Happy Monday… today’s chat is inspired by what I’ve seen over the weekend and what I’m seeing on the TV this morning – it’s about extremes!
It’s 50 years since humans landed on the moon, an enormous feat performed with computers that had a fraction of the power of the mobile phone in our pocket! Yet today we see ‘Love Islanders’ not know in which countries Barcelona and Rome are, their 15 minutes of fame is based not upon what they do for mankind but how poorly informed they are, how little they wear, how badly they behave and if they ‘Do Bits” etc!
This past fortnight we have witnessed young women at the World Cup in Football and a 15 year old Tennis player at Wimbledon perform at new levels of excellence in fitness, technical skill and mindset, their athletic prowess the focus of the worlds attention. Simultaneously we see young people spending hours creating the perfect selfie/Instagram image employing filters, posing in awkward angles and cosmetic alterations to create a illusion, seeking attention for these false images and suffering mental anguish when it’s not forthcoming.
The physical and mental health of these young people is at an all time low (significantly higher levels of youth/young people’s depression) with two suicides from the Love Island TV show alone.
50 years ago Neil Armstrong took “One step for man and a giant leap for mankind” (landing on the moon on the 21/7/69), this weekend, double amputee war veteran Michael Swain MBE broke a world record for riding a hand bike from Land’s End to John O’ Groats. Yet, the obesity levels of our young people (with medical conditions associated with poor diet, activity and lifestyle) are at an all time high, fitness and activity levels at an all time low and young people not using their young legs to walk to school, play in the park, participate in sport or dance!
‘A life without purpose is a purposeless life’
Creating dreams and goals and working towards achieving them a little every day gives us direction and purpose. If those goals are about appearance and attention/adoration rather than tangible outcomes (qualifications, trainings, personal bests, medals, awards and certificates) then we are likely to fail and feel a failure!
Exercise/activity boosts physical and mental health, for all of us at any age, setting and achieving goals personally and professionally gives us drive and focus.
We can make excuses, blame the government etc. but ultimately it’s us/our young people who either benefit or suffer. We don’t all have to aim to be an astronaut, world record holder, world or Wimbledon champion but we can all do what it takes to create our best life!
Congratulations…
…to Sarah Garcia who delivered her first baby, Claudia weighing in at 6lbs 12oz, on Tuesday 2nd July 2019. Both are doing fabulously.
Sarah kept up her classes right up to 5 days before Claudia’s arrival!
Voting Closes on 11 July at 8pm…Do I have you vote?
The closing date for voting in the National Community Fitness Awards closes at 8pm on the 11 July Can you/will you vote for me and help drum up support?
Here’s the voting link if you want to go directly there…
Summer Schedule – you decide…
Please let me know a.s.a.p. !
Beetroot and Pineapple salad
(Source: healthline.com)
Packed with gut friendly fibre and health boosting nutrition
Ingredients
- 4 cups chopped beetroot
- 3 cups chopped pineapple
- 1 to 2 tablespoons olive oil, to drizzle
- Dash of ground cinnamon
- Pinch of sea salt
- 1/4 cup mint, thinly sliced
Directions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F (204°C). On a lined baking sheet, evenly spread chopped beets. Roast for about 40 minutes or until tender. Set aside to cool.
- Chop pineapple in large chunks, about the same size as the chopped beets.
- To serve, plate chopped pineapple and cooled roasted beets and drizzle with olive oil, dust with cinnamon, add a pinch of sea salt, and top with thinly sliced fresh mint.
- Enjoy at room temperature.
Yum Yum
Have a fab week making your best life!
Love ya,
Helen x
