I am a grinder. All my life I’ve pushed hard and persistently against obstacles, discomfort and challenges. I don’t give up easily. I keep grinding. It’s my nature.
The older I get, the more I recognize that this is not always appropriate. I can be obsessive, obstinate and plain foolhardy.
I am trying to change.
As I type this, we’re in the midst of a 2-week cold snap that has included frigid temperatures, high winds, an ice storm last weekend and a snowstorm hitting us tonight. It’s miserable outside. I cannot stand it.
I despise the cold. The older I get, the worse it gets.
I’m not fighting it anymore.
Since moving back to Florida for the 4th time is not an option, I have consciously decided to try to make winter a little less awful.
- I moved my workout area from my unheated garage into the living room.
- I have turned up the heat a few degrees whenever I get cold. My utility bills have risen as a result, but I’ve decided this is a price I’m willing to pay.
- I have cut the distances I walk the dogs when the weather sucks.
It’s this last point I want to highlight today.
I’ve been walking dogs twice a day since 1998 when I got my first dog as an adult. Through rain, snow, blustery winds, heat waves and cold temperatures, I rarely missed a walk and never shortened them unless my dogs health or age required this. Every single day.
This year that has changed. If it’s raining hard, we’ll skip our walk. If it is too cold (and especially windy), I’ll cut our walk from 1 hour to 45 minutes or 30 minutes or even 15 minutes.
If it’s really cold, we’ll skip the walk entirely.
I’ve shortened walks almost every day this month. We’ve skipped a handful.
And you know what? It was fine – for me and for the dogs.
When I used to explain my strict workout routines, my daily swimming program or my commitment to getting our walks in no matter what I would justify my obsessive behavior by saying, “I’m a little bit crazy – but I like it.”
I’m starting to realize, I’m a little bit crazy and I don’t like it.
Making a decision to not fight the weather is one step in a different direction.