Tag: life

Finding Friends 😊

by Rick Roop

Everyone likes to have friends a lot of friends, and everyone likes company.

Friendly relationships helps us to feel loved, liked, and often creates happy thoughts within ourselves. Helps us to assemble around others, to blend in with the group, and do so most emphatically.

As an example, we gather around sports teams, hobbies, musical performance, concerts, and fitness groups just to name a few. There are many more to be mentioned but these shall suffice.

Friends

We like to be around individuals who strengthen and encourage ourselves. We tend to search out persons who accommodate our same likeness those that share and confirm our same standards. Relaxed relationships that support our desired feelings. The company of conviction from friendly conversation.

Have you ever noticed that most sports teams have a following fan base who all wear matching clothing signifying who they are cheering for. Some fans wear just a t-shirt. Some fans may wear a t-shirt plus decorative matching pants. Some go all out with a complete makeover. Where is the person behind that extravagant costume?

Some schools of choice specialize in different categories of education. Students can decide to specialize in medicine, law, engineering, veterinary, and vocational skills just to name a few.

Brilliant minds seem to think alike and excel when matched together with similarities. Ideas about new technologies new treatment are found when students and professors share their united thoughts with each other. Diseases have been cured lives saved lessons learned by aspiring staff scientists and doctors.

If we desire weight loss and fitness, it’s helpful to have the same affinity for friends who also share the same enthusiasm for weight loss and fitness. Sports fans teachers and health professionals assemble all of the same characteristics when it relates to winning. We all need good friends.

Opportunity is available to find weight loss and fitness walking running groups in your area on Facebook, instagram, and Strava.

Runner’s market from Knoxville, Tn is great. Bike shops have group rides or group running walking available every week. Able to accommodate the beginner to the novice. People just like me and you are there waiting for you to come and hangout.

One of my favorite places to go is the Barley Run Club in Cumberland Gap, Tn meeting on Monday & Thursday @ 6:30 in front of Angelo’s.

Please join in I will be so glad to see you!

New shoes 👞 👖👚

by Rick Roop

There is no better feeling when traveling to the mall when my wife needs a new pair of shoes. It’s time to shop for the perfect pair of shoes when needed to match her jeans, shirt, and her nails. It’s exciting for her and for me seeing that I gladly want to participate in the event. The surprise thoughts and questions asked of her saying, how does this look 👀 on me? The joy expressed in her smile 😊 is worthwhile.

Dollywood

After being inspired by my wife’s search of matching clothes, and seeing how gorgeous she looks, I was inspired and motivated. Thoughts started running through my mind. I also visioned the opportunity for myself when i am cycling, running, and hiking or walking.

Cyclist

I now find myself searching for the perfect color of shorts, socks, shoes, helmet, and jersey to go along with my new road bike. If i could accomplish the theme, maybe i could ride faster, run longer, and walk stronger. All matching of course!

I like the yellow color for cycling seeing that the Tour de France leader wears this color jersey every day when leading the race. The green color jersey is worn by the best rider in the sprinters classification. The polka dot jersey goes to the leader of the Mountains Classification, otherwise known as King of the Mountains. The white jersey goes to the 25 years or younger, it goes to the best time for that age group.

Peloton

After seeing the amazing colors associated with the cycling community, I started shopping for my own set of clothes that I could wear while riding my bicycle. I started to imagine my own self on that bicycle dressed in awesome cycling clothing.

Smokies

My options were not limited nor were they confined to be bland. Simple was fine. Ordinary was okay but I could do much better. I had imagination just like my wife. I wanted to look like the best and be the best just like Kim my wife, and have so much fun doing so.

Rock the Crater

If you are looking for motivation for losing weight and to find fitness, you would look great in your new cycling, running or walking shorts. You could match your shorts with a matching top, arm or head band, maybe a new pair of shoes. Maybe those neon socks that you have been looking at. You are ready now to step up to the podium and to receive your victory lap, and you look great doing so!

Runners

Older is better?

by Rick Roop

There are obvious signs that things are better when getting older. Classic cars, wine, collectible coins, paintings, documents, and jewelry just to mention a few. The price of these things seem to increase significantly when they are handled with care, and when they are well maintained. Something old can be like new again. Discovered renewed and refined.

66 Chevy Nova

The same statement can be said about people. If we take care of ourselves, change our direction, and our purpose. The possibilities for quality filled life seems to be realistic. Wow😮 quite possible🤔 Opportunity 🤩 This could be your chance to measure imagine and visualize your new artwork and artistic expression like a team of builders remodeling an old house🏡 or a mechanic fixing an old truck 🛻. The inspiration to rebuild is visual powerful and amazing. Perhaps even better than new.

Just because we begin to age does not mean that life is over. Does not mean that we have run the last lap or walked the last mile. In contrast, your age can be a benefit to your well being. The memorial thoughts that you have collected since childhood could be an inspiration to achieve goals for yourself and a witness for others. It’s a opportunity to shine a light for someone else💡your achievements will get noticed 🚨

Restored cuckoo clock

I started losing weight well after my 50s, I discovered cycling and running much later in life. Much further down the road. It truly has been an adventure, and something that I never really dreamed of.

I had no idea that census, marriage, and immigration records would prepare myself for weight loss and fitness.

Old pictures 📷

I have often wondered why I invested so much time into family history research and genealogy, and what leads me into this exploration spirit accompanied by it. I now give credit to the memorial attributes associated with genealogy as my preparation for cycling and running.

It was when I discovered that losing weight cycling and running could be a tool to benefit others, and that it gave me the ability to highlight those who needed to be noticed. That’s when it became powerful and rewarding all at the same time.

You see when we are older there’s a lot of emotional memories built up within ourselves, and that’s where we can gain our strength to accomplish anything that we want to. Especially with a memorial attitude.

I hope that you can do the same with your memorial efforts.

Inanimate unanimous 👍

by Rick Roop

I can remember many birthday gifts that were purchased for me by my mom and dad. A figure eight race track, a scooter, fancy bicycle, model airplane ✈️ and lots more.

Model airplane
Race Track
Scooter

Growing older and trying to imagine where those objects might be now is a task that’s very hard to do.

Maybe those gifts are in the closet behind some clothes at my house, or possibly my mom’s storage barn outside. The toys that I have played with as a child are resting inside of my siblings attic at their home? I have often thought where are they now? where have they 🎁 gone?

Clutter

At the time, the persuasive imagines seemed to be very important and highly sought after. The picture of my gift framed inside my head seamed to be real, they often inspired my efforts.

Seeing

No one or no thing could replace it’s ranking on my list of things to do. Somehow I must accomplish the goal that was set before me. The vision was all consuming, and no resting no ending until the day was done. I would lie in bed at night just dreaming how perfect it would be to receive my prized possession. No longer would the prize be a fantasy or imagination, it would now be a reality in my precious collection.

I was on my best behavior vying for the chance to get acceptance from mom and dad. Putting on a show to get the gift 😁 Somewhat like an actor on the stage 🎭 a singer 🎵 in the auditorium, the first note played by a famous musician. I could mess up or be successful. I could play flat or play sharp slip up or sound great. It could be very scary or rewarding! However, it’s a chance I was willingly to take.

The Stage

I can remember washing dishes to take away chores from my mom. Kitchen duties seemed like a nominal effort considering the payback that I was going to get. Cutting grass was not to bad seeing that my dad had to work a lot of hours. The time spent on a lawn mower was considered a great investment.

I can remember how hard I had worked, and the hours I had invested in the search for the gift. 🎁 It seemed very important a valiant goal to achieve, and I knew that it was worth the work. It was worthwhile 👍

However, the thought of not knowing where those gifts are now as a grown adult is sort of disappointing. No longer are they very close or nearby but now they are forgotten. If they were so important and beneficial why are they lost now?

Then I had the fondness impression. A very inspirational moment! The best part about gift giving was not about the inanimate object. It was about the love that my parents had shown to me. That would lead me to a path more fulfilling and rewarding than the inanimate object. The thoughts of my parents would also prepare me for the upcoming road called life.

In my summation, these gifts do not have life nor do they provide substance. They cannot help me out when I fall. Cannot not lift me up when I am down. Do not give me inspiration or peace when I am in the valley. Nor do they comfort me 😌

Our culture wants us to believe that the inanimate is all that we need. Much needed energy is placed on the chasing of the inanimate, and as a result we are left with an artificial replacement 🤖

Lifelong purpose and a reason to exist is what we need the most. Real life and happiness comes from deep within ourselves and not from something inanimate 🧸

The same can be said about weight loss and fitness, it’s about the strength that we find in ourselves that helps us to eat right and stay healthy.

Success is not with the inanimate. Complete restoration is within!

The echo 👂

by Rick Roop

Sometimes I hear a echo. The echo comes from within or when I am walking along a quiet path, on a old dirt road, maybe in my resting place enjoying some early morning tea. It’s a distant sound possibly produced by someone just behind me? The clicking of a bicycle chain attached to my bike, the rolling of tires that carry me to my destination. Looking up in the sky searching with tilted eyes 👀 I look intensely for the repeating echo of sound.

Listening 👂

The busy sound of the highway muzzle our thoughts and our intent. Sights of red sirens seething and blinking lights flashing can signal us to be alert for the event to come. Announcements spoken through an amplifier sends needed instructions for directions. Life is happening and constantly moving requiring much needed attention. However, life can give birth to anxiety and stress causing us to be diverted from the quiet refreshing sound of the echo.

The echo calls us home like an announcement of supper being ready at the family table. I can remember as a child my mom telling us to come home now because it could be cold if you wait any longer. After a long day of school or playing, kids get hungry for their favorite food. It’s hard to stop or turn away from the evening meal but, there is only one out with bases loaded at the kid’s baseball game. One lap to go to complete a bicycle ride, another layup to be made in practice for the school team

For adults, it’s efforts to make more, and to complete our financial goals. To maintain and enhance our current status in the community with friends and family is a must.

Sometimes life happens and aspirations are needed to venture towards the peak of successful financial fortune. We all need something to work for and we need goals to achieve. However, it’s always beneficial to keep an ear open for the sound of the echo. The echo tells us something and gives much needed direction. Without direction it’s easy to get lost. Just like a blindfold placed over our eyes, distractions of life can cause us to be misguided and alter the true meaning of life.

When it comes to weight loss and fitness listening to the echo can be beneficial. It’s very hard to obtain results without the help from someone or something. The echo is a powerful voice that gives us a reason and purpose to carry on and to experience successful weight loss and fitness!

Quitter’s day 2025 what it means 🤔

by Rick Roop
Quitters Day

We all have the idea of sharing a smile, giving a gift, word of encouragement, maybe a telephone call or friendly visit. It’s the start of a new idea, deep thought, or a refining connection. Trying to be a good person to establish a new direction perhaps fresh exploration, and new reflections. Starting the plan and not completing the work did not mean that you failed with goodwill intent. It was the thought that counts! You were successful by planting the seeds of beneficial inspiration. Eventually you garnered enough thought to complete the generous gesture, and helped someone have a really nice day.

Quitters day is a term given by some as the second Friday in January. They say that’s when most people give up on New Year’s Day resolutions. Some designate this date as determining failure for those who have not yet accomplished their New Year’s Day goals. Some give dire prediction for those who do not complete the course or defining resolution.

However, everyone who has lived has remaining goals that have not been completed. All of us have dreams of finalizing our hopes of success. Maybe it’s college education, musical 🎤 aspirations, learning the piano guitar or violin, travel, financial gain. It’s human to dream about the future and human to complete the process.

Completion starts with a thoughtful meaning that’s deep within ourselves. Beginning means small and fresh. New sprouts emerge like seeds in a flower pot. A new born taking the first breath. The sun opening behind unveiling clouds. Dreams of meaning like these cannot be extinguished by someone who gives a completion date called quitters day.

I started cycling at the senior age of fifty four years old. I spent many years passively wondering about the subject of weight loss and fitness. Just think of all the years that I could have been riding running or swimming.

What could have been is a thought that I could entertain. However, I was motivated by my father’s memory while walking past his bicycle.

I proceeded with a thought that I could ride his bicycle as a memorial to my dad’s life. While riding my dad’s bicycle that day, I was overwhelmed with the sense that my dad was right there with me. My dad was pointing to the direction that I needed to ride. He said that I could ride at the park in Harrogate in a circle till I got a good workout in. That day marked a turning point in my life directing further purpose and meaning for weight loss fitness.

My dad was such a hard working caring individual who often put others and his family ahead of himself. I knew that he was a protector bread winner and leader for a lot of people friends and family. I spent a lot of time with my dad walking playing racquetball talking about his father sisters and brothers, and many friends.

It was the memorial spirit that was lying dormant for all of those years that gave me energy to get on the bicycle 🚴 and to attempt weight loss and fitness.

It is the spark of imagination that will lead you to greater aspirations in life. It is the influential thoughts of purposeful dreams that come from real relationships. Not a date called quitters day!

Everybody needs a wheel 🚴

by Rick Roop

From childhood to adulthood the wheel has been an important part of our life. A transition from one place to another. A trip towards maturity. Steps that lead to our future self.

Memories from the past reminds us of peace and contentment. Thoughts of handlebar ribbons attached to a bicycle, big wheels on a three wheeler, a tire swinging from a sun drenched rope.

The wheel helps our vehicle to roll on the highway to our chosen destination. The wheel guides us through peaks and valleys, ups and downs, twists and turns, the stops and the acceleration. Successful travels to our destination!

Perhaps the most influential purpose of the wheel is it’s ability to transport our grown up person back to our childhood. Directing us back to a time when things were more simple and less stressful. Back when we were abstract from the chorus of time keeping ⏱

When I was born someone had to drive my mother to the hospital in a car on wheels to bring about a healthy birth. My first day at school was escorted by a yellow school bus assisted by wheels. Follow up visits to the the doctor for examination and vaccinations were made possible by the wheels on dad’s car. Baptism, graduation, weddings, reunions, education, job interviews, travel, meetings just to name a few of life’s directives were made possible by the wheels on a car.

We have grown up to accomplish many great things in life, and introduced relationships with wheels riding in your car.

But the most important fact about the wheel, is that it’s part of a beginning and a part of finality. Maybe it’s our attempt to reach back to a peaceful childhood or a effort to fix past mistakes. A combination of introspection and examination.

The first wheel was invented by copper miners in the Carpathian Mountains trying to make their mining efforts much easier nearly 6000 years ago. The result revolutionized transportation and created new innovations by miners crafting the new wheel.

: The first examples of the wheel were simple but paved the path forward for traveling expansion.

: The wheel in North America

: Henry ford and the wheel.

: Construction with the wheel

Humans have often been gifted with resolution and accomplishment when presented with opportunity. The vision to remedy adverse situations can construct maneuvers to survive in a hostile environment.

When it comes to weight loss and fitness, success comes down to our ability to overcome environmental dynamics. Recognizing that our human nature is not one to be captured our confined. A cage cannot be created strong enough to confine one’s positive outlook.

The wheel represents those things that we long for, and those memories that truly satisfy. If you are yearning for weight loss and fitness, maybe it’s time for inspiration from the wheel 🛞