Practice what I preach

Practice what I preach
Reglas y Herramientas que Forman a Las Mujeres Exitosas
November 30th, 2014
By: Gina Yoryet Roman


I don’t even come close to being successful...but I try every day by following the less travelled road. My daily aim is to thrive higher, be a better person and challenge myself professionally, spiritually, personally, mentally, intellectually, financially, (unfortunately not physically at this time).

On November 21st, I was invited to do a radio segment about HERspectives, Rules and Tools that Build Successful Women - How to Achieve Balance, on Simplemente Adriana 105.9 radio. First, I was flabbergasted and joyful after reflecting thoroughly very briefly. After I talked to grandpa Hal on the phone, I felt very fortunate and proud of how far I've gone. Grandpa always reiterates that I should be more than content for how much I’ve accomplished. He always gets amazed at how all the traces of the insecure and non-achieving young woman have faded.

There was a period and place in life where I was only going with the flow, divagating, waiting to see what direction the wind blew and get dragged wherever the breeze took me.
Years later, given particular circumstances, I was forced to wake up and smell the coffee. At that point all my childhood dreams turned into passion, all my passions turned into reality, my verdict that reveals my essence and proves that obstacles are nothing but tiny matters. Yet, I didn’t foresee how difficult life would be, how many stumbling blocks would lie ahead

When I was undergoing that ‘unfortunate’ period, perhaps one of the most difficult moments ever, I didn’t see the good of it all. Back then, I was oblivious to see that God has a plan for everyone and everybody at the right time and place. I neglected to see that blessings and good opportunities are disguised as tragedies and it is our sole duty to make the best out of every and any hindrance we are obstructed with.

That’s why I started practicing and preaching this bible verse,
“Ask and it shall be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.”
Matthew 7:7

When people ask me, “how were you invited to give radio segments, or or did you get to be co-author, or how did you learn to give all kinds of training, or know so much about health and fitness?” Some think that things have been served on a silver platter, but reality is otherwise. I have asked and it has been given to me, but I have played my part and abided by that.

I have knocked on many doors, I have sought for people who share the same principles and surrounded myself with positive people; at the same time I have propelled myself to set goals and actually accomplish them. Every year I set objectives because someday I want to leave a legacy for my daughter Victoria and my son Victor A.
I want to teach them morals, values, ethics, and to practice what my dear husband and I preach...our principles, our ABC’s.

Today, I am very pleased with where I am spiritually, financially, personally, intellectually and emotionally because I have taught and disciplined myself to do the things I advise other people to do even when I fail...

All through this day, O Lord, let me touch as many lives as possible for You - through the words I speak, the prayers I praise and breathe, the letters and words I write, and the life I live.
Luke 5:10

El camino NO elegido

El camino NO elegido
The Road NOT Taken
Robert Frost (1874–1963)

El Camino NO Elegido (NO recorrido)
Dos caminos se bifurcaban (dividían) en un bosque amarillo, 
Y apenado por no poder tomar los dos
Siendo un viajero solo, largo tiempo estuve de pie 
Oservando uno de ellos tan lejos como pude, 
Hasta donde se perdía en la espesura;
Entonces tomé el otro, imparcialmente, 
Y habiendo tenido quizás la opción acertada, 
Pues era tupido y requería uso; 
Aunque en cuanto a lo que vi allí 
Hubiera elegido cualquiera de los dos.
Y ambos esa mañana yacían igualmente, 
¡Oh, había guardado aquel primero para otro día! 
Aun sabiendo el modo en que las cosas siguen adelante, 
Dudé si debía haber regresado sobre mis pasos.
Debo estar diciendo esto con un suspiro 
De aquí a la eternidad:
Dos caminos se bifurcaban en un bosque y yo, 
Yo tomé el menos transitado (recorrido), 
Y eso hizo toda la diferencia.
      

1. The Road NOT Taken

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

An instrument of God

An instrument of God
November 9, 2014
By: Gina Yoryet Roman


Day by day I question my meaning in life, yesterday part of that answer was revealed very clearly, directly and strongly after having an unpleasant disagreement with my beloved (J. V. A.). My feelings were hurt unintentionally after he consumed a damaging medication (I am not talking about drugs) that altered him internally. That ‘insignificant slip up,’ disconcerted and distressed me because I am an advocate of health and fitness which doesn’t give me any room for immediate ‘solutions’ to alleviate stress even when I am throwing in the towel.

When he unfolded the truth of why he had snapped at me two days in a row, I was hurt  later leading to some serious food for thought. During the thirty minute walk after we hung up, I was terrified at the thought of having to deal with that forever. I questioned myself, “Is this what life is going to be about when we share our lives as husband and wife? Caught amongst fear and anxiety I concluded, “I don’t want that.”

At the same time, these words kept pounding within, together through good and bad, for better or for worse.’ And so be it as long as neither one of us doesn’t develop and adopt self-destructive habits. Following our argument, we quickly made up because we truly care about each other. That is real love!

As I’ve gotten older I’ve learned that when we argue with our loved ones, we bring out our demons, nothing but the worst of us. Maliciousness is NEVER good for any type of relationship; parent-children, friends, husband-wife, co-workers, etc. It leads to anger, hurt and resentment, that’s why it is better to remain silent until things cool down and NEVER EVER offend one another under ANY circumstances.

This relationship has taught me to mellow down, to be more forgiving and to be at ease with ‘us.’ That’s why every morning before I hop out of bed I pray for God to help me see, speak, hear, act, think and love through his eyes. This morning this incident disclosed that I am an instrument of God who is meant to walk hand in hand with my husband to grow together and to help him be a better person and vice versa, because even though at times he feels all alone in this world, he is really NOT. He has me and our mother.

After searching for him all my life, I will NOT leave him nor forsake him, not now, not ever...

Proverbs 31:10-11

A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies.  Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value.

Genesis 2:24
For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

That Man

That Man
November 8, 2014
By: Robert Louis Stevenson

Who has lived well, laughed often,
and loved much;
who has gained the respect of itelligent men
and the love of children;
who has filled his niche
and accomplished his task;
who leaves the world
better than he found it,
whether by an improved poppy,
a perfect poem, or a rescued soul;
who never lached appreciation of earths beauty
or failed to express it;
who looked for the best in others
and gave the best he had.

It is NOT between humans

It is NOT between humans
October 31st, 2014
Mother Teresa

“People are often unreasonable and self-centered. Forgive them anyway. If you are kind, people may accuse you of ulterior motives. Be kind anyway. If you are honest, people may cheat you. Be honest anyway. If you find happiness, people may be jealous. Be happy anyway. The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.Do good anyway. Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough. Give your best anyway. For you see, in the end, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.”

Going backwards

Going backwards

Reversed running

October 26, 2014

By: Gina Yoryet Roman

Yesterday I incidentally found a health magazine in Spanish at a client’s office which talked about running backwards. Although I had never tried running backwards, I did try inclined backward walking randomly in the past.

I was brainstorming to find alternatives once I am done with the Hyaluronic Acid (Suphrahyal) treatment to regenerate my cartilage that I started on Friday October 10th. Hyaluronic Acid provides support for healthy joint function and maintaining joint shock absorption and cushioning. It works by acting as a cushion and lubricant in the joints and other tissues. In addition, it might affect the inflammatory response of the body.

Since I was told by my therapist that I may not be able to run again because my cartilage is too damaged, I’ve thought about other options for weight loss and remain healthy. Interestingly enough, my doctor has reiterated that I will definitely be able to run without a problem. Of course not with the same intensity or endurance as before. Adding strain to my body like that is not important but I do want to be able to run for 20-30 minutes two or three times a week without any pain. After this physically painful experience (knee therapy pre and post surgery, surgery, my fall in a hole last year and everything else involved), my life no longer revolves around running. 

Finding alternatives is now my priority. One of my first and foremost priorities is take swimming lessons to enjoy the many benefits of it as of 2015. I feel like instead of moving forward health and fitness wise, I am going backwards but I will do whatever it takes to be wholesome and pain free again.

I’d like to give reversed running a try and see the results. After reading more about it, this is what I found out through wikipedia.

Backwards running: 

As the head faces forward, running backwards has the danger in that the runner cannot see anything on the ground or in the way of his or her path. Unlike forward running, it is also much more difficult to brace a backward fall or drop into a roll if one trips.

Turning the head around while running can generally eliminate the visual impediment, although it is awkward, limits speed, and may result in neck strain.

Practicing tumbling and exerting force in a backwards direction with the arms through various exercises like crabwalking or planches may aid in stopping damage or injury from falls or stopping falls.

Physical benefits

The combination of normal forward running and backward running is called mixed running or alternative mixed running. Some believe that running backwards helps balance out the strain brought on by normal running. Reversing the direction works the friction of tissues oppositely^[. Running flat or uphill, the heel is used to push off rather than the ball of the foot as normally occurs with forward running, working the tibialis anterior muscle (pushes the heel down, raises front of foot) more as a prime mover than a shock absorber. When running backward downhill, the ball of the foot is used whereas forward downhill running uses mainly the heel to absorb the force. This requires more coordination and therefor develops brain power along with muscle power.

While downhill backward running is essentially the reverse of uphill running, and uphill backward running of downhill running, they are different in that the fibres would fire differently due to differences in the isotonic motions. The former is an eccentric version of a concentric movement, and the latter is a concentric version of an eccentric movement. Both concentric and eccentric movements have advantages in training, which is why most weight lifters perform both for set times.

With all forms there is an obvious backward lean relative to normal running's forward lean, which can shift the stress of the other muscle fibres a small degree^[. Other advantages to backward running are a reduction in fear related to the movement, a form of exercise that is naturally more reserved, gains in balance, and the general enjoyment resulting from entertaining activities like these. Due to constantly having to look behind oneself, or sometimes keeping the eyes fixed, people can learn to run with more neck mobility or without a straight look ahead. This can stress the neck muscles which can be dangerous if done too aggressively, but in the long term could lead to adaptations in them.

Backward running adds another dimension to running, and when complemented by sidestepping in both directions (with and without crossovers front and behind intermittently) covers the essential dimensions of human movement on the two-dimensional plane. Diagonal movement as well as curving running (as is done on long race tracks like 200 m and longer in the Olympics) are additional forms of running.

Backwards running allows referees in sports such as football or rugby to continuously observe an area of play without interfering with play.

Beauty in its PUREST form

Beauty in its PUREST form
I had NEVER encountered the REAL deal!
October 25, 2014
By: Gina Yoryet Roman

At 3:30 am the other day, my deep sleep came to a halt when I was suddenly awakened by the thought of beauty, (that thought paid a visit once again this morning at 4:45). I’m not talking about aesthetic, altered, violated or forced beauty...
but beauty in its purest form, the refinement and reaffirmation of it through nature. The handsomeness (that robs me from sleep many nights and the root of my daydreams) glaring through a 5 feet 9 inch sanctuary.

He’s mentioned to me that he would like to lose a few pounds but in reality all of him  bears resemblance to absolute beauty in its entirety, raw beauty that is.
As I watch my fingers type, my mind goes adrift, it keeps straying with the image of his body. I had NEVER become acquainted with real beauty and now that I have, it’s changed my whole perspective of it all, and it’s taught me to appreciate it even more.

That manifestation brought to me through the eyes of God, has left me in awe until the day I die because even if it were to wither some day, the beauty of his mind, soul and heart engraved deep down, would be my best reward. The transparency of his soul that appreciates the grace of my body NOT because of its outer aspect but because of what it can create and for us to reach another one of our victories...
The plenitude of his temple is my drive to cleanse, purify and restore my own temple...

Even if J. V. A., my soulmate, doesn’t regard himself as it, he is that something that was missing in my life; wholeness, unscathed beauty...