NatNews

For many individuals, the holiday season can become a time when family gatherings, travel, and themed festivities with plenty of treats readily available and seemingly begging to be devoured make it difficult to maintain health and fitness habits. Nutrition and exercise don’t have to be thrown out the window, though.

Dallas resident Katie Butler, an instructor at Fit Social Club, said she typically prioritizes her workout routine as a non-negotiable, the same way one would a work meeting, errands, or school.

“I think a lot of people find their workouts decline during the holidays because they are being pulled in a ton of directions, and there is a lot expected of them—whether it is in terms of hosting, childcare, travel, etc.,” she said. “I often set expectations with my family, partners, etc. that a workout is the time I need to myself to be present throughout the holidays, so 45 minutes to an hour a day to myself is something that is an expectation, not an exception.”

Dallas resident Eric Napple, an avid cyclist and fitness enthusiast, said he plans his workouts ahead of time and opts for activities that bring him joy and gratification.

“I’ve learned to remind myself that even a 30-minute walk or mobility movement while watching TV is better than nothing at all,” he said. “I also remind myself that it’s OK to miss a day if something comes up. Overall, the key for me is to stay consistent over a period of time.”

Butler also said that consistency is essential, though prioritizing exercise throughout this season depends upon the person, his or her aspirations, the individual’s relationship with workouts, and what his or her holiday plans are.

“As long as working out during the holidays does not induce anxiety, I would say staying consistent is a great way to give yourself much-needed ‘me time,’” she said. “It all depends upon your goals and your circumstances, but getting out and moving every day—whether it’s a short walk or a long run—can be a blessing amongst the crazy holiday season.”

And working out doesn’t always have to be a solo activity. To Napple, there are certainly benefits to having community and friends with whom to work out, but he knows the holidays are a busy time and can make it difficult to coordinate with others.

“Workout classes are easy because you know exactly when they start,” he said. “If friends show up, great. The bonus is that you have a full room of motivation, no matter what. If you do have one of those friends who is going to give you no excuses, ensure you become that person’s best friend during the holiday season.”

Dallas resident Drew Mbiam, marathoner and potential future Strava ambassador, believes it’s necessary to make concerted efforts to stick to health and fitness routines during the holiday season if one prefers to keep life balanced year-round but that it’s also OK to prioritize rest and recovery. But he knows that being consistent throughout the next few months will require intention and diligence.

“Take your time, and think about ways you can develop better habits that are more maintainable in the long run,” he said.

Napple finds it helpful to plan out his week on Sunday and makes sure to keep things simple. He also advises having an accountability partner whom you can text to inform you got your workout in and check to see if he or she did, as well.

“If all else fails, I think everyone can find time for a 30-minute walk,” he said. “A walk is so powerful, both physically and mentally. Overall, just remember to have fun with it.”

Butler pointed out that it’s important to give yourself grace during the holidays because your schedule will simply not look the same as it does the rest of the year, so by default, your workouts will likely also look different.

“Preparing ahead of time can help reduce the amount of anxiety you might have around working out during the holidays,” she said. “But also listening to your body and not working out in response to holiday food or festivities is extremely important. Working out should not be used as a punishment but only as a tool to help you further your goals. You’ve got this!”

Because a rainbow has no physical presence and is purely an optical phenomenon, no two people see the exact same rainbow—its appearance will be slightly different according to the eye of the beholder.

In 2008, Dallas resident Ken Troupe was lying in bed and heard a story on the radio that sparked in him a desire to serve members of the community who needed it most. He got up and fired off an email to all of his friends to request they give him their old shoes, informing them he wanted to give out 100 pairs to the Dallas-area homeless community prior to Christmas. Before he knew it, he had collected more than 260 pairs of shoes to give away.

What Troupe thought was going to be a one-time thing turned into an annual tradition, and he became known as The Shoe Guy.

“The first year, I was just planning on passing out shoes for one year only, and then it just snowballed from there,” he said. “We now average between 800 and 900 pairs of shoes every year. This year, we are shooting for 1,000 pairs and a new record.”

Dallas resident Suzanne Woodling is a friend of Troupe and has been helping him from the start. It wasn’t long before The Shoe Guy became The Shoe Guy and The Shoe Gal.

“It’s such a simple way to do good, and there is a tremendous need in Dallas that many people aren’t aware of,” she said. “I felt I could expand the reach with the groups of people I knew that didn’t know Ken. And there’s something very grounding about putting shoes on someone’s feet. It feels sacred or holy.”

Dallas-area resident Scott Manis has been involved with ministering to and serving the homeless population for more than 25 years. When he heard of Troupe’s and Woodling’s shoe collections nearly 10 years ago, he dropped off some shoes and has been helping annually ever since.

“My continued involvement is really based on two things: being able to serve a vulnerable group of people who have little or no resources and are living on the street as well as the blessing I receive from my interactions with the people we meet each year,” he said. “Serving the homeless through this hands-on ministry is something special.”

And Manis isn’t the only one who knows how meaningful such acts of the heart truly can be. Woodling said everyone has a story and deserves to be seen—to be connected to another human.

“The homeless are often in more need than others,” she said. “They often have no family, are dealing with depression and addictions, and have obviously fallen on hard times of the most difficult sort, but they are all still human—they should be treated with some semblance of kindness and dignity. The best way to help yourself is to help others, and this small act really helps so many.”

Troupe said the many years of passing out shoes to the homeless community has created impactful opportunities for others to recognize the importance of serving those who are often overlooked.

“I really think that if everybody figured out some small way to give back to someone who is less fortunate than themselves, it would be a better world,” he said. “It’s super idealistic, I know, but I hope that everybody will try to figure out a way—whether it’s around the holiday season or another time of the year—to give back.”

Woodling said she likes to joke that being The Shoe Gal has given her a “sole” purpose, but what she truly desires is to help make someone else’s life a little better and a little easier and to connect with those with whom many people don’t connect.

“I think I view the world through a different lens,” she said. “I make sure I treat people with kindness and love, for you never know if it’s your turn next. On my whiteboard in my home office, I’ve written ‘Leave the world better than it was when you were on it,’ and I think this drives toward that goal.”

For Troupe, the biggest lesson he takes away each year is that the homeless individuals who receive the shoes are simply happy that people took the time to stop and talk to them and help them.

“They live in a world where they’re used to people walking right by and never acknowledging them and never talking to them,” he said. “The last pair of shoes that we gave out last year was to an individual who was living out of his truck and holding down a full-time job, and to see the sheer gratitude that he had in his eyes was well worth the effort.”

WEEKLY PHOTO OP

NatNews dear reader Scott Manis, who regularly serves the homeless community, volunteers each year with The Shoe Guy and The Shoe Gal

Tuesday, November 21: Free Rooftop Movie — The Parent Trap (25th anniversary) at Sundown at Granada
Wednesday, November 22: Friendsgiving at The Rustic; A Very Merry Village — Drinksgiving at the Village Country Club
Friday, November 24: Grand Tree Lighting Celebration at the Galleria
Saturday, November 25: WRRC Saturday run from Taco Joint
Sunday, November 26: National Cake Day