Like I wrote about last night, Dominic and I hit the gym yesterday. That was the first time in quite a while that I have lifted weights. Sure, I’ve done yoga, but that’s not nearly the same… even though I was lifting very light weights last night.

This morning when I got out of bed I felt like someone had been beating my upper body with a baseball bat. Whenever I moved I found a new source of discomfort. My muscles were all sore, some more than others. Even as I blog tonight my chest and back are still feeling rather tender.

It’s kind of crazy, but it’s kind of a good type of sore. I know I pushed myself and the soreness leads to strength. The discomfort is a sign of growth.

Here’s the twist though… I know that if I were to get back into the lifting shape I’ve been in before and then maintain it I’d still be a little tender, but it’d be barely noticeable. Once I am in shape it is so much easier to maintain versus building up. This morning was a huge reminder to me that I need to find a sustainable long term balance as I build back up.

What got me thinking tonight is that it is very similar to my daily ritual of blogging. Over the past couple of weeks I’ve gotten some seemingly random compliments on my positivity and optimism. Sure, part of me is a naturally happy person, but it takes discipline, rigor, and practice for me to sustain a healthy level of positivity. By writing each and every single day it is my daily mental / optimism / gratitude workout. Writing like this pushes me to work parts of my brain that would quickly atrophy if they weren’t worked on a regular basis. Part of why I started doing this almost five years ago was because I hadn’t worked out like this in a long time and there were many of those first posts that were brutal!!! They still aren’t easy by any stretch, but they are easier due to repetition and discipline to practice.

As I sit here with sore muscles I’m thankful for the reminder to stay in shape. While it is my physical self that is sore today I know the same could be true of my mental self if I wee to start skipping workouts.

Thanks!!!