It’s that time of the year where the stress has built up. It’s been almost 12 weeks since we came back from Christmas break, and we are all in need of a holiday. After school, I was frustrated. My typical response to frustration or a stressful day would be to come home, stew about it, veg out on the couch watching Netflix and eating junk food, feeling sorry for myself. But today I chose a different response. I chose to honor my commitment to the gym despite feeling cruddy.
Stress Relief
grumpiness started
to make itself at home
the chocolate chip cookie
doing little
to stave off the feeling of frustration
dreams of the couch
coming to my rescue
played in my head
but I have an appointment
do I cancel? or do I go?
begrudgingly i went
convinced I’d do my thirty minutes
and leave
the beat started off slow
then sped up
motivating me to row
faster than normal
picking up speed
with each passing minute
endorphins taking over
the stress started to thaw
my training session
over too fast
but i was ready
for more
my heart is happiest when i travel. read. write. connect. 
I’m so glad you didn’t give in to the couch! It’s amazing how much better exercise can make us feel, if we can only get past the desire to ditch it.
Loved the line about the chocolate chip cookie – things are really bad when that doesn’t do the trick.
haha…they really are, when a cookie can’t fix it!
I love your poem! So many of us are stressed at this point in the school year. I’m glad you went to your appointment and those endorphins kicked it!
Thanks 🙂 I’m paying for it today…so sore…but glad I went.
That’s awesome that the exercise made you feel better! While it’s not my go to stress relief either, if I get some fun music going, it’s hard not to let all that go.
The right music is key…otherwise I can’t get motivated!
Good for you! Go girl! Every Monday my hubby and I question whether we should go to the dance lesson. We nudge each other and go and then feel happy that we did. Not enough exercise in my life currently though.
That’s good you have him for accountability. One more week…then normal routines return!
I was wondering what the appointment was. I’ve never regretted exercising, even when I am burnt out and wiped. Loved the poetic format for stress relief! Hooray for endorphins and poetry!
haha…physical trainer appointment. Thanks!
Great work! Making a good choice really paid off.
Thanks!
Proud of you! Having accountability is a great motivator.
Good for you! It is so much easier to not exercise or not do the things that make us feel better when we get too stressed out.