Find The Good And Praise It

This week has been hard.  Coming back from a swift trip to Korea tired me out.  I’m running three days a week now, each intense and with purpose.  That is tiring me out.  And the change of seasons?  I suspect that too is tiring me out.

It is really easy, when you are tired, to focus on just that – being tired.  But this week, instead of dwelling on the tired and energy-less moments, I’ve tried to focus on something Alex Haley taught me.

I had the privilege of hearing Alex Haley speak at the University of Maryland in February 1992 as the featured speaker for Black History Month.  I think the speaking engagement was only a week or two before he died.  He was powerful, engaging, and spell binding.  He discussed his life and also his work – which included the Autobiography of Malcolm X as well as Roots. 

That evening was one of so many at Maryland that shaped who I am today.  But in particularly, one quote has stuck with me, a quote that I have adopted as one of my life philosophies: 

“Find the good and praise it…”

So when things get tough.  When I get tired.  When I feel stressed, overly emotional, or just down – I try to find the good and praise it.

The good for me this week….

• I am now running the furthest I have ever run, and each week, from now until January, will see me pushing and beating my limits.  This includes comfortably running on treadmills – which I’ve discovered is tougher than it looks! I’ve also discovered through treadmill running that I am a sweater – one of those people who gets really saturated while training and soaked by the end of a run.  It’s a nice feeling to see and feel the efforts of the training in this way – even though I feel sorry for those next to me at the gym!
• Our house renovations are almost done – 13 months of work to our house are almost over. I cannot wait to move back into all of the rooms (we’ve been living in two rooms during this process), to unpack our books, to have a television and couch again, and to be able to entertain at home once more.
• I have cooked some fantastic meals this week – nothing fancy, just good, simple home cooking.  Things like meatloaf. You gotta love a good meatloaf!
• I’ve finished a series of TRX specific training sessions which have opened my eyes in terms of how to train and build core strength – and the TRX has shown me what happens when one isolates and targets strengthening of the gluteus muscles – I’m managing a true pain in the ass!
• I met up with one of my best friends for a long overdue evening of chatting, eating, and enjoying a glass (ahem!) of red wine.  There is nothing better than non-hurried quality time with friends. 
• I enjoyed the most fantastic pasta meal prepared by Rowley Leigh, cacio e pepe.  Heaven on a plate. And saying hello, thank you, and I love you to Rowley Leigh?  Also a highlight for me!  Thanks to Daniel of Young & Foodish for arranging this evening.
• My work is super busy right now – but at the same time hugely rewarding. I love being stretched and am really trying to take the opportunity provided by being pulled in four different directions to guide my colleagues into taking leadership roles.  Not being the visible leader is new for me – but I am enjoying being the observer and playing the role of a voice of experience.
• Autumn is coming… And with it I’m entertaining thoughts of apple pie, pumpkin soup, warm jumpers and Ugg boots…

What are the quotes you live by? And what are some good things that you have found this week that deserve praise?