I like to start new habits in September. September habits stick with me far better than January New Year’s Resolutions. I know I’ll have space through the fall, winter, and spring to complete the habits. Most routine goes out the window for me in the summer because I just want to be outside and with people. The fall time is usually much quieter as we start to move inwards again with the seasons. As an aside, of all the traditions around, there is only one group that I’ve found that starts their calendar in September – the Eastern Orthodox Church. This is where I like to borrow what philosophies works for me, so I like their calendar for this purpose.
So, I started running a mile a day on September 1st. My brother can take credit for influencing me on this one – he’s been doing this for a year or so and shared it with me while he was visiting this summer. I know I needed to add back in a cardio routine with the changing season, but I did not want to commit to another marathon or half marathon. I loved completing those goals, but I don’t care to be running for multiple hours on a Saturday morning in this season of life. I LOVE my daily walks and do not want to leave those behind (you can walk with me on Instagram stories Monday-Friday if you’d like!). A mile a day felt like it was within reach – I can commit to 15 minutes a day. It doesn’t have to be a fast pace, it just needs to be done. There’s no rules here either besides the ones I set for myself. If I need to walk part of it, that’s totally ok. Done is the most important part.
Today is September 23rd, so I should be 23 miles in… I’m a few less than that. I ended up being sick in bed for a few days, so of course there’s a pass for that. BUT! What I have noticed are my physical systems moving more – especially water and lymph systems. This of course is purely my observations of myself. I think this is also why the trampoline/rebounding exercise has become popular. Rebounders often tout the lymphatic drainage – and I believe it to be true, but you can achieve that motion a number of different ways, including running.
Why share all of this here? Because of the spiritual benefits I seem to be getting from it. Everything is connected of course. This mile a day running has started moving water and fluids in my system that have been sluggish, so my body has been flushing out stuck waste. Physical waste also becomes energetic waste if left for long enough. That can turn into blockages (that doesn’t mean they always will). I hadn’t even noticed that I needed flushing in that way. Running has lifted my mood up, which is important for quickly getting to the uplifting energetic spaces I want to work in. Taking care of your physical body is an important aspect of taking care of your spiritual and whole self. Working with spirit has felt easier since I’ve been running (once I got past being sick).
Want to start running a mile a day with me? Great! I want to share one piece of information out that helped me keep going. Day one of the run will probably feel ok. Days two and three are the hardest. Day four and onwards is when you will start to feel stronger and like this is manageable. Once you start, it is easier to keep going. Starting the run each day is usually the hardest part, once you get past days two and three. You can do it, I know you can.
Don’t want to run with me? That’s great too! How you take care of this body of yours is totally up to you, so please don’t take this as the only right way to do things – there are so many right ways to do things and it’s going to look different for everyone.
Have you tried running a mile a day? Do you have other ways to take care of your body and keep systems moving? Let me know in the comments below!
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