Time to get moving – for Yourself and for Mother Earth!
BY: RACHEL WUMKES
In the dawn of an early Spring Day, as the gentle rain falls from the sky, replenishing the Earth as new life begins to grow in front of our very eyes, it’s almost as if we’re experiencing regeneration ourselves.
Of our spirits – which have been dwindling over the course of the winter months.
Of our bodies – which have been idle for an entire season.
Of our minds – which have been bogged down with sickness and cabin fever.
As the World is seemingly born again each Spring, so are we, in a way.
With Earth Day right around the corner, it got me thinking about the similarities between how this time of year is not only a time to clean up the land after a long winter, but ourselves. In the same way we need to protect Mother Earth and keep her clean to create sustainable life, we need to protect our bodies.
It’s time to shake off the dust, my friends, and get moving!
In my quest to find the perfect list of the top way to do so, I decided to shake things up a bit and put together a hodge-podge list of my own. A little mash-up of how you can get your body moving AND do your part to make a positive impact on the planet. Now, I am no expert in any way, shape or form. So, take this all with a grain of salt, okay?
Rachel’s Earth Day/Wellness list for How to be Awesome:
- Pick an activity you enjoy – This is very important. You see, I loathe running with every fiber in my body. I think it goes back to my Jr. High Track days which has created a bit of PTSD. So, find your thing. Find something to get you outside that moves your body. Maybe it’s biking – or walking – or simply pushing your kids on the swings at City Park. Anything to get the fresh air IN and the energy OUT.
- Plant something – Did you know trees cool things down? Yup! Collectively, they can help decrease a city’s temperature by up to 10 degrees! They also clean the air and give off oxygen, among other benefits. So, plant one in your yard! And if that is not an option where you live, at least try to plant some fruits and vegetables. Not only are they good for your health, but if we all did this, the amount of fossil fuels needed to transport these items to grocery stores would decrease.
- Go “plogging” – This one made me giggle! It’s apparently a cross between jogging and picking up trash. Get it? PLOGGING!! Pure genius. It’s like a double whammy of Earth Day fun and a step toward wellness. Win-Win! Can you imagine if everyone picked up one bag of trash each Spring? What a difference we could make! Or, you can skip the jog part and just pick up the trash – in fact, sign on up for the Trash Bash here!
- Out. Side. – I yell this at my children no less than 15 times each weekend. Go. Be children. Run around and scrape your knees and get dirty. I swear, screens will be the end of us someday! Less technology and more fresh air.
- Set small goals and build on them – If you’re new to the “get moving” game, it’s a good idea to start small and work your way up to more. Don’t start right out of the gate with a 10-mile run followed by hours of weightlifting. Listen to your body – follow a plan – you don’t need to go gung-ho from the get-go, friends. All you need to do is get outside and MOVE your body.
Our friends over at Skip’s Kicks have the right idea, as they have generously sponsored the Earth Day 5K/10K Run on Saturday, April 23rd in beautiful Clear Lake. Registration is currently open for the event, and you MUST HURRY, because March 25th (THIS FRIDAY) is the entry cutoff date to get a t-shirt.
And, hello, you’re gonna want a t-shirt, right?
A slew of other activities are being planned to celebrate Mother Earth, as well as the community of Clear Lake, throughout the course of the many Earth Day festivities. Get on their website www.earthdayclearlake.org to sign up for the Trash Bash, Green Expo, and much more!
We only have once chance on this Earth. One opportunity to make it the best life we possibly can. Don’t waste it in front of a screen. Get up, get moving, get out and make a difference.