If I was to tell my high school self...

Wednesday Feb. 22

Do you ever have those days where you completely surprise yourself? Today I didn’t necessarily surprise who I am today, but I sure would have surprised who I was in middle school and high school — I think I even freaked my mother out.

Today was a normal day at work (minus the fasting for Lent) followed by my usual trip to the gym. I typically do 60 minutes on the elliptical (in the personal trainer mode) followed by weightlifting.

Today was a legs day. Today was also a day where I had only 20 chapters left in my book (a friend and I are doing our own version of a book club — mainly just reading at the same time and competing to see who can get done first. He won earlier in the day, so I wanted to finish so I could start on the next book on our to-read list) so I was determined to finish it.

E-books are great because you can increase the size of the font so it’s easy to read while sprinting on the elliptical.

I hopped on the machine, increased my font size, started my techno pandora station and took off. Sixty minutes flew by. So fast that I didn’t realize my time was up until the machine turned off on me. I had roughly eight chapters to go. I wasn’t going to leave the gym without finishing the book.

I went and did my weightlifting regimen and then went back, yes back, onto a different type of elliptical. I told myself I’d stay on it until I finished my book and then do a five minute cool down. Forty-five minutes later I was hopping off the elliptical and heading to the locker room. I finished my book (I recommend it) and I was on my way home to break my fast because honestly I was about to fall over.

But why would this day surprise my young self?

Let’s break it down. First, I didn’t read for pleasure. Ever. I barely read for school. I became a good skimmer. My young self would have been shocked that this is the third book I had finished in the month of February… for fun… and I was thrilled to be starting a fourth.

Second, my young self would have been surprised that I went to the gym, again. Not because I didn’t like exercising… I did…  but I exercised at sports practice. Not for fun at a gym. It definetly wasn’t something I had to do or I felt off. Now that’s the case.

Thirdly, my young self would have been shocked to find out that I worked out longer to finish this book… That I “ran” six more miles than normal so I could see what happened… That I was so engulfed in the story that I had no concept of time.

I think my young self would be impressed with my new love of working out and reading… she’d be shocked, but impressed. All I can say is, going to the gym and reading is probably the best way to relax, clear my head and just feel happy about life… Like this:

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