30 Days of Encouragement – Day 4

Welcome to 30 Days of Encouragement – Day 4. Today, I will be focusing on the ability to laugh at oneself. This is a crucial trait to have throughout life.  

Light to Moderate Walking

My Dad and I have recently begun walking together on an if-we-feel-like-it basis. I say walking, but that is a strong description. It is more like strolling.  

Due to this newfound enthusiasm, my right ankle has been out of sorts. Sore, bruised, hurting. Did I twist it, you ask? Sprain it? No, no, no. I strolled. That is what I did – strolled. Being unfamiliar with what it was experiencing, my ankle decided to throw the towel in.

Let Me In

I grew up in tropical temperatures. Anyone who has ever been in that climate knows the heat is…intense. Even as a small child, I didn’t have a tolerance for it. My parents would insist I had to play outside for a little bit, much to my overwhelming dismay. The dismay was such that stories abound of a small me pressing my little face and hands against the sliding glass door repeating, “let me in, let me iinnnn.” Multiple family members have confirmed this.

Waddle

Despite my lack of tolerance for tropical heat, I naturally jumped at the chance to go to one of my closest friend’s weddings down in the Virgin Islands. While there, strolling and beach frolicking were involved, along with massively swollen ankles. My ankles reached sizes I didn’t know they could. Forget walking. Hobbling was my mode of transportation.  

During one hilarious episode, my sister and I were trying to get back to the room we were staying in due to having an early flight out the next day. We heard other wedding guests on a path about to be within eyeshot of ours. My sister started running to get out of eyeshot while whisper-shouting, “HURRY UP!!” I couldn’t walk well, let alone run. That didn’t stop me from trying. Oh no! With newfound faith in my body’s capabilities, I whisper-shouted back, “I’M COMING!” and attempted to increase my hobble speed. That was not wise. I was forced to waddle like a penguin to create any forward momentum. By the time we reached the room, crawling was my only means to get around it. You will all be pleased to know we avoided the other wedding guests, so mission accomplished.  

Laugh, It’s Okay

No one would ever accuse me of being outdoorsy or active. Sedentary? Yes. Enjoyer of temperature-controlled environments? Yes. Slowly, but indeed, that is changing. I enjoy being outdoors more now, but I still prefer it if the temperatures are mild; there is shade and a pool nearby.  

If I could not laugh at myself, I don’t think the option to change things would even be present. If I chose to beat myself up or look back in regret at my lack of sportiness rather than laugh, I’d stay stuck at the same place. I used fitness examples, but it really applies to all areas. Not everything is funny, but the bits that are a good laugh will enable you to not take yourself too seriously. What is something you could laugh at yourself over? Laughing at yourself will keep you open to learning. Keep you curious and willing on the days when you just aren’t feeling it.  

Until next time,

Rah