When I started training for my first marathon in 2000, I was running with Theresa (who has become my closest friend over the many miles we’ve shared). We started talking about why we run. When she asked me my reason for running, I told her it was because I am blessed to be healthy and to have two arms and two legs that allow me to. Since that time, whenever I get down or lose my motivation, I think of all those who cannot run or participate in sports due to being physically challenged.

I was in San Diego last week. On Saturday, I ran 8 miles along the water. As I ran enjoying the view and the cool weather, I came upon two athletes out for a ride using handcycles. They were sponsored by the Challenged Athletes Foundation (CAF). This reminded me that I had neglected something. . .When I ran the Paris Marathon last year, I raised money for CAF. I chose CAF because. . . I am blessed to be healthy and to have two arms and two legs that allow me to – and others have the desire but are not so physically blessed.

CAF’s mission is to “provide opportunities and support to people with physical disabilities so they can pursue active lifestyles through physical fitness and competitive athletics. CAF believes that involvement in sports at any level increases self-esteem, encourages independence and enhances quality of life.” They provide legs for amputees so they can run. Racing wheelchairs for others. And, handcycles for those who need them. Seeing those two cyclists reminded me of my commitment to CAF.

I am training for the New York Marathon in November and the Goofy Challenge at Disneyworld in January (the half marathon on Staurday, and the full marathon on Sunday).  As I train for NY and the Goofy, I committed to CAF to raise money for them again.

I would encourage you to think about why you run, ride, swim, or participate in your favorite sport. Find the blessing in it. And, if you would like to help me help CAF, you can make a donation here. Any amount helps those who want to be physically active but need help to do so.

I run because. . . .I can.

Have a great weekend!

P.S. If you want to learn more about CAF and its mission, here is a great YouTube video about Challenged Athletes Foundation.

My greatest accomplishments shall never be known, perhaps even to me.  Having made someone smile and see the world a bit brighter, having given someone hope for the future, having helped someone see potential inside him or her self that he or she never might have seen otherwise, having helped someone to see just how beautiful he or she really is–these to me are the achievements that most can help this world to be a brighter, more loving place. – Tom Walsh

Do you remember something nice someone did for you?  Maybe it was as simple as holding a door open when you had your hands full.  Or, something as large as paying your way through college.  Have you paid that act forward?

“Paying it forward” is repaying something not to the person who provided it to you, but to someone else.  The person who made the first payment to you, may not know who you make the forward payment to.  The important thing, is to pay kindnesses done to you forward to someone else.

“Paying it forward” could be as simple as holding the door for someone.  Or, making an anonymous donation to a charity.  Or, it could be getting involved with a charity by volunteering.  The point is to make a difference in someone else’s life.  Random acts of kindness falls into this category in my mind.

There is an organization called Back On My Feet.  This organization promotes self-sufficiency of the homeless population through running.  It is a unique way to help those who have no home.  I read about Back On My Feet in a Runner’s World article a couple of years ago.  I was struck about how one runner paid her gift of running forward to a group people living in a shelter she ran by on her daily runs.  I was reminded of Back On My Feet when one of the runners in Tom Coyne’s group who trained for and ran the Paris Marathon decided to run and raise money for Back On My Feet.  When I met the runner, she told me one of the homeless men from Back On My Feet did all of her long training runs with her.  Imagine – helping someone train for a marathon in Paris when you are living in a shelter.  Amazing.

Back On My Feet is looking to expand to other cities.  Houston is competing with several other cities for an expansion chapter.  The decision will be made June 17.  One of the key factors in the decision is the support of the local running community.  I’m asking you to take a minute NOW to vote for Houston (or the city of your choice) to receive an expansion chapter.  This is one simple way to pay something nice done for you, or consider it a random act of kindness – voting for a city to be able to help their homeless population in a unique way.

Paying something forward is not only nice for the recipient, but nice for the person giving the payment.

A while back, John (my husband) and I were in a party store. He held up some printed napkins and said, “I need to get these for you!” The napkins had “Stop Me Before I Volunteer Again!” printed on them. Yes, I am a pro at over-committing myself. Need something done? I’m on it! Need someone to do something? I’m there! However, my desire to help others often leads me to neglect my own self-care.

I’ve begun incorporating some lifestyle coaching into my nutrition practice using a Lifestyle Quiz with many of my new clients. I took the quiz, too, because I do not ask my clients to do something I would not do myself. One item that many people, including myself, sore high on is being a “People Pleaser.” A People Pleaser is someone who has a “strong sense of responsibility and commitment to their family, work and volunteer causes.” All of this makes it easy for a People Pleaser to put everyone and everything else in front of taking care of themselves. A People Pleaser finds the things that he/she likes to do last on the To Do list. Hum. . .this sounds familiar. . . .

Being a People Pleaser is not always a good thing if it leads to a lack of mental and physical self-care. If we do not take care of ourselves, no one else will do it for us. Yes, I know how difficult it is to fit everything into a day without adding one more thing to do. However, do you feel resentful that you do not have time to take care of yourself? Read a book for 15 minutes? Take a hot bath without someone needing something? Getting enough sleep?

As with many things, the first step in changing the situation is to admit there is a problem. If you see yourself in any of these descriptions, maybe you are a People Pleaser. There is nothing wrong with being a People Pleaser – as long as you do not neglect your own needs. Once you admit that you need more time to take care of yourself, start planning how you can make that happen. For example, you need more sleep but just can’t seem to get into bed before midnight because of all the preparation needed for the next morning. How about seeing if some of those things can be taken care of on the weekend? Or, asking others to help – kids can often put together their own lunches for example. Can’t settle down mentally until midnight when you just collapse into bed? Turn off the screens – TV, computer, etc. and read or stretch. Getting away from screens for 2 hours before bed can help you calm down and sleep better. Turn on some relaxing music and read a book. These are just a few ideas. They may not work for you – but that does not mean there is not a solution. Spend a few minutes – even in your car – thinking about how you can take care of YOU and what you need to make it happen. It is OK to ask for help – friends and family can babysit or petsit for example. I’m learning that I don’t have to do everything for myself and asking for help from others actually strengthens my relationships.

One other thing for my fellow People Pleasers – learn to say “No,” and that is is OK to say “No.” If someone asks you to do something you don’t want to do, or you get that queasy feeling in your stomach, it is OK to say “No.” Saying “No” is a type of self-care in my book. That little, two letter word has helped reduce my stress level and increased my happiness. If I could bottle “No” I’d make a fortune! But, since I can’t I’m giving you an unlimited prescription of “No” to use. Feel free to say “No” when someone asks you something that you really do not want to do. You do not have to be abrupt or rude, but you can say, “I’d really love to help you with that, but I’m already over-committed right now.” That is a “no” without saying “no.” That is what John meant I should do more of when he showed me those napkins.

Recently, I had the opportunity to volunteer at a summer camp for children with diabetes. It was Camp Rainbow sponsored by the American Diabetes Association. This is a day camp for children from 4 to 13 who have either Type I or Type II diabetes and their siblings. I never realized (or honestly even thought about) the challenges children with diabetes face when doing what I’d consider every day things.

You may be asking “why a special camp for those children with diabetes?” Or, “isn’t camp like school, don’t they just need a nurse?” Good questions.

The main difference between camp and school is the amount of physical activity. At camp, the kids are outside almost all day running, swimming, riding horses, playing games, etc. These kinds of activities can cause a person’s (adult or child) blood sugar to fall dramatically. And, each person’s body is different. So, one child’s blood sugar may fall immediately after climbing the rock wall while it takes 30 minutes or so for another’s to fall. At this special camp, the children are broken into six groups based on age. For groups with diabetics, there is also a group of medical staff who are there to monitor the kids’ blood sugar throughout the day. The medical staff stays with the group all week and each med staff is assigned specific children so he/she can get to know each child. Additionally, snacks are provided and lunches (packed from home usually) are monitored to be sure they are eaten – another reason blood sugar may be off. May of the kids had insulin pumps (basically a constant infusion of insulin vs. having to take injections) while others had to do injections. I was amazed at how many of these kids took managing their diabetes in stride. It would come time to check blood sugars and they’d hold out the hand they weren’t using, let the med staff wipe it with an alcohol swab, and take the droplet of blood to check their blood sugar levels – all without stopping working on their craft. If their blood sugar is too low, they get glucose tablet(s). Too high, their pump gets adjusted or they get an injection. The camp also has an infirmary in case a child needed more than the med staff with the group could provide. All in all, a very safe place for a child with diabetes.

I had the opportunity to work in the Art Room. We saw five of the six groups each day and helped them complete crafts from tie-dying t-shirts to making super hero masks. We were the only inside activity (other than lunch for some of the groups). However, inside wasn’t air conditioned so there were times it was cooler outside than in our Art Room. Friday, the “Art Room Ladies” were sitting at our long table waiting for our first group to show up when a mother stopped by and thanked us for volunteering for camp. She said that if it weren’t for Camp Rainbow, her daughter wouldn’t be able to go to camp. She would return to school and not have anything to talk about while all the other kids talked about what they did at camp. That was one of those crystallizing moments for me that made me glad I had volunteered and thankful for my “normal” life.

Make time and volunteer with an organization that is special to you – or pick one at random and see what catches your interest. Just a couple of hours a month can make a difference to others – and to you. If you’re not sure where to start, check out Volunteer Match to see some opportunities in your area.

Enjoy!