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Momentary Flash of Insight

This past week in weight-loss: maintained. I was so thrilled I could have cried. Who knows about this week, but you know, I'm not even freaking out about it......

I had a yoga workshop today that was absolutely phenomenal. I'm working to create a variety of home practices for those times when attending as many classes as I'd like is limited (by time, money, my normal schedule, etc.). One of the things that Linda, our teacher, discussed was the concept that keeps getting hammered home of self-care..... that we cannot care for others until we care for ourselves. We further mentioned the idea of excuses .... of knowing what we have to do, and still coming up with every reason not to do them.

I have to admit my mind wandered for just the briefest of moments. I thought to a friend of mine who has made some ah-mayyyyyyy-zing strides this year in therapy and self-care, and I could almost hear her saying something along the lines of, "Excuses are for the times we just don't want to dig any deeper." If she were to say that, she would have a good point.

There are differences between explanations and excuses. Explanations are legitimate reasons for being unable to do something specific or at a specific time or place. Excuses are reasons to avoid doing it at all. For example, Linda said that people say, "I can't do yoga because I have a bad knee" to which she replied, "We can modify things -- the knee is only 3% of your body!" So at that point, when the issue is solved, has "unable" become "unwilling" or perhaps simply "not ready"? What do you do then?

Lately, my explanations have devolved into excuses. I've got to get myself back on track (again) post-haste, starting tomorrow. My morning workouts are not possible right now, not while I'm still adjusting to the meds, or while they are still leaving me rather lethargic in the mornings. So I have no alternative -- I have to workout in the evenings after work (no excuses!!) ... or if I cannot do evenings, I will have to find some alternative PERIOD. Workouts at home. Or force myself to leave sooner, be extra vigilant, etc. (which I really don't like because it puts other people at risk, not just myself).

For yoga? My easy excuse is "I have no place at home to really make into a sacred space." My answer is: create one. Just plain create one. Sit and plan and think and make it happen. Plan shorter routines for mornings so I can do cardio in the afternoons. Plan longer routines for days I can't do cardio or the gym at all.

So my momentary flash of insight is to delve a little deeper. Plan a little better. Find answers and modifications instead of excuses and cop-outs.

And just get going.

Comments

Cindy Hornsby said…
Excuses are for when you're not making yourself a priority. Your self-care is *the* most important thing every day and if you're not doing what you know you need to do, you are putting YOU on the back burner. Not loving you. Not caring for you. You are worth the time. You are worthy of planning.
3:13 AM
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