Yes or No
I’m reading this book called “Mile Markers,” by Lance Armstrong’s ex-wife, Kristin Armstrong. She is a runner who has a blog on the Runner’s World website and who has written several books about life through the eyes of a runner. This particular book is about the “26.2 reasons that women run.” Sarah gave it to me to read. I was a little skeptical at first because while I am continuing to run five to six days out of the week, I still wouldn’t call myself a runner and so I felt a little bit like an outsider reading a “runner’s” book. But, as Sarah promised, it isn’t a runner’s book at all. It is more about women and friendship and life, and, I have to say, it is so uplifting to read. Not only does it make me proud of all the running I’ve been doing, but, more importantly, it makes me more aware of the kind of person I want to be.
Actually, running in general has done this for me. In the past few months that I have been getting up early and running, I’ve seen real differences in my life in areas other than my health and waistline. The biggest change I have seen in myself is that I am simplifying my choices. It started as a simple question I’d ask myself at 5:00am when I found myself wide awake in my bed, trying to decide if I was going to get up and go run. I am the Queen of Excuses. I’m pretty sure I’ve held that title since I was little. I can come up with an excuse for anything. But at 5:00am, it’s hard to come up with creative excuses. It really just boiled down to one statement: I could go running, or not. It was as simple as that. I could choose to get up or not. There was no excuse, no reason, no explanation that mattered. I could do it or not.
And so, I’d sigh and grumbled, “Fine!” to myself and I’d get up out of bed and go for a run. Which I never regretted.
Gradually, I stared applying that simple choice to all kinds of things. When presented with cupcakes in the teachers lounge, it became, “I can eat that cupcake or not.” And I walked away without those empty calories.
After flopping into bed one night without taking off my make up and washing my face, it became, “I can wash my face or not.” And I’d get up, wash my face, and sleep better.
When faced with sending a scary email that I had been avoiding for a couple days, it became, “I can send that email or not.” And I cranked out that email in three minutes and it was over.
When I got home from work and school and the kids were crying and I could either put on a movie to entertain them or I could get us all up and moving, it became, “I can either go for a walk or not.” And I loaded the kids up in the wagon and we got out for a while, all feeling better for doing something active rather than sitting on the couch.
When deciding if I was going to go to a meeting after work one day on the other side of town even though I didn’t feel too good, it became, “I can either go or not.” And I went and felt really great for being involved.
When extended an invitation to something that I might normally have not attended, it became, “I can either go or not.” And I ended up going and having a really great time.
When thinking about my Grandma one night this week in the middle of the mad dinner dash at my house, it became, “I can either call her or not.” And I called her, had a sweet conversation, and realized no one was going to die if dinner was a few minutes late.
When standing on one side of a hanging bridge or next to a tiny airplane in Costa Rica, it became, “I can either do this or not.” And I walked across that bridge or up into that airplane and (though I thought I was going to die both times…) I never looked back.
When I felt myself getting really mad at Chris over something this week, it became, “I can pick a fight about that or not.” And I decided to call my sister instead, blow off some steam, and Chris and I ended up having a civil conversation about it later instead of a fight right then.
I know that not all things in life are black and white, yes or no. But after a month or so of boiling things down to a yes or no decision, I haven’t found too many things that can’t be applied to my decision-making statement. I use it to make 95% of the decisions I make these days, and I find that not only am I making better choices, but I am doing a lot more things than I normally would do. I’m more active and more proactive. I complain less and feel guilty less because I know that I’ve made every decision deliberately and intentionally. I am more content and satisfied, even on days when things are crazy busy and hectic. It certainly doesn’t eliminate all my problems or stresses, but it does make me feel more in control of the things I do have a choice in.
I’m finding that life without excuses feels a lot better than a life built on excuses.
22 Comments
Sarah H.
Good post 🙂
Jennifer@browneyedandblessed
I needed this. I make so many excuses for things like not going to the gym. But the truth of the matter is, no matter how long I go for, it’s better than just sitting on my couch eating junk.
Stephanie @ Our Marriage Adventure
I wish I was better at making yes and no choices especially when it came to fights with my husband.
Christy
Good advice! I overthink things a lot. Sometimes I wish I could just disengage my brain (like a man..j/k sort of). How did you get to this point? Was it your New Year’s resolutions? I’m going to have to read that book!
Nigeria (yes my real name)
I really needed this.. I have been making excuse after excuse about starting the C25K program.. I am starting tomorrow because of this post. All the while I will be thinking of you like you were thinking of Sarah the first time she made you run a marathon. Haha!
Just kidding..
September
I’ve been there, Katie! I started running after my second baby and at first it was to get back in shape–I loved that it was only ME being accountable to ME. At a period when there was so much chaos and all sorts of things I couldn’t control, that was something I could control and conquer. Keep at it, it only gets better from here! Six years, 3 15K’s, 5 half marathons and four marathons later I couldn’t imagine running not being a part of my life.
Bronwen@Bronwenreads
Go Katie! I agree with you 100% (not about the running part – I get my exercise elsewhere since running makes me want to die, but about the choices part!) I will practice this week asking myself “Yes, or No?”
Kat
OOO i need to take a page out of YOUR book on this one. I’m still really good at coming up with excuses, even at 530 in the morning. This sounds really simple….and great!
Jen @ Ginger Guide
I’m not a runner but I’ve started doing a similar approach to other cardio 5 days a week. As much as I hate doing it, I feel so much better afterwards and the next day. What a great philosophy to life. So simple and yet so effective. I can see it working for most things except fighting with my husband. That might take some more work….
Rebecca @ The Reluctant Housewife
LOVE this post! such great advice
Abbie
Wow, such a wonderful post.
Lindsay (Young Married Mom)
So great. I had a similar revelation after Lent was over, when I didn’t “have to” keep doing things like watch less TV, eat fewer sweets, and pray at regular times every day. Why limit those uplifting things to forty days out of the year? Keep it up, lady! And thanks for sharing 🙂 This is good for a Monday, especially.
Julia @ Julia's Math
Didn’t Yoda say something similar? Great advice and wonderful to spread such positive thoughts and experiences with exercise!
Sharlee@believinginsomething
Loved this post! Seriously, made me think about starting this conversation with myself. I’m such a recluse/good excuse maker that I rarely do things that I don’t really want to do and then I feel bad about it. I love the yes/no and just go! Thanks for posting this. Just the motivation I need!
Grandma
Thanks for the telephone call. It really cheered me up. I love your attitude. I call it “taking a minute to smell the roses.” You are a great wife, mom, daughter, granddaughter, blogger and everythign else rolled into one. I am a lucky grandmother@
Lindsey
GREAT post. I just ate all the chocolate out of my daughters Easter candy. Wish I would have read this 5 minutes ago. 🙂 I’m going to use your advice and see where it takes me!
Nancy
You are inspiring me to get out and run more. I’ve been running sporadically but when I have the epic 5am battle, my bed usually wins! How far/how long do you run every morning?
Nancy
Also, I just want to add that I have been reading Runners’ World even though I am not really a “runner” yet, because I find it inspirational and I like the sections for newbie runners.
LittleTownBigCity
Love this! You are an inspiration! Keep it up. 🙂
Angie
I needed this today! I have been struggling to get up for my morning workout this week…and I know I am making it too complicated! I can get up & make a change, or I cannot 🙂
Barbara Manatee
I love this post! I just started reading Skinny Runners blog – she’s great! I’m up to 5 miles right now and my goal is a HUGE 10 mile race in my city in August. Then…I figure if I survive that,a 1/2 marathon could follow?!?! Who would have ever thought I’d be a runner!! Surely not me but I’m loving it!
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