baby steps

Thought I had an amazing baby who was walking at 6 months? No. Rather, these are my own baby steps taken en route to the gym on Saturday.

Step 1: Motivation. You would think it would be motivating enough to know that I have to get in a bathing suit in front of friends in the Dominican Republic in June, but unfortunately it doesn't seem to be the case. Personally, I have a lazy voice in my head that tells me, "Look, everyone thinks you're busy. Who cares if you're not actually very busy? Just coast for a while!" To motivate myself and combat the voice, I contemplate those who might not be able to go the gym at all, whether because of health or physical limitations. Take the 127 hours guy, for instance (not now, but when he was stuck under a rock). Or people who live in the middle of nowhere in Montana. Or somebody who just broke their leg. No kidding, this works nearly every time.

Step 2: Logistics. Call the gym to figure out whether the day care has room for the girls. Get everyone dressed and bundled to go outside in the cold and snow. Find lost snow boot, pack diaper bag, run back to house because I forgot my little gym swipy thing. Run back to house a second time because I forgot to lock the door after the first run back.

Step 3: War. Wage a stage 3 battle with spouse (stage 3=argument in front of strangers) on the walk through the gym parking lot about whether it is worth keeping our gym memberships after the difficulties encountered in Step 2.

Step 4: Obstacle. Remember upon arrival that my hungry toddler with a lumberjack appetite will not survive 2 hours without food at this time of day. Feed her gross-looking chicken fingers from vendor cart in gym building, and feed myself some maternal guilt while I'm at it.

Step 5: Work out. Reward myself after all that hard work with an hour of sweaty exercise on the spinning cycle I found in a remote corner, my own tiny home away from home. Feel triumphant. Success doesn't come cheap, but it is so worth it.

"My will shall shape the future. Whether I fail or succeed shall be no man's doing but my own. I am the force; I can clear any obstacle before me or I can be lost in the maze. My choice; my responsibility; win or lose, only I hold the key to my destiny." -Elaine Maxwell