In case you think you're reading yesterdays post please look again at the title. What may appear to be a subtle difference is indeed a significant one. But I'll come back to that later. First a little about my day, my workout today, and the Ironman in general.
To start I have noticed a strange difference in my early hours. Just a few short weeks ago, if I didn't have anyplace to be at any particular time I would invariably stay in bed until noon. While it would be easy to just brush this off as mere laziness, I know it's more than that. Something is different. While I still wake up a little down, I no longer just turn over and close my eyes. I actually think bizarre thougths like, maybe I'll get up and make some coffee. I'm not sure of the explanation. It's probably a combination of things, but do believe one of them is that I am now starting to get the natural benefits of physical activity, without the limiting effects of the antidepressant drugs. I know it's not the popular opinion among professionals or the public, but how does this stuff not qualify as an addictive substance? The way I see it, if anything makes you feel like crap when you initially stop using it, then it as addictive substance! After all, these same professionals also told me that I would never get hooked on the morphine stuff I was taking, "because cancer sufferers never get addicted". You might as well tell me that food is not an addiction!
Anyway, before I start sounding like an overzealous, just turned the corner know it all, I better move on.
It didnt seem like a very good riding day, even though I was anxious to get out there and do something. The temperature was below 10, and there was a strong wind close to 30k/hr. Regardless I got myself all dressed up in long pants, long shirt, jacket, gloves, 2 pairs of socks and headed to the garage. I dont know what stopped me, but suddenly it kind of hit me, "Peter what are you going to do when it gets cold??" It just occured to me that this the the very same question Dad used to ask us when we would ask for a hot water bottle to take to bed with us in november. So off came the long pants and the jacket and away I went. It was a bit chilly but I soon got reasonably comfortable. When I say comfortable, thats a relative term. As anyone who's ever done any serious biking knows, there is no greater challenger out there than the wind. It can just suck the life out of you to the point that even when you turn around to come home(you always ride out against the wind), there is nothing left in the tank. Anb so it was one of those days. I completed 42k's in about 1 and 1/2 hours for an average speed of 27.7 k/hr.
So here's the deal. One of the problems the realist has in his endeavours, is assessing what the brutal facts actually are. If I look strictly at my bike computer for the facts , I could conclude that I had a mediocre ride today. If however I add the facts of a great longer run yesterday, and the conditions during my ride today, I am then quite satisfied with my day. Though i still felt a bit slow, I was in control for the entire ride. Besides I can confirm my improved fitness and energy levels by the fact that I caught my self skipping down the aisle in the grocery store today(with a cart!). I used to do that in my chapter one days, just because I could. On those days where I dont feel like skipping I'm gonna follow this link and get me some mojo. Check it out here. Under event select 'Ironman Canada', in the search box type 'rooy' and then scroll down and hit 'get results'. Woo freakin hoo!!
Ok so finally back to my title. When I looked at the lyrics to the Slade song that both Miguette and Cory posted I was pretty sure there was somthing incorrect in both of them I could not confirm it though until son Adrian found the song on I-tunes and with his own 99 cents downloaded it for me. Sure enough, unlike the posted lyrics, the last line of the chorus reverses the 2 words "Can It?" Amazing how these 2 little words can mean something so different when you change them to "It can! And while I acknowledge that the lyrics of the song are not its' strong point, I am still intrigued by this. Think about it. "How can it be?" implies wonderment or awe at a situation or an event that transpires without our volition. "How it can be!" suggests a solution or a way to create a situation we want to arrive at, through our own volition.
In case you don't believe me check out this goofy guy playing along with it on a lousy youtube video. I warn you though, once you hear the chorus of this song you're gonna be searching the web for other Slade songs.
Heres a few ideas to make my point
How it can be! If I'm tired of battling the wind on my bike and I want to turn pain into pleasure, just turn around and ride the other way. If this seems to say "surrender" to you then ask yourself the question, "what's more important to me, the destination or the journey?" How it can be!
How it can be! If I want to do an Ironman but the task seems to be too much simply use your own fear of public failure by stating your plans to the world such that it will drive you to prepare and succeed. How it can be!
How it Can Be! If I am tired of being overweight once and for all, then maybe try truly putting my insides on my outsides once and for all, and find out that my weight situation has absolutely nothing to do with the joy of eating. How it Can be!
How it Can Be! If I am generally unhappy in life start thinking in possibilities. All success happens in the mind before it happens in fact. How it Can Be!
So you get the drift. I hope you enjoyed my post today. I know thinking about it during the day has made me even more confident of the fun I'm gonna have on this adventure. And the amount of fun I have is going to be my measure of success.
A little housekeeping before I go.
1) Cory and Claudette really love each other they just don't like to show it.
2) Jon, if your reading this be inspired and come home to us.
3) Nancy(Jon's mom), if you're reading this do one of 2 things. Either stop reading this, or stop enabling your son's illness. I would prefer you consider the second.
I wish to dedicate day 15 to my friend Kelly who is most amazing at turning "How Can it be?"(my mom has cancer?) into "How it Can be!"(with love and prayers and 5 grandchildern to care for she will get better!)
"Every problem has hidden in it an opportunity so great it literally dwarfs the problem"
love
peter
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3 comments:
How it can be! I am always reluctant to post because I say stupid stuff a lot and dont want to leave a permanent record! I am glad these things are possible and I wish the world could learn what you are learning (including me). Someone gave me a book for my birthday called "Younger Next Year" and the basic premise is that most of the effects of aging that we consider normal are actually voluntary. We can live longer and healthier lives but we need to make the choices to do that. I haven't got much further into the book yet, but I do want to publicly (sort of) state that my new goal is to turn 55 in better shape than I turned 50. You inspire me to do better (though I will not be doing any ironman).
BTW Cory, I dont think friend and peer are synonymous...just admit you spelled it wrong!
Never ever ever admit to a mistake, inless you can lay the blame squarely on someone else. Teresa here you have gone and admitted you say stupid stuff and don't like to leave a permanent record. Well for God's sake you don't really think anyone will take you seriously now - of course they are not synonymous and if that bitch Roo hadn't questioned it, and that bitch Elly hadn't stuck her 2 cents worth in, I wouldn't have had to use a different word to explain myself (a pseudo synonym if you will). And Peter Im a little worried about your obsession with peepees - that's several times now you've brought them up, and I already told you I wasn't interested in that!!
Congrat on a HAPPY day. Those are the one's that are worth working for.
Best post yet, I just have 2 comments:
1 - Anyone who survived tears frozen on his cheeks will be fine once it gets COLD.
2 - It may have a juvenile ring to it that seems like something else to outsiders, but I think anyone that's known Roo and Cory more than 5 minutes sees the lovin' quite clearly!
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