Friendly Motivation

on January 7, 2011

I really think of Healthy Tipping Point and Operation Beautiful as two separate and distinct blogs (HTP is â€œmineâ€ and OB is a community blog). But sometimes, the notes I receive for OB parallel discussions weâ€™ve had on HTP so nicely! After this morningâ€™s January Joiner post, I got this email:

Ela wrote, â€œI wanted to express my sincere appreciation for the empowering movement: Operation Beautiful. I was at the gym working out after being out of commission due to an illness. I was feeling defeated thinking about the great shape I use to be in, when I passed by a mirror in the locker room and saw this amazing note. It was exactly what I needed at that moment. It re-invigorated my spirit and gave me a reason not to give up. The power of positive thinking has inspired me to pay it forward!â€

I love that phrase, too.

That email was actually just what I needed because I was really struggling with getting out the door to exercise today. Iâ€™ve been pulling 10 â€“ 13 hour work days this week and am pretty tired, but mentally – I really wanted to run. Luckily, Nicole grabbed me and took me outside. Together, we pounded out 5.0 miles. I am so happy to have a running buddy; it totally makes things easier sometimes.

Lunch:

This flatbread was impossible to eat without a fork but really delish. Chickpeas soaked in yellow curry sauce + spinach + shaved carrot.

An orange on the side:

Back to work I go!

Guess what? Itâ€™s FRIDAY! I thought it was Thursday when I woke up!

{ 67 comments }

Madeleine @ Stepping to the Bright Side January 7, 2011, 1:11 pm
Wow, even that OB note via the internet helped me… it’s been a rough couple of days- i love that i can always count on the blogging community to put a pep back in my step. this post also reminds me: i need more chickpeas in my life. THANK YOU
Beth @ Beth's Journey to Thin January 7, 2011, 1:18 pm
Wow what an amazing note! I love that statement.

And that flatbread looks awesome. I love the idea of curry soaked chickpeas – yum!
Liz @ Blog is the New Black January 7, 2011, 1:23 pm
I like that OB note!
mary (what's cookin' with mary) January 7, 2011, 1:25 pm
“Guess what? Itâ€™s FRIDAY! I thought it was Thursday when I woke up!”

I love it when that happens !!
Leanne (For Health's Sake) January 7, 2011, 1:26 pm
What a great quote!

I’ve been exhausted all week and am SO thrilled its finally Friday too… I need this weekend to regroup and catch up on some Zzzzz’s
Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine January 7, 2011, 1:27 pm
I posted a ton of OB notes over the summer but have gotten out of the habit. That’s a great phrase for me to post on my next one!
Kelly January 7, 2011, 1:27 pm
And now you’re enjoying a delightful glass of Malbec! Sounds like a great Friday to me!
Sabine @ thefruitpursuit January 7, 2011, 1:29 pm
That note is really amazing.

and your lunch looks scrumptious 😀
Baking 'n' Books January 7, 2011, 1:29 pm
Why are Fridays the busiest day of the week? Seriously.

What an amazing note! Seriously, this “whole” OB thing is just so inspirational and amazing. Is it ever where you thought the direction and focus of your writing would go though? What you imagined you’d be writing about? Or were you thinking of something completely different?
- Caitlin January 7, 2011, 1:39 pm
  It’s very much in line with my philosophy but I just posted the first note to be nice. I never imagined it would grow into what it is now.
  - Baking 'n' Books January 7, 2011, 2:10 pm
    Thanks! Is it the area you want to continue focusing your writing now? Or would you like to branch out or focus on a different aspect of “wellness” in the future? Is writing books what you wish to continue to do? I assume (and hope) so!
    - Caitlin January 7, 2011, 2:12 pm
      Yes, the HTP book will be really fun to write so I’m really looking forward to that, although it will be hard! It will be all about wellness and include more recipes, which will be exciting!
Stacy @ Every Little Thing January 7, 2011, 1:30 pm
mmmm I’ve been citrus crazy lately. Can’t wait to eat my orange! Hope you like the wine too 😀
Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) January 7, 2011, 1:33 pm
Somebody else I know thought it was Thursday! Yay for Friday! Caitlin, you do share such a great message and your energy/time is very appreciated!
ashleigh January 7, 2011, 1:40 pm
At least it’s not Thursday and you thought it was Friday… that’s the worst!
Maddie (Healthy Maddie) January 7, 2011, 1:42 pm
Great OB note! I agree that having a workout buddy can really make it easier when you don’t feel like hitting the pavement. You lunch looks great! I love, love, love chickpeas.
Michele @ Healthy Cultivations January 7, 2011, 1:48 pm
My gym buddy is in Aspen right now, and it definitely makes my 45 minutes on the elliptical go by much slower. Actually, I tend to push myself less when by myself. Somehow, it’s just different.
Ashley January 7, 2011, 1:49 pm
I’ve had my days so confused lately because of my winter break. Your lunch looks lovely, and that note is just what I need right now.
Kate (What Kate is Cooking) January 7, 2011, 1:49 pm
Yay for Fridays! Don’t you love when it’s later in the week than you thought?
Anna @ Newlywed, Newly Veg January 7, 2011, 1:51 pm
Having a running/workout partner is SO effective for getting me out of the house and exercising!
Ellen@FirednFabulous January 7, 2011, 2:04 pm
You thought it was Thursday?! Ugh, that’s the worst! Nice surprise though 🙂 I recently found a running buddy, and I agree, it makes a HUGE difference! Yummy looking lunch…I’m chomping on some chickpeas as we speak.
Marina January 7, 2011, 2:19 pm
Love that note, it’s so true!
Your lunch sounds delicious
Stacey January 7, 2011, 2:23 pm
It’s always nice when you realise it’s Friday!! You must be so proud of the Operation Beautiful movement that you created; it has really spread and must make so many people happy. I can’t wait to hear the details of your HTP book.
Mauimandy@The Grains of Paradise January 7, 2011, 2:27 pm
Great quote! I needed that one today too:-) Aloha!
Allie January 7, 2011, 2:34 pm
GREAT note 🙂 You are doing so much good with operation beautiful !! Lunch looks delicious as well 😉
Kacy January 7, 2011, 2:36 pm
Love that note! So true.
salah@myhealthiestlifestyle January 7, 2011, 2:37 pm
such an inspirational quote girl! That lunchie looks wonderful btw 🙂
Kara January 7, 2011, 2:44 pm
I thought today was Sat since my husband is off work and when I remember it was Friday I was excited because it’s like I got an extra day of weekend 🙂
Averie (LoveVeggiesAndYoga) January 7, 2011, 2:50 pm
That is so cool that Ela wrote to you after finding the note and that it brightened her day! love it!

And i can only imagine how confusing it can kinda get for you to have two blogs…and that there’s overlap, what’s yours vs. “community”…you do a great job of keeping it all straight 🙂
Sarah @ See Sarah Eat January 7, 2011, 3:05 pm
That is one yummy looking lunch! I love chickpeas 🙂

And what a great saying, I need to copy that one down!
Elizabeth@The Sweet Life January 7, 2011, 3:12 pm
Defeated and empowered are such good words–they say so much, in only one word. Your writing helps people go from defeated to empowered–and that’s a gift!
Johanna B January 7, 2011, 3:13 pm
Your sandwich looks delish. I need to try that combination this weekend.
emma January 7, 2011, 3:15 pm
What a great post. I’m gonna spread some operation beautiful love around the UK….starting tomorrow! xx
- Caitlin January 7, 2011, 3:16 pm
  photograph it and submit to for the OB book! http://operationbeautiful.com/be-in-the-book/
  - emma January 7, 2011, 4:15 pm
    I will! Fab! 🙂 xx
Maura January 7, 2011, 3:19 pm
That lunch looks tasty. But anything with curry is good in my book.

Just had to say that I love how you sometimes post that you ran 5 miles, and you don’t give the splits or the time. I’m sure when training for something it’s important (to you and to readers who are looking for inspriation in that area) but for someone who is slow as a turtle most of the time (see: me) I think it takes the pressure off to feel like we need to be “fast.” Rather it’s celebrating the fact that you ran 5 miles, whether it took you 40 minutes or 60 minutes.

Happy Friday!
- Caitlin January 7, 2011, 3:20 pm
  Thanks! I have not been caring about my times as much. I haven’t worn my Garmin in weeks!
- Allison @ Happy Tales January 7, 2011, 5:53 pm
  Amen to this!
jen @ taste life January 7, 2011, 3:21 pm
That saying is great!
Natalia - a side of simple January 7, 2011, 3:22 pm
Friday dance! Although I’m not sure how happy I am with being snowed in again…
Kara January 7, 2011, 4:18 pm
Love the blog, and this isn’t related to the current post, but Boston.com has an interesting article regarding a runners experience with the Vibram FiveFinger shoes. Since the other day you posted about trying them out, I thought you might want to check it out.

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/health/articles/2011/01/09/youre_crazy/?page=1
- Caitlin January 7, 2011, 4:25 pm
  Thanks for passing this along!
Erin @ Big Girl Feats January 7, 2011, 4:27 pm
That note is awesome 🙂 Gotta love some great motivation.
Camille January 7, 2011, 4:29 pm
Aw, that’s a great on note! Happy Friday!
Marie-Journey to Body Zen January 7, 2011, 5:18 pm
I love that note. Very inspirational and a great reminder to stay focused on the present!
The Chick January 7, 2011, 5:19 pm
Love the note and your lunch looks delicious!

Did you cook the chickpeas in the curry sauce or just toss it all together?
- Caitlin January 7, 2011, 6:07 pm
  Just tossed 🙂
Kim (Book Worm Runs) January 7, 2011, 5:27 pm
Very cool! Nice job getting out there and getting a run in..hopefully it is just what you needed to release some stress and tension 🙂
monicanelsonfitness January 7, 2011, 5:34 pm
I really liked this story..great quote too.

😉
Allison @ Happy Tales January 7, 2011, 5:54 pm
That’s the best feeling — waking up, thinking it’s a weekday… and realizing it’s a weekend day!
Robyn @ Frugal 'n' Fit! January 7, 2011, 6:01 pm
What goes around comes around, eh? Very neat how something you started had a way of motivating you when you least expected it!
carlee January 7, 2011, 6:04 pm
I thought it was thursday today too! Thank goodness its not though!
Sara January 7, 2011, 6:11 pm
That OB note completely resonated with me. Definitely a message I needed to hear! Thanks to whoever wrote that!
Jennifer (Happiness Here) January 7, 2011, 6:23 pm
Flatbread is the bomb. I would eat just about anything stuffed inside.
Sarah (Sarah Learns) January 7, 2011, 6:40 pm
ooo, i love waking up and it’s closer to the weekend than i thought! it’s like waking up, looking at the clock, and seeing that you still have time left to sleep!
Ashley January 7, 2011, 6:59 pm
Isn’t it the best thing ever when you’re thinking it’s earlier in the week & you realize it’s almost the weekend! Where has this week gone? It just flew by!
Rosi January 7, 2011, 7:12 pm
I was astonished that it was Friday as well, mine was quite in the opposite direction though. Monday will be my first day back to work in 3 weeks and I need to get my schedule in order again. I’ve been so off my routine.
Amber K January 7, 2011, 8:17 pm
That is such an inspirational statement. Definitely what I needed today, thank you for sharing and thanks to Ela as well!
Katy (The Singing Runner) January 7, 2011, 8:20 pm
I wrote an Operation Beautiful message today at the Disney Expo! 🙂 And I plan on wearing a sign on my back tomorrow morning during the half- marathon! 😀 Just spreading the love. 😉
Melissa @ Be Not Simply Good January 7, 2011, 8:48 pm
That is a great OB note. So true.
Emilie January 7, 2011, 9:02 pm
That is a great note, and definitely something I needed to hear/read today! It can be so hard to focus on the present and the future instead of the past.
Lacey @ Lake Life January 7, 2011, 10:26 pm
The past can definitely weigh us down in the present but then end up hindering our future. I think I’ll have to print that note out and stick it to my bathroom mirror!
Maddie January 7, 2011, 10:43 pm
I love that you are so honest about not wanting to work out sometimes, or when you are stuck in a rut. You are very relatable!
I also love when you think it’s further from the weekend than it actually is. Freaking LOVE that.
Jessica January 8, 2011, 12:44 am
Running with a friend definitely makes working out easier at times – you have someone to hold you accountable to actually get your shoes on and go, and someone to entertain you along the way when you’re not feeling motivated!
Michelle @ Give Me the Almond Butter January 8, 2011, 1:43 am
Operation beautiful notes are just so uplifting. Have a great weekend Caitlin
maria @ Chasing the Now January 8, 2011, 4:57 am
Good for you for getting your butt out there!
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) January 8, 2011, 8:10 am
Such a great Operation Beautiful note! I feel that I always see them when I need them the most. Thanks for sharing!! 😀

(p.s. your chickpea wrap sounds divine!)

Previous post: January Joiners’ Healthy Tipping Points

Next post: Last Night