When did you sell out? Your music’s so boring.
Why don’t you write something inspiring?
Next time when you give a kid a toy, can you tell me so we don’t fight over it?
I appreciate that you did more than you needed to do, but could you do it like this next time?
My reply: I did the best I could. If you want it done better, do it yourself.
The start of 2014 has been a mixed bag. Workout wise, it’s been outstanding.
I’ve also be plagued by snow and a mysterious stomach bug that hit both my spouse and me at the same time.
I was lucky enough to have sinus issues too.
I felt great as soon as I got up. Then, once 10 or 11 a.m. rolled around, I was tired. My mind was mush and my body didn’t feel much better.
I attribute part of my problem to lack of sleep. I worked my late shift all week due to the holidays. And because I’ve made one of my goals exercise related, my mind has been busy dealing with such issues as:

  • The Paleo Diet says I have to give up dairy and carbs. I can’t afford to go without rice, potatoes, etc., to bulk up meals.
  • If I get to the gym at 6:30 a.m., I’ll have 15 minutes to exercise before everyone starts getting ready for school.
  • If I do this diet, I can’t drink coffee. I live off a morning and pre-work coffee.
  • Did I pack a change of clothes in my gym bag, just in case?

So if I do manage to sleep, I wake up and have all of these ideas floating in my head. It won’t stop.
Then I exercise and all is right with the world. The ideas get tucked away.
Who cares about carbs when you’re using the Stairmaster for the first time? Not me, because I’m too busy trying not to fall.
After my workout, the voices in my head are replaced by the everyday ones — kids, spouse, co-workers, etc.
And this week, there’s been a lot of negativity. How do you brush off the comments that aren’t meant to hurt, but do?
As the less-sick parent, it was my responsibility to keep the house running. I did what I could, both at work and at home.
And for some of the things, I got mad props. Other things were more of the “you did it but you should have …” variety.
In most circumstances, stuff like that hurts, for almost anyone. But it’s something you brush off. But when you feel like you should have stayed in bed all day, being talked to like that hurts and sticks with you.
I’ve also seen this while training. I’ll attend a race and I hear a comment about someone who doesn’t fit a certain body shape or looks like they aren’t competitive. I was/am that person who gets talked about.
Most times, I use the negativity as fuel. I work harder, faster to prove someone wrong.
This time, I tried doing that by running on the local rail-trail. During my run, the path was covered mostly with packed snow and a few icy patches.
I imagined that as I stepped on the ground, the crunch I heard was the breaking of all the problems and things that were bothering me. I was destroying them.
But as I neared my turn around point, my anger grew to such a point that I stopped. I had to. Everything was very intense. I stood beside the creek and tried to meditation technique my counselor taught me. I had to calm down or I wouldn’t be able to finish my run and get home.
After a few deep breaths, the monster was abated. So I went to the turn around and made my way home.
As I went, I looked at my time. I ran about as fast as I do walking this route. The ice was an issue for me, so I walked the rest of the way home.
It was a very good walk. I got to take in all the scenery I missed from running angry. I noticed deer and rabbit tracks. I saw the parts of the creek that froze.
I can’t say the rest of the day was blissful, after all I still had to watch the kids. But during the run, I put away the week, so I could enjoy being with them more.
I spent most of my time with the youngest kid, who was left out of the Wii-playing upstairs. He’s quite a climber and cheers Yoda better than I do.
I learned about “Lego Star Wars” and Jedi force powers from my middle child.
I also learned not to trust a 7-year-old who promises to clean the house in exchange for some hot cocoa and a trip outside to play in the snow. Make him or her triple promise before you commit to any deal.
I taught myself that mixing two packets of hot cocoa mix into pancake batter is delicious, especially if the packets have marshmallows in them. And leave your problems on the road. Mountain mamas have enough to deal with when they’re home.