Message from the Mama: What is Mojo?

Happy February and Happy Healthy Heart Month! Mama Bootcamp is introducing a new way for us to motivate you monthly and keep you focused on achieving your goals and more importantly, “finding your mojo”.

What is mojo? I have been asked this a lot recently and the best way to describe it is: a joy and zest for living! It is that ‘happy spot’ where you have confidence and you are excited about starting your day. That is Mama Bootcamp’s wish for you…for you to find your ‘mojo’! We will be grouping the Weekly Challenges so that you can focus on one habit each month. February’s challenge is to “Get Started on the Right Foot”. In order to do that, we are starting with baby steps, and you ALL know how I feel about baby steps! It helps you build in your successes when the BIG picture is to overwhelming.

Back in 2010, I was having a hard time holding onto my mojo. After some reflection, I realized that once you arrive there does not mean you get to stay there! I looked back on what was different for me that year. I got “back to basics’: Was I getting enough sleep? Was I hydrating? What did my nutrition look like? Was I surrounding myself with negative juju? After taking care of all these, I realized that I had no races on my calendar that year, no ‘reason’ to train other than that is just what I “do’. Having a reason to train, the camaraderie of my mamas and coaches, being at the races, is what makes me happy. So this year I have goals set, races planned, and an exciting year planned. And I want you to do the same!

In order to support you with this, Mama Bootcamp has a “Mama Bootcamp Spring Fun Run” planned April 1st at 8 a.m. at Lake Natoma! We're excited to offer you this as a FREE event to help you in your quest for mojo!! It is open to all of your friends and family, co-workers, etc. So please feel free to share the fun and the Mama ‘love’ with all.

I wanted to close this article with wonderful ‘advice for living’ from a 90 year old woman from Ohio. Make sure you read to the end!!!!!

Written by
Regina Brett,
90 years old,
from the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, Ohio

To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and family will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.

8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.

12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.

16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.

35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come...

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Don't waste today, you don't know if you will get a tomorrow.

45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.