Greetings from Atlanta and Sarasota, Florida
I want to say hello and I hope all of you are doing well and are happy and thriving in our pandemic restricted world. Because of travel restrictions some of our leaders have urged me to give an update on my life over the last year or so. They wanted to see our life in action and what we are doing during this unusual time.
Of course, this has been the most unusual year that any of us have ever seen. As always, there have been great things that happened, but all of us realize this has been a season of crisis and uncertainty. I pray that each of you are doing well and enjoying the camaraderie that we are so blessed to have in the positive Network 21 environment. I never take it for granted!
Many of you are involved in Network of Caring. Your support has had a profound impact on the lives of those in need. We support several different organizations, each with stories. Like you, we aren’t in this business just to make money— we desire to make a difference. We have done that with your help. One of those organizations that we support is Free Wheelchair Mission. I had the honor of being asked to speak at their annual meeting last March in California. It was life changing. The Founder, Don Schoendorfer, gathered his key staff and some amazing donors. We sat in awe as we heard the incredible stories of lives that were changed with free wheelchairs that were distributed. It was a great celebration of the year’s accomplishments. A gift that gives people freedom of mobility and a gift of a feeling of making a difference to the giver.
After wrapping up that weekend we met with friends in Palm Desert, where Jim and I and the kids had a home for many years. I love the uniqueness of the desert and have many wonderful memories of our years there. It was a great week as I celebrated my birthday with close friends. It was a joyful and relaxing time but with lots of activity. John and I rented bikes and rode each morning. We gathered at the pool, ate dinner out, shopped and just enjoyed our time together.
We were aware of the developing Covid story but who knew what would happen on the day of our departure?? We stayed the final night at a hotel in Irvine that was close to the airport. The hotel looked deserted and had only 2 staff working. Had that happened now, we wouldn’t be shocked by this, but a year ago it was eerie. The next day the airports were almost empty—unheard of for John Wayne airport and even more so at the Atlanta airport, usually the busiest airport in the world. Thus, began the pandemic that we have all experienced.
I am beyond grateful for my 50 years in this business. As I compared the reactions of people in our business and outside, there was a vast difference. The years and years of meetings and hundreds of books that I have read, the countless stories and teachings of leaders globally, Talks listened to, weekends attended, all combined to prepare us for a different perspective and outlook. We decided at the beginning of this season of “gloom” to get proactive in every area of life. I have read stories of what great leaders did in adverse times— they decided not to be victims. John and I decided that if we were going to be at home for long periods, we were not going to waste this time, we were going to up our game!
First things first- we decided to manicure our properties and add lots of color with flowers and plants. The first thing that I wanted to do was get rid of some trees that blocked the lake view and make our property tidier and more beautiful. We decided to remove several trees and to trim and cut limbs off of our huge evergreens. I personally learned to use several tools—including a trimmer, a blower, and a chain saw. Anyone who needs chain saw tips, I’m your woman! In addition, I used huge pruners to cut branches off of trees and bushes. For smaller bushes, I brought out my powered trimmer. Did I say smaller bushes? Many of these were taller than I am, When we started I was not well schooled in power cord management. I’ve learned that I do better with cordless tools. This became obvious after I cut two extension cords within 30 minutes. Alas, John bought me my own tools, all battery powered
After I finished cutting and trimming, I raked and cleaned up everything, except for the bigger branches from the evergreens. The total was about 6 trailer loads of debris that was hauled away. It sounds like a couple days work perhaps, but it was days and days of trimming and cutting and sawing. We have a lot of trees and bushes.
I like physical work, it helps clear my head. As you might imagine I’m fairly focused at getting things done. One day while I was cutting limbs on a set of trees, it was pouring rain. Not to be deterred, I got a hat and boots and kept going! About every 45 mins, I came inside and changed boots and dried my clothes. Then I went back to work and was good for another 45 minutes. The satisfaction of seeing all of the trees trimmed and cleaned up was a great reward.
I have felt that same satisfaction about the business over the years. When we set a goal -we went to work with expectation- resolved the obstacles, and typically achieved it. Sometimes we had to adjust the time frame but quitting was not an option. We had to keep our focus on the end result .. this perspective is critical! We didn't get distracted by setbacks — we set out to make things happen. I've realized that circumstances are merely a backdrop— not an ending place.
In our work around the house, I learned a great deal about the different flowers and what grows where and when to plant. Truthfully, I didn't know an annual from a perennial - sad but true. We went to the nursery, selected the flowers and plants and returned to plant them. John showed me how to properly plant all of the flowers, it’s hard work digging in the Georgia clay. :). I definitely got a workout. The property looks so good now and it gave us great pleasure. John knew lots about plants and I learned. The good news is, like our business, we can learn if it’s important. John was busy doing other things as well. He has a workshop we call the “Carriage House” that he designed and had built, it has sliding barn doors, all of which he built. I’ll include pictures. He is very creative and has built several beautiful tables and furniture, the crowning project was a 9 ft outside table -complete with benches! It was a present for Dave and Natalie and their 5 kids. They love it!
After Eric was born, I began to learn all that I could about nutrition and helping him recover from the many brain surgeries. I realized food and supplementation was an important part of being healthy, specifically, the right food choices and organic supplements. This is not a site to give details, at least at this point, perhaps in a later edition. :) I will say, I was just listening to a YouTube presentation by Dr. Jonathan Wright, he informed us, the listeners, that it has been shown that by giving blood, you are an incredible 88% less likely to have a heart attack. Presumably, that is in relation to your risk category but don’t take my word for it, look it up! At the very least you should consider giving blood. It could save a life.
I do want to share some of the exercise outlets that John and I use daily. Everyone realizes that daily exercise has endless benefits for all areas of life. Find something that you enjoy and do it consistently— or find something that provides results and do other things for pleasure Ha. At 40 I began to see changes in my body, not good ones, I must say. :( Looking forward 10 years and seeing what active and inactive men and women look and feel like, and thinking about where I was headed physically, I decided to up my game. I began to do a daily workout. When I decide to do something, I typically continue. I remind myself of the benefits and the perceived outcome. I made the decision to do what I needed to do and eat what was healthy to achieve my goal. I am not someone who “lives” to exercise. I’m not a runner or an endurance athlete of any sort and I don’t long to do physical activity (other than walking), I just remind myself why I’m doing it! It’s a life-long commitment. It’s important!
I have included some pictures and videos so that you can see what we are doing. Often people at our age, - I hate that phrase-:) - stop exercising or doing physical activities. It’s a vicious circle, do very little and you see yourself as that person and you begin to feel even less energy and desire to do things. The mental is a big part of being healthy. As we have learned from reading books by experts on how the brain works, how we think is critical. Dr. Caroline Leaf has excellent links on YouTube that are 30 to 60 min teachings about how to detox your brain. I want to learn and challenge myself so that I continue to grow. I don’t feel, move or look my age— it’s a deliberate decision. You can make that decision! Find a friend who feels the same and be a support for each other. Physical exercise reduces stress and aids in outlook, sleep, energy, and a healthier body.
In Sarasota, almost every day, we ride our bikes about 12 to 13 miles. Our bikes are not a cruiser but Trek utility bikes (with the tiny seat) ((: I had not ridden a bike since 6th grade and it took an adjustment to ride such long distances. :) But first, a word of caution. Don’t squeeze the front break while going down a hill with your phone in your hand. It can have an unfortunate outcome. Well I did exactly that. After flying over the handle-bars, landing on my shoulder with a bit of a face-plant, my unfortunate outcome was a trip to the emergency room. There was a good outcome, however. I escaped with nothing more than a lot of soreness and bruises on my face. Thank the Lord for that, I wasn’t going very fast, but the outcome could have been much more devastating.
At our home in Dawsonville, GA we “shoot hoops” (basketball) for an hour at the lake when we don't row. I had never shot a basketball, that I can remember, so you can learn if you decide. :). After a few months I decided to change it up a bit and I started shooting and catching with my left hand it’s good for your brain to do things with your non-dominant hand and to try different things, for that matter. I got good enough to make 160 baskets left handed. John played BB all thru high-school and is quite adept - he had to teach me how to “jump and shoot”- it was harder than I thought. :)
I learned to row in a rowing shell in 2017. Not many 70-year-olds start rowing on the water in a rowing shell— more like sitting on a plate on top of the water. I soon discovered why that is! John and I rowed in the same boat for a year before I went in my own boat. When we were both in the boat, John was the stabilizer, he didn’t row, he just held his oars flat on the water. I didn’t realize the difficulty in rowing a 200-pound dead weight (well, not “dead”, mind you) until I went out the first time alone in a single scull. It felt like I might sail right across the lake with one stroke!! I got fit that 1st year for sure. Ha-ha John has been an elite rower and coach since college. I was always intrigued by rowing and was interested in trying to learn. I made the same assumption about rowing that many people make, I thought it was a great exercise for the upper body. Wrong... in fact, the legs do most of the work. It is a great, fast, total body workout, I love “one and done”. I asked him to teach me. You should know I don't really swim and don't go on the water typically. I’m more of a sit by the pool girl. :) The other thing to know about a rowing shell, is that you sit on the boat seat... not down in the boat. It’s like sitting on top of a log. If you are not careful and pay very close attention you are in the water. It is a very unstable feeling until you learn. I hated the first time that I sat in the boat, even with John holding it so I couldn’t flip. I demanded that he get me out immediately!!
Eventually I learned to like my boat, we go out rowing, weather permitting, at dawn. Sunrise takes your breath, with the cool and quiet and the reflection on the water, it is so serene. We go early also to avoid other boats. My boat is equipped with “floaties” better known as pontoons, so it’s hard to flip- but John does NOT do “floaties”. He is afraid that someone will take pictures and it will get out to his rowing buddies. He is more susceptible to the wakes and thus flipping. I have no pride- I like my yellow floaties. :)) I’m easier to see as well. I row about 6,000 meters which takes me about 40 mins. Believe me it’s a thorough workout. Did you realize, you are going backwards when you row? I have enough difficulty with direction and proprioception going forward!! John outfitted me with a mirror on my hat and a camera to see where I’m going. Typically, I do fine, now. However, there is this one pole that is quite stationary, it doesn’t move! Did I mention you're going backwards? Well even with all of my sophisticated equipment I managed to find that solid, immovable pole with my rigger. It nearly changed my life! I wish you could have seen that. On second thought I’m glad you didn’t! John was on the water also and I pretended it didn’t happen. I think he knew though when he saw me flush against that pole. He didn’t see me stop dead in the water and my hat and mirror fly off. It happened so fast you couldn’t believe it. I lost my air pod in the water— I thought about grabbing it, but I knew I’d be swimming if I did that. I was sore for a few days but undeterred. Believe me I pay closer attention now to docks and buoys and boats after that incident. Cavalier? Not me!
Fear could have set in after that incident. That’s when you take captive those thoughts or those fears will control you. Even though I don’t swim well (never fear I can tread water for hours) and my feet are attached to the shoes locked in the boat, I was not going to let the fear control me. I went right out 2 days later so that thought could not take root.
We are so blessed to be a part of N21. John and I went to Hungary in 2019 - I was speaking in Debrecen at the Weekend Seminar. Barbi, our amazing business manager there, arranged for someone in the organization to let us use their double to row on the Danube river. John has rowed for over 55 years all over the US and Canada, and at the famous Henley on the Thames Regatta in the UK , but nothing touched him more than the graciousness of the special effort and kindness by so many to allow us to row on the Danube. That was a once-off wonderful experience.
I am including a couple short videos and some stills of my rowing experience. I won’t be competing, but I do enjoy it. It is stimulating to the brain to learn new things. Dare to try! Every year I like to add a new thing.
I am also including a video of me on the rowing ergometer. It is a stationary rowing machine. I have to say, this is almost no one's favorite exercise, especially rowers. It’s handy and easy to do for a good workout but it’s challenging. We use it during unfavorable weather. Several gyms have ergs available as it is a good one-and-done exercise. John adds: if you do it correctly.
Walking and hiking are great for exercise as well. I love to walk, and I’ve learned to hike. John lived in western NY and hiked a lot in the finger lakes, so I joined him. We have seen some incredible areas in several countries on hikes. For years, I walked about 4 or 5 miles each morning at the beach. It is so tranquil, and I could plan and pray and process all that was going on in my life. I still do beach walks when I’m in FL.
Because John has his masters in exercise physiology and biomechanics, we do a functional strength and resistance workout most mornings. It is important to do functional movement, stretching and balance exercises daily, especially as we age. He’s in the process of setting up a website focused primarily for aging adults. That is not to say old adults, rather 40 and up its an under served population. Many don’t want to go to gyms, but it’s critical to remain functional. We sit far too many hours over computers or with poor posture while watching television. Many adults walk with their heads bent forward from tight shoulders and even tighter necks. This needs to be corrected. Move your necks and shoulders daily, and work on balance. It’s critical! Perhaps John's website can help when he gets it up and running.
People are looking for what we have. Set a goal to bring in a group of new people into your organization. The association with the Network 21 people alone is a gift to others who have never been around a positive environment. I’m absolutely sure that all of these activities are why we have an expectant, healthy outlook.
Set goals and decide what you want and what can take you there. Don’t limit yourself in any way. Decide what in your health needs to change and plan. It doesn’t have to be hours a day. Do 30 mins consistently and work up from there if you have not been doing it before, you will be surprised how good you will feel. Read a new book where you are challenged and learn new things. Perhaps in future “blogs” I will share some books that I have been reading or other thoughts that I have had. John and I both share a concern about health and a joy filled lifestyle. Perhaps we will share some more on that. In the meantime, I have loved catching up and I hope that you are challenged to go try new things with a picture in mind of where you want to go, how you want to feel and how you want to look.
Likely, I’ll do another blog at some point. :)
I miss seeing all of you and hearing your stories and seeing the results of all that has been accomplished.
You are a gift in my life and I am very grateful for this business.
Love, Nancy
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