(June 25, 2010) See Jane walk. See Jane run. Jane just went for a run, yet Jane isn’t what one would call a “runner.” She doesn’t necessarily work out; in fact, running for her has never really worked out. She’s even planning to put her summer gym membership on hold — yet, if anyone were outside early this morning, they would have seen Jane run.
Simply put, Jane has always had a fail-fail relationship with running. She’s tried to make it work so many times that she’s begun to see habitual patterns that are telltale signs that she’s about to stray. Similar to the way one fails in a romantic relationship, or a friendship, Jane has consistently been inconsistent with each past attempt she has made to re-build her relationship with running.
For example, she finds that she repeats similar high-calorie sweetnothings to herself that have served as the precursor to her throwing in the towel and, once again, giving up. Things like “This is great! I really need to do this, running will give me the energy I need, once I get over this hump!” Or other things like, “I’m not old enough yet to feel out of shape, running like this will really pay off!” Such sweet nothings are reminiscent of all the things Jane has heard a guy say in order to beef up a failing relationship, the kinds of things he says in an effort to trick them both into staying, before they inevitably stray.
Additionally, Jane finds herself admiring those with unrivaled energy levels, those who get a high off of running. Even thinking such a term out loud makes her pause — a high off of running? To feel that means to feel light and airy and energetic and lifted after going for a run. But so far, all Jane has experienced is a body that feels like lead, a pounding headache and Charlie horses. And maybe, she wonders, it’s because she doesn’t allow herself to get over the hump. Similar to getting past the tough spots in relationships, Jane gives up before she can even find out what the good feels like.
So now Jane can’t help but wonder, how does one become motivated and how does one sustain that motivation? Can it be found within the euphoric feeling of success and accomplishment, of meeting a goal? What makes a person say “enough” and begin taking care of herself again, or for the first time at all? Getting in shape requires discipline, physical activity and a healthy diet (the latter of which a friend recently confirmed for Jane was an important aspect of being healthy. Although she’d known this all along, Jane thinks it might be about time to put down the ice cream.
And, on the other side of the street, what makes one throw in the towel? What makes a person walk away from a relationship, end a friendship, walk instead of run?
For Jane, she’s noticed a few things for herself that motivate and deflate. So from here on, see Jane keep her mouth shut as she quells her urge for “positive affirmations” that are usually an onset to her demise. See Jane meet her workout buddy who keeps her motivated in the early morning hours. See Jane push through instead of give up. And finally, see Jane run.
just jane. 