There’s lots of people in this world who spend so much time watching their health that they haven’t the time to enjoy it.  ~Josh Billings

Food Police.  Exercise Nazi.  Running Fanatic.  Triathlon Junkie.  On a daily basis, I encounter them.  On a bad day, I’m perceived as one; on a worse day, I am one.  During the last week they seem to be all around me.  Either that, or I’m just not in the mood for it.  “This” is the only way to run, “that” doctor is the only one to see, “the other” cup is the one from which you should drink. 

Although there is some truth to all of their words, at some point it can all lead to the same obsessive compulsive self-righteous Cool-Aid.  There are so many great ways to get on the road of health and not any single one of the paths is right for everyone.  We’ve all got to find the one that works for us; we all have to hope the path emerges before we get sick, tired, or sick and tired.

A friend chatted with me briefly on Facebook this morning.  She was off to her Miami gym, just as she has been at least five days a week for the last seven months.  Now, I spent a few years trying to get her to go to the gym, go outside and play, move around a little…without luck.  The proper motivation:  a hot trainer.  Or so she says.  I think she actually likes what she’s doing, too. 

A friend and I met at 7:00 this morning to run.  When we got out of our cars we decided it was too windy.  Or too cold.  Or both.  So we went for coffee instead.  Hey, the road will be there later.  I did get a “so you went and didn’t even run?” out of that.  Why yes, that’s correct.  The road, I promise, will be there early in the afternoon.

The quote above is from Josh Billings.  I had no idea who that was, so had to do a little research prior to posting his words.  Think Mark Twain without the notoriety.  I found several other things I liked from him, including the following:

I hate to be a kicker,

I always long for peace,

But the wheel that does the squeaking,

Is the one that gets the grease.

A “kicker” is a complainer.  Seems the reference to “the squeaky wheel” was around prior to Billings, but it became a little more mainstream after he wrote the above.  For those of you that have seen me professionally (as in training, massage, etc.), you know I use the squeaky wheel to explain what happens in the body.  Sore shoulder?  It gets all your attention.  I like to “hokey pokey” the thing that’s NOT working; make a new squeaky wheel.

I’m finally able to run again, yet my squeaky wheel glute and offended nerve are in charge of setting the time and pace.  This morning I felt pretty good, but sat on said glute whilst sipping coffee.  And am still sitting on it as I type away. 

And now that glute is a real kicker.  So off to find the road.  Which, with any luck, will still be just as enjoyable as it was going to be this morning.