I choose otherwise

“But until a person can say deeply and honestly, "I am what I am today because of the choices I made yesterday," that person cannot say, "I choose otherwise.”
― Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change     

Well, it is holiday time.  After a long break injury induced, but inertia prolonged, I went for a first run yesterday.  For constant runners, they may not have that fear of starting back up again.  For me I know it is harder, and well, a choice I have to make.  I was sitting on my couch, watching a bad Jets game and I thought, you know, there are a thousand excuses for me not to run right now.  It was cold, misty, and when you haven't run in a while, why start now?

Short answer: because I am not going to get back into with a magic thunderbolt.  I am not going to wake up one morning, thinner, back at race weight, race condition, ready to go.  That is the product of a lot of work.  And no time like the present to get there.  As I have previously said, I miss that feeling.  It is power, confidence, something, to know that I can  jump out of bed, knock out 6 or 9 miles at a good pace, and feel...good.  I miss that.

This fall has been a real struggle.  Work has been all consuming.  And stressful.  The weather has not cooperated.  But Saturday, as I woke up, I looked out my window and saw someone jogging by.  I didn't feel so good, and certainly was not in any place to go running.  And when I saw the guy go flying by, I thought, wow I wish that was me.  And it dawned on me that the reason it wasn't me was because I wasn't trying to be that guy.  It is all about choices, and I have been making different choices.

So I resolved to go run on Sunday, no excuses, and no expectations.  Just do it.  My Garmin was dead.  My iPod was dead.  It was a rainy day.  It was cold.  I knew it was going to suck.  But really, why not?  Choices, make them.