Survival Mode

First of all, I would like to apologize to my loyal reader(s) for being M.I.A.!  Work has been busy and over the past few weeks I feel like I let my life shift into survival mode.  Instead of paying attention to the little habits that make me feel good (getting workouts in, drinking plenty of water, going to bed at a reasonable hour, writing) I have switched into autopilot.  Instead of trying to enjoy every day, I've been merely trying to get through each day.  I wake up, go to work, sit at my cubicle, eat my meals, drive home, shower, go to bed, wake up and do it all over again.  Frankly, it has been a little pathetic.  It's like I just gave in and accepted that life was going to be mediocre for the moment because I was too lazy/tired/cranky to put in the effort to make it better.  I felt like I used up my motivation quota for the month and was just plain tapped out.

Then something cool happened.  My brother, sister-in-law, and niece came into town from Maine, which meant that not only did I get to see them, but I got to see the rest of my family that lives in the area but I don't get to see nearly enough because we are all too darn busy!  Even though work was hectic, we all got together a few different times.  (My sister is an excellent hostess!)

It was exactly the medicine I needed.  There is something so special about family.  These are the people that you can be most yourself with.  People who love you and trust you and give you the benefit of the doubt.  Nieces who run up to you and scream, "Aunt Noodleeeeeee" as they embrace your legs in a bear hug.  People who you love unconditionally and understand without explanation.  People you always root for and want to see succeed and be incredibly happy.  Being with them made me feel like everything was right with the world again.

Mostly seeing my family reminded me of the big picture.  That more than work, workouts, commutes, or anything else, family is what matters.  Relationships are what matter.  That as hard or exhausting as the other things in our day-to-day lives might get, everything will be OK as long as we have our friends and family around to make us whole and keep us on the path to becoming our very best selves.

So today I'm feeling much better.  I drank my water.  I got a workout in.  I talked to my Mom and had dinner with Mike.  That's not to say that I have it all figured out, or that life is suddenly easy, but at least I feel like I'm back on track, and for the moment that is enough for me.