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Nature’s scarlet blush
applied upon leaf and petal
October’s garden
~
Wendy ❀ 2014
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I planted the dahlia not knowing what color it would be,
since I’d been given some mysterious tubers,
and all summer I made sure it was watered.
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Red has always been one of my favorite colors.
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Red’s an important color.
The Canadian flag shows it off beautifully.
(Sorry if I startled you with some uncharacteristic Canadian pride—eh.)
It’s also the color of blood.
The human heart works hard throughout our lifetime.
And it’s 80% more likely to suffer disease if we’re sedentary.
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I don’t want to end up flat on the pavement prematurely.
That’s why when I read the key to a healthy heart
is not a once a day exercise regime,
but a five-minute walk every hour to get the circulation going,
I knew I needed to make a change.
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I read recently on a blog post,
by a thoughtful and helpful literary agent,
we need to get moving for five minutes every hour,
since sitting for long periods of time
cancels out of whatever exercise we’ve done that day (Double yikes!).
Here’s a couple of links to a medical report:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/09/140908083748.htm
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/282194.php
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Writers and bloggers are vulnerable to getting heart disease.
Yet the preventative measure is so simple.
Set your timer (you can get one online) for 55-60 minutes.
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When that ringer sounds,
get off your chair and do the boogie woogie
take a gentle 5 minute walk.
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I go walking around Willow Island (my circular driveway) for 6 laps
while listening to birdsong and admiring the reds in my October garden.
My daughter often walks with me,
and we do what gals do best besides shopping (talk).
~
Sometimes I memorize verses while I walk (double duty).
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Although I have exercise machines that I faithfully use,
studies show that a once a day workout is not enough
if you’re spending a lot of time sitting at your computer.
We need to walk for 5 minutes between each hour that we sit at a desk
to aid blood circulation.
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So dear writing and blogging friends,
I’m passing this info onto you because you’re my online family
and families take care of each other.
~ ♡ ~
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A prudent man sees danger and takes refuge,
but the simple keep going and suffer for it.
Proverbs 22:3
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Red October Blessings ❀ Wendy
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(Happy Canadian Thanksgiving Weekend.)
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Ohhh Wendy, this is amazingly beautiful. So much of nature’s magic in your words. Deeply in love with this. Thanks for sharing. Reva. 🙂
Thank you, dear Reva. ❀
My Pleasure.
I love this post, Wendy. The poem, the beautiful autumn photos, and the advice for staying healthier. I don’t see a Reblog button, but I’m going to share the link on my brand new blog The Write Stuff, which is focused on writers and writing. It’s a hang out for those wanting to share resources, promotions of their own books and work, and make friends with other writers. Would love to have you join us there. It’s only 2 weeks old, so it is just getting started, but I’m planning big things. Writers Helping Writers. http://marciamearawrites.com Come on by and check us out! And keep on gardening (one of the best things you can do for physical AND mental health) and writing. Have a great weekend. Marcia (from Florida, where it is still hitting 80+ every day…longing for cooler temps!)
Thank you, Marcia. I’ve signed up to follow your new blog. I love the name of it. Would you believe I’m still working on the same MS? I’m learning so much from self-editing books that each time I go over my novel I find more things to fine-tune. It’s getting closer.
I hope you get some cooler weather soon.❀
What a wonderful and caring presentation! Thank you very much. I’m going to start, in my own way to do something every 55 mins!!
Thank you, Carol. It’s amazing how fast 5 minutes goes by, and it’s so worth the preventive measure it affords (nice to meet you). ❀
You too, dear heart!
Thank you, dear Marcia. ❀
Just what I needed … Thank you!
Thank you, Roberta, for letting me know. ❀
Nothing like those surprises that come out of the mysterious even when they are tubers that turn in to red dahlias, especially then. Beautiful words and images Wendy. 🙂
Thank you, Don. I love surprises in the garden (as long as they’re not hungry deer and raccoons). Welcome back from your break.❀
Thanks so much for the beautiful words and caring suggestions– very tthoughtful and important! Blessings, Ellen
Thank you, dear Ellen. I was pleased to hear about the simple fix of a 5-minute walk each hour. It gives hope. ❀
Great post in so many ways, Wendy: informative, inspiring, caring, motivating. Thank you! I love the red of October that you’ve captured beautifully! Blessings ~ Laura
Thank you so much, dear Laura. You are caring and inspiring in all that you say and do on your blogs. ❀
All those red clors makes me very happy.
Thank you, Marylou. Red also makes me feel cozy. ❀
A beautiful blog, beautiful pictures.
Thank you for kind words and visit. ❀
Your dahlia is lovely. Red was my grandmother’s favorite color. I adopted it as one of my own. 🙂 I definitely need to be more active!
Thank you, Diane. I was relieved to find out it’s a 5-minute walk needed per hour and not a jog. ❀
WOW, Wendy–I loved everything about this post! That vibrant red flower is so gorgeous–and guess what? I happen to have a red timer sitting on my table, and was wondering why the heck I’d thought I needed to buy it–well, now I KNOW! Thank you thank you thank you, so much, for giving me the nudge I desperately needed. Praise God!! May He bless your weekend abundantly. love, Caddo
Thank you, dear Caddo. xo I know I needed to take regular breaks. I was binge blogging and marathon writing. The five minute walks clear my head. It was a relief to hear a simple solution to reduce the heart disease risk. Blessings on your weekend. ❀
And on yours, as well, Wendy.
Wendy: I like your opening and closing shots the best. And thank you for the gentle, repeated reminder to exercise often. I sit in my “blogging / Picasa” chair too many hours. I often get up to do 25 push-ups, and Mary and I walk 30-40 minutes every-other day. I was a competitive runner for 33 years, but not for the last two years. I lift weights five days a week. BUT… I still need to get off my butt and get that five minutes of aerobic activity in every hour. Gratefully, Richard
Thank you, Richard. I was disappointed to hear that sitting cancels out the benefits of regular workouts–seemed like robbery. But I really appreciate that studies show how a simple 5-minute walk each hour gets us back on track. Gotta love simple solutions that don’t include the doctor or the taxman. ❀
Thank you so much Wendy, for your beautiful photos and beautiful advice! As I try to figure out how to work in exercise, this opens up something altogether different that just might work! Yay! God bless you as you bless us!
Thank you, Debbie. I’m so pleased walking is all we need to get the circulation going. A simple solution is easy to make into a healthy habit. Blessings on you and your family. ❀
Great post as usual and what a good idea about setting the timer and getting up every hour for five minutes. I definitely need to do that. Thanks for the beauty and the tip, Wendy. Your red dahlia is gorgeous by the way. Hugs and love, N 🙂 <3
Thank you, dear Natalie. xo My daughter and I just finished a 5-minute walk. We accidentally startled a black rabbit after it startled us. 🙂
Oh I wish we had rabbits here. I just got up and rode my stationary bike for 5 minutes and so I’m good for another hour, huh?! 🙂
You made me giggle. I’d say that’s even better than walking.
Don’t wish for bunnies unless all your flowers and vegetables are protected. There seems to be only one around our place. We think the local owl got its friend. Now I understand (Beatrix Potter’s) Mr.McGregor’s concern about rabbits. 😉 Yet I don’t chase it away since we enjoy watching.
Oh, then I don’t want bunnies for sure. Wendy the arthritis in my feet is so bad these days that it’s really hard for me to walk much. That’s why I got the bicycle. I also ride it when I have to get up at night because of the Restless Leg Syndrome I’ve been dealing with. So I get in a fair measure of time on the thing. 🙂
So glad to hear you’ve got a healthy routine figured out. ❀ Moderation seems to be the magic word.
What an excellent idea. I do move about frequently but it’s mostly because if I sit too long I fall asleep!!! So more exercise, fresh air and sleep are probably in order for me. Happy Canadian Thanksgiving.
Exercise, fresh air, and sleep are my favorite weekend pleasures. We slept in today and went for an autumn woodland walk in the rain. Can’t get fresher than that. Blessings on your weekend and thank you for your well wishes. ❀
Thank you. I am enjoying a lovely sunny Sunday. 🙂
The sun is playing peek-a-boo between rainfalls on our Saturday afternoon. ❀
Gorgeous photos, Wendy! Thanks for passing on the warning/advice about being active. I put the verse from Proverbs on my computer desk top photo to remind me.
Thank you, Constance. I often post inspiring verses around the house for various reasons. It takes me forever to memorize them. ❀
Thats a beautiful dahlia Wendy! And all the photos are gorgeous. As for exercise Im afraid I can no longer walk properly (my right side has given itself over to MS) but when Im on my ipad there is alays an animal who requires feeding or letting out and in so Im up and down all day! Thats all the walking I can do! Apart from my prescribed stretches! 😊 love xxx
Thank you, Christine. xo We can only do what we can, and I think moderation is the key to physical and emotional health. Pets are so good for us in so many ways. They give us another family member to love and cherish. In our giving we receive even more back from these little ones. ❀
Red is my favorite color ever since I was old enough to handle a crayon. 🙂
The pictures here are so pretty. I am thankful that you shared this information. I think I am going to follow your advice.
Blessings,
Theresa
Thank you, Theresa. ❀ I appreciate the hope that particular research gives to writers. It’s no fun to be warned about sitting too long without giving us a specific way to minimize the health risks.
Wendy the colours are stunning and yes I agree we must use it or lose it. I am going back to my walks in the morning next week and some light weights. Thank you for inspiring me to get moving again.
Thank you, Kath. I like your idea of taking a morning walk since it will set a healthy tone for your day. ❀
Thank you for the link and photo credits. ❀
Stunning photos with gorgeous colour! Wendy, thanks for the reminder about getting up and moving; I must make a conscious effort to put it in practice.
Happy Thanksgiving! xo
Thank you, dear Jennifer. I discovered it’s fun to drag a long string behind me if I’m doing my walk in the house. The cat loves to run after it (she’s so funny). xo Happy Thanksgiving.
Wendy:
Happy Thanksgiving my sweet Canadian friend! Thank you for sharing the lovely colors of your “Red October”! I will start to take the five minute walk…great advise, sister. ~Zoey
Thank you, dear Zoey. I appreciated reading about the necessary walk on the other blog and knew instantly I wanted to pass it on. ❀
Stunning gallery… I love the way the autumnal colors blend with your beautiful verses, Wendy.
Have a very nice week ahead. Best wishes, Aquileana 😛
Thank you, Aquileana. Blessings on your week, too. ❀
Happy Thanksgiving! And I like the “boogie woogie” idea!! 🙂
Thank you, dear Shelli. ❀ The boogie woogie would probably wear off pumpkin pie faster than walking would. 😉
Not only the red dahlia can uplift us, but some good advice, also growing from the colour red, will contribute to our wellness. A great post, Wendy!
Thank you, dear Mary. I always appreciate your visits and what I learn about nature on your blog. ❀
This post is a keeper 🙂 !!!!!!!!
Thank you, Heather. Keep walking and writing. ❀
I will now! 😉
Beautiful post!
Thank you, Marcia. Nice to meet you.❀
Lovely pictures and thoughful advice 🙂
Thank you, Melanie. ❀