Assemble a team of adventurers, arm yourselves with good headphones and cute sunglasses, then do battle with all the negative forces that you encounter!
Month: February 2019
Replacing Bad Thoughts
In this video I riff on warding off negative self-talk by filling your brain with other, more positive things – like running!
When I was down in the dumps back in 2016, I knew I needed a change, so I started running. It was painful at first, and didn’t look good (still doesn’t), but it at least gave me a solid 1.5 hours per day where I thinking of something besides my usual pity-party that I was throwing for myself much too frequently.
That time added up, and before I knew it I was thinking about running (which means I wasn’t thinking about that grump-town garbage) when I wasn’t running, so that was more hours thinking of this posi-cool thing that I was really enjoying.
Mind you, running hurt. I started in the summer, too, so it was gross and sweaty. It was painful, uncomfortable, and a bit smelly. But all that was better than spending time thinking about how life was unfair.
For me, it was running, so it’s up to you to find your thing (and if it’s running get in touch and I’ll give you some pointers). To find something you enjoy, that can take an hour, and get you away from your daily grump-town visits.
That video also available as a podcast (Apple Podcasts), and on SoundCloud.
I’ve been able to string together four weeks in a row of running 20 miles. Tonight on the treadmill I had one of my fastest hour runs in awhile, having pushed out of my comfort zone a bit, fueled by the early afternoon burrito lunch.
Maybe it was the after effects of the run, or the post-workout beer, but tonight I signed up for a 10 mile race about 40 minutes away, this weekend.
This will be just the third time I’ve entered a 10+ mile race, with the previous two coming last year, in just 2nd year of running.
May 6, 2018 – Broad Street 10 miler in Philadelphia: 1:48:34 (10:51 pace)
Oct 21, 2018 – Runner’s World Half in Bethlehem, PA: 2:17:02 (10:25 pace)
During that Half I ran by fastest 10 miler, too, at 1:43:16. I’m not sure I’m on target for that this weekend, and I won’t really be trying, but it’d be nice to at least be in the low 1:40s, that’s for sure.
When I started running on July 7, 2016, I never thought that this would be what I do now, but here we are!
No Self Judgement
I’ve been saying for awhile to other creative folks, “just put stuff out there.” Do it consistently, do it often, and keep doing it.
Lately I’ve been eating my own dog food, and making these daily videos, which I also convert into a podcast (on Apple Podcasts and SoundCloud). I’ve found that just hitting record is the best way to do things, and not waiting for the lightning bolt of inspiration to hit.
Is it perfect? Not a chance, but this is just video #10, and I’m doing this in real time, testing and trying new things right before your eyes, so maybe you can learn along with me.
Since I’ve been working on this, and spreading my daily Good Vibes, I’ve gotten more messages and notes and DMs then when I wasn’t doing this sort of thing, so in that sense it’s working, and by working I just mean I get to talk to more pals everyday which means I love it.