When your body says...

One of the numerous things that running has taught me is that when your body says rest, you listen.  Well, you don't have to listen but if you choose not to, you will pay a greater price down the not to far distant road.  

That was me last night and today.  Yesterday was my scheduled rest day. I could feel this cough just slowly creeping it's way into existence.  By the end of the night it was there and my thought was ... but I start my next week tomorrow.  So, Buckley's down the hatch and off to bed.  I will sleep this off...right?  Now I should preface this with this is mild and really not to worrisome however for running and using your lungs, having a clogged up tube really isn't desirable.  

This morning I realized that yes, I needed to start to think, run or not... but I packed my bag to be fully prepared. As the day wore on, I knew that running was likely a no and rest was probably a yes.  Some how confirming with your run coach (who just happens to be my brother, he got speed I got the good sense) just to see if maybe there was some benefit to slowing down pace...some other workout he hadn't given me... made me realize that yes... I am enjoying this and no...your not super human.  Take.a.rest.day.

Listening to your body and knowing when to draw the line in the sand is so difficult these days.  There is pressure from work, peers, society, social media, media, and most notably ourselves to live up to some super human version of what we think perfection is.  What we think others will value.  What we think others will aspire to be, because we want to be liked, followed searched and noticed, because each of us are human and want connection.  We each want to know that we are enough.  I know that this whole exercise, healthy diet, healthy lifestyle thing is a huge trigger button.  We have all started something and not followed through, we have all started to live healthier and then life got in the way.  We all blame ourselves for "getting comfortable". 

The thing is this, we need to be kinder to ourselves.  Life happens.  Wether we are ready, willing and able or not.  We need to know that any positive choice is a good thing.  We have control of ourselves and really that is all. So take control of you, make better choices for you.  If you can't, don't but be sure to tell yourself you can when YOU CAN.  

Balance is a just that, balance.  If you stayed active wether you were sick, had a family crisis, or there was a major earth disaster, you would be just as unreasonable and out of balance.  Be present, listen and be mindful.     

I get it, ok fine, I will have a rest day.  Here's to having high hopes for tomorrow, getting a good nights rest, spending some time to ones self and listening to your body.

#listenwell



  

OPI (Samoan Sand), Lights and Wine