Treadmill Moments

Good morning! Join me each day on Facebook  as I share my journey back to fitness.

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Conclusion

Morning Workout

And a Merry Monday to you this morning. Click the links below to view the videos from this morning's workout.

Hello Monday


20 minutes in


Conclusion

54 and Still Fabulous!

Hello, everyone,

As most of you know, I recently embarked on a fitness journey, again. I completed The Camp in May and I continued attending classes and running through June...somewhat. :) But when I tell you that July heat was fierce... I couldn't do it. The heat coupled along with the effects of the Sand Fires in Santa Clarita. I had built-in excuses not to go to the gym or hit the road. 

This past weekend I decided to utilize the equipment I have had available to me at home, all along. While I'm at it, I'm trying to figure out this Facebook Live think. watch...

https://www.facebook.com/darlene.pryorcroom/videos/10205135830075170/

54 and Fabulous

Thankful for another day and another year. Looking forward to the next chapter of this journey.
Darlene Pryor the author

Just Some of My Thoughts In The Midst Of The Social Unrest We Face As A Nation

I have to say this. I have personally, never had a negative encounter with a police officer. Quite the contrary. I have met police officers under less than ideal circumstances and been encouraged by them to apply for their police force (younger days). I have the pleasure of being friends with excellent law enforcement officials who love what they do and are good at it. I am thankful for everyone of them. All this does not negate the fact that as in any profession, there are bad elements. Whether this is due to poor training, poor judgment, or just being in the wrong profession. They are out there, and we can't pretend that they're not. We can't overlook the bad 1% and focus on the 99 like the others aren't there, wreaking havoc on the public. When an officer engages in misconduct, it is our responsibility to ensure that he/she is held accountable, not cover it up. When an officer commits a crime, it is our duty to ensure that he/she is convicted, not try to justify it. I want to believe that our system is here for all of us. I want to trust that justice is blind. I want to be certain that every individual who has sworn to uphold the law and protect the rights of all citizens recognizes that me and people who look like me, are citizens first. Shining the light on the bad elements should not be divisive. Everyone should be able to view the inappropriate acts of individuals (from any group) as just that, the acts of individuals. It does not become an indictment against the entire group unless the group attempts to cover it up, excuse it, applaud it, or discredit the revelation.

My heart aches for all the fallen citizens, during this month of the celebration of our independence; those with badges and without. It is true, you can grieve for an Alton Sterling and Philandro Castile, while you grieve for Montrell Jackson, Brad Garafola, and Matthew Gerald, along with the five officers killed in Dallas Texas.

I pray for a day when we can all acknowledge our differences without grading them. No need to pretend that there are no differences in pigmentation, just understanding that we are different, not better or worse, by virtue of our skin color, just different.

Darlene Pryor

, The Author

She gets it!

DARLENE PRYOR

This young lady, Savannah Hartman, really gets it. Watch her video from her facebook page about the Alton Sterling murder here.


https://www.facebook.com/savannamhartman?pnref=story

>CLICK HERE<

Alton Sterling

So... I have intentionally avoided watching the video of Alton Sterling's murder since I read the headlines this morning. I have also decided against reading or watching any stories about Alton Sterling's criminal background. I have refrained from replying to any comments about his resisting arrest. But I am sad to admit that this no longer shocks me and I feel my sentiments are of no consequence. There is nothing I can say to those who get it. And unfortunately, my words would have no impact on those who don't. Those who don't remember that all lives matter until I attempt to remind them that black lives matter, those who will justify the murder of a black individual for not remembering their place, those who think the life of a gorilla is more valuable than that of a black toddler, those who cry racist when I say "I see what you're doing." What could I possibly say to any of them....?
Darlene Pryor
palmarborpress.com

On the road again! This is the view on my morning run.

I didn't make it about race, I just identified it.

Having compassion for the family who lost an innocent child in Orlando last week does not mean I am blind to the discrepancies in the media and public reactions to this tragedy and the near tragedy that occurred in Cincinnati nearly three weeks ago.

For those of you who insist on burying your heads in the sand and pretending that race is not an issue, I say wake up! Clearly the media (social and professional) reacted differently to each case. So much so that i knew the race of each child before I ever saw a clear picture. Not only were there petitions for charges against the black parents as well as DHR intervention, but I read many hateful commentary stating that this child's life was not more valuable than the gorilla's and he should have been left to die. The Florida family (white) never received the level of vitriol that was spewed at the Cincinnati family (black). It is tragic that the white child died, but many of you stated that the black child should have died. Where was the anger over the deaths of the two alligators killed in search of the white child? I missed it. Where was the petition for action against the white parents who allowed their child to wade in the waters of alligator country? I missed that as well. Where is the compassion for African Americans in this country? Yes, I also missed that . It is a sad truth that whenever anything happens to a black person, the spin is to blame the victim or portray them as not so innocent. There is a rush to publish any negative information about the victim (however irrelevant) and portray that somehow this was their fault, or they deserved it. White victim; the media and the authorities say, "Let us respect their privacy. Let us have compassion for this family." And my favorite, "I am you!" Where was all this empathy, respect, and compassion two or three weeks ago? And why is it race baiting to say " I see what you're doing."?

Darlene Pryor the author

GOT THAT RUN IN THIS MORNING!

I remember when I used to run and pump iron; back before most black women thought it was cool to sweat.  For the past eight or nine years I have been trying to get back into the zone but I keep running into this wall. Something happens, life happens; and I get distracted and fall off track. I stop moving forward on this journey to regain the past.

Fortunately for me and you, every day we wake up is a brand new opportunity to do better, to be better! We get to keep forging ahead to His promise that our latter days will be greater than our former.

Today is a new day. Go out and make something happen!

Darlene Pryor

Entitlement

How dare we...
not be grateful for each day.
not strive to be better; to do better.
not diligently pursue our dreams.
not show our friends and family we love them.

Each day is a gift from God
A new opportunity to get it right
and turn our dreams into aspirations.
Smile and be kind to one another
It doesn't cost a thing.

Darlene Pryor

From my facebook page

"Appalled at the vitriol spewed at the child who got into the gorilla habitat. I have even read that the child deserved to die because he had no business in there. Not to mention the hate spewed at the mother. I knew the race of the child before I even saw the video. And you wonder why the need to remind you that black lives matter. Too many people devalue the lives of black people, young and old. You pay $90000+ dollars for the weapon used to murder Treyvon Martin and you celebrate George Zimmerman, but you try to take away Michael Vick's livelihood over the treatment of dogs by his associates. The sad thing is that too few of you who claim not to feel this way bother to speak out against this obvious disdain but when a black person steps out and says "Hey I matter" You are quick to minimize the assertion by stating "all lives matter". Do you truly believe and understand that black lives matter as well?"

Sad to say that the only words from that entire paragraph that registered with some people was "black lives matter".

Today is a new day! Today is proof that you successfully completed yesterday. Today is a new opportunity to do better, to be better. Take this opportunity to be the best you ever. There will be challenges and there will be triumphs. Regardless of the outcome, tomorrow is another day.

Success doesn't just happen.
It is a process.
It is a culmination of a series of steps.
In order to achieve success, you must first set a goal.
In order to set a goal, you must first have an aspiration.
In order to identify your aspiration you must have a dream.
Your Aspiration is fueled by your dreams.
Your Dreams are sparked by your ideas.
Your ideas are birthed in your thoughts.
When you speak your thoughts, you give life to your dreams.

Do not allow anyone to discourage your dreams because you have not completed your process.
Surround yourself with people who will encourage you.
No Dream killers allowed.
Darlene Pryor
https://www.facebook.com/tamarsdream/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel

Allow me to introduce myself.

Hello,
I am so glad you stopped by. I want to invite you to share with me as we journey through this trip called life. Like many of you, I have had ups and downs and twists and turns during my life that have all led to a sequence of events that landed me here. Where is here? You might ask.

I am a divorced mother of five sons living in Lancaster, Ca. trying to regain control of a life that has here-to-fore meandered along wistfully. My sons are off making their marks in this world in their own way and I could not be prouder of them.

So you know where I am. Let me tell you a little about the who I am and why. I am a survivor, literally. I was always a very active lady. I mean, I used to run and lift weights back before most black women believed it was cute to sweat. I had dreams of becoming a personal trainer, but I never made a step to pursue that dream.  I also wanted to run a marathon. Through the years, things happened, life happened. As a single parent it was not always easy to maintain a fitness routine. My weight and size would fluctuate over the years., along with my fitness level. Another dream I had carried from the time I was a teenager was to write a book. I actually started that one. In 1998-ish I started writing a novel with the working title Dreams Of Tamar. But, once again, life got in the way and I put my unfinished manuscript aside.

 In  October of 2010 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I went through treatment; chemo, surgery, radiation, the whole nine. All while completing my final year of graduate school. In the Spring of 2012 I broke my right ankle and lost all flexibility (it seemed) in my right foot and ankle. It wasn't until 2014 that I was able to begin running again. Between work and my son's activities, not to mention the added stress of a divorce, it was difficult to maintain a consistent routine. (Oh yes, I got married in 2006 and divorced in 2015.) But I kept at it, sporadically. I even managed to lose weight from 150 down to 118.

In 2015, after the last of my babies had moved out of the house and my divorce was finalized, I packed up my manuscript along with my chihuahua/dachshund/ jackrussel, named Jack and headed out to California. Time for me to follow my dreams. I headed out here holding onto the promise that my ladder days would be greater than my former.

I have been here a little over a year now. I have completed my first novel, Dreams of Tamar and gained 22 pounds during the process.

So what to do now? I have fulfilled one dream. I wrote a book. Now on to the next goal, publishing. I have started working toward another dream, running a marathon. I am far from that at this point. Baby steps right? I joined The Camp Transformation Center and I am now in the fifth week of their six week challenge. I was supposed to lose 20 pounds in six weeks. I'll let you know how that turns out in a week.Meanwhile, I am stronger, healthier and more energetic than I have been in years.  https://www.facebook.com/tamarsdream/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel