I just had the most magical San Francisco skipping experience and felt moved to share as soon as I got home!

Tonight I went to dinner with a fun group of people who were my coworkers when I worked at The Learning Annex. Five of us had a fun dinner and then my friend Tania offered to drive me home.

Tania is a skip chic extraordinaire...When I first started working at the Annex, the skip had practically left my step...But Tania just so happened to be an enthusiastic skipper herself....She had even emailed me through iskip.com long before I started working there! For her birthday she organized a group skip across the Golden Gate Bridge (The picture above is of Tania and her husband Jason on that day)....This girl inspires me and has totally helped me get my skip back.

As Tania and I walked to her car tonight, we both started skipping which was incredibly fun in and of itself...and then out of nowhere, a huge fireworks show started happening over the Bay, so we rushed over to watch. The fireworks were huge! Bigger than the fourth of July! We oooed and aaahed and hooped and hollered. We noticed that everyone else who walked by seemed unphased by the miraculous show...But not us...We were enthusiastic enough for the lot of them.

A guy on a bike who rode by us cheered and we were happy to have found a kindred spirit. He ended up coming over and introducing himself. His name was Charlie. After we chatted for a while, I pulled an iskip.com sticker out of my purse and handed it to him. His face lit up as he told us how much he loved to skip. Suddenly the three of us were joyously skipping all about as bright, colorful, explosive fireworks filled the sky!! Wow!

It felt like the fireworks show lasted forever. When it was done, Tania and I skipped back to the car. A cop stopped traffic and waved us on, "Only for you Skippers," he said with a smile. The next man we passed beamed from ear to ear....A woman in a large group waiting to board a bus nodded in approval.....It was city skipping at its best!

I am feeling wildly inspired by tonight! I invited Tania to go skipping with me on a weekend day in the city sometime soon so we can create more skipping magic like we experienced tonight. I can hardly wait. Skip on!

Last night I received this email from a skipper in the Midwest. Wow! Talk about a powerful testimony about how skipping can uplift our spirits and change our lives for the better.

I did a websearch for the term: "if I could find just one" .... and somehow found your page. I'm a 49 year old business man, and yes I do skip. Several years ago one of my brothers committed suicide and I went into depression.

After losing nearly everything I once owned because life didn't seem worth striving for, I decided I wasn't going to do myself in the way my brother had and I was too physically healthy to think I might be lucky enough to die soon, so I chose life.I began skipping to force myself up out of the depression I was in, even if it made me look ridiculous to observers. Well, I had nothing really left to lose at the time so it really didn't matter what observers thought or even said.

I want to share that I have done a pretty darn good job of rebuilding my life, and now that I even own a farm I still skip and there are no observers to laugh. I own a construction company and everyone in the local area knows that I work daylight to dark, but what they don't know is that at 5:30 a.m. I am outside skipping, jogging and singing to help to give me the stamina to make it through the frustrations of the day. Well, thanks for your webpage, it means something.

Thank God for answered prayer! I'm back from my 9th Burning Man and am definitely feeling more inspired about my book project and mission of sharing the joy of skipping with the world than before I left.

My experience in the desert this year was a lot more about tears, anger, and emotional upheaval than the glitter, bliss, and euphoria of past years. It began with all of the costumes I had created for the event blowing out of the top of the truck on the way there...and ended with an intense and painful relationship drama that broke my heart wide open.

While the majority of people were taking drugs and going wild out there, I was riding my bike alone in the open desert saying this prayer over and over, "Spirit of the living God work afresh in me. Spirit of the living God work afresh in me. Melt me. Mold me. Fill me. Use me. Spirit of the living God work afresh in me." I guess I shouldn't be surprised that things in my world got shaken up a bit, now should I?!

As I read my pre-burning man post, I can begin to see some method to all of the madness I experienced...Before my intense and trying experience, I was feeling emotionally blocked and like I couldn't access the deepest part of me that I need to write my book and tell my story in a powerful way. I most definitely reconnected with that part of me through all of the emotional intensity of my Burning Man experience...It wasn't pretty or fun.... But it did the trick. Now I am left looking forward to the future with hope and anticipating for what comes next.

This morning I got my butt out of bed early and went to the gym before work. It felt great to start my day with a power skip on the treadmill... and it feels great to be exercising my writing voice through this post. I can feel myself getting my skipping groove back and it feels great...With everything that is happening in New Orleans, my desire to do good in this world is huge....So onward and upward....I can't wait to see what the Universe has in store for me next. SKIP ON!

Tomorrow morning I am leaving for my annual Burning Man adventure (this year makes 9 in a row!) Here is my special prayer/intention for my experience...

Dear God/Goddess/Spirit/Higher Power:

I give my Burning Man 2005 experience to you....I am tired of being blocked on my book project...I am tried of being too scared to move forward with it....I am tired of letting my self-dobut and self-disgust dominate this part of my life.

I want to feel as free and inspired and full of joy as I did when you first called me to start skipping. Thank you for how you are speaking to me and for how I know deep in my heart that documenting my journey in writiing is what you are asking me to do with my life. What a blessing that I can hear your instructions so clearly.

Even though I know it doesn't help, I have been extremely disappointed in myself for being too afraid to manifest my dream. I recognize my childlike will that is digging in her heels and wanting to stay right where she is. That part of me is terrified of fully putting herself out there again. I give that part of me to you. Please fill my being with so much passion and inspiration that my story effortlessly flows out onto the page. Wake me up in the middle of the night so excited about my project that I can't help but get up and write, write, write!

Let every breath I take and every step I make out there in the beautiful desert be a powerful prayer to you. Melt me. Mold me. Fil me. Use me.

With love, gratitude, and enthusiastic anticipation...

Skipper Kim

One of the most rewarding parts about having the iskip.com website are all of the amazing kindred spirits I have met throughout my skipping adventure. One such person is a man named Daniel Decker who has an amazing website called The Gift Of Kindness. His initative is devoted to encouraging people, from all walks of life, to develop habits of kindness and compassion toward their fellow man.

The coolest thing about Daniel is that he completely walks (or skips?) his talk...This week he gave the skipping movement an incredible gift of kindness. He took the video tapes I have from a couple of the TV interviews I did back in 2000 when the skipping movement was starting to sweep the nation.

If you have a high speed connection on a PC, you can now watch clips of a great piece that KVOR-TV in Sacramento, CA did on the skipping movement. You also can watch yours truly skipping with Donny Osmond on national TV! Check it out!

Also be sure to check out Daniel's website. It's sure to bring a smile to your face and to put an extra skip in your step! Give a gift of kindess today....It's worth more than money can buy.

I apologize for letting so much time skip by between entries. It seems that life is moving extraordinarily quickly these days.

I had to do a quick post after I read about the nun who was reprimanded for dancing wildly at World Youth Day in Germany. I loved the picture of the nun busting a move with a young missionary!

The story reminded me of my previous post about my experience skipping with a nun while working a trade show in the Midwest. The skipping nun's superiors asked that I not post the picture that was taken of us skipping on the web. At first I didn't understand why...But now I wonder if they were nervous about the potential for national media!

I have great respect for women who dedicate their lives to service....I will pray for the day that the holy spirit can move freely enough within them that dancing and skipping become a perfectly acceptable thing for them to do! After all, both dancing and skipping are glorious ways to celebrate life!

Keep the emails and comments coming. It makes my day to get emails like this one from a 13-year-old skipper named Kristi...

I skip therefore I am. Or do I? Oh yes... yes, I defintely skip. I also leap and bound. My sister also is a spinning enthusiast but this unfortunately makes me much too dizzy... ugh. Oh well. It isn't exactly the skipping aditude to get too worked up about things, is it? After all, us skippers are the sorta people that sing in public. :-)

Funny that you should mention spinning, Kristi...The other day I was playing a very casual game of volleyball with some friends and I started spinning around in a circle while the server on the other side ran after the ball. I spun and I spun until I was so dizzy I could hardly see!

Unfortunately, the server got the ball and hit it over to our side just as I stopped spinning! Happily my team mates are also fun loving spirits because I was so dizzy that I missed the ball. They didn't get mad...Instead they said, "What's next Kim, are you going to make a website called ispin.com!?" Skip on! Spin on!

Last weekend I got a message on the skipper phone from a skipper who lives in Northern California. He left me a message saying he is a 14-year-old sophomore who loves to skip. So much so that one day he skipped throughout the halls of Amador High School singing John Lennon's Imagine and handing out little peace signs!

I loved hearing his story....I love to imagine a world where every community has one bright light like this skipper who finds joy through spreading a message of peace and love! Skipping is such a powerful way to add positive energy to the world around you.

Gandhi said, "We must be the change we wish to see in the world." I believe with all of my heart that when we can find the courage and inner strength to skip through life, we are being the kind of change our world desperately needs. Skip on!

This is pretty cool. I recently was contacted by a woman named Gina Goff who was writing a piece for City Search about unique places to workout in San Francisco. She had discovered iskip in her research and was inspired about including it in her write-up. The only problem was that I'm not currently leading regular skips in the city. So there wasn't a location for her to link skipping to.

Gina was determined to let people know that there are skippers in San Francisco. So she went ahead and added us as a fun way to workout in Golden Gate Park. (When I do lead group skips, that's where it happens!) We couldn't get prime placement in the article since we aren't tied to a gym, but she put us at the tip top of the "More Spots to Work Out" section. Pretty cool. Skip on, Gina!! :-)

The other night I worked late so didn't feel like going to the gym on the way home. I told myself I'd go out for a long walk/skip....But before I knew it most of the evening had skipped away from me.

I decided to order take out Sushi from a restaurant that is several blocks from my apartment so I could pick up dinner AND get a little exercise. I put on a pair of sweatpants and put my credit card in my pocket....and then I decided to wear something else...Only I forgot to take my card out of the pocket!

I walked all the way to the restaurant before I realized that my credit card was still at home in my sweat pants! I had to go all the way home and back again! I laughed as I realized that I was getting a good workout after all! I skipped all the way back to my apartment.

It feels so great to skip freely down the sidewalk...One guy that I passed smiled widely and said, "I see you...Skipping along...Skipping along!" I skipped by my local video store and waved to the guy behind the counter. I thought about the email I had just gotten from Donna about how she couldn't help but skip because she was enjoying the sky and the sun. I skipped by the cable car on Powell Street and felt incredibly lucky to live in a city as magical as San Francisco.

By the time I got home with my Sushi, I felt great! Skipping rocks my world.

Just got this email from a kindred skipping spirit and wanted to share...

I am a skipper and was just introduced to your website! I was skipping out at the Bayshore in Palo Alto last week, much to the humor of passersby. But I was enjoying the sun and blue sky, the birds and the wind and the bay, so skipping was required! Plus it's such a great workout! - Donna

Skip on Donna! Like you, I love how skipping throws us into the moment and helps us appreciate the simpler things....It's hard to be stressed about bills or problems when you are gleefully bounding down the street!!

Skipping burns twice as many calories as walking does...So for you walkers out there, try skipping a block every now and then and you will get a double bang for your caloric buck.

If you are someone who loves to skip, I'd love to hear from you! Write to me at kimskips@peoplepc.com and tellme your skipping story! Skip on!

I loved getting this email from a skipper named Jenny. It's good to know I'm not the only one who likes to skip in stores....

I have many skipping stories, but this one is the best. I was skipping through Best Buy (yes I know what you're thinking) and a salesman saw me and told me, "ma'am, skipping is not allowed in the store." I could not believe it and I got mad at that guy. He did not know who he was messing with. He later told me he was just kidding and followed me around the store asking if I needed help with the Cd's. geez! He annoyed me but it was pretty funny.

Skip on Jenny! One of my favorite places to skip is at the grocery store. There's something incredibly free and a little rebellious for me about skipping there especially. If you aren't a skipper, this might sound a little strange. But don't knock it until you try it. It's a great rush...and while people might give you a bit of a hard time...As long as you are skipping with the right intention, it's hard for them to take it all too seriously. Skip on!

Back when I was focusing on the skipping movement full time, there were 70+ skippers where there was an official "head skipper" who was helping to spread the skipping message in their home town! When I went back to working in the book publishing biz, those people hopefully kept skipping, but head skippers were no longer an active part of iskip.com.

Just last week, I completed a proposal for a book that I hope to write about the benefits of skipping to the beat of your own drummer. If all goes well, the book could potentially be out in Fall of 2006. My plan is to start collecting the names and email addresses of skippers around the world who are interested in organizing skipping events and groups in conjunction with the book's release.

I recently got this great email from a skipping couple asking how they can get more involved in the skipping movement....

Hi there, I found this website a few days ago and just love it. I have been skipping for three years. I just started one day during my walking activity and alternated for awhile. Now I just can't get enough of it. My wife is skipping also during her 4 mile walks. We live in Arkansas, so you can imagine the looks we receive. During deer season, we have to be extreeeeemly careful. Hunters think we are deer bounding about as we do. I am 51 years old, a custodian, part time music teacher, full time kid. My wife is 53, a teacher, and part time kid. Let me know how we can become more actively involved.

I love getting emails like this...and if you are someone who loves to skip, I invite you to please email me at kimskips@peoplepc.com to introduce yourself. I am starting a new email list of people who are interested in being "head skippers" and would love to add you to the list. Skip on!

As a proud promoter of positive energy, I am a huge fan of the smiley face! So much so that I carry a smiley face backpack everywhere I go. I also recently painted smiley faces on the hub caps of my 1990 Acura Legend...and have an entire smiley face shrine in my cozy San Francisco studio apartment.

Because I love the smiley so much, I was saddened to read about Kentucky's negative reaction to their Mr. Smiley license plate that was decorated with a smiling sun. Apparently, Mr. Smiley was just too cheery for some drivers...and he is being replaced with a new campaign called "The Unbridled Spirit".

The unbridled spirit...Wow! If Mr. Smiley has to go, I'm happy that they came up with such an inspiring replacement concept! The unbridled spirit makes me want to get out there and skip! It also inspires me not to let some people's negative feelings about the smiley face deter me from sharing the smiley face love wherever I go!

Last night I went to San Francisco's famous Great American Music Hall to see the Chicago Blues Reunion Band. It had been a while since I'd been to a larger venue to see live music and I had forgotten how much I love it!

Early in the evening, I met two brothers who were going to be swimming the Alcatraz Sharkfest race from Alcatraz to San Francisco this morning. They were born and raised in San Francisco and both told me how they love to skip and have been doing it for years.

People who are natural born skippers who have been skipping their entire lives often have an interesting reaction to the skipping movement. These guys were a perfect case in point.

They said they loved to skip, but when I told them about my website they said, "I don't need to go there. I skip just fine on my own!" Other natural born skippers have an attitude that says, "I have been skipping for over twenty years. What do you think, that you invented skipping or something?!"

I guess I can understand where they are coming from...But the thing that they don't realize is that there are a lot of us out there..Me included...Who might have been blessed with a spirit that loves to skip...But who have a lot of cultural programming to get over in order to be able to skip freely down the street.

A huge part of the reason I created iskip.com is because I have a magical vision in my head of what would happen if all of the skippers of the world started skipping a lot more often...If skipping groups and individuals started being sighted in cities and towns throughout the country...What a fun and easily recognizable way to celebrate freedom and make a statement for positive energy.

If you are a natural born skipper, I encourage you to skip more often and more intentionally! If you are like I was, and have a lot of fear and a tough inner critic to get past before you skip, just do it! The joy and freedom on the other side of your fear is beyond worth it.

I believe with all of my heart that our world will be a happier place with more skippers on the streets! Skip on!

It's great fun when skippers (and non-skippers) leave comments for me after my entries. It really makes my day! (Hint, hint!)

Here's the latest. This one from someone named Dave B. in Portland...

It is so good to hear such positive stories about skipping. I myself am a skipper and I find it difficult for my co-workers to accept me. I hear there coments questioning my sexuality but I won't let it stop me. I've explained to them it's fun and healthy. I reused to be ashamed and let my co workers abuse me and the strength I receive from your stories help me through my day. So I will continue to skip and be happy no matter what they say or do.

I just love knowing that there are so many kindred spirits out there who are skipping through life! Thanks, David for the reminder about the joy that is the reward for being free enough to skip!

As you might notice, I have been skipping the blogging for over a week now..which isn't exactly the kind of skipping I advocate.

I went back to my hometown of Indianapolis over the fourth of July, and my blog habit seemingly fell to the wayside...It's amazing how hard it can be start a new habit and to stick with it! Oh well, I'm here writing now and that's what really matters.

My trip home was really special. We celebrated my amazing Grandmother's 85th birthday and had a quintessential Midwestern fourth of July.

My aunt is a Superintendent of a local school system, so she drives her yellow VW bug convertible in the parade every year. This year, I got the honor of sitting on the back of the car with my niece Maggie (4) and nephew CJ (9). I wore my red, white and blue Betsy Ross dress...and we threw candy at the hundreds of kids waving flags that lined the street.The high school marching band was right behind us...and the whole experience felt delightfully surreal! It was some down home Indiana fun. That's for sure!

There are a lot of things about America that I don't like right now..But my trip home reminded me about what is great about this country. It was a big slice of some pretty great things Family, community, celebration, fireworks, fun, and freedom!

Now that I'm back, my intention is to keep up with this blog! So skip back soon now ya hear?!

Skip on!

I got another email from a kindred skipping spirit that I wanted to share...

I heard about iskip a couple of years ago, I think in a Costco magazine. At the time I had just started walking every day and I would burst out skipping and then of course giggling. It was a rather spontaneous thing but now I try to do it fairly often. I also make sure anyone who walks with me makes a skipping attempt if they are able. What a joyful thing to bring to people! Thanks for the smiles! -Skipperdoodle Nancy

Skipperdoodle.....Right on! Thanks for the reminder that skipping is a great way to spice up your walking routine. Keep in mind that skipping burns twice as many calories as walking, so for every skip you step you get a double bang for your caloric buck!

For those of you who are nervous about skipping in public, my advice is to start slowly. Try skipping just 10 steps at a time the next time you go on a walk. Ignore your inner critic when it tells you that people will think you are crazy....and let your childlike spirit freely express itself! You won't be sorry. Skip on!

I am sitting here at my office admiring a picture that is bringing back an amazing skipping memory.

As some of you already know, I am a book publicist who helps get authors and their books mentioned in the media. I work for an amazing company called New World Library that publishes books that are changing the world for the better. I have been in my current position since March and am extremely grateful to have found a job that I love as much as this one.

About a month ago, I went on a business trip to Illinois to work at a trade show for religious booksellers. While New World Library's books aren't exclusively religious, we do publish some amazing books in that area.

The trade show itself was pretty standard and uneventful...Except for one magical skipping experience. In a booth nearby where I was working, I met a nun whose positive, radiant energy lit up the room. I talked to her several times throughout the trade show...and really enjoyed her company.

At the very end of the show, right before we were packing up to go home, I told her about iskip.com and my quest to make the world a happier place through skipping. Her face lit up and she said, "Skipping!?!? I skip all the time!"

Before I knew it, the sister and I were skipping up and down the aisles. People who saw us just smiled and wondered what we were up to! One woman said she loved to skip too and joined in the fun! It was a truly magical moment...and a reminder to me that the joy of skipping is for people from all walks of life!

The sister's superiors asked that I not post our skipping picture on my website, so it is for my eyes only...But every time I look at it, it brings me such joy to know that my new nun friend could be out there skipping right now! Skip on Sister!

Last night I was lucky enough to get to work at a Marianne Williamson event in San Francisco. She is the author of A RETURN TO LOVE and one of my favorite authors of all time.

I was the microphone runner during the question and answer section of her talk....and was moved to tears several times. She talked about how important it is for us to live our dreams...To pay attention to our hearts and where they are guiding us..To not be afraid to let our lights shine bright....and how it takes time and patience for our dreams to unfold.. It was an awesome presenatation. She reassured me that I am on the right path....and that we can't go wrong as long as we listen to our hearts.

At the end of the evening, after she had signed her book for tons of people, she signed one for me. I told her about the skipping movement and gave her one of my iskip.com stickers. Her face lit up as I told her about it and she said, "I don't know if I even remember how to skip!" She took off her high heels and the two of us started skipping around the room! She skipped inbetween the empty chairs and we smiled and laughed. Wow! What an honor!

I LOVE skipping moments like that one. I LOVE watching people skip for the first time in years...What an honor to get to skip with one of the most inspirational authors and speakers I know! Right on, Marianne Williamson! Skip on! :-)

I love getting emails like this one from a 76-year-old who recently started skipping for fitness...

My son came by for Dad's day. He is fit as fiddle - does triatholones etc...I gave him 8 pounds of weight (two dumbells for his hands) and had him skip my very long driveway...He came back and said it was a much more strenuous workout thatn he thought it would be.

It's true that skipping is a great workout. Prevention Magazine reports that it burns twice as many calories as walking...and it has less impact on the joints than running does.

If you are just starting out skipping, try alternating skipping and walking for a while. Also, keep in mind that you will be able to go for longer distances if you stay low to the ground and keep the bounce in your step to a minimum!

Quite often adults who are just starting to skip again are very exuberant in their skipping...But you'll quickly see that it isn't as effortless as when you were a kid! Stick with a lower impact skip and you'll be able to go for miles!

Skip on!

Last night I went to visit two old friends who I hadn't seen for five years! I believe it is a sign of true friendship when you can see someone after so much time has passed and feel like you never skipped a beat.

Charles and Curtis used to live in my apartment building, but bought their own place in 2000. At the time, I was so caught up in the skipping whirlwind that we didn't stay in touch when they first moved...and before we knew it five years had passed.

It was great to be able to catch them up on all that has happened in my life and the skipping adventure. It helped me get perspective on all that I have been through and all that I have learned along the way. We reminisced about the iskip glory days...about how it was a quite a phenomenon back in the dot com hay day ...about how the path hasn't ended up looking anything like I first expected it to....and about how I am proud to still be skipping through it all!

Charles was one of my first friends when I moved to San Francisco from Indiana ...and he is definitely not a Skipper type. Last night I got some insight into why that might be. He told me his skipping story for the first time.

When he was in second grade, his Mom got called into the school office because he was having a hard time mastering skipping and galloping. So after that, he and his Mom started practicing skipping together until he got it down. When I asked him if it felt great when he finally mastered it, he said it felt great to not be the only one who couldn't skip anymore!

I've met several people throughout the skipping adventure with stories similar to Charles'. People who were singled out in Kindergarten or elementary school for not being able to skip. Usually those people want nothing to do with skipping as adults, and I can understand why!! Since skipping is such a joyful thing, it makes me sad that little kids have to feel less than if they are slow on the skipping uptake!

There was a time when the skipping movement first started that I thought that everyone should love skipping as much as I do...But I quickly learned that skipping isn't for everyone. Back when we did group skips through the streets of San Francisco, I used to carry a meagphone to explain to people why we were skipping. What I said did a good job of sharing my realization that skipping isn't for everyone...and what I feel my big picture skipping mission is.....

"We are skipping activists who believe the world will be a much better place when skipping becomes an acceptable thing for adults to do. We don't ask that you skip, just that you are supportive of those of us who love to. Thank you and Skip on!"

There was a comment posted on one of my recent entries from someone named The Angry Republican. He said...

I tried some of that skipping.. A couple of guys looked at me funny so I had to stop. Do you have some kind of signs people can put on their backs to explain why we are skipping….AR

Mr. Republican...I think you might be onto something. Perhaps we should design t-shirts with an explanation on the back. The only question is what would your tshirt say? I skip to celebrate freedom!? I skip for joy!? I skip to make the world a happier place!? Skipping is great exercise! Skipping is fun!?

The fact that there are people out there who might look at me funny for joyfully skipping down the street is a big part of the reason I do it. I believe our world needs as much positive energy as it can get these days...and in my opinion, people who might look at me sideways for skipping are part of the problem and not part of the solution.

Given the state of our world today....which is crazier? Expressing your joy by skipping down the street....or doing something that would inhibit that expression of joy by someone else? I don't know about you, but I am tried of letting negativity and the fear of judgement from others rule my life.

Why not try skipping on despite a funny look here and there? You won't believe how energizing and liberating doing so can be. Skip on!

Since today is Father's Day I feel inspired to give a shout out to dear ole' Dad.

When I first announced to my family that I was going to start a national skipping movement, my Dad likes to say that he thought I lost all of my marbles. But then, he tried skipping himself, and he loved it! I'm not surprised given the fact that he raised me with a philosophy that said life is a lot better when you lose a few marbles. It is short and is supposed to be fun.

Shortly after I graduated from college my Dad wrote and self-published a great book called The Edge Resume and Job Search Strategy. When I saw the book, I fell in love with it and convinced him to hire me to sell it for him. The project did quite well...and thus began my career in the book publishing industry.

Lately my Dad's passion has been fiction writing. He has written four novels and his energy and excitement for his craft are truly inspiring. You can read synopsis of his novels on his website at http://www.billcorbin.com. He also recently started a blog about his writing pursuits. Skip on over to http://billcorbin.blogspot.com/ to check it out.

I feel extremely blessed that I got Bill Corbin as my Dad! He's one of my best friends in the whole world...and I know that he believes in me with all of his heart. I feel the same way about him. What a gift!

Happy Father's Day Dad...I love you! Skip on!

Back when the skipping movement was at its height, there were 70+ cities where someone had volunteered to the be the "head skipper" in their community.

Some head skippers organized weekly skipping/walking groups...Others did one big fundraising skip like a woman in Atlanta who skipped 100 miles to raise awareness for the animal sanctuary where she volunteered. Some head skippers passed out iskip postcards to spread the word...and others just skipped by example and told people about the website when they asked why they were skipping.

As you might imagine, keeping in touch with the goings on of so many skippers became a full time job...So much so that I quit my publishing job back then to focus on it full time. I naively assumed that if I leapt the financial net would eventually follow. I was wrong.

After a couple of years of recovering financially from that fact, I'm back in the saddle as far as writing a book about the benefits of skipping to the beat of your own drummer. The skip is back in my step and I believe the world needs skipping energy now even more than it did back in 1999/2000 when this whole adventure began.

If you are someone who loves to skip, I would like to invite you to play a part in the resurgance of the skipping movement. I have just recently started collecting email addresses for people around the world who want to help the cause...So far we have someone in Ponte Verde Beach, Florida...Oklahoma...and Australia!!

Being a head skipper is a fun, unique, and easy way to make a positive difference in our world that can use as much positive energy as it can get these days! And the only requirement is that you love to skip and explain why when others ask!

If this sounds at all intriguing to you, please send me an email at kimskips@peoplepc.com and I'll add you to the list to receive information as the skipping movement continues to move forward! Skip on!

I decided to answer this email on my blog because this skipper asks some great questions....

This 76 year old kid skips now and then in his driveway. Question(s): regular running shoes ok for skipping? Do they wear out fast because of skipping (in running, it was the heels of course than worn down). ok to skip with light weights (3 lbs)? any ideas on how far "your people"--skippers tend to go (distance) for a decent workout? thanks. skippy

Dear Skippy, Yes, I've found regular running shoes work best for skipping..I try to find extra thick soles though...The balls of your feet will wear out faster than normal if you skip a lot....That is, of course, until we convince a shoe company to support the skipping cause by designing us our own shoes. :-)

As far as how long you need to skip to get a good workout...it really varies. Some people primarly walk and then incorporate skipping bursts for variety and to get their heart rate up...Others walk a block, skip a block, run a block, walk a block.....Skipping on the treadmill at the gym is also fun...I ususally set the pace at a brisk walking speed (4.2 or so) and ease into skipping a mile or two. Sometimes I skip a minute, walk a minute, skip a minute walk a minute.

Then there are the hard core skippers of the world! Ashirta Furman is training to set a Guiness World Record for skipping the fastest marathon. He skips for 15-20 miles at a time when he is training. He even had to create a plastic toe piece to go over his shoes because he was skipping so much and going through them so fast!

As far as skipping with light weights, I can't imagine that would be a problem..But if you are at all concerned about it, I'd check with a physical trainer or your doctor to be sure that will work for you.

I would love to hear more about how you are incorporating skipping into your life...and also would love to post your picture and a skipping quote from you on the website if you are interested! If I don't hear back from you, skip on!!! :-) kimskip@peoplepc.com

I am feeling really good right now! It's been quite a day.

After a really busy and productive day at work, I went to the Red Room Writer's Society (http://www.red-room.com) and made good progress on the book I am writing. On the drive back, I thought about how great it would be to go for a quick skip when I got home since I've been wanting to get my skipping groove back for quite some time.

When I got home I started doing what I've done for the past several months when it comes to exercise. I sat on the couch and thought about all the reasons I should to out skipping. I thought about how great it would make me feel to do it...I just sat on the couch and thought. Before I knew it half an hour had gone by and I hadn't moved a muscle!!

The difference between tonight and multiple others before it is that after about 45 minutes, I actually put my shoes on and went out the door! I put Queen's Fat Bottom Girls on my ipod and was off and skipping. I skipped down the huge hill that is near my house...and went for about five blocks. Then I turned around and climbed back up the hill....I skipped a few steps at a time on the way up, but in general uphill skipping isn't my favorite!

It felt great to go out and skip for no reason...Last night I went skipping, but there was somewhere I had to be. Tonight, I skipped because I love to skip...and it felt great! Skip on!

Since I created the iskip.com website, I'm often asked how much I skip....Back when I was in top skipping shape the answer would have been at least a mile three times a week for exercise..and a little bit here and little bit there whenever the feeling struck.

My skipping quota these days has been far less...I still skip here and there...But my routine of skipping on a regular basis got lost along the way somewhere. It amazes me to know that someone can go from being called a fitness guru by People Magazine to not being able to motivate herself to workout!

I'm happy to report that I just recently broke through my wall of inactivity and have been starting to go out for longer distance skips again. My intention is to keep it up!

I live on a steep hill in San Francisco and love downhill skipping! So tonight I skipped all the way down a huge hill and through the financial district. I was able to go much farther than I thought I would....and when I came out of my skipping zone enough to notice was pleasantly surprised by the smiles I received from passers by.

Skipping is pure magic! It puts me in the most amazing, positive energy place. I wonder why it has been so challenging for me to get back in the habit of skipping on a daily basis. Why do we humans resist the things that makes us feel the best?

Oh well, at least I am finally over the hump.....I'm going to keep at it because I KNOW how amazing and magical my life becomes when I skip on a regular basis...I'm ready to let that magic in again.

I recently read this quote from Abraham Lincoln in Jon Gordon's Weekly Energy Addict newsletter. It really resonated with me and reminded me that all I can ever do is my very best...."I am not bound to win. I am bound to be true. I am not bound to suceed, but I am bound to live up to the light I have."

Abe's quote is a great reminder for me that I can't control the outcome about whether or not the book I am writing (or this blog for that matter) will be well received...All I (or any of us) can do right now, in this moment, is focus on letting my light shine and enjoying the process as much as possible. Reviving my writing voice...that was so strong back when I created the iskip.com website in 1999...is what I am being called to do right now. Abe helped me see how that is what I need to be focusing on....instead of wasting mental energy worrying about whether my story will be published one day.

Back when the national media was telling the skipping story, people used to tell me how much they admired my courage for so fully putting myself out there. I never understood that because it didn't feel like I was being brave...I felt incredibly blessed and lucky! Now that I have skipped around the block a few times...and encountered incredible set backs and challenges, I know what they meant about it taking courage!

Somewhere along the way, I lost Faith in myself and my dream...and I have been searching high and low for it ever since...The past couple of months, the magic has started to come back into my heart and life...and as a result, my willingness to put myself out there...to skip boldly through my life...is coming back. It feels great.

What a long strange skip it continues to be! It feels great to be enjoying the ride again. Onward and upward!

My bloggin' brother tells me that for these things to work, I need to be writing in it all the time! Starting that new habit seems to be taking a while! Oh well, all in good time I suppose.

I received this email from a skipper named Adam and wanted to share it. He speaks the truth...Skip on!

I haven't seen iskip.com before and yet I assure you, as a 18 year-old male A-level student, I have been skipping for years in many many places. In fact one of my fondest memories of my marvy girlfriend Helena is of, before we were going out, skipping in-time down the corridors of school. I also have wonderful memories of us skipping together in HMV, down country roads, in the cinema and alongside a cycle path.

This is never planned, we just tend to sporadically burst into skipping. Before that, I have often encouraged members of my drama society to skip. We take a break half way through our 3 hour session to go to the local co-op. Almost every time I skip and I have managed to get up to five people to join me. Yeah!

Skipping is snazzily fantastic and it a great, fun and surprisingly fast way to get around. Honestly, people should have no reservations about skipping. None what-so-ever.