Today I rocked out on life saving activities.

Today I rocked out on life saving activities. Yes!  First, this morning I talked myself out of feeling guilty for waking up late.  I had a lot planned for the morning.  I needed to make it to the bank and then to western union to send some money home before going to the gym.  Usually I can’t do more than roll out of bed, say some prayers, whip up some oatmeal and go.   But this morning there was even the hope of writing a letter of appeal to my insurance company and taking it to the post office. All this needing to happen before 12pm.  Unfortunately though, and as usual, I didn’t account for the fact that I was f’in tired.  I mean…after an extremely painful week at work, almost getting fired then getting transferred to a new assignment mid-day on Thursday and still having to wrap up my current assignment for the week…I think I deserved a couple extra hours of Saturday morning sleep, and some chocolate…but that comes later.

So… I got up at 9:15am instead of 8am.  I puttered around more than planned and then I said “so what!” and went out the door with my protein shake and a smile. Awesome!

Next, well…actually as I was puttering around the house I was also considering not going to the gym on account of how f’in tired I was. But somewhere during my morning meditation I got a bright idea to put all new workout music into my ipod.  This, believe it or not, did the trick.  At the gym I was bouncing around to my new tunes, which also inspired me to try out some new moves.

Have you ever tried the Bulgarian split squat with hand weights? 12lbs in each hand?  My butt is on fire! It thwarted the rest of my entire work out because I felt like a new born with wobbly legs. Of course I toughed it out and made it through.  Actually my butt is still burning but it was worth it.  I think I’m going to stick to it for the next month or so. No more booty dimples.  LSA baby! (See the picture above.  Her butt is on fire!)

The other thing I tried out, which I’m sure didn’t help with the wobbly legs, was a dead lift with straight legs, 25lb hand weights in each hand.  What? Are you crazy!?  Yes. I’m all about having a super strong back and core. It’s a keeper. Although…that’s the sort of thing you don’t feel until the morning after.  I’m kinda scared!

So after all the grunting, gasping, and projectile sweating was over, I made it out of the gym with out even getting hollered. (Well there was this really cute guy in an orange shirt, and beautiful skin, but he was very polite and just said hi, how are you. And of course I ran away and also tripped while I was at it.) 

Then, as I finally got back home, greeted by Akua, who is doing much better by the way, a bit of anxiety started to set in.  You know…it’s Saturday. I’m all alone.  It’s a beautiful day, I should try to find something to do outside, but what? With whom?  I should sing and practice but what if my voice doesn’t sound good? And it’s too dark in here I want to be outside.  I’m hungry I have to make some food.  All that kind of crap.

Well, I made some food and I realized that one of the reasons why I have resistance to practicing on Saturday afternoons is because my bedroom is really dark.  I mean, it gets no sunlight.  And when I’m in a cubicle all day during the week with no windows, the last thing I want to do is spend my Saturday in a dark room by myself!

Artistry does beg for a sort of solitude, but I am wanting now for that solitude to not be a dark place.   --A. Miracle

I cannot believe I didn’t think of this before, but today I pulled all of my instruments into the front room, which gets sunlight from two directions and faces the garden.  I set up my keyboard on a table and my guitar to the side and a note pad.  I did my scales and sang my heart out while watching butterflies and humming birds dance around outside and I didn’t feel like I was missing anything.  It was absolutely amazing and life saving.  This is how I will do it from now on.  The winter…well that’ll be another challenge. One at a time please.

And now, here I am, writing to you, eating dark chocolate covered almonds and feeling quite proud of myself for having not just survived, but having really lived today.