A Better Day

Old habits can be broken, but it takes a lot time and perseverance.  We have this horrible habit of going to bed at 11:30pm or midnight, making it hard to get up early in the morning to exercise.  So exercise during the day!  The YMCA has free childcare!  Only we've already tried that a few times and things got traumatic and painful really fast, with most of my workout being the time I spend trying to get Alec to the car, up the hill to the Y, and then through the nursery gate.  No, that simply will not do.  I must go in the AM while sugarplums dance in the kiddos heads.  And I must go.

It's not so much about losing weight, strength training, or looking good for the next swimsuit season.  I don't pretend to think I look like a super model, but I'm pretty comfortable in my skin (now that I'm not pregnant or seriously post-pardum... I'll sing a different tune during those painful months).  I exercise because it keeps me sane and happy.   I can almost guarantee I will be in a better mood, be more productive, and will be a more patient mother and loving wife if I exercise.  So why do I fight the buzzing at 6:02 AM?  For starters I need to go to bed at a decent hour. I also need to remember how I feel after I run.

The first few minutes of my runs are always a little sluggish, but if I push through to the five minute mark my endorphins kick in and I start smile.  I occasionally drum on the treadmill to the tunes from my i-pod.  I smile at the people that walk by in the gym, and sometimes I catch myself laughing out loud at the lady with 80s hair doing aerobics on TV.  Around the 2 mile mark I feel complete, do a little cool down, and head for the lifting machines where I give my arms and shoulders a little work out to balance out the muscles that carry around babies all day.  I feel good.  I look awful, but I feel like a million bucks.  

I hurry home, listening to the local weather forecast.  Mostly cloudy, high chance of rain, with warm temperatures.  I can handle that.  I run in the door, kiss Nick goodbye, and jump in the shower.  As I watch my reflection in the mirror braiding my hair, I hear little voices just waking up for the day.  Lyssa is cooing and loving on her monkey.  Alec is singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" with so much fervor and passion that you know he means it.  I can't help but smile. 

A friend calls to invite me to lunch.  Nick knew it was laundry day and completed a load for me before he even left for work.  Occasionally the sun peaks through the clouds, and I'm reminded that Spring may not come right away, but eventually it will come.  All the rain will turn the world a lovely velvety green and everything will bloom again.  

So what if we can't get Alec into the ENT doctor for another two weeks.  

Today is DEFINITELY a better day.