Wow, I can't believe it, it has been over two years since I
have made a post. Many times I had worked out a post in my head, but they never
got to the keyboard. Life has been very good for me these last two years, but I
have been a bit out of balance. I've been working on some very fascinating
research at my job. The work has been so
fascinating that I have not paid enough attention to other aspects of my life. I've started to let old bad habits creep back
into my routines.
Before I made major changes in my life style in 2007 I had
some very poor habits. I didn't eat healthy and I didn't exercise much, so I
was gaining a lot of weight. My oldest brother and I had kind of drifted apart;
we were no longer doing crazy adventures we once did on at least an annual
basis. I wasn't putting much effort into enjoying life, I was just existing.
Then two things change my life around in 2007.
I got real serious with marathon training and about eating
healthy. I lost weight, over 30 pounds in a few months, and got into super
physical shape. With both physiological and psychological benefits, running revitalized
my passion for life. Then at the end of 2007, I was diagnosed with aggressive
cancer. But rather than pulling me back down, my battle with cancer pulled me
to a higher level of life exuberance than I have ever been before. I learned to
truly enjoy even the simplest things, every moment, every day. I learned to cherish simples times with my
wife, special times with my kids, and my oldest brother and I started doing
crazy adventures again. But as time
ticked by, it was easy for old bad habits to slowly creep back in.
Now I haven't let all those old habits creep back into my
lifestyle. I still cherish my time with my wife and children. My brother and I
are still doing many crazy adventures. I still let the beauty of this world
warm my soul on a daily basis. But my dedication to running has slipped away
and my eating habits are getting sloppy. I did run a half marathon last fall,
but this winter I have gone many weeks without any running. (The very hard cold
winter this year in Minnesota
was not helpful in a time of waning motivation.)
Over the last two years I have received a lot of satisfaction
from my work. Many discoveries were made and new gizmos were invented. But now is time to sway the balance the other
way. I miss feeling strong like a race horse. I miss the meditation effects of
running. I feel like a blob. Time to change.
P.S. I have been in complete remission for nearly 6 years.
