I was reminded this week of a conversation with my therapist about four years ago. I was feeling down about some of the things going on, but then I mentioned all the little celebrations that I had that day. And talking about those made an immediate change my therapist noticed. I started sitting up straighter, smiling, I had a brighter eye, and even my voice changed.
Here at Top Comments we welcome longtime as well as brand new Daily Kos readers to join us at 10pm Eastern. We strive to nourish community by rounding up some of the site's best, funniest, most mojo'd & most informative commentary, and we depend on your help!! If you see a comment by another Kossack that deserves wider recognition, please send it either to topcomments at gmail or to the Top Comments group mailbox by 9:30pm Eastern. Please please please include a few words about why you sent it in as well as your user name (even if you think we know it already :-)), so we can credit you with the find!
Well, it’s important more than ever to relish the small victories and everyday celebrations. And I’ve noticed a LOT of personal good stuff for me in the past couple of weeks.
It began last weekend when I took some kids to Indianapolis for the Circle City Classic. The last times I’ve done that, it’s been fairly difficult walking—breathing heavy, going slower than the other teacher, that sort of thing. This year, I noticed that not only did I keep up, but I also was setting the pace. Now, from the lot to the stadium, after we got there, it was hot and sunny, so my hair was a bit damp. So I sweated a lot. But in a nice workout kind of way with some endorphin release, not like the other times. And after the game, when we were walking back to the bus and able to walk most of the way in the stadium concourse, with a cooler (slightly) sunset outside, the walking was so easy.
And then this got me thinking about my clothes. I prefer my shirts to be like two sizes too big rather than fitting “just right”. And my most worn shirts are definitely that. Although now they’re WAY too big, especially around the neck and chest. Some of the smaller size shirts I have now feel more comfortable. I still have to wear shirts that are slightly larger in the neck and chest because as I’m losing weight, everything is going to my middle. And a smaller neck shirt means a smaller middle, and I’m not quite there where I want to be yet.
But I’m getting there. And people are noticing my shrinking.
And I’m getting back to spending time in the gym again. Mostly swimming now, but the program I’m part of has set up workout routines on different machines for not only aerobic work like the stationary bikes, but also for some strength training, which the trainer person says I need at my age. And that’s my next step—to not only do swimming, but the other stuff as well on the regular. But the deep water class I’m doing uses those floaty pool weights, so I’m getting a LOT of arm strength training work in that 45 minute class.
And being back in the water feels amazing. Next stop is retraining my body to run. Cross my fingers, I’ll be back racing triathlons next year. I need three sanctioned tris to get my USAT ranking. Then I can tell my kids I’m a nationally ranked triathlete.
Finally, while I still am wracked with impostor syndrome, I’m celebrating those small victories in class where the kids get it and their singing really shines.
And even though the Universe has its ways of dragging me down—the living stuff, not that external dread that happens every time I look at a news article—in the midst of that anxiety, and all the vicissitudes in my life, I can still celebrate. And that’s some of the best therapy out there.
I know that Monday’s TC diary was about small victories and celebrations, but talk about some that happened this week in the comments.
And now, on to Tops!
TOP COMMENTS
Brillig's ObDisclaimer: The decision to publish each nomination lies with the evening's Diarist and/or Comment Formatter. My evenings at the helm, I try reeeeallllyy hard to publish everything without regard to content. I really do, even when I disagree personally with any given nomination. "TopCommentness" lies in the eyes of the nominator and of you, the reader - I leave the decision to you. I do not publish self-nominations (ie your own comments) and if I ruled the world, we'd all build community, supporting and uplifting instead of tearing our fellow Kossacks down. Please remember that comment inclusion in Top Comments does not constitute support or endorsement by diarist, formatter, Top Comments writers or DailyKos. Questions, complaints or comments? Contact brillig.
No submissions as of this writing.
TOP MOJO
Top Mojo for Friday, October 3, first comments and tip jars excluded. Thank you mik for the mojo magic! For those of you interested in How Top Mojo Works, please see his diary on FAQing Top Mojo.
