… but it is pretty dang good. Lately I have felt like I have been running on E. I am working most every day of the week and filling the rest of my time with family, friends, training, and trying to stay on top of all the other necessities of life. It seems like I am nonstop from the time I rise to the moment my head hits the pillow. I mean twice this week I have fallen (like dead asleep) with the lights and my clothes from the day still on my back till 2 and 3 o’clock in the morning which is very unlike me. All of these things going on could give me the excuse to not take care of myself, give up on my 31Day Detox, postpone my half marathon and future Ironman, and to stop accepting opportunities to grow and learn. All this to say, when I am stretched this thin, sometimes (often while driving from one thing to the next) I stop my mind from thinking about what is next and what I maybe haven’t accomplished for the day to think about just how good things are. It is so easy to get caught up in the “bad” things and the craziness of life that we forget just how dang great life is. So I challenge you to stop and think, maybe on your commute to or from work or in a quiet minute of your lunch break tomorrow, about all the great things going on in your life. I did this today and here is what I came up with….

1. Work is stressful, exhausting, and sometimes downright draining…..I have a job. I am able to support myself. I can pay my bills each month and have a full belly each night. It may be exhausting at times but I have the opportunity to impact the lives of others everyday. I may not always agree with my boss or co-workers but they are providing me with a new way of looking at situations and broadening my horizons to different ways of thinking.

2. I hate being in the car 2 hours everyday….I have a car that is comfortable, safe, and reliable. I don’t have to wait for public transportation daily; I can go where I please when I please. This gives me either time to think about my day ahead, clear my mind, release some stress jamming out to the radio, or catch up with friends and family on the phone.

3. Training isn’t going well; my runs haven’t been quite as frequent or as quality as I would have hoped at this point in my training…. I am able to run and I have an opportunity to improve. I have the luxury to do most my long runs with with my boyfriend. This allows for an hour plus of quality “us” time. Often at least one weekday run is done with a friend or coworker. This allows me to keep up with those that I often wouldn’t have the opportunity to. Running (training) has opened up a new world of people to me in the Charlotte area. Even if a run isn’t perfect or wasn’t as long as I would have liked, I was still able to get out the door and do something productive for my health.

4. It is so hard to eat healthy all the time; I just want to eat pop-tarts, french fries, and drink diet coke….Eating healthy allows me to fuel my body in a way that I can take on the crazy of each and every day. It helps keep me healthy and avoid illness. It allows me to function in a non sluggish way. It may at times be more expensive but I am able to stay healthy and active because I fuel my body appropriately.

5. I don’t have many friends in Charlotte….those relationships I do have here are amazing. I have my family here which has allowed the opportunity to grow in my relationship with both my parents and my grandma. My roommate has quickly become a great and life long friend. My co-workers at both my jobs greet me with smiles and stories everyday and are always making me laugh. Those people in my life that aren’t here in Charlotte are always just a phone call away.

So there you have it, my list of negatives turned positive. It felt good to stop and take that moment today and think about all the good. I hope you take the time to do the same in the next day or so. Please comment below, I would love to hear your list as well!