Dr. Kenney’s Friday 5 Spot
On Fridays I like to share some of the experiences I’ve had during the week with patients and in my personal life that I’ve found significant in some way. I like to share them in hopes that you might find value in them and have something resonate with you in your life.
Something that really inspired me. The oldest and most prestigious ultra-marathon in the world is the Western States 100, run in California each July. The race has a 30-hour cutoff time so to receive a belt buckle that recognizes you as an official finisher (the best runners usually finish under 24 hours) you must finish in under that time. This race ends on a high school track and between hour 29 and 30 is considered the “golden hour” – where approximately 60-70 back of the pack runners will finish in front of a full stadium of people. These runners are not the fastest by any stretch, but if you’re looking to be inspired, they won’t disappoint. Many of these runners have trained for months and are battling down to the second in order to say they made it.
I watched a video of this “golden hour”, and it inspired me tremendously. Not just because I’m a runner but because it was a spectacle of regular people doing uncommon things. My favorite was a very ordinary looking woman who came around the track being led in excitedly by a group of 12 or so runners whom she’d likely never met cheering her on and trying to get her to that line before that 30-hour mark. The crowd was going crazy, and this woman kept going with everything she had and made it with only seconds to spare. Her finishing was like a victory for everyone there, it was so cool!
I was so proud of her for completing that goal because I know what goes into it myself. Most importantly though, I know that if that woman made an impression on me, then there was someone else that saw her that she likely motivated to do something special in their own life. Maybe it was one of her children, maybe it was a stranger in the crowd or someone that saw that video. I guarantee you though, someone saw that woman finish that race and it became the catalyst for them making a huge change in their own life somehow. I love this type of inspiration!
Something I really enjoyed. On the 4th of July I ran carrying the American flag as I do on the patriotic holidays. As I do this I always enjoy interacting with other runners, cyclists, people in their yards and cars driving by. It’s awesome that people get so excited to see that someone is proudly showing off the flag. Afterwards, I was asked to be in the Highlands Ranch parade which I enjoyed as well. I got to hold my youngest son and watch him waving his flag and waving to a sea of people wearing red, white and blue. It was a special moment that I will remember for a long time!
A helpful tip I’ve been using. When we sit, we tend to let our stomachs spill forward which is bad for our posture. As the stomach is allowed to do this, the spinal muscles relax, the spine starts to come forward with our shoulders and before we know it, we’re slouching badly. Repeated time and again, this will have a negative impact on our musculoskeletal systems.
A simple tip to help correct this is to focus on drawing the stomach back. Mentally picture yourself trying to bring the belly button back toward your spine. As you do this, the core muscles will engage, and the lower back and abdominal areas will tighten. This helps to protect our spine and muscles as well as avoid pain syndromes and other issues that come from poor posture. Start doing this and you’ll notice a big difference in how things feel, especially as you’re sitting.
Something important to understand about your health. Many people like to blame anything and everything about their level of health on circumstances, genetics, and/or bad luck. Are these components of our health? Of course, and in some cases, people can be dealt a bad hand in one of these areas. However, most of the time, we have the power to control the majority of our own health destinies. How? By watching what goes into our bodies, controlling what we do to/for our bodies and doing our best to keep ourselves mentally fit. Regardless of your genetics, circumstances, or fortunes; you always have the power to impact your own health if you make positive nutritional, physical and mental changes.
Some quotes I love.
“The code of the West: Live each day with courage. Take pride in your work. Always finish what you start. Do what has to be done. Be tough but fair. When you make a promise, keep it. Ride for the brand. Talk less and say more. Remember some things aren’t for sale. Know where to draw the line.”
“Emergencies have always been the pretext on which the safeguards of individual liberty have eroded.” – F.A. Hayek
Want more?
- Don’t forget to follow Dr. Kenney on Instagram @Coloradochiropractor
- To see previous Friday 5 Spots, visit www.newbodychiro.com and go to “blog”
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