What a Glorious Day!

What a beautiful day! The sun is shining just the right amount, the snow is melting, the whole town smells like warmed over manure... Ok, so that's not a nice part of the day. I really don't like living here, by the way. :S

I was able to go for a walk this fine day without a hat or a scarf. This is the first time this has happened since I started exercising. It felt so GOOD to be out in this weather, relaxing (in a fast-paced-walking sort of way) and thinking about spring.

When I first began walking, my right knee was REALLY hurting. I was doing my best to keep up the pace, but my knee just didn't want to let me. Then something happened that has never happened before: About 20 minutes into the walk my knee STOPPED HURTING! Just stopped. It was so amazing that I actually noted it pretty much immediately and, even when I was thinking about it, the pain did not return! How great! I was able to walk faster and further. I started to feel really good.

For those of you who know me well, which is probably all of you, you know that I don't really enjoy exercising. It such a burden to have to find time in my day for something so un-enjoyable that I have made plenty of excuses to avoid actual planned exercise. Yes, the occasional walk- often in the middle of the night- can be considered fun and I don't mind walking home from work but EXERCISING!? Who wants to do that? Well, today I did. It made me feel awesome.

And while I was feeling awesome, I started to think about how much I like myself. I haven't felt like thinking about liking myself in a long time. I spent an entire 40 minutes thinking about how great it is to be me. Honestly, I had forgotten. With all the money problems and moving worries and everything else that gets in the way, I had forgotten that I can survive things, that I am strong, that I am beautiful- and not just in my own way! I am a great person to be! I felt so good when I got home! Everyone should spend a half hour or more thinking about how much they like themselves!

I took a shower and while in there I looked at the parts of myself that I am unhappy with and I told those parts that they are evicted! I am the boss of this facility and all those flabby, gross bits are going to pack their bags and leave. I then took the time to talk to the parts of myself that I don't dislike as much but still need to change and told them that they are going to shape up. I informed my arms that they will look as nice as they did when I was a bread baker lifting no less than 100-150 lb a day. I told my thighs and butt that they are going to firm up and look as good as they've ever looked. I told my right knee that it was going to get better, even if I had to get professional help. Then I told all the parts of me that I like how great they are. I told them that there may be some changes to them, but not be alarmed because it would all be for the best. I told myself again that I am beautiful and I can do this because I am IN CHARGE! I feel so empowered!

I don't know how long this feeling will last, but I hope I can recapture it when I start to feel frustrated. I hope this summer, when it's 100 degrees and I don't want to walk, that I will be able to look at this blog and say to myself, "You are a great person, you can do this and you are in charge!" And it will be motivation to get out there in my tank top- ok arms, we need to be ready by then- and work my butt, and gut, off! Right now, though, I feel incredible. Every one of you should try this. :)