Two too many on the treadmill

Passive No More: 10 Days To Purposeful Living

It was a Sunday afternoon: not my usual time to take a run, but I was feeling a little overwhelmed with life... Do you ever feel that way?

My Sunday norm is usually reading a book or taking a nap for an hour or so in the bedroom. But, on this Sunday I knew I needed to “shake it off” with some form of exercise and music: very loud music.

It seemed every song that played on Pandora was just for me and my 20 minutes of isolation in the garage. I was needing a “me moment” and it seemed Pandora agreed. I ran faster than my typical speed, and I sweated far greater than when I normally exert myself.

I was on the last stretch, and the last song was the best one yet. I was coming into focus in my head. My pace was picking up, and I was going to finish most likely with a high kick when I was done. Suddenly, I felt a “thump, thump” behind me and a scrape at my leg. Feeling a strange terror surge through me, I tried to balance my run, look behind me and reach to shut off the treadmill all at the same time.

That’s when I realized my soon-to-be 4-year-old, Lily, had decided to join me on the treadmill.

I screamed to see Lily rolling onto the cement behind me. She then started to get up, putting her hands toward the moving treadmill. At this point I’m yelling for her to stop. I’m yelling loudly ‘cause this has been one of my big fears that would happen. Me, treadmill, headphones, small child trying to join me. Ahhhhhh.

As a mom with little ones, I'm constantly interrupted.

I’m also yelling loudly in hopes my dear husband, who I thought was aware of the children in the house, would come running to see what he let slip out of his sight.

I managed to turn off the machine and pick up Lily. Lily is stunned and in shock. I can tell that she can hear nothing coming out of my mouth as I tell her to “NEVER DO THAT AGAIN!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Daddy joins in the mess and takes her from me where I think at this point she has absorbed all my internal crazy. Lily begins to scream and cry. Something I wanted to do when I began my run. She is now getting it all out for me, though I don’t feel the release or the relief. Lily is not hurt, but I am slightly undone.

As a mom with little ones, I'm constantly interrupted. It’s during “fun” little times like these when I’m reminded there really is no perfect time to get stuff done. At first this bothered me and made me feel like I would never do anything for myself ever again.

I would try to wait for everything to be just perfect before I would attempt a quiet time, or exercise, or write out a grocery list. But the reality came crashing around me rather quickly. I will never get anything done in my life if I keep waiting for “perfect”! There is no such thing as perfect! So I decided to embrace a new motto: “Do it distracted!”

I will never get anything done in my life if I keep waiting for “perfect”!

If I don’t get my exercise done in the early morning before the kids wake up, I give myself the OK to turn on a show for the kids to watch while I exercise or get on the treadmill. I Just make sure I keep my music at a low level so I can hear if any small children are sneakily entering the room to join me for a run.

Life is always changing, and I know we won’t be at this stage of life forever with two little ones. For now, my quiet morning times are oftentimes interrupted. It doesn’t ruin the moment anymore; it makes the moment sweet.

So what if it takes me two days to finish writing out the grocery list because I keep getting pulled into the needs of my kids? So what if I haven’t had bathroom privacy in 5 years? So what if I can quote all the lines from the past 6 seasons of Dora the Explorer!?

That is what life is for right now. And to be honest, life is good. The more I go and embrace doing things distracted, the more the important things come into focus.

The more I go and embrace doing things distracted, the more the important things come into focus.

I’m getting things done and finding I’m enjoying the present a lot more. The kids are full of fun and entertainment, and the more I include them in my journey the better our bond. No more do I see them as little interrupters to what I really want to be doing. Well, most of the time, except when they try to join me on the treadmill!

If you wait for the perfect time to do what’s important to you, you may end up waiting longer than you expect, angry that you “have to” wait, and missing out on the good that’s happening right in front of you. Live your life. Live it when you’re focused, and live it when you’re distracted.

Live your life. Live it when you’re focused, and live it when you’re distracted.

How about you? Can you relate to “never” finding the perfect time to exercise, read, pray, etc.? Are you able to “do it distracted”? I’d love to hear about it. Leave a comment below.

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