Obstacles don't have to slow you down!

Okay, so I woke early to get my day started.  I fell back asleep for only about 30 minutes.  When I woke up to begin my day...to begin with ENERGY...to work out and then catch a few Spanish Soccer Games while I worked...I woke in pain.

Seriously?  Pain?  I am finally feeling ready and focused on pumping the energy up with my first workout and I am in pain.  I have GOUT.  The top of my foot.  Forget the treadmill, I can't even stand.

Did I let this stop me from working out?

Yes!!!

Did I let this stop me from pushing on with my day?

Nope!

I took medicine and waited for relief.  As soon as I felt that I could walk, I made it to the steps.  Knowing that there was no way I could walk down the steps...I got on my butt and scootched all of the way down.  This included the two landings as well.

When I got to the bottom, I collected my energy, my positivity, my focus...and I got up.  I hobbled to the kitchen and made myself some tea.  I had three cups before I was able to stand long enough to make myself some breakfast.  I felt a little better each hour.

Now, almost 12 hours later, I am still in a bit of pain and cannot walk as well as I want to.  Steps are still painful.  I was NOT able to exercise today.  BUT...  I got work done.  I was alive.  I had energy!

From the many things I do in life, such as being a teacher, and so forth, I have learned to be flexible.  I can make changes and still achieve my goals.  So my real goal was to increase my energy...and that is exactly what I did today.

Did I work out?

NO!!!

Did I move towards energy?

Yes!

I have taken one more step! (albeit in pain today)

Peace!

Mark

Life Hurts.

I am reminded today that life often hurts. I have several friends that found out today that their jobs are in jeopardy due to budget cuts. So much for the economy getting better in my world. I found out that a friend had to put a long-time family pet dog to sleep today. The list of Life’s pain goes on and on.

I found myself starting to fall with them, into a pool of despair and anxiety. I had no idea why I was falling. Maybe because I can empathize? Maybe because I am just as vulnerable to budget cuts as my friends are? Maybe because I am feeling the weight of the world as many are in today’s society?

Whatever the reason, I was feeling the hurt of life. I sat down to relax with my wife. Had a glass of wine. Enjoyed the winter’s confused summer breeze of 79 degrees. And then went to my happy place. The place where I am a Zen-ful person. The place where I am a writer and can do or be whatever I want to be. It may have taken an hour or two, but I picked myself from the tar-pit of hurt and found a calm. My concern often is that my calm is a place of numb. I hope not. No…can’t be. Okay, I am Zen.

Please, my friends…enjoy life and know that all of the hurt of life is temporary. When you look underneath the pain, you will find love and good things.

Peace. Mark