bundled up. Could I *be* wearing any more clothes?

I wore tights with a tennis skirt over them. That’s my trademark, it’s really cold out, technique. I figure that since tennis skirts have shorts built in under the skirt, you’re really adding two layers to your bottom half. I wore a long-sleeved shirt and the warmest jacket that I own. It’s a Nike jacket that I’ve had since college. That’s also my trademark, it’s really cold out, jacket. I only wear it a few times each year. Add some gloves and a toboggan into the mix and I was set. We did 5 easy miles and I was even getting toasty by the end.

Random rant for the day … I’m on a mission to make my Fitbit read more accurately. Apparently you have to manually adjust your stride length in the settings in order to make the distance accurate. If you don’t adjust the settings, it calculates based on your gender and height. Unfortunately, it doesn’t show you what the default stride length is. It just shows as 0 ft. 0 in. if you don’t manually calculate it.

Mine has pretty consistently been reading 4.4 miles for our regular 5 mile route. I have a tendency to get geeked out over equations and formulas, so I am determined to get this figured out. Here is what I have come up with:

63,360 * number of miles run / number of steps counted per Fitbit = average stride in inches.

I’ve been taking notes of the average steps per mile on several of my easy runs recently (I’ve calculated it on a 10 mile run and on two 5 mile runs). I am basically taking 1,600 steps per mile, which is calculating to a stride length of 39.6 inches (or 3 ft. 3.6 in.). Once you figure this out, you just go to your dashboard in Fitbit and edit your settings. You need to do it for both walking and running to make it the most accurate. I haven’t calculated my walking steps yet. Running is more important (obviously). I just now, as we speak type, adjusted my settings and so I haven’t actually tested this theory yet. I will report back with the results soon!

I have a few other things to share with you today. First, this picture.

Stop it. Savannah (the artist formerly known as Squishy) has grown up so much! This one year ago today picture popped up on timehop today and the “now” picture was after our relay yesterday. She is the cutest little thing!

Second is a wonderful post by Jen Hatmaker. Here is what she writes …

“I have a counseling appointment this afternoon. Three members of my family are currently in counseling with more to come.

May I send a bit of love and encouragement to everyone who steps into counseling or therapeutic space for your own soul, marriage, family, or healing? Ditto to those of you sending your hurt kids? Whether you go for preventative maintenance or because you are hanging on by a thread, I’ve always said that when Scripture describes “gifts of healing,” I believe counselors are a part of that group. They help us heal. They give us tools. They walk us through recovery. They remind us of our hope.

There is NOTHING weak about being in the care of a counselor. That is STRONG. That tells me that you are not passively waiting for your strength, your healing. You are DOING THE WORK, poking the bear. You are actively working with God and making good use of the gifts He has given someone else to develop us into stronger, healthier people.

Bravo, I say! May we grab onto any tool possible as we pursue healthy marriages, healthy kids, and healthy souls. To abuse and suffering and loss and grief and pain and a horrible enemy: I say, COME AT US, BRO. We’re not going to take this stuff lying down.”

I highly encourage anyone out there who is contemplating therapy to do it. It will change you. It will make you see yourself and other people differently (in a good way). I have seen therapists and counselors along this journey called life at various points and am currently still seeing one. I haven’t shared much about that, probably because in my mind I saw it as a weakness. I didn’t want to be viewed as *that girl* who isn’t fixed yet and still needs therapy. But um hello, isn’t that the message I am trying to convey with this blog? I don’t have it all figured out and I am not perfect, nor will I ever be. But, I am taking steps (dare we say strides) to strengthen myself spiritually, physically and emotionally.

Let’s just all agree to do something worthwhile (for ourselves and/or for someone else) every day. That seems like a good goal right?!

I’ll leave you with this pretty sunset picture from this evening. That is definitely one benefit of the colder air … the sunsets are even more beautiful than normal.

Alabama is playing in the National Championship Game here in a minute, so it’s time for me to sign off and watch at least a little bit of football (before I fall asleep at my normal mee-maw time). Roll tide!