Through The Looking Glass: Oh, Lighten Up

In this world, there are two things I am not: 1. A Physicist and 2. A runner. I adore simple words over science and a brisk fall walk over pounding the pavement for miles on end.

But despite my disinterest in running, I have an odd liking for Running magazine. Namely, columnist Kristin Armstrong. Man, she can write. (Oh yea, she’s also that Kristin Armstrong who’s a pro road bicycle racer and two-time Olympic gold medalist. But man, I love how she writes.) My sister Sue (the Runner), forwards me Kristin’s column often to share her view on running and life and, most of the time, she strikes a beautiful chord with little ol’ walking me.

Earlier this month Kristen wrote about how she loved starting the New Year and getting a new life page to write on, a blank slate. She wrote about her annual meeting with her brother to pick “the word.” That one word that will guide the year, that we hold to heart and swing from when we’re feeling a little lost. I loved that. I needed my own word, my own mantra to focus on in 2014 if and when the chips are down, and even when they’re not.

I thought hard. Love, patience, honesty, perseverance and tolerance were all worthy contenders for the top spot. And while none of them won out, they’ll all hopefully play an integral part of who I shape up to this year as I practice the chosen word, “Lighten.”

I want to Lighten myself of the self-induced pressures to be perfect in my job, as a mother, a friend, a lover. Lighten up in the way I talk to and about my Self. I’m gonna give myself (and you) a break. I want to fan the creative Light that’s sitting inside just dying to get out, and in doing so, hopefully make everything around me just a tad brighter. If I Lighten up physically, that’ll be a bonus, but in the meantime I’m going to Lighten up on the self-deprecating chat about how my clothes are too tight and how unhappy I am with the number on the scale. The pressure has all gotten to heavy to lug around. And life’s just too damn short to haul around a big old suitcase of useless worry.

Selecting a word to live my year by has been fun and challenging. It is clearly reminding me how serious I’d gotten about things. I’ve learned it’s easy to lose perspective on what’s important when we bog ourselves down with needless busy work, with trying to prove our worthiness through external achievements, with expectations of ourselves that are so high that reaching them is improbable at best.

So go ahead, pick your own word. And in the meantime, Lighten Up. I know I feel Lighter all ready.

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