As I read in bed this morning, thirty minutes or more after I was supposed to shut my alarm off and my light on, I had a thought: I could skip my run today.
It’s a travel day after all. I’m in a time crunch to get my apartment in order and get to a very busy day at work where I’ll then leave directly for the airport. It would be okay to skip today.
These are legit excuses.
But I made legit excuses the day before too and didn’t run in the morning. And then didn’t run at night at the promise of going this morning. But I was so comfortable with this thought. I didn’t feel like running. I was ready to stay in bed a little longer, maybe write this blog in the morning again for once, and take my time being prepared for the day instead of spending it exercising.
I accepted it, changing my plans in my head. And then . . . is this how I want to show up? Is this the kind of person I am, someone who doesn’t keep her commitments to herself? Did I reach this point in my health by staying in bed? No. To all of it. If I stayed in bed I would spend the whole day after feeling a little more lethargic, a little guilty, and a little more likely to find another legit excuse in the future. I’ve been finding them more lately.
So I got out of bed and I went running. And yeah, I was rushed getting to work, but during my back to back meetings and interviews and scramble to the airport I felt energetic and strong. The high of having taken care of my body and spent that time on myself in the morning paid off. It always pays off.
That’s where personal values come in and my personal vision: I am brave, I show up, I move forward.
I will probably find excuses again the future but I will do my best to combat them. It’s funny how we have to remind ourselves to do something that makes us feel awesome. Exercise makes me feel awesome but my body would do nearly anything to make me stay in bed and eat Reese’s Puffs instead.
I reminded my body we could just eat Reese’s Puffs after the run.
With Love,
Natalie