I may need to find a new metaphor.

Today in my teenage angst, I sweat more than I thought humanly possible. Let me qualify. Today, I sweat more than I thought humanly possible for the amount of exercise I did and the time in which I did it. 


I needed to run down to Safeway before I biked up to work. I've mentioned the hill I live at the bottom of. It no longer kills me in the morning. In fact, I love to see how easily I can mount it and how few breaks I need to take. Safeway is also at the bottom of this hell . . . I mean hill (that was a legit typo). Only that hill is on the west side. My hill is on the east side. They're apparently a little different. As I was attempting to climb this hill, I realized that the horizon was very close to me and this was exponentially steeper than what I was used to. The mailman I passed on my way unfortunately had to witness me giving myself a winded pep talk. When I arrived at work I was sweating, not like a pig (because they apparently don't) but something much worse. I probably should have taken a shower. 


I wish there was a moral to this story, but the reality is that I don't have a car and am consequently left to ride to work in the hyper unusual Saskatchewan humidity. That results in sweat. 


On an entirely different note, I am one month and two days from experiencing the glory that will be Arcade Fire's new album 'Suburbs' - to be released August 2nd. Here's some album artwork to give you a glimpse into how great its going to be.


Pre-order here. 

RESISTANCE!

Today in my teenage angst, I experienced an incomprehensible level of resistance. 

As I stated yesterday, I ride my bike to work. I've also stated that I've really come to like it. It gives me that boost of energy I need to make it through the morning. I have not, however, described the hill that faces my bicycle commute every day. At first I was pretty convinced I was never going to be able to breach that hill with ease. But over the past few weeks I've felt myself getting stronger and that hill getting easier. Today was a different case.

As I mounted my bike, I noticed that my lock was hanging in a an unconventional way that I didn't remember having left it. No matter, I thought. As I started off, my newly washed pants were restricting me a little and the ride was harder than usual. I geared down. Still difficult. Here came the hill. This was so much harder than yesterday and the day before combined. I finally got to the top of the hill after having geared down to the lowest one. What is wrong with me, I thought? Is this seriously just my pants? On top of all of these thoughts of self doubt, my bike was making a high pitched singing sound that I had never heard before. Great, I thought, who rode my bike and managed to break it in the process? 

I then looked down and discovered that my lock - hanging in its unconventional way - had wedged its way in between my bike tire and its frame creating a level of resistance that I simply could not overcome. I stopped and removed the lock with a little force. It was hot from the intense friction. When I finally arrived at work, I was sweating more than I thought possible and elated at the blog opportunity I had just created.

The moral of the story: NEVER let your bike chain hang in an unconventional fashion. It will screw you over. 

Psychology is everything.

Today in my teenage angst, I was psychologically unprepared. 
I've become very aware of my psychological needs (which might be higher than average) over the past few years and as a result have come to understand that psychology is everything. 


My mother alerted me last night that they wouldn't be needing their car this morning as someone else in the carpool was driving. Excitement filled my soul. I ride my bike to work and honestly, I like it; but a day off every now and then is a blessing. All night long I prepared myself to drive, dreaming of the extra things I could do because of this vehicle. Most pertinently, I would get to go home at lunch to see if my Memorial letter came. 


I awoke this morning still elated with the anticipation of neither breathing heavily upon entering my workplace nor sweating through the morning. It's apparently getting hotter. As I went to leave my house and get into my waiting carriage, I could not find keys. I searched the tables surrounding the doors. I searched the pockets of the coats on the coat rack. Frantically, I called my dad at his office and confirmed my fears. 


No keys had been left for me to drive to work. I was left to ride in the 9am 26 degree heat. I was not psychologically prepared for this ride and it consequently sucked. Psychology is everything. Prepare yourself. 

Stronger.

Today in my teenage angst, I felt myself getting stronger. 

I went for a run and due to the incredible (not to mention long awaited) heat, my body was receptive and grateful for the exercise. I ran and I ran and when I stopped I felt not worn out, but rejuvenated; my legs, begging me to continue.


This has never been a reality for me. I have always lived on the outskirts of athleticism, continually prescribing myself to apathy and laziness. I went to a very athletic school. There were only 40 of us in the high school and I was one of very few that lacked in athletic fervor and ability. I was artsy. I loved music, drama, literature and everything that came with it. I dressed the part, I spoke the part and my involvement in athleticism was merely for social purposes. I even took part in Track and Field for seven years just to get out of a day of school and hang out with my friends. A further explanation of my track and field follies can be found here. 


As I aim to leave my apathy and subsequent laziness behind and live fully, striving for health is becoming important. As I feel myself getting stronger I will continue to run. I will run far; I will run hard. Well, at least as hard as my newly trained body will let me.