‘God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and the wisdom to know the difference.’

What does this prayer have to do with hiking, the Temple Project, or the Longest Day? Quite a lot actually….I have written about the importance of eating well to train for a long event; I have written about the importance of good gear; and I have writing about the importance of training your body to be prepared for the rigor of long hike in hot and rugged terrain.

Equally important, as you are training your body, is to also be training your mind.  What does that mean? It means being mindful of your body and listening to when it needs rest; it means taking time to reflect on what you are doing and why you are doing it; it means understanding that what you ‘expect’ and what actually happens may not be the same thing; it means that your definition of success may be an ever changing target. 

This journey for me, comes after many years of advocating and fundraising to find a cure for Alzheimer’s. And, twenty years later, that cure is still elusive, but I will continue to seek answers, raise awareness and push others to do the same.  Simply because we still don’t have a cure, does not mean I stop fighting, it just means I adjust my sails and keep moving. Whatever your journey, there will always be challenges and obstacles….some you will overcome, and some, maybe not, but having the proper focus and mental fortitude will help you through even the most difficult days – at the end of the day, I wish for you the ‘serenity to accept the things you cannot change, the courage to change the things you can, and the wisdom to know the difference.’ 

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Training for an activity, whether it is running, swimming, skiing, hiking, or just to stay fit, is much more than just the physical training itself. Getting rest, staying emotionally motivated, and of course, proper nutrition are all key to success.

But, healthy eating while we are all leading busy lives is sometimes easier said than done. I try to set aside some time each Sunday, to prepare some meals for the week so that I have a fridge full of healthy choices. This week, I made a big pot of vegetarian lentil soup, full of healthy protein, potatoes, and other veggies. I also made some escarole soup with shitake mushrooms and beans. For a change from bean protein, I made a one dish meal of shrimp, garlic, fennel, tomato and feta cheese – simple, low fat – I will serve it with some sauteed arugula and voila, healthy meal!

For those busy mornings, I made some gluten free lemon blueberry muffins with flax and chia. While I am not allergic to gluten, I do find that eating gluten reduced helps the inflammation in my hands from arthritis. After some trial and error I have found many recipes that are as good as those made with regular flour, and this is one of them. Full of blueberries, corn meal, flax and chia, they are delicious and nutritious too!

Since I grew up in an Italian family, no dinner is complete with coffee and dessert -to satisfy the sweet tooth and not blow the healthy eating goals, I made flourless oatmeal, peanut butter, chocolate chip, chia and flax cookies – they are easy and delicious!

And, finally, I can’t forget our pup, Willow – she is one lucky dog – today I made her 12 pounds of food consisting of chicken, lentils, brown rice, spinach, green beans, sweet potatoes and carrots. Since she does some training with me, I have to keep her healthy too!

Now that I am set for the week for food, I can focus more on my preparations for The Temple Project hike. If you would like any of the recipes, or if you are interested in learning more about the project, who we are, and why we are doing this journey, visit :
http://bit.ly/karenshike  

Wishing you a great week !

When I decided to join the team on the Temple Project, I knew that this was going to be a very big challenge, both physically, and emotionally. I consider myself relatively ‘fit’, but hiking is not my usual exercise of choice, and certainly hiking these distances was not something I had ever done. 

I know that the only way to accomplish my goal is with hard work and determination – I also know that having the proper gear is essential to helping me reach the finish line.  To that end, I took a ride to REI in Yonkers this past weekend and a very big thank you to the team there for getting me started with some great hiking shoes!

Next week, a new back pack is on the list – any suggestions??

Things are getting real – my flight is booked, and my reservation confirmed with the company who will be guiding our team on the Magna Via Francingena. I am excited and nervous all at the same time. Will I be physically and mentally prepared for this journey?

One hundred and thirty five days and counting …..to my Temple Project teammates, I am honored and humbled to be taking this journey with you – together we can, and we will, make a difference in the lives of those living with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s….

Happy New Year! Time for all of us to make those New Year’s Resolutions…so what really is a resolution? Vocabulary.com defines a resolution as : ‘The noun resolution has a few related meanings having to do with being firmly determined about something. If you lack determination, you’ll never fulfill your New Year’s resolutions. Resolution is the noun form of the verb resolve, which comes from Latin resolvere, “to loosen, undo, settle.”res·o·lu·tion/ˌrezəˈlo͞oSH(ə)n/nounnoun: resolution; plural noun: resolutions’.

So what is your resolution for 2019? To lose weight? Get a new job? Exercise more? Quit smoking? Whatever your resolution, the real key is determination…how determined are you to land that new job, to lose those 10 pounds or stick to an exercise plan? Making the resolution is easy – executing it is the hard part. My resolution for 2019? To make a difference – to make a difference in the awareness and conversation around Alzheimer’s, to make a difference in the lives of those struggling with dementia, to make a positive difference in taking steps to find a cure.

How will we make those midnight resolutions a reality? By getting up, getting motivated, and making the commitment to taking small steps each and every day. Lao Tzu said it best: ‘The journey of a 1000 miles begins with a single step’….whatever it is that you have resolved, I wish you the determination to make it happen….

What is the Temple Project and the Magna via Francigena? The Magna Via Francigena, the great road of the Frankish knights, is a 112 mile journey that follows the ancient route between Agrigento and Palermo in Sicily that was used for millennia by pilgrims and travelers. The Temple Project, is a team of everyday people, committed to raising awareness and funding to find cures for Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. So what does this have to do with me and why am I writing this blog?

Friday nights were a special time in my house growing up. My dad, a former drummer in a band, loved music, and every Friday he would put on a record (yes, a real record), and he, my mom and I would dance. Most of the music was way before my ‘time’, but I looked forward to Fridays and that special time with my parents. Not only did my dad teach me how to slow dance properly, but it was during those Friday dance sessions that I really learned about the importance of family, faith and the power of love.

Fast forward to May 6, 1999, the day that Alzheimer’s took my beloved dad. It was a day that changed my life forever, and it was the beginning of my journey to becoming an advocate. In June of 2019, TWENTY years after I lost my dad, I will be joining a team of 23 other advocates from around the world, to walk this 112 mile trail, together, raising our collective voices in the fight against Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. I will be blogging my preparation, my thoughts, my experiences, my trials and tribulations and I hope that this blog is a place to laugh a little, to learn a little and to inspire you in your own journeys….

Thanks for joining me!

Good company in a journey makes the way seem shorter. — Izaak Walton