“They” say a lot of things. In fact, by the time you reach 40 years on this planet you have enough cliche advice to fill the empty seats at the inauguration. Oops! I’m talking politics on the blog which is something “they” say you should never do! Let’s see what other rules of theirs I don’t follow and have some fun on this otherwise dismal day.
MARRIAGE
What they say: Never go to bed angry
It’s almost as if whoever said this was never married. In fact, I always give newlyweds the opposite advice because someone infinitely wiser said something about “sleeping on it” and that things always seem better after a good night’s sleep.
Marriage is hard enough without anyone giving you rules to follow and, no two marriages are exactly alike. What all marriages do have in common is that they take work! So what if you go to bed mad at your partner? As long as you wake-up still willing to work it out, it will last under death do you part.
Cheers to another year of making up and saying sorry to this guy.
FOOD SHOPPING
What they say: Never go food shopping when you’re hungry.
So I should never go? Inevitably I end up rushing out of the house with just enough time to go food shopping before the boys get home from school. I would rather do almost anything else then take my kids with me to the supermarket so, most of the time I end up there feeling hungry. However, this has it’s benefits.
On a recent trip and, practically starving, I spied a sale on Clif Nut Butter filled bars. I had seen and read about the deliciousness of these but had yet to try them. So, I grabbed one as a cruised by with my cart and ripped it open like it was the last piece of food I would ever eat. It.was.fantastic.
Since I don’t trust food that tastes that good to have good ingredients, I tried to piece together the nutrition label so I could be utterly disappointed. Imagine my surprise when i saw this:
Boom! 230 calories | 11 grams of fat | 9 sugars | 7 grams of protein | 3 grams of fiber
I circled back and grabbed a 12 pack and have been eating them ever since.
[Tweet “So much good can come from doing what YOU do! #whattheysayvsreality”]
TRAINING
What they say: Never ignore pain because it can lead to injury.
So I will probably get some grief for this one but, in my experience, running and training hard is painful. All these years of training the way I do have most certainly taken a toll on my body but, I like to think I know the difference between severe pain that causes injury and the regular everyday pain I ignore and push though.
I’m not saying this to come off as some type of bad ass but, where there is hard training there is pain. Some weeks I live in perpetual soreness but I get up and do whatever is on my training plan. Usually, about 1/4 of the way though, everything loosens up and flows and I finish my workout feeling stronger than the day before. Now, had I skipped or only put in 50% in those workouts, thinking I had to “take it easy” on my body I would never improve.
This was a result from a calf cramp I suffered in the pool after an intense track session. It hurt for days!
Again, I respect and pay attention to my aches and pains but, most of the time I push through them to reach the next level. Progress does not come without pain. That being said, I have never suffered a major injury like a stress fracture or anything close to it. I tend to my pain with different techniques but I rarely let it keep me from a workout.
PARENTING
What they say: Never go back on a punishment once you have said it to the child.
Am I the only one who, in the heat of screaming like a lunatic, makes up absurd punishments like “I will take your iPad and throw it in the garbage!” No? Ok, great then we understand each other.
Other things they say I should never do and have done at least 10 times in 7 years are:
Clean up their mess
Insisting they say thank you or hello or please or good-bye or whatever society demands of them in that moment
Let them eat nothing with actual nutritional value for a day…or two…
Let them have their way when they cry or whine
Bribe them in every conceivable way for things that don’t deserve a reward
Hey, we’re only human and, I think some of that “humaness” takes a nosedive when they are born and then we just do the best we can each and every day. I love them more than I love myself and some days, that just has to be enough.
BLOGGING
What they say: Do not, by any means, discuss politics…especially not now!
I find it ironic that I’m supposed to be politically correct about a new president who built his campaign around being the exact opposite. I think The Donald would be proud of my political ranting in this space, even if he tweeted about how much of a loser I am for doing it. #wrong
Unless you’re new here you know that I’m sad about what is taking place today. Sad to see the classy, intelligent, hopeful family leaving the white house and preparing myself and my family for the absolute unknown. It’s clear that I need to step outside my bubble (whatever that really means) and take action, something that has been a long time coming. And, as with parenting, I will use my favorite mantra of “this too shall pass,” and see what happens in the coming days, months and years.
Speaking of, I’m off to Hawaii next week so the future is already looking better…
[Tweet “What happens when you don’t do what “they” say you should? Find out! #train4life”]
Do you do any of these things? Tell me about it!
What is a piece of advice you completely ignore?
“This too shall pass”, girl. <3 Have a fantastic time in HI!
That’s on repeat in my head pretty much constantly.
Thank you!!
This is perfect. Yes I’m sad about today but trying to live in my bubble where Rupaul is VP and Strawberry Shortcake is POTUS.
I agree with all of this. Everything is work. It takes work. And training without being sore is just hysterical.
I will add that after having my baby I was supposed to take it easy, especially after a c section. But that us kind of absurd. Who has a newborn then goes on vacation?? Yes of course I would have liked to put my feet up but I’m not good at relaxing unless it’s a true vacation. Otherwise I’m up and at it.
Happy Friday Ali!! Hawaii!!!
Yes, yes, and OMG I totally understand that too 🙂
The infamous THEY. Just yesterday I told my son if he didn’t stop playing with the cat and brush his teeth before school, I was bringing her back to the SPCA. Of course I never would but it worked! They don’t know shit. 🙂
Yep – that’s what I’m talking about mama!! #highfive
Rule followers never have any fun, right? Keep on breaking those rules. I need someone to get in trouble with.
Amen Wendy, amen.
Obviously, I have discussed politics to a small degree on my blog, and recently I’ve been thinking that I will probably start to do it more…. Why shouldn’t we… If we have a voice, we should use it. Whether our voice is to an audience of 10 or to an audience of millions, we should use it… my audience is on the small side, if it gets cut in half, I don’t care…. at least I spoke up.
Yes to junk food day for kids and breakfast for dinner and bribes and whatever it takes for those of us who don’t have an army of nannies and cooks and housekeepers to help us out, which is 99.9% of us….
And as far as not going to bed angry, I’m already sleep deprived enough as it is;)
YES! And I love that last line because there is almost nothing worthy of losing sleep over…especially as you get older 🙂 xoxo
This is a GREAT post. Love love love it. I am right there with you on the pushing through pain part during training. I can feel myself getting a little achy and creaky over the years, you know? And it’s all a part of getting older, learning new things about myself, adapting, getting stronger, etc etc. If I just sat back and rested then I’d never evolve!
100% yes and I had a feeling you would totally understand this, being the rock star runner you are. You don’t win bobble heads without going though some pain!!
Your Hawaii trip is excellently timed. We’re going to New Zealand tomorrow and we will miss the whole first two weeks of this nonsense. My only regret is not leaving today so we’d miss the inauguration, too!
You definitely should have booked that trip for today but, totally jealous you will be somewhere amazing for the next two weeks! I will live though your FB and Instagram posts…as per usual 🙂
Have a great time!
Let me just hit the Agree Button on everything in this post!! Marriage is 100% percent work, sometimes Hard work. Life happens, keep moving forward! In this journey of life, relationships, parenting, blogging and running, I have learned to do what is right for me. I feel I have gained wisdom with age, but still don’t have all the rights answers or way of doing things. It’s about just continuing to evolve and adjust to life each day and let the decision and choices unfold and take shape with each moment! Enjoy Hawaii and soak up some beautiful swim, bike and run scenery for me!!
Totally! You hit the nail on the head with not having all the answers (no one does!) but continuing to learn and do your best. As long as we have goo intentions…and running…always running 🙂 Thanks so much Kara!
Haha! When am I not hungry? I always find new delicious goodies when I end up shopping hungry so I’d call that a win. It can be hard to stand your ground on punishment sometimes, I mean come on the facial expressions and the tears . . . Love this Allie! xoxo
This post made my Friday! This too shall pass is a great mantra. I never get the not discussing politics thing. If we are supposed to vote, we should discuss it! People trying to be politically correct and not saying this as they are is what landed us in today’s situation.
I threaten Charlie with silly threats when he doesn’t behave, but sometimes I follow through on them (omg what type of parent will I be?). We have a unicorn costume that he has to wear when he’s naughty. It works.
Enjoy Hawaii and all that sunshine!
I would love to see the unicorn costume on Charlie. 🙂
Oh man….you crack me up! Thank you for this wonderful read on a Friday! And your parenting section. HA! Yup, been known to hand out punishments like that on occasion. I have to be careful now, though because my son is 10 and he will call me out on my ridiculousness…then my boyfriend calls me out on being inconsistent.
Have an amazing time in Hawaii!! Sunshine and warm temps sounds great for the soul right now!! 🙂
They say “you NEED to eat in the 15 minutes after you finish a run” and it MUST be this ratio…blah blah blah. Ok, usually I am eating my breakfast after my morning run, but if a second run happens at like 5:00 and I eat dinner at 7, chances are I won’t be eating before then. Also I am never thinking about the ratio of nutrients involved. Anything is fine as long as it tastes good 🙂
HA HA – totally! I was just thinking about this the other day when I literally couldn’t eat until about an hour after an intense workout. And, the longer I’ve been doing this (as I’m guessing you feel the same) I know what my body needs and when it needs it. Just eat!
Whoever said never go to bed angry is an idiot. Sometimes you just can’t work it our perfectly before bed and that is okay! Plus, most of the time I am too dang tired to worry about it cause I know we’ll work it out the next day and all is well. After 15 years of marriage, we get each other, ya know? 🙂
YES! I avoid taking my kids to the grocery at all costs if there is any way possible – and I’m pretty much always hungry, so I guess I should never go to the store? ;0
And yes to what Paria said – there is no staff of people waiting to tend to my kids, so sometimes Mom has to get a little, shall we say – creative?!
Have so much fun in Hawaii!!!
LOL – I know you totally understand and get all of this Nat!! Keep on doing what you’re doing mama!
Everything happens for a reason. STFU
And if I did what “they” said? I would be living at home or at the very least in Georgia in a glass box, getting (useless) surgery, and without a prayer of ever having a child. Forget the marathon. I would be on bed rest at all times.
“They” can kiss my ass.
Holy crap – YES – that is the worst!!! Who ever wants to hear that? No one!!!
And you are obviously living this you probably should have written this one 🙂
I couldn’t agree more with ALL of this. Going to bed mad… that seems advisable after some arguments. It prevents you from saying more shit you can take back. LOL!
You know I agree with you on politics. Silence is dangerous these days.
Completely advisable…especially if alcohol is involved, right?
Loved all your pics from the march on Saturday! Great signs, great women, great message, just so much greatness!
I am so with you on the political talk lady! I can’t help but share my political views surrounding all of this shenanigans, but I honestly don’t even care because my blog and health coaching business are a reflection of me, and I’m proud of my political views and values. Participating in the women’s march made me feel better about the inauguration, BTW!
I’ve been eating Clif’s new nut butter bars too! I first had them at a trade show last year and had been anxiously waiting for them to come out in stores for months.
Love it!! And yes – speak your mind because your business IS who you are. Silence got us into this mess so now we TALK and work it out.
Those Clif bars are so amazing. I cannot believe I waited so long to try them!
OMG, I told Reid today that I was throwing his Ipad in the trash…yea, like THAT would happen. What would I use to babysit him when I need some peace and quiet or time on the treadmill? I.THINK.NOT. 😉 Glad we have similar parenting styles, lol! Hope you are enjoying Hawaii!!! XOXO