Clearing The Head

Today I went for a bit of a skate ski. My friends at the Stillwater Mountain Lodge & Nordic Center held their 2nd annual Broken Binding ski race; www.stillwatermtnlodge.com. There was a 48k category and I have wanted to ski that distance for several years. Early this winter I decided that their race would be the perfect opportunity. Sounds easy huh?

I have gone on long athletic outings in my past. I have run a couple marathons and1/2 marathons; I have run from Logan Pass to Waterton Park through Glacier National Park, etc. With those experiences, I have realized that when I sign up for organized events my head tends to get in the way of my fun. As today approached, I came up with a laundry list of why I was not going to participate in the race.
*I am in the “rotation” phase of my Genesis Transformation process www.genesistransformation.com and didn’t want to interrupt my cycle
*I have been feeling pretty great mentally, know my history and did not want to get lost in my head
*The race started at 10 and I did not want to spend an entire Sunday afternoon skiing
*I did not want to feel horrible at the end of it all…(these are just the a few of my reasons)

After going back and forth for days, I realized that alone was creating chaos in my head, exactly what I was trying to avoid. I signed up and decided I would stop skiing whenever I was ready, even if it was less than 48k, I would not get caught up in the competition and I would make sure I felt good the entire time.

The first of three out and back laps I spent in my head, analyzing how my body felt, wondering what it would feel like the next lap, if I could catch the person ahead of me, and so on. The 2nd lap I was able to relax and it was a beautiful day. I was in back of the pack and I didn’t really care, there are a lot of benefits to the back of the pack.
*It is quiet. I had a lot of time, the better part of 3 hours, to contemplate the day, my life, my goals, blog posts, etc.
*No one was breathing down my back or vice versa. The pressure to compete was only as big as I wanted it to be. I chose today to eliminate the pressure.
*When I had to pee, I didn’t have to worry about showing off my bum to the other skiers.
*No one had to listen to me talking to myself and making up songs.
*Meditation…see above…
The 3rd lap, well I was ready to take a break, but by then it did not matter. Once I finished the first two laps, the 3rd was just a formality, deep down I always know that my body can carry me long distances.

Tonight I have a few tight muscles but I skied 48 kilometers, something that has been in my head for several years! The sun was shining the entire time. I had a great opportunity to contemplate the amazing life that I live. I did not let my head talk me out of a really fantastic opportunity. There is a part of me that wishes I had pushed myself harder but more than that, I am so glad that I didn’t let all my “reasonable” excuses take charge. I spent a beautiful day outside, I got to use the body that I was given, I was witness to some amazing athletes and I had fun!

Thanks Stillwater, The Broken Binding was a great start to the week! You all put on a fantastic event!

A Great Quote...

"One of the best actions we can take, with courage, is to relax."
-Unknown

There is always something that can be done, a dish to wash, a sock to put away, a phone call to make. Most of the things in our lives that keep us from really relaxing will still be there and probably won't suffer if they are put off for a bit.

What are the things that allow you to quiet your mind and relax. For me it is fresh air, a yoga class, taking a nap on a Sunday with ear plugs (thanks for the tip Jason) and laying down on the floor when my girls are both asleep and listening to them breathe, to name a few. When I allow myself to relax, for real, I find that I am a better parent and wife, I smile more and I feel better about myself.

I have come to learn that it is impossible to effectively take care of those around me if I have not first taken care of myself. Sounds selfish perhaps but ultimately I am the only one responsible for my happiness and it is easier to be happy with a relaxed mind. Don't get me wrong, my mind is certainly not always relaxed, I was in tears after not being able to hook up to the internet for 2 days last week, it is an ongoing work in progress.

As a gift to yourself, look at your list and pick one! Allow yourself to relax! It is truly an act of courage.