Carpe Diem

Hello, faithful regular readers, and anyone else who may have stumbled across this blog. Yeah, I know. It's been awhile since I posted anything. Well, I've been busy. You know how it is, work, kids, the holidays, blah blah blah. And maybe a little case of writer's block, to be honest. I don't want to bore folks with the minutae of my life, so I tend to put off writing these unless I get something stuck in my head that won't go away. And that leads to today's post.

It will soon be the unofficial two year anniversary of the "aha moment" that kick started my journey of weight loss and self discovery. I won't be throwing a party to celebrate, but if you've read this blog a few posts back, you know that I will be running my first marathon on February 3,  just a month from now, so I like to consider that something of a celebration. I know for sure that when I cross that finish line and get my marathon medal, I'll be partying like it's 1999, even if it's just because it will mean I am done and can go home and watch Super Bowl commercials. But completing a marathon isn't just going to be just another medal to hang on my wall. For me it will represent the absolute opposite of the capability of the person I was two years ago, and the final destructive blow to the hold the memories of my former unhealthy life have still had on me all throughout this two year journey. It will blow all my previous notions of what I thought I was capable of out of the water. And that is why I'm so looking forward to doing it.

What's been on my mind a lot lately is the thought of what "could have been". What if I hadn't made the changes in my life that I did?  Would I still spend most of my time sitting on my ass watching TV, chomping on pizza and donuts, not considering that I could be capable of something more? I mean, up until two years ago, I guess I thought I was doing ok, I was happy, I always had things to enjoy in my life. But looking back on the two years since then, and all the things I've accomplished and the progress I've made, I know that I could never, ever, ever go back to being the person that I used to be, because now I know what I was missing!

It's been an exciting two years for me, to say the least. I am watching myself change, day by day, not only physically but mentally as well. I am able to discipline myself in ways I never thought possible. I make incredible advances in my personal health on a regular basis, and feel incredibly good doing it. And the unavoidable outcome of that is me wanting to share this with everyone else! That is why I started writing this blog. I also post pictures and blurbs on my Facebook page, for my captive audience of friends to see. I want everyone to know how amazing this journey has been, and while I may be shy in other areas of my life, when it comes to this, I can't keep it in. And it hasn't gone unnoticed. For the past year or so, ever since the changes in me have been so noticeable, I have been approached by countless people, from co-workers and friends in my church, to complete strangers who live a few blocks away from me and noticed me jogging past their house day after day after day. And the inevitable question is: "How did you do it?". I have a carefully planned response, which is basically the condensed version of this blog: "reduce portions, eat healthy, get active, starting slow and working your way up". Most of the time people listen, smile, and nod their heads. It's very polite of them. I always wait for them to ask for more information, more specifics, but the conversation rarely gets that far. At that point, it's "well, nice talking to you, have a good day".

This kind of frustrates me, because I always think back to the person I used to be. That is, unwilling to consider making serious changes in my life because it would be way too much work. I know what people are thinking in regards to healthy living because I used to think the same way: "it's ok for other people, but I don't need it, I'm doing ok." I wish I could help people understand the amazing feeling have now that my body is getting the nutrients and exercise it needs, how everything feels and smells and looks and tastes better! How it has given me a spring in my step and a completely new outlook on life! It's amazing you guys! I'm not on drugs, I swear! Though I do eat a lot of those Gu energy gel things when I'm running, who knows what's in those. They're like liquid Schwartz for runners. But the rest of the time, I'm just high on life!

If you are reading this and you are one of the folks who I am describing in the previous paragraph, I want you to stop for just one little second and consider what I'm describing. A better quality of life. The ability to do things you didn't think possible. The simple realization that the better your health is, the longer you will live! Imagine that. Not only will you have a better quality of life, you get more time to enjoy it!, Yeah, I know, I can hear the scoffing now. It was the same thing I used to say: "Well, just because you work out and eat healthy and stuff doesn't mean you will live a long life. What if you get hit by a car or something and die? Then all that work is for nothing." Well (and please pardon my language, but I feel it's appropriate), that's bullshit. It's just another excuse to not get going. I know as well as anyone that I am not guaranteed tomorrow. Through the years, and especially the past year, I've lost friends who were beautiful and healthy and way too damn young to die, who got up in the morning and went about their day thinking it would be just another ordinary day, and for whatever reason didn't live to see the end of it. I'm sure you, dear reader, have lost dear ones the same way just as I have.

For awhile now, the phrase "Carpe Diem" has been resounding through my mind. It's a Latin term that means "Seize The Day" or "Seize Every Day". It means, don't just sit on your ass watching TV and eating pizza, because the moment you are in right now is a perfect one to begin a brand new life. It means, no matter what you think you are or are not capable of, you are capable of so much more. Don't waste 25 years of your life like I did! Put down the pizza and get off the couch right now. Go for a walk, for goodness sake. Then go for another one. Learn to eat salad. Go for another walk. Read books about salad. Take a friend with you and go for a walk. Keep at it until it's second nature. When you feel good and have the energy for it, try something you think is crazy. In addition to running in races, I took up kayaking, rappelled down a 16 story building, and climbed a couple mountains in the last year and a half! And I don't intend to slow down any time soon. Every day I seize the opportunity to make the most of the time I have. I could have another 50 years on this planet, and I fully intend on being one of those wrinkled old grannies running marathons if I am so lucky to have the physical ability and time on this planet to do so. But if I am taken from this life tonight or tomorrow, I am able to say that I have no regrets about the work I've done to improve my health these past couple years, that it has given me the opportunity to have experiences I never thought possible, and the only regret would be that I put it off too long and didn't do it sooner. Don't you dare make the same mistake I did. The moment is here, seize the day!

Thank you again for reading, see you next time!