Change IS, in fact, good

It has been a while since I have been here writing down my thoughts, not really so that others can read them, but to express them into something tangible.  There is something cathartic about seeing your thoughts somewhere other than just in your mind.

What I have been thinking about lately are the changes that have been a part of my life since I have last posted (back in Jan!).  Since then, E- and I have sold our house in AL, moved to Colorado Springs, built a house and moved into that house, and have been unpacking boxes.

As those of you that have been around me for a long enough time know, I avoid change if possible.  I have posted in the past when this whole Colorado Springs assignment was in its infancy that my insides were in knots trying to figure out what to do, mainly because of wanting to stay on the safe path of non-change.

However, what I have recently realized is that this change was one of the better decisions I have made.  What I have realized, against my normal judgment, is that a life change can be good.

On the job front, I had grown stagnant, going to and from work just to go to and from work.  By stagnant, I am not talking about being promoted or not, my position, or the type of work I was doing.  I am talking about truly looking forward to my work.  Looking forward to the unknowns that might come up during the work day and looking forward to working through whatever problems might come my way.  I used to have that a while ago, but it had quietly and subtly moved to the back.  It has taken the move to a new location to awaken this feeling again.

On the running front, as I wrote back in Dec:
 It suddenly dawned on me that in these runs, it was not that my body was full of running.  It was that my body was full of joy.  The smile on my face while I was running was the excess joy that my body could not contain.

This was something that I had not felt for some time.  It took some running next to the Rockies, soaking in the view, along with some cold, non-humid weather, to stoke the fire within me and bring the joy back to the surface.  But it is back and I am hoping it stays for a long, long time.

Yes, the "joy of running" is still here and on the surface approaching a year later.  I am back to handling a serious training schedule.  I am back to running in races and having goal races that I am shooting for.  And, most importantly, I am still smiling like a fool sometimes on my runs.

And last but not least, on the personal front my life seems more than right.  My marriage feels stronger.  My love for Elizabeth has grown through this change on an exponential rise.  I am getting to experience new places and new things alongside her.  I am loving getting to take the dogs for their walk and watching them experience their new sights and sounds. I am enjoying actually having different seasons and getting to once again do things like standing and staring straight up as snow is falling.  Yes, I am even enjoying getting to shovel the drive again.

In all facets of my life, I am growing.  My brain feels more active, my body feels younger even though it is most definitely not headed that way, and my attitude has had an adjustment in the positive direction.

While it has taken me a little while to realize it and to get over the fears in my head that push me toward decisions of staying on the safe path, picking up and moving across the country has been invigorating to me.

Change IS, in fact, good and I am finding that out.

Quick Random Thoughts

Been sitting here by myself in CoS, having random thoughts in my somewhat self-imposed, isolated living, and thought I would jot some down.  In no particular order or subject:

• I understand the sadness associated with texting someone you love because you are missing them and not getting a reply quickly (because they aren't like you and are actually busy doing something) and I understand the joy associated with texting someone you love and getting a reply back almost immediately.
• Corollary I: Receiving a text back makes one feel closer in space to someone that you are missing.
• Corollary II: If there is someone in your life that you are missing terribly, find something, anything to text them about or call them about.  Even if you don't get a reply, keep doing it.  You'll feel closer.
• Corollary III: If there is someone in your life that has stopped communicating with you for whatever reason, find something, anything to text them about.  And keep texting even if they still don't respond or even if they never respond.  You have no idea what your texts may be doing.
• I have zero excuses for not focusing on my training and making sure I am doing everything to make myself better, like strength training, core training, yoga, and getting plenty of good sleep.
• I have zero excuses for not reading in the evenings, except, of course, if a hockey game is on.
• A hot tea in the evening is a perfect way to prepare for a great night's sleep.  You should try it.
• I find that I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about the next time E- is coming here or I am going to get to see her on a work trip back to AL.  Counting weeks, days, hours, whatever it takes...
• I have time to clean out those that I follow on social media.  If all someone has time to do is complain, they are gone.
• Popcorn will always be the perfect evening snack.  Don't @ me.
• I miss my puppers.
• Some nights it is a struggle to stay up past 7:00.

That's enough random thoughts for now.  It's 7:04, so time to get ready to go to bed and get some reading done after I finish my tea.