What Makes Worries Go Away

...at least for a while? (not necessarily in this order)

• a good, sweaty run - these days it is very easy for me to work out a sweat; I am in worse shape than a year ago and lately even mornings are quite warm; it is practically impossible to worry when breathing hard;
• Rachmaninov's Symphonic Dances (especially no 1) - I love classical music and this is not even my favorite piece but somehow now it fits the mood
• friends who make me laugh and who manage to curb their curiosity about my cancer and at least for a while keep their questions to themselves
• a glass of a good red wine especially on an empty stomach - I would not recommend that one too often though
• a nice, relaxing hike with family, Nature, grand views, silly talk,
• listening to my teen son's moody compositions
• reading blogs for laughs, inspiration, ideas, contemplation
• sunsets - because I know they lead to sunrises after a short period of calm and quiet darkness
• hard yard work - it seems that anything that works out a sweat is good
• Dickens - again not because he is one of my favorite authors but I love his use of language; I am re-reading some of his books just for the joy of cajoling my brain
• denial - that one is probably the most successful one. Dwelling on any condition for me has never been productive. sure, there are things that need to be done, and problems that have to be addressed but focusing too much on adversities only makes them look bigger and scarier and I am scared enough, thank you very much
• a good movie - these days I am into thinking movies so I go mostly for European productions. Gotta love Netflix for their foreign movie selection.

So guess how I spent my weekend.

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. 

I will find out as soon as I read your blogs, won't I?

Biggest Loser

Today I watched the first episode of the new Biggest Loser. I am a week behind since we don't have a TV at home ever so often I watch it on Hulu. I have a big problem with how they chose their contestants this year. The ones who lost competitions, either running a mile or stepping 500 steps, were the ones needing most help and those were just the ones who got eliminated. I know this show probably inspires a lot of people to keep trying to lose weight, exercise and eat more responsibly but there are a lot of things that bother me about how it is all done. It can be very discouraging for many not to see double digit weight loss results on their scales. Even for one moment I don't believe it when one of the women contestants in the last week of the show lost 15lbs off her already firm and slim body. Subway sandwiches made with white bread are NOT healthy. And the list can go on and on.

Still, I think it is important to help people believe that change is possible though not easy and Biggest Loser does that.
So while my feelings about the show are totally mixed I truly admire all the contestants. I am inspired by people who try and don't give up no matter how hard it gets. The alternative is much more grim. That makes me to think about my brother in law. Actually I think about him every time I run, hike, bike, backpack or even just go for a walk. I think about him every time I am doing something I know he would love to do but doesn't because of his food addiction. I think about him still not moving and finding excuses for not trying. I see him sitting in his apartment and watching the world through the window while eating his life away and thinking of reasons for why he cannot stop eating now and start walking. There is a version of Biggest Loser in Poland but I don't think he is watching it. But if having half of his foot amputated because of type 2 diabetes does not get him to move what would? A TV show? I doubt it.

I don't don't have answers for why some can find motivation, strength and courage to try and some either give up or fight to keep the status quo. If I knew that, I am sure I would be up for some kind of Nobel Prize for sure.