And so 2016 is upon us. As I sit here writing this post it is mere minutes from the end of the first day of the New Year. As I reflect back over 2015 I am astounded at just how horrible the year truly was. And while I know that this position is purely subjective, it seems that almost everyone that I have spoken to shares a similar view to a lesser or greater extent.
2015 was the year of "butt hurt". Excessive political correctness, rampant liberalism, terror attacks (both at home and abroad), divisiveness, discord, and discontent. We saw the rise of extremists; again, both at home and abroad (think ISIS and Black Lives Matter). The pervasiveness of false reporting, as-well-as the willingness of those to cling to and spread those same lies. Breaches in the trust between communities and the guardians sworn to protect them. And a distinct and frightening lack of leadership on all levels. Globally, 2015 seemed filled with overcast skies through which rays of sunlight came all too infrequently.
On a personal level, the year was filled with its own share of trials and tribulations. Many were of my own making, as is often the case, and others were a by-product of the pure evil and selfishness that exists in the hearts of others. Sparing the otherwise gory details, to say that 2015 was a decidedly dark time in my life would be an understatement. And so, like many, I have looked forward to the new year with hope for something brighter - something altogether better. And, also like many, I am under no illusions that the change that I am hopeful for rests with anyone else other than myself.
My grandmother was fond of saying that whatever you did on the first day of the new year was what you would do for the rest of the year. I think there is some truth associated with that. For too many recent years I have spent New Year's Day not engaged in the things that I felt that I should have; disappointed with how I have spent the day and always with my grandmother's maxim ringing in the back of my head. So with the beginning of this new year I was determined to do things differently, to be more positive, and to try to recapture the pieces of myself that were torn away by the tempestuous winds that have ripped through the fabric of my life in the last few years. My opportunity for one such change came in the form of an invite from a friend to run 10 miles on New Years Day.
I received the invite on Tuesday. I haven't been putting in many miles at all; very infrequent and sporadic runs of 2.5 to 5 miles at any one time. And yet I felt compelled to commit to what I felt could be a very positive start to 2016. Until the next day when I became ill with whatever bug has been making its way though everyone at work. Sinus congestion, fever, aches, chills, etc. I struggled through Wednesday on DayQuil and slept that night with double doses of NyQuil. New Year's Eve I spent medicated and laying on my couch; venturing out only for more meds and some food. I literally spent New Year's Eve alone, tuned in to the NYC ball drop at the 50 second count-down, then dosed myself with NyQuil - which is, incidentally, magic in a bottle - and promptly went to bed.
So when New Year's Day came with a buzz of my alarm, I hit snooze repeatedly and spent time laying comfortably in my bed manufacturing all manner of excuses and justifications for why I should just stay firmly where I was. Then that was when my shame set in. Was I ill? Yes. Was I lacking conditioning? Yes. But what other reason did I have to remain where I was? None. There was nothing that I had not faced before that could serve as an acceptable factor for my remaining safely in my bed. And so with time quickly ticking away I got out of bed, showered, fixed a breakfast of oatmeal, put on my running gear, and headed out the door to meet the group at the base of the Big Four bridge where we would begin our 10 mile run.
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| Heading back across the Big Four bridge. |
I will not regale you with the details of the run, but I will say that everyone was supportive and that I was squarely in the midst of good company. The interval run and the conversation kept my mind off of the fact I hadn't covered this much ground in quite some time. Our out-and-back run took us from the Louisville side of the Big Four bridge to Indiana, along the river, and to areas that I have never been. Beyond some hip flexor pain, I held up better than I thought that I would. I had actually shown up with the anticipation of being left behind by the group or having to end my run early. Fortunately, however, I was able to keep up and finish out the 10 miler along with an amazing crew. Afterward we took in lunch at a local eatery and once again it was nice to spend the morning with positive, energetic people.
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| New Year's Day in excellent company! |
My illness aside, I have moved into 2016 with some very strong momentum. And it was all simply a matter of making a choice and acting on it. So many times it is very easy for us to remain where we are and to conjure all manner of creative justifications that prevent us from truly moving forward. We find a comfort zone and even when that comfort zone becomes a stagnant, perhaps even toxic, environment for us, we remain there. Entrenched. Frightened of what waits if we move beyond the limits of our own self-imposed boundaries. It is only by moving outside of that comfort zone - sometimes by choice, sometimes by force - that we begin to change and grow. I have traveled out of my own comfort zone, both by choice and by force, in the last several months. And each time, no matter how painful, I have ultimately benefited by having done so.
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| Rocking my superhero tights under my shorts. |
If you are reading this and you are looking for motivation to do something more, to get up and get moving, to move outside of your own comfort zone - whether related to your health, your job, or any other aspect of your life - I will leave you with this thought: Every single time you push yourself to get up and go for that run, to take that walk, to move yourself physically. Every time you sit to write, to explore your own thoughts, to create or to share. Every time you make an effort to help those who are in need or who might not otherwise be able to help themselves. Every time that you push yourself to do something - anything - outside of your own comfort; whether because it isn't physically pleasant, or it is inconvenient, or in doing so we might temporarily have to postpone some personal indulgence. Every single time that you put forth effort to do more for yourself and for others, when so many other people would find it easier to just sit idly by. Every single time, you are doing so much more than those who have caused you pain, or grief, or suffering. Every time, you are sending a message to those same individuals and to the universe at large that says, "I am stronger than you know, more powerful than you can imagine, and more resilient than anything that I must face." With each step you take, both figurative and literal, you will come to understand the depth of your own strength and endurance. You become your own superhero. And superheroes aren't superheroes because of what they are capable of doing, they are superheroes because they make a choice to do it.
So get up, get moving. Start now. You don't have to wait for some specific day of the week, or sign from the heavens, or some silly holiday to begin. Today - right now! - is the first day of the rest of your life!
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