No Contingencies to Living Healthy Now
**Throws confetti & does a little dance** HAPPY FRIDAY! 
I know I disappeared for a couple days — no, I was not sucked into some vortex, no I did not join a cult or commune or decide to go “pre-tech” and avoid all technology. I simply needed time.
It came to the point that I was actually stressing out thinking about keeping up with my blog and with reading blogs. I was cramming in blog time when I should have been fitting in my work-out time. I need to practice what I believe. I believe that I have a choice in everything that I do — that every decision I make sets the stage for the rest of the decisions I will be presented with. I am not a victim of having too much to do and too little time. I am at fault for not prioritizing my health before my other commitments.
I Am My Own Puppet Master
Every day I choose what I prioritize. If I do not exercise, it’s because I did not make it a priority, not because I did not have the time. This blog is a passion of mine and a tool to keep me accountable — but I need to remember that a) it’s supposed to be fun! and b) it’s not allowed to be used as an excuse. If I start talking about working out and living a balanced life more than I actually practice it, I’ll just be another self-sabotaging type-A paying lip service to her goals.
The challenge that a lot of us face, myself included, is that we do not necessarily know when we are presented with or making a decision! Sounds counter-intuitive, right? But it’s true! As I’m becoming more conscious of my actions, I am becoming more empowered, responsible and accountable. If I choose to get distracted online and spend 30 minutes watching Joy Nash on YouTube (hey, it happens. She’s distracting in a great way!), I have to acknowledge that was a choice that will affect me later when I have to decide whether to go for a run, or finish my paper before class. It’s not like I can’t do both a run and write my paper, but I’ll have to make a sacrifice somewhere or be more flexible with other commitments.
I know a lot of us put contingencies on how we live our lives. We do the “when x, then I’ll y.” Using the fact that I’m insanely busy, or planning an event, or being overworked or whatever, as an excuse to go lax on either my exercise or eating and resolve to fix it when things are in a more manageable state is completely bogus. Why? Because if I think like that, there will always be an excuse. There will always be a better time to stay on the wagon. My life is not going to get any easier unless I become less goal-oriented, complacent or lazy and, frankly, I aspire to be none of those things.
The “whens” result in a passive existence. You are controlled by circumstance — choosing to put living on hold for variables that might never be in your control. There are no contingencies when it comes to your health. It’s all about NOW.
I can’t tell you how many times I have written in journals that by reaching a certain age, I wanted to achieve a goal. My focus was on having accomplished something in the future, but not on taking the steps, that day, that very second, to make sure it was so. I had written, “by the time I turn 15, I want to be healthy and happy.” It later shifted to 16, then 17 and so forth. Why would anyone ever put off health and happiness? Sure we can argue that the instant gratification of eating like crap would be more “living in the now” than abstaining for the sake of our waist-lines tomorrow, but I’ll call b-s on that. Living in the now is not about instant gratification, but about being accountable and empowered every second.
When it comes down to it: you can have it all as long as you are working for it now.
I’m working for it now.
In the News
- New York Times’, “A Plan to Add Supermarkets to Poor Areas, With Healthy Results” (9/23/09) here
Give-Away Round Up
- Win some “Bitchin’ Boxers” here
- Win a “Shake Weight” here – Umm… I can’t stop cracking up at this thing –it totally belongs in the “bridal shower” gift section at a Sex Shop or something…
- Win a Vitalicious assortment here
- Win a really cute apron from Mora here
What are your plans for the weekend? Tonight the boyf and I are making some sweet mashed potatoes and eating in (wow, we are crazy spontaneous and wild, no?), tomorrow I have a wedding to attend, Sunday is band practice and in between all of that is homework, running and smart choices!
Do you ever feel overwhelmed with commitments and put healthy living on the back-burner? If you are a blogger, do you stress out about missing a post or about reading everyone’s blogs?
<3, The Cranky One
Tags: balance, healthy living, Joy Nash, time management
8 People have left comments on this post
I love the name of your blog, it is too cute! I love how you sign the posts too! made me laugh! i just found you and havent explored too much but i thought i’d say hello and thanks for makign me smile!
I stress a little bit about the blog and blog reading. There are so many out there that are great and it’s hard to keep up without it being a fulltime job!
Sounds like you have a busy weekend on tap.
We are bike riding and visiting some fall festivals in this area tomorrow. I work Sundays, so have to cram it in on Saturdays!
“When x, then I’ll y.” -OMG yes. I spent so many years fat because of this. I spent so much energy and time at work on futile projects because of this. It’s much more comfortable to say that when something happens (that’s usually not under your control), you’ll do something else (usually not terribly related and something important). There is always an excuse. You think things will be so much better after that proverbial ponies and rainbows moment where life suddenly becomes stress free and everything magically falls into place, but really, there is another mountain waiting for you to climb. There always is. Just start now. And if I could constently take my own advice I would rock so hard…
Just more wedding stuff this weekend. Possible additions are a bike adventure with the fiance around town, a coworker playing a rock show tonight, a birthday dinner tomorrow, and swing dancing Sunday night. So totally restful right? /sigh hehe
Yes, yes and yes!!!
I am home with my two girls, plus I run my own business from home, plus I write my blog, plus I love to read blogs…
I just never have enough time. But I decided that I don’t have to stress out if I don’t get to everyone’s blog every day. I just do what I can, you know?
OMG, you hit home with me today! It is the blog stuff. I do feel overwhelmed by getting the posts done & getting to other blogs to read & comment & there are days I don’t want to do it but I stress if I don’t! I have actually been thinking about stopping due to the time involved & such BUT I had a good commenter friend “e” me about maybe not posting all the time. I get freaked that people will not come back if I do that. Today I was busy & could not get to the blog stuff till now & all I could think about was I need to get it done! So, yes, I do stress about it!
You are right. We need to put things in perspective & I am trying to do that with the blog stuff!
I am glad you are thinking thru what is right for you! Thx for this great post!
Have a super weekend!
You should see what Ellen Degeneres did with the weight shaker this week on her show. HYSTERICAL!!! Almost as good as the Hawaiian chair from a few seasons ago.
Thanks for the linky-love to my giveaway. So far, no entries. Hmm, I can’t even give away an apron. How sad.
Anyway, on the day’s I’m over booked with commitments, I don’t stress about missing posts. I know I can catch up on reading blogs another day and I try to make a quick post if I can.
Holy cow. I just clicked through from Prior Fat Girl’s blog and was perusing your posts. This one really, REALLY hit home just now. I have some thinking to do, now.
Thanks.