Curing Cancer
Over a 6 year period between 2009 and 2014, I completed 5 night-time walking marathons (26.2 miles) for Walk the Walk, otherwise known as The Moonwalk in Edinburgh. I was rigorous with my training schedule and had loyal and equally determined friends to accompany me.
We had fun during training, and enjoyed bonhomie, camaraderie and feeling united for a common cause through the nighttime walks. During training, I got to know local routes and distances, and can now set off for a walk or cycle knowing how far I am going without consulting a map.
My personal best Moonwalk time was 5 ½ hours in 2013 of which I am still very proud.
I loved those challenges and in 2015, had an urge to begin my training schedule, but grief at the loss of my sister, Emma, to breast cancer in 2014, prevented me. Since then I have only been emotionally able to fund-raise from the sidelines, supporting friends, local events and charities in their endeavour to raise much needed funds for Cancer Research.
However, this year on June 24th I will be joining a team of 11 determined and motivated women to raise funds for Cancer Research as we participate in Relay for Life, in Dunbar. The pace will be less gruelling, there is no need for speed and I will be with a very close friend, Gillian, so quality conversation is guaranteed. Besides, the past 9 years hasn't been kind to my arthritic knees, so a relay is ideal!
Although I like to keep fit by walking, my daily schedule had lapsed for a variety of reasons a couple of months ago, and I began to feel lethargic, less motivated and had noticed a reduction in my energy levels. Physically, I was still recovering from pneumonia, but I had a sense it was more than that, because a wee glimpse at the scales 3 weeks ago revealed that while my energy levels were diminishing, my waistline was slowly expanding. I enjoy good food, a glass or two of wine, I am not obsessed about my eating habits, I just know what works for me, where I am comfortable and how to get back on track. So I did just that, returning to my daily 3 mile morning walk with Jilly, adjusting my morning routine accordingly. My energy levels have soared, I am sleeping better and motivation is much higher.
Yesterday’s scale reading showed that I am heading back to where my weight sits comfortably on me.
Disclaimer: I am not advocating that a 3 mile walk is right for you. You can do what works best for you but if you need support, get in touch. This is where coaching can make a big difference.
Relay for Life, Dunbar 2023 will be fun as well as emotional, so please sponsor me. The team is on target to raise £2000 and we have some amazing raffle prizes: Bau Hair Cut and Colour, a 90 minute online coaching with me, a voucher for Herringbone, a portrait, framed prints, handbags… the list goes on!
To sponsor me: https://relay.cancerresearchuk.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/General?px=1370985&pg=personal&fr_id=2197
Thank you. Let’s beat this B*strd Cancer!
Creativity
Yesterday evening I attended an event at the Fruitmarket gallery entitled Dancing in the Dark and the Creative Conversation was hosted by The Real David Cameron and Professor Anne Bamford. I am a big fan of Bruce Springsteen, and so the title alone intrigued me. Anne gave an insightful and interesting talk, not least encouraging us to create some dance moves with randomly placed symbols. We were also asked to create an imaginary mission statement using the following letters: C I F L G Z.
My suggestion was - Creativity Inspires Future Learning Generating Zest. But the best response was Can I Find Love Groping Zebras.
Anne encouraged us to be a bit silly, to be playful, have fun, and find a person to talk with afterwards just by gazing around the room. I felt uplifted, inspired and creative. During that conversation, I was further reminded that creativity isn’t always about arts and culture, but also about the way we think: every day we have to be creative, adapting to a changing environment, finding new solutions to niggling problems, occasionally taking risks to get us to where we want to be.
Creativity: the ability to produce or use original and unusual ideas (Cambridge dictionary definition).
Creativity can be illustrated in word, deed, action and culture, and, for me, seeing the look on faces of friends and family when they visit, because my home and garden reflect my creativity. Living here for 7 years has afforded plenty of opportunity to put my stamp on my home. I also love taking photographs from catching light moments, where my attention is steered towards a burst of colour, a whispering shadow and a magical sunset. And when writing, my words jive and jiggle across the page in the hope that someone somewhere takes a snippet of inspiration, or that I generate hope and a thought for the day.
If you are lacking motivation, or struggling to find a solution to a frustrating problem, I’d love to hear from you you. Coaching sessions are online, Tuesday to Friday. I have some available slots during my working week 6th June - 9th June, so let’s have a Free 20 minute Discovery Discussion.
I offer time, space and confidentiality to help you resolve your issues.
Get in touch - use the comment form on my blog page, no need to sign in.
Email charli@catchinglightwellness.co.uk, (I will continue to respond to emails sent to charliprime@gmail.com for the next few weeks)
Mobile remains the same: 07477 017717
Photo(s) taken during a weekend celebration of my mother's 80th birthday in The Cotswolds.
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