Go ahead and vomit from all this optimism

After a LONG hiatus, I've decided. I just can't not run. If my knee is going to hurt almost everyday anyway, I want there to be a damn good reason for it. In that spirit, and armed with my knee brace, I've run three times this week, takin' it slow and steady. Maybe I'll be able to check "half marathon" and "marathon" off my bucket list after all. Keeping my fingers crossed that my knee doesn't get worse (in fact it'd be great if it got BETTER).

I read a book recently that had a section talking about letting yourself pursue the things you love. You don't have to pare down your hobbies just because you feel guilty for not spending time broadening your horizons. While I do believe in the importance of trying new things and constantly growing as a person, I agree that there's nothing wrong with getting lost in something makes your soul content. Try something at least once, give it a chance, but if you hate it, why waste your time waiting for it to grow on you when you are passionate about something else? For me, this means pursuing running (no matter how slow), books, more books, travel, exploring, food, collecting random information, psychology, and art. What are these things for you? In addition, I'm hoping to broaden my horizons within these interests. Maybe for me this means running a 5k soon, being more disciplined about writing regularly, or taking an art class. Those things will take me outside of my comfort zone but in directions I'm interested in.

There's something beautiful about people being enthusiastic about things they love, even when it's something others may ridicule (e.g. my love for the Backstreet Boys). Judy Garland said to "Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else." So go ahead and be proud of your Star Wars figurines or your John Travolta dance skills (Siobhan Stewart). Okay, I'm done being sappy and inspirational now. Merry December 17th.

Cheese and the nature of goodbyes

Sometimes you say goodbye to something or someone in your life, and it feels equivalent to trimming your hair. It's a big "good riddance!" to those nasty split ends, your hair is lighter, healthier, and even looks better. You might even say you feel revived, inspired to make other good changes in your life. Those tangled masses were weighing you down and keeping you from your full potential. You don't even know why you held on to them for so long. I recently said a goodbye like this.

On the other hand, some goodbyes are like breaking off the best relationship you ever had because you know you're just not going the same direction in life. You'll always think of them fondly, you'll miss them, you'll wish you could've stayed friends but you know it never would've worked to only see them in that capacity. I am currently undertaking such a goodbye. I've recently subscribed to a fitness program especially for flight crew members, aimed at helping us stay healthy in the midst of crazy hours, lack of sleep, and inconsistent access to healthy food. This program suggests (or more like strongly recommends) cutting out cheese. I don't know about you, but it's hard for me to imagine a life without cheese. I'm experiencing a bit of the grieving process, thinking back on all the good times cheese and I had together (cue slow-motion montage of me looking at a slice of brie with a glass of wine in my hand, me asking for pepperjack at Subway, me putting fresh mozzarella in my pasta, with some kind of cheesy love song as background music. Ha, cheesy love song, that was totally unplanned). Cheese, maybe a few pounds down the road, our timing will be better and we'll be reunited.

Until then, I may end up rebounding with Nutella. Forgot to forbid that, didn't you, Cabincrewfitness.com??