Week Off - Not by Choice but loving IT!

My how priorities change. It only took 12years of resisting; fighting the flow of the whole, determined to complete the wishes of the individual. AKA - "I need do some cardio, I have to get in a big hike, I, I, I......I'll see you guys when I'M DONE."
Explanation, not only does it just feel good, hanging w/ the family, doing what's easiest for us all to do; but it's EASIER. No stress, fretting about the things I'M NOT GETTING TO DO, no fighting to fit it all in.
Now this doesn't mean it's not a struggle to get in the workouts, especially w/ one car & 2kids w/ different schedules. But it does mean, I make my schedule flexible. I refuse to get stressed out at the small stuff and to me working out is small. Important? Yes, but small. Because, when I'm stressed, I stress out my wife and kids. I used to tantrum about, pushing my schedule above all else and let everyone else accommodate me. So really, it only took about 10years, the last 2 I've been consciously making the effort to be more involved and be more accommodating. Man, my stress levels have come down so much. When the days allow me 2 or 3 workouts, I take em', if I was planning on 2 workouts but my job won't let me get away or Bree needs help w/ the kids, then so be it. I'll try to catch up tomorrow or the next day.

All that was in preface to last week's Spring Break trip to Bree's grandmother's house in rural Missouri. Ahhh, a week off from the 9 to 5, way out in the country, down at 1,400 feet elevation. I should be able to run and bike for miles and miles w/ out much need to plan around other things. Sounded good but as a many have said, LIFE HAPPENS. Needless to say, it wasn't what I imagined, w/ the schedule, the weather, the available places for safe running/biking. And you know what? I didn't care one bit. It would've been great to get in 2-a-days, running and biking up a ton of miles. Yeah, that's what I would've liked. But the things I did do, just as great. Time spent w/ family, sleeping late, staying up late playing chess and Uno w/the kids, listening to grandma tell stories. Very cool and very low stress.
So, I've lost a little conditioning and crashed my diet pretty good for a week. I'm pretty sure I'll live. I wasn't planning on a podium finish in any races this year.

That attitude is in stark contrast to the person I've been most of my life. I think it's only natural to be selfish when you're single and w/ out kids; I mean you're only taking care of and planning for yourself. I don't think 'selfish' is really an appropriate term for that. You can't be faulted for only doing the things you want to do when there's no one else at home, vying for a place in your schedule; needing help unexpectedly or wanting you to join them in they're daily activities; when you're the only one who benefits from doing what you want and/or suffers from not doing it. It took me so long to realize that being a husband and a father meant if I only did the things I wanted to then others suffered even if I benefited. And if I suffered from not doing MY things, it was of no benefit to whine about it and make others suffer with me. Being a team player, part of the family, and going for my individual goals are not mutually exclusive. I have to communicate a lot, plan out and schedule a lot more; and it helps everyone if I'm flexible with it. Because then I'm doing what I want alongside helping my teammates/ family memebers do what they want; and no one's bitter or feeling neglected and unheard.

Alright, whatever, I'm finding balance at 35 after more than 12 years of marriage and fatherhood. I do not deserve a scooby snack. A lot of people kind of figure that out before they say "I do" and plan for the responsibility of parenting and it's time demands. Yeah, I'm late to the game. Luckily my team waited for me to catch up heh?

In a nutshell, I'm pretty damn happy. Life could be better, yes. But it could be oh so much worse.

So Brett, is this Zen?