Inspiration

Usually when I'm stressed out, I run. But that doesn't work when the thing I'm stressed out about is running, and I'm not supposed to be doing very much of that until the marathon. So I thought if I can't run as much, what else can I do? What else do I find relaxing? I was at a loss for answers. The problem is running always worked so well that I never bothered to develop any other coping mechanisms.

I used to think that inaction was a terrible, or at the very least, lazy solution to a problem. But sometimes inaction is actually the best course of action. Relax, meditate, rest - those are just fancy ways of saying don't do anything at all. But it is deceptively hard to do nothing. To simply be and not do.

I could pretend that I'm going to try meditation, but I know that would last all of 23 seconds. I can never manage to clear away all my thoughts. My brain is a 24 hour diner: it never closes and you never know what's going to walk through the door. A funny thing that happened 3 years ago. A quote from an old Simpson's episode. Trogdor (The Burninator). No, I need something else.

While I try to figure it out, I will drink Boost (hoping to cram extra vitamins and protein into my body before the race), listen to Frank Sinatra and Cole Porter music on Pandora (In no way would I describe myself as old-fashioned but I find old music oddly relaxing in a way. I guess sometimes you just need some cute, upbeat love songs), and remain open to any inspiration and motivation and/or hilarity that comes my way.

Read in a magazine:

"I have discovered what it feels like to do the unthinkable. The hard. The long.* The challenging. From now on, difficult will seem doable. I will see the impossible as simply not-yet-conquered." ~Outward Bound Advertisement

"We are made from stronger stuff than any of us knows. The number one thing is not even just to keep going but to trust that there's something more. Always." ~Nikki James

Junk e-mail I received today from some person called Al Amin Adulah:

"Can you hear what my heart is saying? It's so loud everyone can hear. It's shouting out to you I admire you very much! My heart is in this eCard I forwarded just for you." I did not click on your "eCard" because I'm sure it's a virus or porn or a scam to get my credit card information, but I still appreciate the thought, Mr. A.A.A. I admire your travel service and road side assistance very much!

Lyric of the moment: "Hey baby what's your hurry? Relax and don't you worry. We're gonna fall in love..."

*That's what she said