Making Priorities
Faith/Family
Forgiveness. Redemption. Grace. Kindness. Among many others, these are words that mean much to me. Being responsible for a family unit is quite a burden to bear which is why I believe the next few points are incredibly important. Responsibility weighs heavily on the shoulders of those who choose to accept the load. (and sometimes there’s no choice)
It has been said that ‘the two greatest days of your life are the day you were born and the day you find out why’. God created you with a purpose in mind (2 Corinthians 5:5). Indeed there are big plans for me.
Sleep
My body has an internal alarm clock prompting me to go to bed at 8:30pm. Every. Single. Night. Like my dad, I’ve always been a morning person. It has served me well! 9 hours is my optimal, pre-programmed amount of sleep necessary for a fully functioning day. I’m a light sleeper and have little trouble falling asleep, but find difficulty in staying asleep.
This may sound like I put way too much priority on knowing about my own sleep patterns. However, recognizing the importance of sleep and how it affects your body is something I think many take for granted. Sleep – or lack thereof – is attributed to weight, outlook on life, stress, and disease. When we sleep, our bodies recuperate from innumerable daily encounters with germs, people, and events, as well as prepare us for days ahead. Personally I think consistent sleep schedules are one of the most important ways to set up children for success.
Running
As I’ve probably mentioned before, streaking is such a confidence booster. Even when it’s only 1 mile a day, the proof is tangible. Typically I notice a difference 2 weeks into it – I’m lighter on my feet, stamina is high, and the urge to keep running is overwhelming. Although I despise treadmill running, the routine (aka priority) of running at lunch (aka runch) is much needed. My lunch hour at work is nearly sacred. Soon enough, you can find me back on the roads near the office happily making the rounds.
It’s important mini sees me doing what I love. Running helps in many ways: decreases anxiety, increases the feel-good hormones, and recharges my people’ing batteries. We all need an outlet, if you will. Mine is found inside a pair of running shoes.
_____________________
I ask you –
How many hours of sleep do you average nightly?
What is your outlet?
Share a priority I may have missed here!
Running on Fumes 
I try to get sleep, but I am closer to 6-7 hours a night…still better than the 4-5 hours I would get when my son was a baby.
Since I started running a few days a week in 2020, I dropped 30 pounds. I usually run a few miles in the heat of the mid-afternoon. Last week,, I ran at dusk one night.
I ran 4.5 miles.
That was a fun surprise.
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That’s fantastic, Larry! Just a few days a week can make such a difference in your overall health. Way to go!
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Sleep is a problem for me. I’ve spent 26 years on the night shift! If I get 5 hours a day I’m good. But on my days off I’ll get maybe 10 to make up.
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I couldn’t do it – I would be a zombie!
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