Changing perspective

Something Becelisa commented on one of my last posts hit hard. “it’s all perspective and the challenge is to recognize the positive in where you are now. because one day way too soon today will become just another memory of how things used to be. and trust me … you’ll long for the memory of what it was.”

I can’t agree more. In fact it seems to have come at a really coincidental time.

Between reading Caitlin’s post yesterday (I really like what she said about choosing a positive narrative) and watching a documentary called Happy  (I was on a documentary kick and also watched Forks over Knives which is a post for another time) the same themes kept hitting me. I can’t stop thinking about how much of my happiness I control. It’s my narrative and it’s my perspective.

And then if it wasn’t already obvious, I walked into my lunch time Flywheel class and the instructor said today’s class was all about finding joy and being in the present. Not just thinking about that end goal, but being present, even in the difficult times and finding joy and positivity in them.

One study in that documentary talked about how a group of people were exponentially happier after writing down what they were thankful for once a week. And so, cheesy as it may be, I’m going to start having “Things I’m loving/appreciating/thankful for Fridays”…sometimes it might be big serious things, sometimes it might be silly little things.

Things I’m thankful for – Friday, 4/11 

I love taking a flywheel class on Fridays during lunch. The instructor is amazing. She’s full of little anecdotes each class like, “Don’t try, just do”; “Nothing changes if nothing changes”; “Find joy”; “Today I’m a unicorn and I can do anything” (<– the funniest one by far). Her loud and motivating music rocks. She always takes me to my limit, and then makes me push me past it. In 45 minutes I get my best workout all week, and I leave red-faced and on an endorphin high for the rest of the day. Today on the TORQ board (a competition board in class) for the first time, I won every single race!

I love that my job is flexible. For the first time ever I’m in a job where I feel like a true, professional adult. While I can’t completely do away with 9-5 type hours, I do work some off hours when working with other countries so I can give and take a bit to my schedule. I probably put in more hours now, and more efficient hours, but it doesn’t feel like it because some days I can hit the gym during lunch and some days I can catch a 4:50 train home instead of waiting until after 6:00.

I am so thankful that the Husband and I had a huge success with Bentley this week. I’m not sure how much I have posted it before but Bentley is a serious, yet very playful and confident puppy. He loves daycare and socializing with tons of dogs, he loves his dog walker and going on hikes, he is so obedient (yet rambunctious) on off leash hikes with the husband and I, he loves learning new tricks (currently working on “stick ‘em up, bang! you’re dead”), and taking training classes. And yet we (nor the dog walker) could not, I mean could not get Bentley to go for a walk on the leash around our actual neighborhood. I’m talking complete meltdown, whining, thrashing, and trying to army crawl back to the house as fast as possible. Well, on Wednesday night we did it. It wasn’t perfect, there were moments he sort of spazzed, but we slowly made our way around the block, with a surplus of salami and loads of praise for him the whole time. I’d say for about 80% of it his tail was up and he was sort of prancing around. I know it’s not going to be a walk in the park going forward (trust me I tried again last night and we only got 3 houses down before I worried it would become a set back) but it’s a step forward and I’m happy, thankful and so proud. In addition to already being damn amazing, I just know one day he’ll be the perfect running partner.

I’m so thankful that tonight the Husband and I get to sit on the couch together and just relax. He had to go to work at 3:30am today so I know he’ll be exhausted, and after a long work week and a hell of an intense flywheel class, I’m so ready to get delicious Greek take-out and veg alongside him.

I’m thankful I found the perfect dress for the wedding shower I have to attend on Sunday. It sounds silly but between not being thrilled about the current state of my body and the not quite warm enough weather for no tights, I found a ¾ length sleeve dress that is springy and perfect to be comfortable at the shower. It makes going to this shower (someone I’m not close with, yet I’m expected to be there) a lot better!

I’m thankful I quit procrastinating about a few big things this week. For some reason I kept putting off renewing my passport (with my married name) and getting a wedding shower gift for Sunday. On Wednesday I told myself to cut it out, got my new passport picture, filled out the forms, and sent it off expedited so I can 100% get myself to St. Thomas with my family in May (clearly what I’ll be thankful for in a few weeks 🙂 ). I also now don’t have to worry about finding a good gift off the registry at last-minute. Each time I remember that these two things are done, I feel relieved.

The weather. OH THE WEATHER. Thank you mother nature for this spring weather. I couldn’t be happier that we are finally hitting 50’s and 60’s with sun. I feel refreshed, rejuvenated and motivated all because I can step out my door, without shivering and without slipping on ice!

I’m thankful that I can do a half-ironman. That’s just it, that I can do it. I don’t care about my time, I truly don’t. I want to enjoy this experience. So far, the only thing that has been standing in my way has been me. I’m so grateful that I have the money and time to dedicate to something like this. I’m proud that even though my bike hours bump up and up, I keep getting them done. I’m sooo thankful for the endorphin high after my workouts, no matter what my day is like, it’s like a total reset on my mood.

Time to go enjoy this weekend!

 

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