Gym Rat???

I was reading my monthly Women's Health Magazine one day. And as usual, I was skimming the pages looking for interesting health or exercise tips (as most of the articles on anything else in this magazine is crap). I came across an article about exercising and couldn't help but notice the words gym rat. I kept reading from there. Then, it dawned on me. Gym rat describes me perfectly.

When did I become a gym rat?

For as long as I can remember, I was the un-athletic girl, the last to be chosen on a team in P.E., the give-up-running-after-a-minute girl, and the girl who would only exercise if she was forced. I was all of these girls. So, when did I become a gym rat?

I guess it all began when I decided that I needed a big change in my life. It had to be something I could control (as I am a bit of a control freak). I couldn't start dating because that would risk rejection from the other party. I couldn't travel because there are a lot of hidden and not so hidden dangers out there. But, I control my weight. And I decided that my big change would come from this.

At first, when I asked the advice of friends and family, I would get laughs or semi-supportive words. After a while, they figured I was serious and gave me the thumbs up. But they were all still skeptical.

See, I did things halfway. I give up easily. I don't finish what I start. But this time, I wanted to finish what I started. This is my health I'm talking about.

I shopped around online for the best prices. Soon enough, I got discouraged. There are only a few choices on this island I live on. All three were pricey. But they were still within reach. In the end, my choice of gym was something impulsive. The first one I walked into was the one I decided to pay for.

I knew that if I joined a gym, I would need motivation. In fact, I needed a lot of it. So, I hired a trainer to take me on for 8 sessions. I hoped that after a while, all she taught me would take a hold. And it did.

Three months later, and a month without her, I am still working out. I've improved my eating habits. I make better food choices. I keep up with my exercising. I go at least 4 times a week. I've learned to add to my exercise regiment. I exercise for hours.

I've learned a lot about myself throughout this short process. I've learned what I can handle. I've learned what my body can handle. If all of this means that I am a gym rat, so be it. I never would have thought I would ever call myself one. But I guess it must be true. I am a gym rat.

Sun, Sand, Surf...and Exfoliation?

I woke up today with the realization that it would be like no other day.

No more waking up before the sun even has the chance to. No more rushing out the front door with two bags strapped to my body, thermos in one hand, water bottle in the other, and keys dangling from my already compromised fingers. No more long, dragging, endless, soul-sucking days.

Summer was finally here!

Today, I spent it with a lovable little boy, a friend I knew for a while but only got to really know in college, and her two little siblings that seemed to be miniature replicas. We started out our morning with a breakfast only McDonald's could provide: warm, fatty, and semi-appetizing.

We played tourists for a day and spent a good hour trekking through the crowds of pale-faced, colorful creatures we were imitating. We were good. Though we could never be pale-faced, we were just as colorful, just as bold, and just as eager to take a picture of every leaf and grain of sand we could point our cameras at.

Water flowing over smooth rocks only nature could arrange. Click! Glittering, green peaks that kiss the sun. Click! Packed red dirt that become soft, red sand after repeated trysts with the ocean. Click! Click! Click!

By midday, we got tired of the tourist life and turned back into locals and headed for the beach. It would've been a perfect end if it weren't so windy. On a normal day, the beach protected by a reef on one end and open on the other, would be calm, blue, clear, and soft. On this windy day, it was salty, hazy, and harsh. After an hour of ocean water getting into our eyes and sand exfoliating our skin, we gave up and left. Even with the wind, it was good to get some sun, sand, and surf.

It really wasn't some other day. It had right amount of stillness, the right amount of energy, and the right amount of harshness. It would make for a memorable beginning to summer.

A Letter to the World

Hello World!

This is me. I just thought I would introduce myself. It is really so nice meeting you.

There are billions of people in the world. Billions of voices. Billions of thoughts. You've no doubt heard them all. What makes mine so different?

Nothing.

Nothing at all.

I just thought I would put my voice out there. I just thought I would get my thoughts out. Maybe in the hopes that someday my voice will be heard.

You see, it has been a long while since I used my voice for anything. Most people don't. I never have. You may have heard a whisper here and there. But merely a whisper.

I need to talk. I need to let it out. We all need to. We all have voices to be heard. We all have thoughts to be let out.

Yes, some may be useless. But some may prove to be far from useless.

One can someday be used to cure cancer. Another can be used to heal the sick and weary. And still another can be a leader in this lost world.

I'm not aspiring to be any of those things. I just want simple things. I just want to be heard. I just want to be me.

Thank you for listening,
Daisy