health and community Archives

Long Live the Snow Day!

Did you know there are people in the world who have never experienced a snow day? They live in Arizona and I can’t help but feel so sad for them.

It’s difficult to describe the feeling of waking up to fresh piles of snow, especially on a school day, and waiting for the call. The call that gives you permission to stay in your pajamas, make a big breakfast, and stare out the window at the gift of time – the snow day.

How to Get a Snow Day

Most people believe snow days come to us by luck, coincidence, or even prayer. But as the ancient Roman philosopher says…

“Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.”
Seneca

To prepare properly and invite the several inches of snow needed to call off the school day, I advise the following steps to be performed in order.

On a Sunday night before bed, put your pajamas on inside out.
Next, take a bucket of ice and pour it into your toilet.
Tap the side of the toilet bowl with a spoon.

Remember, this is only going to work if there is an opportunity for precipitation in the forecast. Also, it really helps to be in an area cold enough to support the snow. We are looking for a little luck, maybe even a dash of magic, not a miracle.

What to do on a Snow Day

Now that you have your snow day, you’ve had your breakfast, and you’ve stared out the window in utter satisfaction, get outside. You really never know how long it will last and you can bet a snowplow is most likely on its way. is urgency in getting to the freshies with your rail sled, or just any old sled, or skis, or snowshoes before it melts or before that pesky snowplow.

A rail sled is my choice as it has the potential to take you as far as you want to go with just a little grade and the perfect conditions. The true power of a rails sled lies in testing just how far you can ride it. Every trip down the hill stretches just a little farther than the last.

Will Snow Days be a Thing of the Past?

It’s up to us to preserve the magic of a snow day. I hope it doesn’t become a story we tell our kids about the old days, before this thing we call remote learning stole our chances for more play and less work.

We cannot let snow accumulation overnight go unnoticed and uncelebrated!

Long live the snow day! I hope you will stand with me in preserving this celebration of a generous gift of moisture. We must honor the tradition and ignore the urge to continue with business as usual.

The next time there is a hint of snow in the forecast, I’ll be wearing my PJs inside out. Will you?

Five Minutes to Start a New Story

Change is hard, but with a little hope, optimism, and 5 minutes, we can stop waiting for something to happen, and start a new story.

waiting to change

The authors of Switch, How to Change Things When Change is Hard, remind me that “Change brings new choices that create uncertainty.” We get overwhelmed because most of us are on auto pilot most of the time. Auto pilot is not bad. It helps us to maintain energy levels, so we can use that energy to make decisions. I hate having to decide every day now what is important and what isn’t. It used to be easier: get up early, morning routines, get to work, evening routines, go to bed.

Now, I find myself staring out the window a lot. Waiting for something. Waiting for life to go back to normal, but not wanting it to. Waiting to love the life I have right now. Waiting to buy new clothes, to wear to my new job, that I am waiting for. Waiting for an opportunity to travel, to feel safe at the grocery store. Waiting to feel safe around other people at all. Ug, so much waiting.

Change is hard, but it’s also an opportunity. Vince Lombardi is famous for his determination to win, and all that. I’m not sure I love his quotes, and I know things get all misconstrued. He said something about how quitters never win, but it depends on how you look at it. He also said that hope is not a strategy, but again, there are extenuating circumstances.

hope is a little messy

My daughter reminded me that messed up hope is still something to be grateful for.

In this moment, hope is kinda my only strategy.

The Harvard Business review published an article appropriately titled Hope is a Strategy (Well Sort Of). They talk about realistic optimism, and refer to a quote by Carmin Mendina “Optimism is the greatest act of rebellion.”

So, I hereby rebel. I am going to be optimistic, and pretend that things are going to work out for the best.

But, I am pretty tired of waiting. It’s ridiculous to try to plan for next month, or next week, or even tomorrow at this point. I think you can still have optimistic and hopeful viewpoint, without being certain about anything. However, waiting isn’t a good strategy, for me anyway.

Start something for 5 minutes

I recently started looking for ways to be a bit more creative with my writing. In my classroom, before beginning any kind of writing assignment, we would go to the scholastic website and choose a story starter. The challenge was to write as many words as you could, on the chosen topic, for 5 minutes.

Most fourth graders don’t really love to write. I guess they have learned by this point in their career, that there are too many rules, and its a task that is never finished. We all know that feeling of staring at a blank page, and no words are coming out. Writer’s block is a real thing.

It was different with the 5 minute story starters. The topic would always be a bit silly, and they knew there weren’t really any rules, except they had to write for the full 5 minutes. Even my most reluctant writers would participate. Many were getting close to a hundred words written in just 5 minutes!

The best part came at the end of the 5 minutes, when I would ask for volunteers to share their writing. Almost everyone wanted to read aloud what they had written. The writing was good! They were creative, descriptive, and taking risks.

Five minute challenge

Anyone can stick it out for five minutes. Even a five year old can commit to a task for that long. This is especially true for those of us who are feeling overwhelmed by all the changes we have had to make over the past few weeks.

I even decided to start my own little five minute creative writing challenge in my daily writing. The Story Starter.com has an idea generator for grown ups, and it has been fun for me to try my hand at something that is pretty difficult for me.

Five minutes to start a story, or clean the bathroom, reconcile accounts. It just doesn’t seem so bad anymore.

I might still stare out the window and wait for things to change on their own. Maybe I will set a timer, and let myself do that for a short time. Then I will get back to reality and be intentional and outrageously optimistic for 5 minutes.

For more five minute inspiration, check out the fly lady? She is still around after 20 years of blogging about change. Her philosophy is simple. Just do something for five minutes.

UPDATE:

I love it when I find something that just goes with something I already have, or do. This is an awesome video about using 5 minutes at the end of your day to reflect and write down the most important thing from the day. Over time, you will develop a sense for your life as moments. Important, beautiful moments, that are your story, and part of a bigger story.

Three reasons a staycation may be better than a vacation.

Awe, just look at those pictures on Insta of your friends smiling in the pool, in Italy, with drinks, and tans. Yay them.

Ok, in all honesty, I do have an awesome trip planned, but its not happening until the end of November. That’s like Christmas. It might as well be an eternity away. But, I am not going to let this summer go by without at least pretending to be on vacation.

In the following, I have listed three reasons a staycation can be a more rewarding experience than traveling, or it is validation you can use to explain to your friends why you never go anywhere. Either way, no matter where you spend most of your time, you can be reminded of how and why you landed in your hometown in the first place.

You are an expert

No more FOMO for you! There is so much pressure on vacation to find the places only the locals know. Or to see as much as possible considering the price you paid to get there. When I took my family on our first ever tropical vacation last year, I had so much anxiety about trying to squeeze in everything, I actually cried when all they wanted to do was nap in the rental one of the days. Don’t even ask me about the hour and a half drive to see the amazing monkey preserve to pull up to a run down shack, in a shady part of the middle of nowhere.

Sure, trying new foods and changing up the view reminds us how awesome and diverse the world is, but there is nothing like the satisfaction of already knowing where to get those delish organic green smoothies, what time the absolute best breakfast burritos are sold out, and not having to open google maps every time you leave the hotel.

It’s more than a little ego boost to know the smoothest waters to take your paddle board, where to see the most inspiring sunsets, and the back roads to take to avoid the summertime traffic.

Learn about the tourists

My default mode seems to be set on the ‘I prefer to be alone’ setting. I love to be alone, until I don’t. When people travel, they simply cannot isolate themselves because of then unfamiliar environment. There is no choice but to ask for help. It may be directions, help with a menu, currency questions, and many other basic tasks. Asking for help opens us up and humbles us to be teachable. People naturally like to help each other.

When we are comfortable, know where we are going and what we need, we rarely interact with others that we don’t know. You probably can’t relate, but some people even pretend not to see people they know when they’re running errands, simply because they don’t have the time to chat. The nerve! (insert winky face emoji here)

Because you are now planning your hometown staycation, schedule in some opportunities to talk to people you don’t know. Ask where they are from, and maybe what has brought them to your part of the world. Remember, this is a vacation, so your are not busy running errands. Be friendly. How cool would it be to know you were that nice girl who told them about the awesome mine tour they experienced, and the local handcrafted soda brewing tour.

Look for “Invisible” stuff

I have this weird fascination with Bigfoot, but not for the reasons you might think. I love the mystery of it. There is no solid, scientific evidence that Bigfoot exists, but here’s the cool part: There is no solid, scientific evidence that Bigfoot doesn’t exist. Uh huh. See what I did there? That’s the magic. It’s not that I think he’s out there, trying to eat campers, it’s that he might be.

The point is, ever since I started sharing my fascination, people starting popping out of the woodwork, telling me that they are “believers”. I’ve been gifted several Bigfoot collectors items, that I totally love, even though I consider myself an anti-collector. There is even a Bigfoot believers conference somewhere up north I’ve been invited to. I’m in the tribe ya’ll! Who wouldn’t want to be an exclusive member of a tribe like this? I even have the t-shirt.

There are tribes of people doing the coolest stuff in every corner of the world. You can find them on social media, a google search, or just going for a walk with your eyes open. I even found the cutest little tribe of fairy house builders right down 3rd Avenue, in my town, that several locals don’t even know is there! What the ….? A whole fairy community. Invisible! Awesome.

Cheapest, Endless, Instagram Worthy

My heading was not just a bunch of keywords thrown together to get your attention. Ok, yes it was.

Traveling is a dream of mine so I won’t sit here and try to make it sound incredibly dull and not worth the money. What I hope to do though is inspire you to be excited about where you spend most of your time. From now on, I will use the hashtag #hometown, #durangocolorado or #staycation to post on Instagram for ideas. Will you do that too?

I am so grateful to live almost all my days in this gorgeous place, interact with interesting and unique people, and feel like I am an expert on local favorites.

If you have been following my story, you know I am transitioning from teaching to writing. I would love to hear your ideas about staycations, travel, education, and writing in the comments below!

Reach out to me at hello@rachelwhatif.com with your story or ideas for a stay-cation.

How a small change led to big surprises

We all know everyone really wants sweatpants to become so totally in fashion that you could wear them to every event, and be completely admired for your “unique style,” and also taken seriously at important business meetings. It’s an important goal that I fully intend to create a sweatpants style movement when I become a household name. Passionate dreams aside, another lesson was recently learned about how having the right tools is sometimes an overlooked, but critical component to overcoming challenges.

New goals, New tools

I have run 5ks, 10ks, relay races, 18 miles over rugged mountain passes, a marathon, triathlons,and obstacle course races. However, almost 3 years ago, I joined the crossfit craze and totally love it. The idea that I wanted to be able to do pullups is what motivated me to join. I knew I could do it if I learned the proper form, built the strength, and worked at it. After all this time, I am finally able to do one actual pull up without assistance. I’m still working on it. Turns out it takes a whole lot of practice and consistency to master this skill. Who knew?

I don’t really understand why pull-ups are so challenging to master, I guess it’s because you have to lift your entire body weight using nothing but your little-used upper body muscles. Oh, and there is also gravity. I could try to lose a little weight to make it easier, but that has proven to be something in the “too hard” category. Please see my previous post about the difference between hard things and challenging things. Although I am still working on this goal, something interesting has happened as an unexpected benefit. I can climb a rope. This has come as a total and complete, wonderfully blissful surprise. Surely, all the pull up practice has contributed to this success, but there is one other thing that proved to be the key to the climb: the shoes.

Running shoes are not for everything

As a runner, I was a bit picky about the brand of shoes I would run in. I have never been that girl who would spend more than $75 on a pair of running shoes. For a casual runner like me, you can usually find a great pair for around $50 or less. There is no need to drop over $100 . Getting to the point. One day, I just decided to get a pair of shoes for Crossfit. Crossfit shoes should have a lot less support. This allows you to distribute your weight onto your heels more when you lift. Running shoes vary in the amount of support that they offer, and it depends on whether you run asphalt, trails, indoors, or on a track. Personally, I generally choose shoes with a bit more support to protect my joints and lots of traction for trails and dirt roads. When my shoes kept getting caught in the jump rope or bands, I knew it was time for a change.

Impress yourself

The day came when rope climbs were scheduled as part of the WOD (Workout of the Day). There is not really an opt out button on Crossfit workouts unless you are injured in some way, and it’s beside the point anyway. The modification for climbing the rope still involves holding the rope, which is brilliant because it encourages you to give it a try and at least practice the form. It’s so powerful to put people in a position where they are willing to take a risk. With my super cute, light new shoes, I got myself into position to try a little pull. When I pushed down on the rope between my feet, they stuck! I had never been able to get a good grip with my feet before. That was truly all I needed, and up the rope I went. You can’t imagine the feeling of pride you have in yourself when you accomplish something like this.

It is such a cool feeling when you impress yourself. When was the last time you gave yourself a little internal fist bump? Sometimes its a matter of just putting the right tools in place to move you closer to your goals. Switching from running shoes to Crossfit shoes turned out to be a small shift that yielded awesome results. I’m still looking for ways to incorporate sweat pants into all of my problem solving adventures. Let me know in the comments how sweat pants have solved some of your problems. What other tools are you putting into place to set yourself up to be impressed?

Why Goals are Not about Finish Lines

What if there are no finish lines?

I love Crossfit. I just completed a workout and feel exhausted and grateful that I didn’t throw up. I used to be a runner. I have run several races of all different kinds. The most challenging being the Imogene pass run which challenges crazies to traverse a mountain peak from Ouray, Colorado to Telluride climbing to 13,114 feet in elevation and totaling 17.1 miles. My best time (out of 4 attempts) hovered around 4 excruciating, exhilarating hours. The fourth time I participated in this feat, I remember laying on the grass at the finish, wondering where the nearest hospital was, and what they could do to save me from dying. Needless to say, the fourth was my last. I’ve also run the Ragnar series twice, several half marathons, a full marathon, some triathlons, and most recently, a Spartan sprint.

Saying I used to be a runner makes me a little sad. I guess I will always be a runner in my heart, but I think my days of competing in races are behind me, aside from the annual Silverton Fourth of July 10K. Racing was the metric I used to measure my training, and it gave meaning to all that time and effort. I loved feeling like a part of something bigger, a culture to ascribe to, although a bit isolating. Even while participating in all those events, I didn’t feel enough. I never won. I never lost. No one knew me, I ran alone. I was comfortable here, until I wasn’t. Running was filling a need for me, but not the ones I really wanted to fill. Crossfit fills those needs almost every time I step into the gym, and then some.

The workout today was deceiving in that it looked doable: 4 rounds for time: 27 Box Jumps, 20 burpees, and 11 squat cleans. This is “Klepto” named for U.S. Air force Major David “Klepto” Brodeur, who was killed in Afghanistan on 4-27-2011, hence the number of rounds and reps in the workout. After the first round, I knew I would once again need to find the power in my mental space to focus and finish. “Just don’t stop,” “Just do 5,” or “If they can do that, I can do this,” are my mantras when I get into these tough workouts. These dedicated workouts present a unique opportunity to participate in something bigger than self. How else would I feel a small connection to a fallen soldier? I have a deep respect, as most do, for people who are called to serve in the military. Once upon a time I thought I would serve but my heart couldn’t follow through. It wasn’t right for me.

My Crossfit community is a model for what communities should be. People remember my name, and I am truly trying to remember theirs. I am there for myself, but also for them. When someone is struggling through, we are cheering their name. The coaches see me, they know my ability, they know when I am hiding from my goals. They celebrate with me when I PR. We all want to be better today than we were yesterday. Maybe best of all, it works.

As much as I loved it, running never helped me do pull-ups. Pull-ups are the impossible task I have held in high esteem forever. Anyone who can do a pull up, let alone any number of consecutive pull ups are practically elite athletes in my book. I started Crossfit almost three years ago, and a pull up, without assistance eludes me. Still, I haven’t given up, and to my surprise and delight, this may just be the year for me. The pull-up year. I’m getting closer. Turns out there is actually a progression for these things. You set a goal, you make progress, don’t give up, and guess what? You achieve it. My goals used to involve finish lines, now they involve pull-up bars. I don’t think I even believe in finish lines anymore.

Running with ideas…

landscape photography of snow pathway between trees during winter — Photo by Simon Matzinger on Pexels.com

What if the purpose of running for me is to get ideas, rather than to get healthy? I love (sometimes hate) to run. I have run several (several hundred) races, and have run at least two to three days each week for the last twenty years. Running was my go to for feeling fit, until I discovered Crossfit over two years ago. Now, running is more my mental go to. My very best ideas and clearest thinking come while running outside. I started this blog after a run just a few weeks ago.

Sometimes, like running, I actually thought I hated writing. I have always loved reading, but organizing thoughts into coherent sentences has never been my favorite. Although, I have always felt healthier when keeping a gratitude journal, jotting down thoughts after listening to an inspiring podcast, or while reading a great nonfiction. I love to narrow things down to biggest takeaways, or aha moments.

I went to a training for teachers a couple of years ago called Thinking Strategies, where I truly learned how similar reading and writing are. It’s truly a conversation between author and reader. This takes the pressure and judgement out of writing for me. If I think of writing as just talking, even if to no one, it really makes it easier. It also feels a bit like housekeeping for my soul. I can clear out the dirt in my mind and make room for the beautiful things.

I just finished reading Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert and I’m still feeling the endorphins from her wonderful writing style and life changing ideas. She talks about writing and ideas as inner decorations called “intracranial decorations.” I love the thought of beautifying the inside of my mind. I want to take a walk around my soul and love what I see. In the same way, some of us choose running as a way to beautify our outer appearances. I hope my writing will enhance my insides. I definitely focus a little too much on my “outsides.”

It turns out running and writing are very natural partners for me. I think a lot while I run, and also seem to be very open to ideas. Running has become such a necessary part of my life, and I believe writing is next. It is something I constantly think about. I’m still not sure what to write about that could be interesting to others, but I guess its OK to do it just for me, for now. I have a goal to write 500 words every day, and so far am writing about 500 per week. I remember when I first started running. A mile or two every other day was all I could handle. I know I can continue to build upon what I have started. Ideas are everywhere. I look for inspiration in books, music, podcasts, on snowy mountain mornings, and while running.

Strength

What if I reviewed my strengths everyday? Would that build my confidence? The beginning of a new school year brought yet another principal to our small rural school. This principal encouraged all of us to take a strengths finder test to reinforce the belief that leadership could include all of us if we knew and used each other’s strengths. Theoretically, this idea is fantastic! Unfortunately, the follow up hasn’t necessarily been there. Regardless, I loved the validation the test brought me.

Turns out, after answering lots of questions, I have exceptional strength in five areas: Responsibility, Empathy, Learner, Developer, and Connectedness. If I had to choose a favorite, it would have to be learner, closely followed by connectedness. I truly feel that problems only exist in my life because I haven’t yet learned how to overcome them. It is empowering to know that the answers are available. I also love to read because I can almost always apply what I read to my life in some way. Because I am able to find meaning in experience, or in what I read, I am also a connector.

everything is connected neon light signage — Photo by Daria Shevtsova on Pexels.com

So, what if I reviewed these strengths of mine on a daily basis? I wonder if my confidence would flourish. I have struggled to find my strengths over the last few years. It can be difficult to develop a balance with humility and courage. I value humility, but I also believe that I must have the confidence and courage to boldly go in the direction of my dreams. Just starting this blog represents a move toward confidence. I’m sure that humility and confidence can and should exist in the same person, but I struggle to understand what that looks and feels like.

What if my time actually is MY time?

“The trouble is, you think you have time.” Buddha

clear glass with red sand grainer — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

I closely monitor how I spend my time, and yet I always feel as though I am running out. When I think about my dream life, I imagine myself with so much time that I can afford to do whatever I want! I could read all the books I want to read, write as much as I am inspired to write, build relationships with family members, and on and on. There is nothing I want more than time.

I had a realization on my way to work this morning. Although, I do work for someone else, what if the time I spend at work really could be my time? I have been resentful of how expensive my job is when it comes to time. It has always felt as though I am giving so much of my time while at work, not doing what I would do if it was my time to spend. But it actually is my time, and I am choosing to spend it in this way. I feel as though I am overdrawn and don’t know how I got here.

But, what if I could be more savvy with this time? What if I could meet my needs while also meeting the needs of my students and colleagues? Hmm… What does that look like? Is that ok? Can you go to work and still meet your own needs? Do people do that? What about teachers?

Still thinking about this one. Maybe I’ll come back to answer this when I have more time…

What if this is a mental workout?

Ya know how you go to the gym and try all the machines, or run around the track, or go to a class and wonder, “Am I doing this right?”

Maybe you totally have it figured out, but most people are still looking for the “right” fitness plan that will help them feel stronger, look better, and boost their confidence. I speak from about 20 years of experience, teaching fitness classes, running hundreds of races, meditation practices, and of course eating the perfect balance of macros.

I will always do those things. They are critical to my success physically and mentally. I have recently discovered they are not enough. I am using this blog as a place to sort out the thousands of thoughts that run through my head every day. I am using it as a place to get a great workout developing a healthy writing habit.

If you are still reading this, I hope you will consider joining me on this mental fitness journey. I will share what is working, what is a really bad idea (but still worth sharing because it’s funny), and hopefully some content you could use to build your own mental stamina, strength, and overall feel goodness.

Photo by Matheus Bertelli on Pexels.com