My typical weekend, grown up version (not “x” rated version, geez!) is so different from when I was in my early 20s. You know, back when I “thought” I was a grown up.
No offense to those who may possibly read this and are in that age group, I loved my early 20s. Back then, I could survive on a couple of hours of sleep, never “needed” to exercise, could drink however much I wanted and recuperate on the couch the entire next day only to sometimes decide to repeat all over again (yes, this is true. I’m not proud. But honest), eat whatever I wanted and maintain roughly the same weight, never even thought about retirement (Ok, I still don’t really think about that yet, probably I should….) and I didn’t have the 2 most wonderful additions in my life who depend on me to actually “be” a grown up instead of just “thinking” I am one.
We lived a very carefree life going to concerts on “school nights”, grocery shopped when there was nothing left in the refrigerator but perhaps a jar of hot sauce and some stale bread and more likely when there was no more beer left in the house (Oh the crisis!), ate whatever was easy rather than what was considerably healthy, and didn’t really think much about it. Simple. But thinking back, I didn’t really “feel” healthy during those years. I think how silly that sounds when logically one in his/her 20s typically is in good health and should feel well.
It wasn’t until I had my children, when I really started seeing myself as a grown up and knowing that I needed to be as healthy as I could for them, for me.
When did that happen?
Somewhere along the way when I forgot for a moment that I was indeed a mom of 2 young children, and decided to go out and have too many drinks (or as our family refers to it “tee many mar-toonies”….doesn’t sound as funny when I write it down…sigh….) and then had to take care of my VERY young children the next day. Nothing can slap you into reality quite like this scenario. No sleeping on the couch until God-knows when. No endless channel surfing of sappy Lifetime movies. No stumbling to the neighborhood diner to eat some greasy omelet with my then standard diet coke or more preferably diet dr. pepper. And for sure no repeat performances.
Thank goodness they came along. For me….I make no judgement when I write that because certainly others function quite well and are quite happy with that pattern in their lives, but for me, my 20something year old self even knew there was a different path for me…..
So flash forward, a FEW years later…….goes something like this….
Friday….in bed by 10pm so I can get up the next day for running with friends.
Saturday….
- up by 7 to make smoothie and get ready to meet friends for group run.
- Meet friends by 8:30 to run 5 miles through a hilly part of town. Midway in the run, I find out that we are running closer to 7 miles. Surprise!
- Quick shower and go to yoga at 11:15 with one of my running friends.
- Yoga. Bliss.
- Shower #2.
- Grocery shopping. More fruits and vegetables than anything. I love that!
- Mass. (church to those non-catholics out there)
- Dinner with Mother in law and family. One glass of delicious red wine.
- Watching the Olympics.
- Bed by 10:30.
Sunday…..
- Up by 7. Make smoothie. Make juices for day.
- Yoga at 8:30. Fabulous.
- Running with the wonderdog Layla after.
- Shower.
- Afternoon of watching home improvement shows, writing in my blog, planning out my week, and planning for our trip to Europe to run the Berlin Marathon.
- Baked cookies. New recipe.
- Quiet evening….until my boys asked to have friends stay the night and turn our house into a video game romper room haven. Sigh…..
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
In my 20s….I didn’t have the energy to desire or energy or understanding of the importance of exercise in my life. I wouldn’t have ever thought that I could run a marathon let alone be preparing for my 5th. In my 20s….I never would have thought I’d have the discipline to do a juice fast or even know what one was….now I’ve done several. In my 20s….I never would have thought a great day started with yoga and running…..now I’m bummed out if I can’t fit it in with my schedule with work and mom duty. In my 20s….the thought of staying in meant I was either sick or broke (or both)…now it means I am hanging with my family watching Transformers for the zillionth time, and content in doing so. This may or may not include having a beer or wine, instead of 20. In my 20s….I spend way more time trying to be the person I thought others wanted me to be….rather than being the person I want to be. Period. When my mostly grown up self thinks about it now….I really want to get to the point of not caring what others think of me, not in a place of irreverence, but of living with integrity and grace and knowing my decisions are the best for me. Period.
“Keeping up the appearance of having all your marbles is hard work, but important.” Sara Gruen, Water for Elephants.
Interesting quote…but do any of us really have all our marbles? Aren’t the oddities that make all of us unique really ok?
In the end, I don’t want to think of being a grown up as being boring. My choices to live healthier more days than not, don’t mean that I pass on the extra cocktail all the time, to me it just means that I’ve for the first time in my life have balance.
“Happiness is not a matter of intensity but of balance, order, rhythm, and harmony.” Thomas Merton
EXACTLY!
Peace…..
peaceinthejourney 