This week you’re asked to try a new social activity.
Can’t think of anything? Oh come now, summer is still here. Drag out those last few days for all they’re worth! Keep your eye on the joy prize of a relaxing, rejuvenating summer as you ease into the coming school year.
Here are some ideas:
Hiking a new and different trail. Swim together. Be outside together. Give back or provide a gift of service together. Sing and dance together. Meditate together Discuss a book together. Read your own poetry out loud together. Play horseshoes or corn hole (or any other lawn game). Eat new healthy foods together. Plant something together. Create together. Explore together. Take the ALS ice bucket challenge to raise awareness and money for a cure. Take the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s #Doubtfire challenge to help those who are hurting (cover your face with cream and shout, “hello!” to the camera then donate). Sign up for a walk or run for charity. Volunteer.
Then share a meal, a laugh and a hug — or simply do just that, share time together.
The idea is to a) do something new and b) be healthy doing it, and c) do it with others. Get out and be social in healthy ways that don’t compromise or undermine who you believe you are, what you strive for and who you are working on becoming. We like to say, “We’re always in training.” When someone else says “training for what?” I always reply, “Whatever comes my way!” Self-confidence and a commitment to your goal will get you through any anxieties or fears. 
A teacher friend, looking ahead to the 2014-2015 school year, said her goal is to be gentler with the kids (she works at an alternative school — really tough kids, and she’s already a saint. We’re so hard on ourselves). I asked, “How will you do that?” She’s made a commitment to slowing down, being in the moment and doing a little meditation each day to practice that “now” factor, no matter how short. So, for the week 7 challenge, I downloaded an app she shared with me and then we sat right there at the dinner table and meditated for 30 seconds — in a restaurant! Next up we challenged each other to use the hand blow dryers in bathrooms to stop, breathe and be in the now while drying our hands until they are fully dry. Because we really do have more than 10 seconds to relax and recharge in the chaos of the day. If we choose it, the science of meditation says we’ll gain three-fold what we spend in time. We also pledged to take some of that same course while eating good healthy food. Savor.
Be here now! Do healthy social things now and be in it completely.
It was Julia Child’s birthday this week and she was remembered by some of her greatest quotes. What we love about her was her ability to share the wealth of her passion for good food — both for the health of it and for the emotional joy that makes the heart sing in a multitude of ways. Cooking healthy is scary especially when cooking for others — the expense, the taste, the unknown. She said there can be no fear when you have good ingredients that are fresh and whole, that speak for themselves. In theory that’s true but we all know how easy it is to overwhelm the simple or simply overdo (think olive, overdone peas or green beans).
So keep this challenge simple and stick to the basics but make it fun. Find something that makes you happy in the simplest of ways with the people you love — something you’ve never done before but always wanted to. Share your new adventure with us and maybe we’ll give it a try as well!
Go on, get out there and confidently get in the now…
“When you flip anything… you just have to have the courage of your convictions.” — Julia Child
See you on the PATH Ahead!