storytimewithjoe

I think it is a generally accepted fact that I push myself pretty hard – at times, a bit TOO hard. But for whatever reason, that seems to be the way I roll. And every now and again, it pays off.

Yesterday, I slogged through the day with a craptastic cloud hanging over my head. I felt ill-at-ease, could not concentrate, could not get comfortable, and really did not have patience for blatant acts of stupidity (of which, there were a lot). By the time I left the office, I desperately wanted a shot of tequila and a long nap. But no… I had a long night’s worth of things to do, including cardio and yoga.

GODS, I didn’t want to work out last night! Usually, I psych myself up for a good workout. I typically enjoy that timed moment where I know that I don’t have to think. But not last night. I just felt achy and moody, and did NOT want to face what would probably be a grueling session. All through my cardio, I huffed and puffed while thinking to myself, “come oooooon…. Skip it! I don’t haaaaaave to go every Monday. SKIP IT!” These thoughts continued even as I waited outside of the studio for the instructor to arrive. And as he be-bopped his way up to the door, my inner-self pleaded with me, “PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE just walk away! PLEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEASE skip tonight!!!!!”

Did I? No. And because the fates hate me, the session was an intense one. With each down-dog, my inner-voice created a whole new series of Sanskrit insults. Just as I decided that if I had had any military secrets, I would talk, the down-dogs ended. Hurray! Relief at las…. Oh gods…. NO!!!! AB WORK!!!!!! GAAAAAAAKKKK!!!!!!

Sinking into the hot tub, I sat there smug, surveying my domain. By the gods, I EARNED that relaxation time! I did it, despite just not being in the mood! But there were still promises to keep, and miles to go before I would sleep. Hitting the grocery store on the way home, I had ingredients to gather for the Upper Crust cooking guild meeting the following day. Gods, I was tired, and I still had to go home and then cook! Walking in the door, I smelled the unmistakable smell of baking. “Oh no,” I thought. “I am tired. I am weak. And I have no will-power.” My hubby soon appeared with that kid-like smile that he gets when he’s up to something. He had baked chocolate chip cookies. ARGH! My weakness! Then again, my inner-evil-voice realized, I had worked out a LOT that evening. Would some cookies really kill me?

Turns out, he baked cookies in commemoration of our first date – NINE years ago. GAK! NINE YEARS?!!!!!! When/how did THAT happen? The time flew by in an instant!

This morning, as he woke me up, my soul headed back into my body from a far, far, far away distant and exotic place. I cannot remember any of the details about it, but it was distant enough from this reality to provide me with that all-too-rare sensation known as “rest”. Real rest for me only comes from truly pushing myself. And the reward? Relaxation, alertness, peace-of-mind, patience, and concentration.

Or maybe it was the cookies? Hmmm….