Gratitude...Keep it Simple

One day I was in a tough patch and a wonderful woman named Meri came to visit me.  Before she left she gave me a suggestion "Why don't you try making a gratitude list?  I think it might make you feel better."  I  had been instructed to do that many, many times before that.  But since she had taken the effort to come visit me, I thought the least I could do was TRY to write a gratitude list.  And she was right.  It worked - it made me feel slightly better.  And under the circumstances I was in at the time, "slightly better" was a huge jump.

It's been several years and during that time Meri has passed to go do work with the angels...or whatever good things happen after this life.  When I hit the little speed bumps or don't understand the "life on life's terms" stuff, I can still hear her voice "Why don't you try making a gratitude list?  I think it might make you feel better." When I shrug off the action of making the list and just sit in the thought "Things are fine.  Things will be ok.  Things could be worse." I feel stuck.  When I make the gratitude list, the magic happens - I feel better.

Most times, the "magic" doesn't make me understand the why and how, somethings aren't meant to be understood, but it gives me enough to get out of myself and know things pass - for better or worse.  In the past couple of weeks, I've ridden over more than my desired share of the little speed bumps and making the gratitude list has helped me keep a lot in perspective.     
  
What does all of this have to do with my current Ironman training?  A LOT! 

Ever since I started training for triathlons, it's given me a healthy escape and a great way to help focus and balance my time.  I absolutely love "gym rat" time in the strength room, zoning out chasing the black line in the pool, covering "miles" on a run, and hitting the bike either on the trainer...or preferably on the road!  After a rough start to the week last week, I had one of the best (and longest) training weeks since peak week for IM training in August and was feeing AWESOME. Then Wednesday driving home from work, I was rear-ended and slammed into the stopped car infront of me.  The first day was pretty easy to write the gratitude list, but not being able to get my normal routine and training in seems to throw me off.  I'm taking it easy and taking directions of when to ease back into things...and loud and clear I can hear my head say "Why don't you try making a gratitude list?  I think it might make you feel better."  So I thank all the little angels that look over me and now it's time to again write that Gratitude List....

Happy Training...I can't wait to be back at it NEXT week!  In the meantime, I'll be busting out the cheerleader outfit for Sunday to cheer Susan at the March Madness 1/2 Marathon Race.  Goooooooooo SuuuuussieQQQQQQQQQQQQQ!