Me....and My Shadow

Today is Day 2 of my Jillian Michaels weight loss plan.  Yesterday, I did some circuit training in my living room.  The little bit I did kicked my butt.  I realized AFTER I gave up after the 2nd circuit (there were 5 to do) that I was doing it all wrong anyway.  I wasn't supposed to stop and rest in between.  That's okay though.  I felt bad that I didn't push through...but that was yesterday...and what's-done-is-done.  

Today was different.  Today, I couldn't use my living room to do the prescribed workout.  But, rather than sit and do nothing (which, trust me, I was tempted to do), I nixed all excuses, put on my shoes and headed out the door to take a walk.  I didn't set a low goal like I had before (of 10 minutes) because I had already shown myself that I could do 45 minutes.  So, I left the house determined to walk an hour this time.  

Not long into the walk - around the corner from my house actually - I became aware of how tired my back was already feeling and then started noticing that my feet were tired.  I have to admit, I thought about turning around.  But, then I remembered the 1st walk (the 45 min walk) and how I had felt the same exact impulse to quit at about the same spot near the house.  So I decided right then that the best strategy would be to walk as far away from my house as I could in 30 minutes so that I would have no choice but to  walk the same distance back.  So, I headed away toward the south.  After about 15 minutes I started thinking "What if I can't make it back?", "What if I bit off more than I could chew?", "Maybe I should turn around."  And, once again, I contemplated walking back in the direction from which I'd come.

To my benefit, I submitted to my commitment and kept walking south.  I got to a neighborhood and zig-zagged up and down their streets, singing along with my radio, and keeping pace with the classic rock-n-roll beat.  About 25 minutes into it, I realized I was really starting to sweat...and it felt great in the night air.  I liked it.  It gave me a rush!  It was confirmation that I was doing something that was going to be key to helping me melt these pounds away!  From that moment on, I had no more doubts about whether or not I was capable of taking such a long walk when I was so out of shape.

I walked for 35 minutes and then began my trek home.  I re-walked the maze of neighborhood streets 'til I could see a straight path home.  The problem with the path was....it was UP a LONG hill.  I looked at it from the bottom and (for a split second) started questioning my previous zealousness.  I stood at the corner for about 20 seconds and then just started north, one foot in front of the other.  

I got about 1/2 way up (about 2 blocks) and then noticed something really cool!  There was a huge light behind me which cast TWO shadows before me.  One was a thick shadow of myself loitering near my every footstep, timid and lacking confidence, and exhibiting the weight it had collected over the years of inactivity.  The other stretched long and lean before me, bold and confident, racing to the top of the hill and calling me forward.  It was a beautiful thing.  I looked down to the shadow at my right, bid it farewell, and raced to meet up with my new companion.

When I reached the top of the hill, I stood for a moment and  proudly looked back over the four blocks of incline.  I smiled for a moment then turned to greet my encouraging shadow.  I looked around, but it had vanished into the summer nights' air.  I looked down to my right and there was my thicker shadow right by my side.  It seems that it too had gained the confidence to keep the pace and climb the hill with boldness and enthusiasm!  We'd made it....me and my Shadow...and we walked the last 15 minutes home together beaming with pride and gratitude for what each of us had proved to the other.

To changes...............