I Feel Good About This

“A pair of shoes can change your life. Just ask Cinderella.” –Anonymous

It took 3 weeks of clean eating before I felt the slightest curb in my starchy, salty, fatty, "OMG I need cheese crackers" diet. On the other hand, moving, exercising, and being "active" has taken me a wee bit longer. I was active one year in my entire life and that was 1999. I tell no lies when I tell the truth. In my pursuit of nothingness, i.e. watching mindless TV, reading books, swaying in the breeze, I forgot...could give no damns...about the real purpose of moving.

Many moons ago I passed by a much older lady -- small and frail -- on my walks to the school bus stop (hey I said many moons ago). Every single morning and I'm positive this includes weekends she practiced Tai Chi. I remember putting this image in my memory bank. I remember thinking I want to move like her. I want to be like Tai Chi Chick when I'm Tai Chi Chick's age.

But once again life got in the way (or I got out the way, not sure) and campus walks turned into car drives. Daily Taebo turned into a pile of VHS dust, then a pile of DVD dust. Late nights at the club were back seated for "beauty rest" and "being responsible". And long walks around the Harbor were well...I don't live close anymore.

I promise you if it wasn't for my children I would never leave the house on the weekends. If Dood didn't want to play soccer or ride his bike or do 10 minute playground this hermit crab would be shelled comfortably and Vitamin D deficient. If Fidge didn't want to go to the mall or book store or Chipotle I wouldn't do anything. Oh and then there's my aversion to sweating. I..I just...don't care for it. And pain...whoever said "no pain no gain" needs a swift kick in the throat. I have a crazy high tolerance for pain and yet I avoid it at all costs.

But the other day I walked and then I sprinted for over a mile. And the yesterday I did it even longer. And I can't wait to do it all again! I think somethings wrong with me. I...I..think I might...on a good day...when Pluto is aligned with Venus...succeed. I think I may actually become the active person my brain already thinks I am. I think that going from The Couch to 5K is...well...attainable. I can...maybe...do this.

On day one as excited as I was about my new running sneakers synced awesomely to my iPod, I was tired. I worked, took Dood to Speech, and a part of me felt like I lost the whole day. Maybe I'll start tomorrow. However, I walked in my kitchen and saw Fidge with her bestie wearing running shorts and tees and I said I can do this...and they are going too. Yes, I brought Dood and the girls with me. Fidge's bestie (who happens to run cross country) facilitated our stretches and Dood & I devised a plan. We would walk until we saw a park bench and then we would run to it.

The benches were spaced out so beautifully that without even thinking about it we were doing intervals. And before I knew it the lady in my ear said "One mile completed." You guys have no idea how proud and exhausted and accomplished I feel. I get it. I totally understand why the trail was packed with so many variations of people on the same mission. When the same man passed us twice I felt just a tinge of discouragement but it quickly formed into motivation. I'm going to run like that guy some day. I will pass people two and three times around this trail. I will be strong and spry like the little frail Tai Chi Chick. It will happen. I feel good about this.