MJ Does Life... one healthy choice at a time!

Today was an observation of “zones” for me. First, I had to step out of my “comfort zone” and ask for help. Asking for help is NOT something I do well, or often. I’m like Sandra Bullock in the movie “28 Days”… I need to wear a little sign that says “ask me if I need help”. I just tend to be very independent, and I try to do everything myself, even to the detriment of of my own sanity/stress level. Anyway, today - as I sat at home waiting for the AC repair guy - I realized that having to wait on his timetable was going to cause some definite problems with a project I’m in charge of at work. For about 10 minutes I sat here and contemplated how I could get everything done on my own. Could I leave the house once he got here and go pick up the things I needed to pick up/deliver, get everything started with the project, then swing back by the house to get the repair verdict? Could I call his office, let them know I needed to run an errand before he got here, and go get part of my stuff done, then leave again to finish once he got here? (Nevermind that all of that meant I was considering leaving some random repair dude alone in my house). Finally I realized that I was being unreasonable, and that if I would just step out of my comfort zone and ask for help from the people who are always offering it, that everything would work out. So I made three phone calls, got three very cheerful answers of “yes, I can help”, and everything went off without a hitch. Well, except for the  verdict determining I need a whole new AC unit, but that’s another story….

My next zone observation happened tonight while running. I actually found myself “in the zone”. My run started out rough- it was humid, I was having trouble breathing, and my legs felt like lead. But I pushed through. Had to stop a couple of times to catch my breath, but I made the decision to pause my workout during those breaks, so that in the end I’d run/walk the full time of all my intervals, rather than just standing around for part of them. Just after I’d started my 3rd running interval, something changed. It was like I felt some cosmic shift (as cheezy as that may sound) and I just knew I would finish strong. My pace had slowed down somewhat, but every time my foot hit the pavement, I felt awesome. I really started to focus on that feeling - pushing off the pavement, focusing on breathing, focusing on keeping my stance loose and my arms moving. I was looking straight ahead and started using objects in the distance as markers. “I can make it to that next street sign”… just before I got there, I’d shift my focus to the fence post a little further down… “I’m going to that fence post now” Suddenly, intervals that felt impossible when I started were flying by. I could see what I wanted, and I was doing what it took to get there.

Honestly, for the first time, I felt like a runner. It felt really good.

So, today I met up with a great group of folks for the Do Life:Atlanta run. The question of the day was “do you have a tumblr?” Well, I didn’t… but now I do! This morning was awesome - meeting new people and going for a run. Felt so good to make the choice to do something active instead of staying home, watching TV, and watching life go by! Then, in the afternoon I kept the active streak going by meeting some friends at the pool and going for a swim. Overall, a great day!