Routine/Program a Positive!!!

In my most recent training for the Arizona Rock n’ Roll Marathon I worked out 5 days a week just like I did for the Long Beach Marathon. I usually do take two days off from working out each week but for some reason I don’t feel like taking a day off. I did feel a bit reluctant about heading out to the gym but that reluctance didn’t last very long as I was out the door and headed for the gym.

I do see many similarities to my life now and to my life one year ago. That certainly sounds strange especially knowing where I was one year ago. There is a glaring difference which starts and ends with freedom but having a routine (or “program” as it is known on the “inside”!) does help me tremendously. I have always had a routine and this routine commenced when I started to exercise over 18 years ago. I’m sure there is a large part of my obsessive compulsive personality wrapped up in my working out but I can say it is so much better now as I near the four year mark of my recovery.

The routine over four years ago did start out with working out but it wasn’t followed with being productive. I had to go through all the machinations of placing my wagers. I can’t underscore the word “had” enough because I didn’t know another way nor was I looking for another way to live my life. This was so bad that as it all crumbled down I was still scheming how I could continue these ways.

When I meet someone who is suffering from any addiction I can relate to the fact that they just can’t stop on their own. I couldn’t stop on my own and didn’t want to stop on my own. I was forced to stop as my world changed dramatically. Thankfully as it was all falling down I realized I needed help and sought out the Gamblers Anonymous Program. I know my life would be dramatically different which means worse if I didn’t seek and continue to seek recovery. This is an ongoing process and thankfully recovery continues to enhance my life each and every day.

Since I have changed up my routine of working out a bit my intense days have moved to Thursdays instead of Wednesdays. The intensity is not nearly as difficult as it was in my previous training sessions and I think this would be a good adjustment. I have reached a plateau in my running and need to shake things up to get over that hump. I have added more cycling and somewhere over the next few weeks I will introduce my body to swimming which should provide a jolt to my system. I am sure there are more adjustments I need to make over the next few months but I am energized like never before and I know I will accomplish my goals.

The workout was over and I had some unfinished paperwork I needed before going to the office. When I started back in September another colleague came over from the same Counseling Center we both worked out. The two of us came over as a “package deal” and although I hadn’t known this person very long we hit it off almost instantly. We do share similar experiences in our background but we are very different people yet get along wonderfully. I had some paperwork I needed to work on for this person and was very happy to help. The paperwork was complete and I was going into the office.

I met with my boss about one of the many projects I am working on and continue to get complimented for my performance. I haven’t exactly excelled in the marketing aspect of my position but do excel at the many special projects I have been assigned. I don’t know if marketing is the right fit for me because I am more comfortable in a “controlled” setting of getting a task accomplished. The future is very bright for my company even in this very unstable economic environment. I figure the only true recession proof industry is health care because no matter how bad the economy gets people need to be healthy. I guess if it gets so bad nothing would matter but hopefully I won’t see that day!!

I had a great lunch meeting with my boss and during the lunch we had some very good conversations. We share similar attitudes toward politics and the world so our conversations flow very nicely. We did talk about the horrible economy and I wanted to know if our economy was just a “house of cards” waiting to fall since it seems all of financial difficulty has been caused by the housing crash.

Where I reside in Southern California is the epicenter of the housing debacle and our community leads the nation in the number of foreclosures and I am fairly certain we aren’t out of the woods yet. Oddly; I was forced out of the housing market at the right time and the person who bought our house has got to be hurting. I am not in a financial position to get back into the real estate market since there are many debts I need to pay off before even thinking about making a major purchase but it is interesting to be an observer in this market.