Something Just Clicked

We went to sleep early last night. To me, that is a little luxury. If I want to go to bed early, who cares? So I did!

Of course, that meant that I woke up earlier than normal. At 5:00 on the dot my eyes popped open and I knew I was up for the day. Might as well get started! After cleaning up the kitchen, emptying the dishwasher, folding a load a clothes and taking my shower I decided that I should take Sammy for a walk. He, of course, was thrilled. All you have to do is walk towards the front door and pick up the keys and he thinks it's time for something exciting. By the time you touch his leash he's practically doing cartwheels.

It seems that the theme for this week has been exercise in some form. My 101 in 1001 List is really having an impact on my choices – in a good and healthy way. There was yoga on Sunday. On Monday night after dinner, Ali and I walked Sammy down to the tennis courts at Donnell Middle School and we attempted to play tennis for a half hour. It wasn't pretty but it sure was a hoot. To say that we suck at tennis is mild but we excelled at laughing at ourselves and each other. Even Sammy got in on the act. He chewed through his harness where we had him lashed to the net pole and that freed him to chase the ball – and us – to his heart's content. I think more than one carload of people driving by, staring at the crazy women with the wild dog probably thought we were escapees from the mental ward. . .but once again. . .who cares??

A lot of my 101 in 1001 List has exercise as a component and it's something that I've struggled with most of my life. I'm not athletic. Never have been. (Read "band geek.") But there is something about being strong and healthy that I love. I need to lose 20 pounds and for once in my life, I feel like something inside of me is changing that may allow that to happen.

I reconnected with an old friend on Facebook this week. I haven't seen her in probably three years or so, but when I saw her picture I was stunned! She looks so healthy and confident! I don't really know if she lost weight, or how much, but there is so much life in her eyes and in her smile. I saw her picture and something inside of me just clicked – I knew that I wanted that too.

There's no magic. I know that. I read something this week that has stuck with me.

"If we give our bodies too much at once, our bodies will pull back. The one fight we don't want to get into is with our bodies."

That makes sense. It can't last for me if exercise becomes all about more, faster and harder. Fitness for me must be about mind, spirit and body. It will have to be about crazy tennis laughter, early morning dog walks, bike outings to nowhere in particular and yoga church if it's going to work for me.

I guess we shall see!