Fay Watson

An unseasonably warm December first brought Pearlanders outside to watch the annual Christmas Parade.  As I drove down Broadway towards the middle of Pearland yesterday I wondered how much Christmas spirit would be found.  It was an hour and a half before the annual Christmas Parade was scheduled to start.  As I got to the first portions of the parade route, there were already folks out by the curbs sitting in chairs waiting, crowd watching, sitting, talking to others and of course there were those who couldn't leave their cell phones alone.  It was the children eagerly waiting for the start of the parade that were a joy to watch.  The little ones who get so excited when they see lights of the floats getting closer.

I am happy to report that the cold virus that bulldozed over the Watson clan has finally hit everyone and everyone is on the rebound.  It takes such a tiny thing to bring us down.  Luckily no one has any lingering effects.   Rebounding during this past week, every day I feel so much better than the day before.  David is the last to get it and to recover.  I predict that he will be a lot better by Thursday.

AND to be posting more than one post in a week is probably just too much!

The rhinovirus, a cold virus in generic terms, it is invasive.  It invades the host, and begins its journey to create havoc for the whole household.  Host one starts to feel a little off, a little draggy.  Host one becomes contagious before they even know they are sick.  From there the virus starts its journey through the rest of the family.  Traveling fast replicating and causing varying degrees of illness in each host.  Unfortunately anyone who has a weakened defense will become more ill faster and suffer more severe symptoms than the healthy and fit.  So, it becomes really important at this time of year to be aware.  Wash your hands, wash them frequently.  Keep your hands away from your face as much as possible.  AND be careful around those that you love and try to keep them virus free.

Posting something two days in a row!  Must do better than that, just because it is a good way to blow off stress.  Different than working out, more of a mental release.

That was pretty much pointless...

The weather is turning... another cool front has arrived and we have already reached our high for the day!  I love these early fall days.  Inspires me to get outside and move more.  Not that I ever have problems with motivating myself to move, but sometimes those 90 degree days really slow me down.  I have been thinking about motivation a lot.  How do you keep going?  What keeps you moving?  Why is there such a difference between one person and the next?

I get so restless when I am not active.  I can't even imagine spending a whole day doing "nothing."  Of course "doing nothing" is different for every person.  For a lot of people it is sitting and watching TV, reading a book, basic "vegging."  I can do that for an hour or so... then I get so restless...or FALL asleep :-)

How do you do with sitting still?

I love Crossfit! I love our box. 
Our Reign coaches do an awesome job encouraging and prodding us as we slug through our WODs.

BUT, one thing that We as Athletes need to improve is our cheerleading for others.

I know that we have places to go after we finish the WOD. I do too. We have work, families and other activities and hobbies. Part of the sense of community and family of the box, however, is the way we treat each other. At level one Crossfit Training we were reminded that it is considered rude to put away your equipment before the last person is done with the WOD. Everyone should be cheering on that last person. They should have the VERY BEST cheering and encouragement. So do your part...Run that last 200m with them, do extra burpees, or an extra 50 squats... take their mind off the WOD and help them complete the reps, it is the CROSSFIT way to finish off a WOD!

Yes! I haven't written a single post since February! Scary but true. Apathy is a strange bed fellow, as is depression. In fact, the two work hand in hand and create a lethargy that is very difficult to break. Recognizing these symptoms is the first step towards rejoining the world. It has been such an upside down world this past year. The interesting part of it all is that the more complacent you are the bigger shock a catastrophe is to your world. Being a positive outgoing person has saved me in many ways. So, I am not going to moan about my life. I am not here to whine, I have a bed to sleep in, plenty to eat and I am able to work. Those are things that so many of us take for granted. As I sit and watch luxury cars and tricked out trucks drive by I wonder if the driver has the same worries that I do? My best friends tell me I over think everything. They tell me to just be. But I can't help it! There have to be other thinkers out there. People who look at the world and see questions that need to answered. Do I know the answers, unfortunately not. But it would be great to sit and talk to other thinkers and have discussion. Too many people are wrapped up in what is happening on the television that they are missing the chance to interact with people. The only way to open up and become friends with people is to actually have face to face conversations and engage them. The invention of social media has put me in touch with so many people from the past. But are any of these folks people that I can develop meaningful relationships with in the present? Not really, I call them my periphery friends. They can't drop in for a cup of coffee. We can't sit and sip a drink and talk, eat at a nice restaurant, go to a museum or take a hike in the woods because the distance between us is too great. Right now my greatest pleasures come from sitting and having coffee with my Friday friends, having a drink with my happy hour friends, and my daily workouts. Sweating and struggling next to my 515AM friends forges a different type of friendship. We don't have time for conversation, but we do build a bond through getting through the WOD day after day and cheering each other on. So, I am sitting yet again pondering what is next in my life. I know you can't make a concrete plan because of the unexpected events that send your world crashing around you. I wish I could go back 5 years ago and set different wheels in motion, make different choices and plans. BUT I can't go back, can't change the past. Not only can I not do that, it would make me a totally different person. And good or bad I like the person that I am today.

We spent an hour in the late afternoon with 3 out 4 children and Lola.