A Very Good Thing

I would like to apologize for not writing yesterday. If I am to continue with a daily blog, I need a daily computer. I am loath to change computers, which means transferring files, reloading programs and especially, dealing with all my auto-saved passwords. It hardly seems worth the effort if I can suffer just one more crash – thank you PC. Anyway, my frustration bested me, and I decided my (formerly) trusty laptop could have this round. It was probably a wise decision as I was reaching the point where I was going to convert my laptop into a projectile. That said, today is a new day and me and my aging PC are off to a fresh start.

On the subject of pain, I maintain there is good pain and bad pain. My wife disagrees. According to Michelle all pain is bad pain. Not so; a broken heart, bad pain. Run three miles and get sore, good pain. Fall out down stairs and throw out your back, bad pain. Run a marathon and lose a toe nail; this one is a little tricky. You’d think it would be good pain because of completing a marathon and achieving a life goal, but no, it’s bad pain. I hope you get the picture. I don’t mind getting sore or hurting a little for the cause. In my younger years I spent most evenings with ice bags on my knees.

Unfortunately I ran and rode long past the weight where my body could tolerate the load, causing some serious repercussions. I have chronic knee and back problems, which are just now easing do to weight loss. As my journey continues, and the weight comes off, I am regaining the joy of physical exertion. I find exercise cathartic. Nothing clears my mind like pushing my body.

Michelle thinks I’m crazy, and she might be right because she usually is, but I think a little pain in life is good. Nothing makes me feel alive like a bracing cold. Nothing gets my blood pumping like standing at the top of a steep run with my tips hanging out in space. Sailing on the ocean makes me feel small and alive at the same time. Even a good relationship runs the course of joy and pain in the process of building and strengthening. So it is with the body.

As I sit here and write this I can feel muscles I haven’t felt in a very long time. It’s a good thing. It’s a very good thing.