Do something.

I went out earlier for a much needed jog around the neighborhood. I confess that lately, running/working out has seemed like a chore more often than a joy. I couldn't quite pinpoint the source of that fact; but I knew I'd come up with a long list of "reasons why".

My knees have been achy.

I'm tired.

It's boring out there alone.

It's probably icy.

I just ate.

I wasted all that time watching recorded TV, and now it's pretty close to work time.

It's raining.

I could use a day off.

I just don't feel like it.

The more I write down reasons and think about reasons, the more I realize that my reasons aren't so much reasons as they are excuses. Excuses are a pain in the ass. We come up with all of these crazy ideas of why we can't do something, and why? Because we're lazy? Because we're scared of the result? For me, it's a combo. I often find myself feeling lazy, but even that is an excuse. It may have more to do with fear. I have a fear of not living up to my potential. A fear of being beaten in races by others who are faster than me. A fear of not meeting my goals.

And greatest of all, the fear of sliding back into old habits. Does fear channel me into laziness, a sort of "self-prophecy"? "It might happen, so I'll just sit here and let it?"

Fear is a powerful inhibitor. It helps us create excuses. It marinates self-doubt.

As I was out on my run, it started to drizzle. I didn't mind too much, rain is better than ice in my book. The drizzle turned to full-fledged rain, and I came across an elderly man out getting his exercise. Hunched over, speed-walking, wearing a neon jacket and running tights, he was braced against the rain as though he didn't give it a thought.

"Here comes the rain," I shouted to him as I passed.

"Have a great day," he returned. "Still another mile to go for me!"

Here is this guy who is in at least his 70's, if not older. He's out circling the neighborhood any way he can, despite the rain and the chill. Why am I coming up with excuses to not get a simple half an hour of exercise in? Our day is made up of 24 hours, generally 16-18 of those hours are "waking" hours. If we got in 30-60 minutes of any exercise, be it running or swimming or yoga or walking, we still have SO many hours left to work, to enjoy with our family, to veg out with "Teen Mom 2" if we want. Instead of coming up with these negative self-prophecies, we should be pumping ourselves up by doing anything we can. It doesn't have to be a marathon every time. It can be walking the dog. Nothing is too small, because something is always greater than nothing.

We don't have to be the best of everyone out there. We just have to do the best we can do. Cut the excuses. They are not the reason.

until later...

“I am doing the best I can given what I have today.” ~ Jillian Michaels