"Movement is life” says Moshe Feldenkrais. This is a mantra that I live by, as do most athletes. Movement and the energy used to create it, makes the speed, strength, and power we desire. On a larger scale the training cycles we follow in turn follow the rhythms of nature. The magic of the changing seasons around us is something we seek to connect with and enjoy with a sense of wonder and awe.
In triathlon terms, seasons include pre-season, peak season, post season, and of course the off season. We are greatly impacted by mother nature without fully appreciating her. We are warmed by the sun on our early morning runs. We cherish the warmth of community on cold winter group bike rides and rainy day spin classes. Trail runs delight us and connect us with spring time blooms, wildlife, and the golden hues of fall. The race season, like the climatic seasons, holds the magic that keeps us curious, hopeful, enthusiastic, and positive. Each season brings newness and stirs something inside of us, opening us to new goals, new ideas, new challenges, new places, and new friends. We are all connected to this magic that calls us to live with passion.
With Thanksgiving just past, we are phasing out of the harvest season where we reap what we have sown and give thanks. We now transition to the winter season which includes my favorite celebration…. Solstice. Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year and will be celebrated in 2007 on Dec 22 at 1:08am EST. From it's roots, solstice means stillness. Stillness and athletes seem incongruous. But there is a lot to learn from stillness. In stillness, we reflect and tap into our true essence, where our real power resides. In ancient times, Solstice was an important time to sit in meditation and ritual. It was a time to give thanks to the sun for the warmth and abundance of the past season, and to have faith that the sun would shine brightly again, bringing the promises of new growth and new beginnings. Solstice is a turning point and a new beginning. I invite you during this holiday season to celebrate SOLSTICE. Take some time to be still and to reflect on the light within each of us that calls us to live life passionately. Tap into your source of power. Light a candle and clear the clutter of your mind, let go of past upsets and regrets, and feel the excitement and unlimited possibilities of the season to come. Solstice is a simple, gentle reminder to nurture the spirit that resides within each of us and around us. Ultimately this is where the power of your next race season, and your life, comes from.
Here's to a fabulous season ahead…whatever that means for you.
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