The run that wasn't.

Something happened this morning.

I gracefully hastened up the stairs because I was in a rush, and got puffed out.

When did I become so respiratorily challenged?

A confession: I haven't been for a proper run in over three weeks. That might have something to do with it.

If you complained to me, "oh my goodness, this morning I got puffed running up the stairs!" I would probably tell you to calm your farm. After all, it's not the end of the world. 

If you're not as fit as Jillian Michaels, that's totally ok! Normal, even. And I bet you're doing lots of other awesome things with your time.

As for me? I just can't deal with not being good at running. It's so hard to let go of something that has been a huge huge huge part of me for so long. I'm working at it, but MAN is it hard.

And now that I am "out of shape", I figure I've got two options.

1. Get really physically fit again.

2. Function without running a lot.

For the record, my mind is screaming at me to go with option 1. 

However, I've learned a thing or two these past few months. Deriving a sense of self from a single activity that could be ripped out from under me in an instant isn't smart. At all.

I've got to start focusing on being a 'whole' person. Doing what I love. FYI, I might need to figure out exactly what that is first!

Next time I catch myself hating on my lack of physical fitness, imma do something I really love, like playing with our new kittens or watching Mean Girls. Distractions are like, SO fetch!

Are you too hot?

I heard a strange thing on the radio two days ago.

An Australian woman is having trouble landing a job because she is - no joke - "too hot".

How did this happen?

In our world, appearance matters more than it should. True. But since when was being too attractive a legitimate complaint?

"Sorry, I'm too hot for employment."

????

#hotpeopleproblems.

Helping others by helping yourself.

These past couple of days I've tried to play Ms. Fix-It with other people's lives.

Two amazing friends of mine are going through a really tough time at the moment and I wanted to help.

Unfortunately what has happened is that I am now feeling depressed and cannot help them much.

I hate that, because even though I feel down, I still want to help!

Talking to my wonderful Auntie about this has made me realise something important.

We help others by helping ourselves first.

It is virtually impossible to bear the weight of someone else's situation when you have not yet processed your own.

When I'm well again mentally, I'll be able to help my friends so much more than I can right now.

And another thing. You can't make other people better. You can't move someone from mental illness land to mental wellness territory overnight with your words alone, just like you can't magically mend someone else's broken leg. It just doesn't work that way.

Dear Facebook.

To my dearest social media outlet,

Despite what you might think, I'm never going to want a six-figure personal training business.

Nor do I want to "get ripped".

Another thing I don't understand is your obsession with inviting me to participate in twelve-week body transformations, bikini body challenges, and the like.

Whilst I appreciate that you need to advertise things to me because that is how you stay free to use, I am concerned about your assumptions of my interests. 

Contrary to previous versions of Sarah, I am not particularly keen on being a slave to fitness anymore. It does not define me, and I wish you would get up to speed with this development. Keep up! Isn't that what Facebook is good for after all?

Yours in health,

Sarah.

Sharing the love.

Everyone likes to feel loved.

I certainly do.

These past few days I have felt incredibly loved, because SO many awesome people have contacted me through this blog. Their emails have been filled with stories of running, not running, too much running, and other running-related randomness, but in each case it would seem like my blog has helped them.

 Possibly even almost as much as my little brother has helped me!

(Note: little brother is now bigger than I am.)

I'm so glad that what I'm writing is doing good.

I hope that it will continue to do so.

I would also like to send some big love to Skinny Runner because her support for what I'm doing has been awesome, and without it I wouldn't have been able to reach as many people as I have.

If you'll keep reading, I'll keep writing. Deal?