I skipped my morning workout today and jumped right into business. Self talk became my immediate companion and stayed with me throughout the day. It was much like the cartoon where an angel rests on one shoulder saying “No worries, you’ll run later,” while a devil sits on the other saying, “Ah, workouts are for sissies!”
If there ever was a day to talk myself out of a run, today was it; nearly 100 degrees, not a breeze to be found and high humidity. Did I mention I live at the top of a hill? Starting is the easy part, finishing … not so easy, even on a cool day.
At 5PM the little angel won. Yes, it was hot; yes, it was hard; yes, I was glad when it was over; and all the time I ran I repeated, “I am strong, I am fit, I am confident, I will endure.” That chant has helped me overcome every hurdle I’ve faced; no matter the size, no matter the issue.
A friend once said about triathlons, “Entering has nothing to do with finishing.” The same is true for anything we want to accomplish, and though you may not be able to predict your future, you certainly can 4C anything you want with Clarity, Commitment, Conviction and Consistency.
They say it’s never too late to try something new, so I’m trying crutches. At nearly 60 years old, I had escaped broken bones and any debilitating injuries until last Friday when a spill sent me to the emergency room. X-rays showed a broken foot. An ER technician wrapped the injury. After a 30- second crash course, I graduated from Crutch Academy and she sent me hobbling back into my life with instructions to contact an orthopedic surgeon who would cast it for me … Lovely.
I’ve told the story several times since Friday and each time I do, though the physical pain … is a physical pain, the situation seems comedic, even laughable. As I struggled through my house this morning navigating steps on my butt while dragging my crutches alongside, I thought about the Ed Sullivan show. Why Ed Sullivan?
If you’re older than 50, you probably remember the king of variety show hosts. Each Sunday evening Mr. Sullivan came into our living room. We gathered around the television where were entertained by acts like The Flying Wallendas and other circus acts, Topo Gigio the singing Italian mouse, ventriloquist Senor Wensus and comedians like Rodney Dangerfield, Flip Wilson, Carol Burnett, Joan Rivers and the list goes on. Each week he closed out the show with musical entertainment. Who doesn’t remember the night the Beatles made their US debut performance on the show.
The show was pretty formulaic which may easily have played a key role in the high viewership, but I didn’t realize until today how closely that formula relates to life, at least mine. My life is a balancing act. I juggle multiple issues between aging parents in and out of hospitals and rehabilitation facilities, a career that takes me across the country sometimes multiple times in a month. While I’m gone, I do my best to keep all the plates spinning; a feat that, in itself, takes focus and perfect timing. On the most challenging days, though I may try my hardest, I realize I just cannot pull a rabbit out of a hat.
Ed Sullivan never left us clutching our seats, wondering if the girl on the flying trapeze would fall into the net, or if the magician would somehow actually saw the beautiful model in half. I end my days very much like Ed Sullivan ended his variety hour; I look for the lighter side of life, find something to laugh about and go to sleep with a song in my heart.
When was the last time you tried your luck at a game of chance? Two years ago I spun the wheel and it landed on “Go to New Jersey. Do not pass Go. Do not Collect $200. Go directly to New Jersey, collect your aging, ailing octogenarian parents from two different hospitals (your dad will likely not make it through the next six months), tend to their needs, and start a new job. Oh, and while you’re at it, lose the life you have in Florida and the man who goes with it.
Hard to believe that was a win, isn’t it? We experience a new variety of normal every day here, some more challenging than others. And at the end of each day I am grateful for that day and pray to have them both with me for at least one more.
I skipped my morning workout today and jumped right into business. Self talk became my immediate companion and stayed with me throughout the day. It was much like the cartoon where an angel rests on one shoulder saying “No worries, you’ll run later,” while a devil sits on the other saying, “Ah, workouts are for sissies!” 
