Yesterday saw me finally heading out for a longer run. My first longer run since the Gold Coast marathon over a month ago. And it was AWESOME. So glad I went. It was just over 2 hours of bliss, and I am guesstimating a distance of 24km ish (having gone back to being fairly technophobic and have been loving being back to running by feel rather than the watch, since my strap broke, oops…) Nothing better than a long run to kick-start your Sunday, and this one definitely didn’t disappoint. Legs not bad today either, just a slight stiffness in my shins of all places (time for new shoes perhaps? These have been on their last legs, ahem, since before the marathon).
Do you ever say ‘yes’ to something when you would have rather said ‘no’? Why do you say ‘yes’ when your true feelings are the opposite? Why do we feel obliged to commit to certain things, when really, deep down we know we should only be saying ‘yes’ to ourselves, and things that we really want or need. Sounds selfish perhaps? I think not… I reckon it’s a case of treating yourself right and really loving and listening to yourself, and yes, it’s that old cliché again: do what makes YOU happy.
I think we spend too much time doing things that go against who we truly are. Case in point: a 9-5 day-job (working for someone else) that robs you of your time and your health, and instead provides you with a little bit of money (but enough for the equivalent amount of time it has robbed off you) allowing you to rent your life for another month, and then repeat this insanity all over again. Does this really make anyone happy?? It is a mystery to me, truly. However, most of us are not in a position to entirely let go of this conundrum or quit (because, let’s face it, life in the system we seem to be trapped in, is farken expensive! Damn slavery…). So, I reckon it’s important that when we can, and at all other times, we be true to ourselves and do all those things that DO make us happy. Say ‘yes’! But ‘yes’ to what makes YOU tick and what makes YOU happy (this may involve simultaneously having to say ‘no’ to others and requests however). And the beautiful thing is that we are all different with different passions and loves. So what makes you smile and figuratively jump for joy may be the very thing that makes me recoil or shudder, and vice versa.
Things that are particularly joy-giving and that light me up lately are:
- Drinking tea with friends in the morning sunshine and talking nonsense.
- Traveling solo to a new place and exploring.
- Running of all kinds.
- Singing karaoke with friends (badly!).
- Running events and training for a race (particularly a new race).
- Talking and researching about anything to do with food and nutrition.
- Live bands playing songs you know and love and sing along to (so, public communal karaoke then?).
- Goal-setting and subsequent goal-smashing.
- Reading novels (from trashy to high-brow and everything in between).
- Writing.
- Platters of delicious food.
- Watching movies with Husband while eating snacks and ice-creams.
- Animals/pets.
- Getting up early.
- Dawn and sunrises.
- Mountains.
- Staying in on a winter’s night, in pyjamas and reading a good book.
- Cycling.
- Hiking.
- Looking at the ocean.
And things that are not really the best fit for me:
- Feeling like I have to put make-up / proper clothes on and ‘go out’.
- Going out to nightclubs / clubbing.
- Drinking lots of alcohol.
- Staying up late.
- Night-time events or commitments.
- TV shows / watching TV
Does this list make me old? Boring? A bit anti-social?? Perhaps, haha.... I guess it depends on what people consider ‘social’ and not. My version of ‘social’ these days is meeting up with people for a morning coffee or brunch, or a long Sunday run together, or a walk around the harbour, and very very occasionally an evening meal together (if I can stay awake that long! Dem 4:30 starts take their toll….) and what’s wrong with this? In my opinion: absolutely nothing. So perhaps that does make me ‘old’ to some, but I have never felt more like ‘me’ or more free. It is liberating to realise this too. Not saying I will never drink again (as I do miss the occasional good wine with good friends) or do any of the above list, but it will probably be an occasional occurrence, if at all. Word.
Seeing as ‘training for a race’ is a key giver of happiness to me, it seems odd that I’ve currently got none to actively work towards! I will be rectifying this later this week however, and I’m planning to register for the Lake Macquarie Half Marathon at the end of this month, and the Sydney Half Marathon in late September. Feel itching to get back in the flow of training for a race again, and it will be refreshing to be back running halves again and being able to pick my pace up and really go for it. Watch this space.
What about YOU? What's on your instant-happiness list? What makes you shudder instead? Do you ever say 'yes' when you'd rather not?
Do you ever say ‘yes’ to something when you would have rather said ‘no’? Why do you say ‘yes’ when your true feelings are the opposite? Why do we feel obliged to commit to certain things, when really, deep down we know we should only be saying ‘yes’ to ourselves, and things that we really want or need. Sounds selfish perhaps? I think not… I reckon it’s a case of treating yourself right and really loving and listening to yourself, and yes, it’s that old cliché again: do what makes YOU happy.
I think we spend too much time doing things that go against who we truly are. Case in point: a 9-5 day-job (working for someone else) that robs you of your time and your health, and instead provides you with a little bit of money (but enough for the equivalent amount of time it has robbed off you) allowing you to rent your life for another month, and then repeat this insanity all over again. Does this really make anyone happy?? It is a mystery to me, truly. However, most of us are not in a position to entirely let go of this conundrum or quit (because, let’s face it, life in the system we seem to be trapped in, is farken expensive! Damn slavery…). So, I reckon it’s important that when we can, and at all other times, we be true to ourselves and do all those things that DO make us happy. Say ‘yes’! But ‘yes’ to what makes YOU tick and what makes YOU happy (this may involve simultaneously having to say ‘no’ to others and requests however). And the beautiful thing is that we are all different with different passions and loves. So what makes you smile and figuratively jump for joy may be the very thing that makes me recoil or shudder, and vice versa.
Things that are particularly joy-giving and that light me up lately are:
- Drinking tea with friends in the morning sunshine and talking nonsense.
- Traveling solo to a new place and exploring.
- Running of all kinds.
- Singing karaoke with friends (badly!).
- Running events and training for a race (particularly a new race).
- Talking and researching about anything to do with food and nutrition.
- Live bands playing songs you know and love and sing along to (so, public communal karaoke then?).
- Goal-setting and subsequent goal-smashing.
- Reading novels (from trashy to high-brow and everything in between).
- Writing.
- Platters of delicious food.
- Watching movies with Husband while eating snacks and ice-creams.
- Animals/pets.
- Getting up early.
- Dawn and sunrises.
- Mountains.
- Staying in on a winter’s night, in pyjamas and reading a good book.
- Cycling.
- Hiking.
- Looking at the ocean.
And things that are not really the best fit for me:
- Feeling like I have to put make-up / proper clothes on and ‘go out’.
- Going out to nightclubs / clubbing.
- Drinking lots of alcohol.
- Staying up late.
- Night-time events or commitments.
- TV shows / watching TV
Does this list make me old? Boring? A bit anti-social?? Perhaps, haha.... I guess it depends on what people consider ‘social’ and not. My version of ‘social’ these days is meeting up with people for a morning coffee or brunch, or a long Sunday run together, or a walk around the harbour, and very very occasionally an evening meal together (if I can stay awake that long! Dem 4:30 starts take their toll….) and what’s wrong with this? In my opinion: absolutely nothing. So perhaps that does make me ‘old’ to some, but I have never felt more like ‘me’ or more free. It is liberating to realise this too. Not saying I will never drink again (as I do miss the occasional good wine with good friends) or do any of the above list, but it will probably be an occasional occurrence, if at all. Word.
Seeing as ‘training for a race’ is a key giver of happiness to me, it seems odd that I’ve currently got none to actively work towards! I will be rectifying this later this week however, and I’m planning to register for the Lake Macquarie Half Marathon at the end of this month, and the Sydney Half Marathon in late September. Feel itching to get back in the flow of training for a race again, and it will be refreshing to be back running halves again and being able to pick my pace up and really go for it. Watch this space.
What about YOU? What's on your instant-happiness list? What makes you shudder instead? Do you ever say 'yes' when you'd rather not?
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