[Jill’s Note: If you prefer to listen rather than read, please scroll to the bottom of this post for the audio version.]
My husband and I have been playing tennis during the summer for the past few years. This year we started a bit late in the season. It was staying lighter later in the evenings, but neither of us had mentioned tennis. I thought it would be a good idea to play again, but also had many contradictory thoughts. My back hurt, it was too hot, tennis was too much work. Blah, blah, blah. So rather than bring it up, I waited to see if my husband would get around to suggesting it.
Meanwhile I was secretly hoping he’d forget!
Inevitably, the day came when he asked if I wanted to play the next day. To which I simply replied, “Sure.”
Had my thoughts and feelings changed about it?
Nope. Had my backed stopped hurting? Nope.
Read the rest of this entry »
[Jill’s Note: If you prefer to listen rather than read, please scroll to the bottom of this post for the audio version.]
As you may have guessed from the name of my blog (What Did You Do With Jill?) I have changed. A lot. At this point (over 3 years into my personal transformation) I barely remember the old me. Still, every now and then I will think or say something about myself that isn’t really true anymore. Old habits die hard, I guess.
Or do they? Read the rest of this entry »
[Jill’s Note: If you prefer to listen rather than read, please scroll to the bottom of this post for the audio version.]
This past Sunday (May 1, 2016) marked 3 years since I began my transformational journey. What started as a simple decision to lose weight, has culminated in a whole new me–both physically and mentally.
Here’s a recap: Read the rest of this entry »
[Jill’s Note: If you prefer to listen rather than read, please scroll to the bottom of this post for the audio version.]
I’ve been using the phrase “Uncovering Our Innate Mental Health and Wellbeing” a lot lately. However, it occurred to me that some may not quite understand what that means means. I’m pretty sure those words wouldn’t have meant much to me a couple of years ago. The premise is that everyone–you, me, your neighbor, your spouse, your kids, murderers, cops, starving children in Africa–everyone, was born with a healthy mind. It’s our natural state. (That’s what the innate part means.)
Nobody is born angry, depressed or anxious. In other words, we are all born happy.
Read the rest of this entry »
[Jill’s Note: If you prefer to listen rather than read, please scroll to the bottom of this post for the audio version. See also the corresponding half-hour audio talk on this topic.]
What keeps you from getting fit?
What keeps you from eating healthfully?
When you are fit and healthy, what keeps you from staying that way? Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Jill Whalen | Posted in Healthy Activities, Thought | Posted on 07-07-2015
[Jill’s Note: If you prefer to listen rather than read, please scroll to the bottom of this post for the audio version.]
Last week I had been listening to Michael Neill’s Effortless Success program (mostly because I love listening to Michael’s voice!) when I took a little kayak break in our local reservoir. As I was paddling about in the water, I realized how effortlessly I was able to get from point A to B. Now I’m not talking about physical effort. I certainly had to keep paddling in order to move forward, but it didn’t take any thinking. I simply looked where I wanted to go, paddled away and arrived. This was true whether I was heading for somewhere straight ahead or a more out of the way destination. My arms just knew the right amount of give and take that I would need to get there. Read the rest of this entry »
[Jill’s Note: If you prefer to listen rather than read, please scroll to the bottom of this post for the audio version.]
It’s been over 2 years since I embarked on my personal transformational journey. What started out as a simple decision to lose weight, has taken me on a magical mystery tour of mega proportions. I’m still amazed at how that one decision could lead to transformation in so many areas of my life. Read the rest of this entry »
[Jill’s Note: If you prefer to listen rather than read, please scroll to the bottom of this post for the audio version.]
Okay. I admit it. I’m somewhere within the second half of my life. Does this mean my life transformation has been part of a “Midlife Crisis”? I shudder at the thought. No crisis here! But I can see how the deep inner desire for change I experienced could be unsettling for some.
It’s clear that women in their 50’s seem to have some innate desire for change. Some do nothing (but complain) when those desires hit, others go hog wild and completely uproot their lives. Others, pursue their desires in a way that is positive and helpful. I like to think I’m in the latter group.
Midlife crises are often depicted in popular culture in a cliched manner. Career changes, leaving a spouse and taking up yoga seem to be some of the more popular cliches. Let’s examine these and see how valid they are. Read the rest of this entry »
[Jill’s Note: If you prefer to listen rather than read, please scroll to the bottom of this post for the audio version.]
To run or not to run…that is the question!
One morning not too long ago, I woke up and wasn’t sure if I was going to run the mile to my yoga class because I had hiked the day before. Rather than making a rational decision in the moment through my intellect, I decided to just let happen whatever happened. A few hours later when my calendar reminder popped up telling me that my class was coming up, I simply got up and got ready just as I usually do, and did the run. In fact, it turned out that rather than feeling tired from the hike, I felt stronger and faster than usual.
The thing is, I didn’t waste my time thinking about it. I just let happen whatever was going to happen without being attached to the outcome. Read the rest of this entry »
[Jill’s Note: If you prefer to listen rather than read, please scroll to the bottom of this post for the audio version.]
Plugged Into Intuition!
We’ve all had “gut feelings” about people or things at some point in our lives. I’m sure you can think of times where you had positive experiences when you listened to your gut, and negative ones when you didn’t.
How many times have you thought something like “I knew shouldn’t have had that extra cookie!” or “If only I had taken my umbrella like I had been thinking of doing!” or “There was just something that wasn’t quite right about him,” etc.?
Yet most days we go through life without paying much attention to that little voice inside us even though it’s always accessible. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Jill Whalen | Posted in Yoga | Posted on 18-07-2014
By Jill Whalen
Sneaky Yoga!
Oh Yoga…
You are a sneaky bitch!
We seek you out for one reason,
But stay for so many others. Read the rest of this entry »
[Jill’s Note: If you prefer to listen rather than read, please scroll to the bottom of this post for the audio version.]
As I was running home from my yoga class today (a hot and humid day) I was marveling at the fact that not only did I not mind the run, I was rather enjoying myself. It’s times like that where even I wonder “What did you do with Jill?”
During my run, I started thinking about the many other ways in which the current me is unrecognizable from the me that I was just one year ago. I came up with the following 17 things that you would not have seen me do last summer: Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Jill Whalen | Posted in Food, Healthy Eating, Nutrition, Yoga | Posted on 01-05-2014
One year ago today (May 1, 2013) I took my body back.
I could no longer ignore the fact that I was…okay I’ll say it…fat. It’s amazing how many buttons I could burst through, mirrors I could turn away from, jiggles I could ignore, and photos I could somehow believe the camera was adding 10 (or 25) lbs. (See before and afters at the end of this post.) Read the rest of this entry »
Hey everyone! Here’s what I learned last week:
Monday, Mar. 31, 2014
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Healthy, Savory Muffin Made in a Mug!
How to make the mug muffins I learned about last week into savory ones: I first sauteed some mushroom, onion, spinach, and uncured turkey bacon (which appeared to basically be ham). Then added them into a coffee mug, along with some feta cheese to 2 tblsp. ground flax seed, 1 tsp. baking powder, 1 egg (beaten), 1/4 tsp. salt. Then I microwaved on high for 2 minutes (I have an old microwave which needs more time than newer, more powerful ones). Waited a minute or so to cool and the whole thing dumps right out onto a plate. I found that sticking the whole thing in the toaster oven for a few minutes helps dry it out a bit when it’s done as well. Yummy, healthy breakfast that keeps me full for many hours!
Read the rest of this entry »
Here’s what I learned last week:
Monday March 17, 2014
- If you start a Meetup group and don’t pay right away, you’ll likely get a 50% off coupon in your email the next day! (I started a local group to find others to discuss the principles of mind, thought and consciousness. If you’re in the Metrowest area of Mass. and are interested, please join in!)
- The 10 Universal Principles of the Yoga Code.
- Sometimes it’s hard to remember that we don’t need to look outside of ourselves for love. Read the rest of this entry »
Here’s what I learned last week:
Monday, Mar. 3, 2014
Jamie Lee Curtis and Tony Curtis (Photo by Jim Smeal/WireImage)
- I re-watched “A Fish Called Wanda” the other night which I remembered as an extremely funny movie. While I didn’t seem to find it quite as amusing this time around, I realized how beautiful Jamie Lee Curtis was. Then last night I watched “The Rat Race.” Coincidentally, it was starring Jamie Lee’s dad, the infamous Tony Curtis. He too was a very good looking person. Interestingly enough, they don’t look anything alike! Both good actors, however.
Tuesday, Mar. 4, 2014
By Jill Whalen
Through my nearly 18+ years in the SEO industry, I loved helping people make their websites be the best they can be through my newsletter/blog and my seminars/presentations, as well as through my paid consulting.
While I’m very happily outside of the SEO space now, I do miss the helping people part. That’s a big reason why I’ve been sharing many of the lessons I’ve been learning in my personal life through this blog. But I keep thinking that I’d love to be able to reach and help even more people. Unfortunately, most of my audience right now is still comprised of online marketers. That’s okay because they are also human beings who have lives outside of marketing, but I’m itching to branch out. I know I’m not yet an expert in living a healthy life, and I don’t have a degree in nutrition science, but I have spent the past few months immersed in learning everything I can about health and wellness. And even more than that, I’ve been immersed in actually living it. Read the rest of this entry »
By Jill Whalen
What I Learned This Week – (Dec. 30, 2013 – Jan. 5, 2014)
Monday, Dec. 30, 2013
- That I can go a whole week without any alcohol. (Although this may be the first time I have in many, many years.)
Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013
- Being downwind from a Chinese Food restaurant’s fried food smell when you’re running can cause you to almost barf at the side of the road.
Read the rest of this entry »
What I Learned Last Week (12/23/2013 – 12/29/2013 )
As you’ll see below, it’s a good thing we don’t do anything for Christmas day!
Monday, Dec. 23, 2013
- How to cook filet mignon.
- Jim Carrey wrote himself a check for $10 million (before he ever had money) and kept it in his wallet. He gave himself a few year deadline to make that much by a certain day, and he just made it!
Read the rest of this entry »
Posted by Jill Whalen | Posted in Healthy Activities, Hiking, Yoga | Posted on 13-12-2013
By Jill Whalen
If you’re a suburbanite like I am, you’re probably used to driving everywhere you go. Getting in our cars to do errands is a normal way of life for most people. However, if you live or work within a mile or two of places you go often such as drugstores, banks, post offices, supermarkets, etc., why not walk there? Perhaps you think those places are too far from where you live to easily walk to. But, if you’ve never checked the distance before, you may find that they are a lot closer than you think.
Read the rest of this entry »
