Happy Dolphins
My motto about exercise has been, for the last 6 years: "You never regret it." It feels more important than ever to get those endorphins or as we call 'em, Happy Dolphins. I know, I know, you probably don't like to shift gears, leave the house, and get all sweaty any more than I do. Or think I do. But it makes just a cosmic difference in my body chemistry and general outlook. For the past week or so I've been too busy (?!) to get in a run. Result: weepy, sleepy, blue. Today I dragged my sorry butt out the door, started slowly, and finished a four mile run (quite a bit later) feeling mah-velous. You never regret it. Sure I thought a lot about Andy on the way. And about Byron, the one left behind. But the positive glow of the exercise and the general UP of the whole thing reminded me of how much we have to live for.
On a more complicated note, my brother's in-laws committed suicide together on Sunday. If you live in Milwaukee you may have seen this on the news. They wanted to go together and were facing their elderly years, and felt that they had to do it before they no longer had a choice.
I can tell you that it has given me a lot to think about. Death itself is not the frightening dark void. I know they're 'ok'. But I do feel for my SIL who suddenly has no parents. And while I honor the right to choose I feel that it represents just one point on the wide spectrum of human experiences. From those who fight to live one more day to those who end their lives. From those who cannot conceive to those who abort. From those who lose a child to those who abuse a child. None of it is fair or makes sense. I don't look for logic or divine sense.
I do feel sure that no one who loses a child (or loved one) or who faces heartbreak of any kind on that major scale (one's own illness or loss included) deserves it. There is no meaning. I don't say this in a blackhearted sense, just acceptance of chaos. The universe is chaotic to me. The parts we can control are tiny. This is why it is SO important to be kind to each other. It's all we've got. Love and kindness, along the way. We can give life such purpose.
Extra thank you's to all of you tonight, for opening your hearts to me and to each other. Yup, that's what I'm talkin' bout. : } <3
On a more complicated note, my brother's in-laws committed suicide together on Sunday. If you live in Milwaukee you may have seen this on the news. They wanted to go together and were facing their elderly years, and felt that they had to do it before they no longer had a choice.
I can tell you that it has given me a lot to think about. Death itself is not the frightening dark void. I know they're 'ok'. But I do feel for my SIL who suddenly has no parents. And while I honor the right to choose I feel that it represents just one point on the wide spectrum of human experiences. From those who fight to live one more day to those who end their lives. From those who cannot conceive to those who abort. From those who lose a child to those who abuse a child. None of it is fair or makes sense. I don't look for logic or divine sense.
I do feel sure that no one who loses a child (or loved one) or who faces heartbreak of any kind on that major scale (one's own illness or loss included) deserves it. There is no meaning. I don't say this in a blackhearted sense, just acceptance of chaos. The universe is chaotic to me. The parts we can control are tiny. This is why it is SO important to be kind to each other. It's all we've got. Love and kindness, along the way. We can give life such purpose.
Extra thank you's to all of you tonight, for opening your hearts to me and to each other. Yup, that's what I'm talkin' bout. : } <3
Replies
Man ~ you blow me away with your upbeat attitude after just two months! Those \"happy dolphins\" are wonderful!
I had been going to Curves for over six years, three or four times a week. Unfortunately that was in Seattle and we moved to Nevada 12 days after we lost Corrie (move had been in the works for months). After a year I still haven\'t found the motivation to find a new Curves or join another gym. Curves was perfect for me because it is filled with women like me ~ not hot young babes looking for dates. Plus it\'s a no-brainer ~ you just do each machine twice, stretch, and voila! A great community of women too. But there aren\'t many Curves in the Vegas area and it just seemed too overwhelming to think about.
I do walk our dogs each day for three or four miles so I guess that counts but I miss the machines that target each specific muscle group. My arms are back to flab ~ I was so excited when I first discovered that I had muscles there!
I am so sorry for to hear about your son\'s inlaws. I guess it was a good thing for them but their daughter must be shattered. I read a book early on called \"When Bad Things Happen to Good People\" written by a Jewish rabbi. His premise is essentially what you say ~ that life is random and bad things happen all the time to thousands (millions) of people all over the world. I guess it\'s inevitable that once in awhile it will smack us in the face. He goes on to say that, while our losses are tragic and incomprehensible, what is even more important is how we pick up the pieces of our broken hearts and lives afterwards.
Anyway ~ big kudos to you for your positive attitude and determination to get on with it (whatever \"it\" is) so early in the game. And now I will try even harder each moment of each day to touch all with whom I come into contact.
Sending love and a peaceful evening and night to you ~ Debbie
Oh Curves is great... I have friends who love it. And doing weights (resistance) means you get the benefits for like 24 hours afterwards. I need to do more of that.
I know the book you mean: \"When Bad THings Happen to Good People\" by Rabbi Harold Kushner (sp.) There\'s another great book called \"To Begin Again\" about healing after loss. The author, Rabbi Naomi Levy, says that we have one of these five things available to us at any time: touch, tears, silence, listening, and community. I have added the word \'beauty\' to my list. I\'ll write more about this tomorrow. Gotta get some zz\'s. Sleepy blessings on everyone. xox Sarah
Sarah thank you for joining us...I can see that you will be a blessing here. We all need hope and encouragement from time to time so we do appreciate this inspirational journal. And, please know that you can come here and dump as well...love and hugs...Karen