Exercise

Exercise and I have never been best friends. Actually I'd say we're barely acquaintances. Maybe because we were never properly introduced in our early years. While my brother and sister were busy on the t-ball and basketball and soccer and swim teams, I was busy becoming a future nerd with my glasses and my stack of Nancy Drew books. Having a slim athletic frame probably didn't help me either- why should I exercise, I could eat whatever I wanted and was still a beanpole. This isn't to say that I wasn't an active kid. I ran and played and rode bikes like everyone else, but when it came to sports I was happier to officiate or keep score. I did a little stint of club soccer in high school with a bunch of my friends, but I'm honestly not sure that I contributed much to the games, if at all. But then life starts to catch up to your slim athletic frame and you are suddenly not quite as slim nor athletic (not that I ever was!).

With a few extra pounds following me around I decided to formally acquaint myself with my foe, exercise. It's funny how motivation can be found in the strangest places. A friend of mine talks about exercise in the most admirable and inspiring way. The laps he swims, the miles he runs. I could feel myself turning more and more into a slug with every word until I finally couldn't take it anymore. It seems like this exercise buzz is all around me. Everyone is going to the gym, everyone is working out. Never one to mindlessly follow trends, I know this is one I need to get on board with. Intellectually it reasons it out perfectly, it's just getting the motivation to get off my ass.

Thanks to my friend, I've found that motivation two days in a row. I've heard it takes three weeks to make something a habit, so with 19 days to go I cross off #14: introduce myself to exercise and commit to being his friend. I'll keep you posted on our friendship...