"Something scary in basement storage area...lots of loud noises...ugh"
This was the dramatic text I sent to my husband today moments after stepping on the treadmill. Although I purchased the treadmill for cold winter days, it has paid for itself this spring and summer as well. Raining and 50 degrees I was happy to sweat and listen to good tunes indoors to get my daily dose of exercise. Until, of course, the rude interruption of an unexpected varmint. True to my exaggerated belief system, I was certain there was a possum, badger, or giant rat in our basement storage closet. I tried to disregard the noise and just focus on running but I was quite uncomfortable with the scuffling and skirmishing from the other side of the wall. I turned off the treadmill, texted my husband, closed all the downstairs doors, and went upstairs to aimlesssly wander. After a little positive self talk about courage, freedom from fear, and wasting time I did a quick sweep of the house to locate our old dog Bucky. Looking in the usual spots where he knows he is not supposed to be, I was actually relieved to not find him. I bravely removed all basement barricades and peered cautiously into the storage zone. This is a part of our basement that shows the true Larsons... unfinished, unpolished, dusty and cluttered with keepsakes likely not worth keeping and momentos from forgotten moments...the not so important stuff that claims importance by taking up space. It lends itself to plenty of shadows for a vicious creature to hide.
This was the dramatic text I sent to my husband today moments after stepping on the treadmill. Although I purchased the treadmill for cold winter days, it has paid for itself this spring and summer as well. Raining and 50 degrees I was happy to sweat and listen to good tunes indoors to get my daily dose of exercise. Until, of course, the rude interruption of an unexpected varmint. True to my exaggerated belief system, I was certain there was a possum, badger, or giant rat in our basement storage closet. I tried to disregard the noise and just focus on running but I was quite uncomfortable with the scuffling and skirmishing from the other side of the wall. I turned off the treadmill, texted my husband, closed all the downstairs doors, and went upstairs to aimlesssly wander. After a little positive self talk about courage, freedom from fear, and wasting time I did a quick sweep of the house to locate our old dog Bucky. Looking in the usual spots where he knows he is not supposed to be, I was actually relieved to not find him. I bravely removed all basement barricades and peered cautiously into the storage zone. This is a part of our basement that shows the true Larsons... unfinished, unpolished, dusty and cluttered with keepsakes likely not worth keeping and momentos from forgotten moments...the not so important stuff that claims importance by taking up space. It lends itself to plenty of shadows for a vicious creature to hide.
I heard what sounded like a bird chirp and looked to my left to see in the shadows the scary creature. My poor little dog had gone into "No Dog's Land" and become stuck to an adhesive, gelatinous 4X8" mouse track trap. Bucky looked shame-faced at me in this embarrassing predictament. Caught in an uncomfortable position in a place he knew was off-limits...kind of like a Weiner dog. Politics aside, he was wrong. Besides the humiliation of 3 out of 4 paws being immobile he was also limited by his protective head-wear necessary to allow healing of a post ear surgery hematoma. Just yesterday, a very kind Pilates client and dog lover unexpectedly knocked on my door with a gift for Bucky. She gave us this special inflatable neck ring tube to replace the awful plastic lamp shade that contributed to frequent snags on door frames, poor resting ability, and limited exploration. This flotation device also doubles as a pillow for his arthritic neck making rest time much more enjoyable. Nonetheless, he was a pathetic figure in the shadows of the basement. At first I planned to transport Bucky to the vet, flotation device and mouse trap attached, however the vet instructed I first try pouring rubbing alcohol over his paws to dissolve the adhesive goo. Fortunately, 16 ounces of alcohol later, his paws were free from the gooey mess.
I did finally return to the treadmill and complete my 5 miles. As I ran I contemplated how often I become stuck in my own way---my workout routine, my belief system, my expectations, relationships, even my hair style can feel stuck! Sometimes I feel figuratively stuck or sometimes physically stuck, tight and uncomfortable in my body. Perhaps you relate to some aspect of your life feeling like it needs alcohol. Ha ha--just kidding. Rubbing alcohol helped Bucky...I have been known to dance better with a drink...but to some degree we all have the ability to become unstuck with healthy alternatives.
For a few moments today I was stuck upstairs frightened of the hairy beast awaiting me in the storage closet. Ron was briefly stuck today taking our daughter to basketball camp. He described a spacious college dormitory with huge bunk beds, energetic collegiate players/camp counselors, an extensive plan of fun and games, and girlfriends laughing. He wanted to stay longer but he saw in our daughter's eyes the expectant plead of a child demanding independence saying, "Get lost Dad, get unstuck, leave and let us kids have fun!"
At my recent Pilates course the instructor encouraged us to free ourselves mentally from the stories we tell ourselves, especially when we are doing our Pilates, yoga, or any hobby for that matter. The story that we tell ourselves might be, "I'm not flexible enough to do that," "I am too busy to practice yoga," "I don't have the ability to run, to lose weight, to win...never, can't, won't." We create dialogue or mantras in our head that lessen our chances for engaging in new, creative endeavors. This mental dialogue may even serve as road blocks to personal growth as well.
I recall a few years ago taking a tennis lesson and I was trying to improve my forehand volley. I had a perfect shot hit to me but somehow I managed to return it directly into the net. Immediately my mind went to derogatory self-criticism mode and as the coach tried to give me feedback my brain knew he was speaking but heard nothing he was saying. Exasperated I said, "Can you repeat what you said, I was busy berating myself?" To which he politely replied, "Oh, pardon me for interrupting." Sometimes we need to be interrupted from that internal mantra. Maybe it is your friend, your coach, your spouse, that helps you redirect that conversation. Maybe we have to interrupt ourselves when we recognize the repetitive, negative story.
It's not easy to become unstuck! There are some areas of my life that I have all 4 paws stuck to the surface and rubbing alcohol feels out of reach. Maybe you have something like this too that seems to hold you back. But go ahead and identify the hairy, scary beast in the basement. He may not be the rabid creature you imagined. My husband believes a margarita on the deck with friends and good tunes is all we need to loosen up. I think he's probably right. One of my Pilates instructors Cara shared how a yoga instructor recently said to her, "I wish my pelvis could move as freely as yours." Cara told her, "It can, just stop being so uptight!" Some of the motions Cara uses in her warm-ups are basic spine flexibility movements like cat and camel. Even a little "wag the tail" in honor of Bucky creates lateral shift of the pelvis side to side. Whether figuratively or physically stuck, motion and movement can be a healthful antidote to becoming unstuck. Drink up!
For a few moments today I was stuck upstairs frightened of the hairy beast awaiting me in the storage closet. Ron was briefly stuck today taking our daughter to basketball camp. He described a spacious college dormitory with huge bunk beds, energetic collegiate players/camp counselors, an extensive plan of fun and games, and girlfriends laughing. He wanted to stay longer but he saw in our daughter's eyes the expectant plead of a child demanding independence saying, "Get lost Dad, get unstuck, leave and let us kids have fun!"
At my recent Pilates course the instructor encouraged us to free ourselves mentally from the stories we tell ourselves, especially when we are doing our Pilates, yoga, or any hobby for that matter. The story that we tell ourselves might be, "I'm not flexible enough to do that," "I am too busy to practice yoga," "I don't have the ability to run, to lose weight, to win...never, can't, won't." We create dialogue or mantras in our head that lessen our chances for engaging in new, creative endeavors. This mental dialogue may even serve as road blocks to personal growth as well.
I recall a few years ago taking a tennis lesson and I was trying to improve my forehand volley. I had a perfect shot hit to me but somehow I managed to return it directly into the net. Immediately my mind went to derogatory self-criticism mode and as the coach tried to give me feedback my brain knew he was speaking but heard nothing he was saying. Exasperated I said, "Can you repeat what you said, I was busy berating myself?" To which he politely replied, "Oh, pardon me for interrupting." Sometimes we need to be interrupted from that internal mantra. Maybe it is your friend, your coach, your spouse, that helps you redirect that conversation. Maybe we have to interrupt ourselves when we recognize the repetitive, negative story.
It's not easy to become unstuck! There are some areas of my life that I have all 4 paws stuck to the surface and rubbing alcohol feels out of reach. Maybe you have something like this too that seems to hold you back. But go ahead and identify the hairy, scary beast in the basement. He may not be the rabid creature you imagined. My husband believes a margarita on the deck with friends and good tunes is all we need to loosen up. I think he's probably right. One of my Pilates instructors Cara shared how a yoga instructor recently said to her, "I wish my pelvis could move as freely as yours." Cara told her, "It can, just stop being so uptight!" Some of the motions Cara uses in her warm-ups are basic spine flexibility movements like cat and camel. Even a little "wag the tail" in honor of Bucky creates lateral shift of the pelvis side to side. Whether figuratively or physically stuck, motion and movement can be a healthful antidote to becoming unstuck. Drink up!
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