Looking At The Bright Side

I’ve always been a glass-half-full kind of person. I have a way of looking at the bright side, even if the only bright spot I can find is dark humor at the ridiculousness of the situation–like when a fierce wind wrenched a sign off a building that then flew into my car’s rear window.

Looking At The Bright SideI laughed even more when a few days later the side-view mirror fell off the car I was driving until my car got fixed. Why was car glass conspiring against me?

Looking At The Bright Side

This week I stayed at hotel uniquely located across the parking lot of the office I was visiting. The last time I stayed there, this was my view out the window.

Imagine my surprise this time, when I peeked out my window and saw this view.

It looks like a tropical paradise, even though I could (barely) see cars flying by on the freeway just past the treeline. The next time I book a room at this hotel, I will remember this serene view–as well as its convenient location.

One of my usual running routes also has quite different views.

Even a beautiful sunrise can’t hide the fact that this is a pest control business, but just around the corner you’d think you were on a country road.

looking at the bright side

And because you know you want toΒ  ….

Weekly Wrap

As I mentioned last week, I had a business trip this week that interfered with my usual workout schedule. Since my hotel was sandwiched between an office park area and a freeway, I stuck with the hotel gym.

Monday: Orange Theory Fitness
We did a “benchmark” mile run on the treadmill. I was determined to sub 8:00 and I did, but it took a hard effort. In 2017 I did a benchmark mile inΒ 7:27,Β but running that fast didn’t even cross my mind this time.

Tuesday: Cyclebar
I wasn’t sure I’d make it to Aimee’s 5:30 am class after staying up to watch Clemson win the ACC Championship, but I didn’t feel too bad when my alarm went off, and of course her class helped wake me up for the rest of the day.

My Cyclebar essentials

Wednesday: 1 mile walk with Scooby + PT stretches
I thought I might have time to do some of my PT exercises before heading to the airport at 6 am, but by the time I had walked Scooby, I barely had time to fit in a few stretches. I’m pretty sure I walked another mile between my car and my gate–I usually fly out of DCA and forget how huge IAD is.

Thursday: Hotel gym workout
I made my self stay in bed until 4 am pacific time, and then hit the hotel gym. I started with a warm up on the treadmill (5 min walking, 1 mile running) and then did a full strength routine will all my physical therapy exercises and stretches. That took over an hour, but I still made it to Starbucks by 6 am. πŸ˜‰

Friday: 4 miles on the hotel gym treadmill
I was up at 4 am again, and heading to the airport at 6 am again, but this time I had time for a treadmill workout. I tried to do a manual incline program, but it wouldn’t let me change the incline, so I switched to a hill program, but then I couldn’t figure out how to stop it “early” for a cool down, so I stopped the workout and started a new manual program again. Sheesh!

This treadmill had secret rules against changing your program.

Saturday: 6.4 Scooby Miles
After a cross-country flight I knew I wanted to get out for a run, but I was cautious about overdoing it after running 4 miles on the treadmill on Friday. 6 miles seemed like a good compromise.

Scooby Miles

Sunday: 3 miles walking + shoveling snow
We woke up to a few inches of snow on the ground and more falling from the sky, so after I took Scooby on his walk, I took advantage of my ability to walk to church (~ 1 mile)!

 


And that’s a wrap!


Do you have an anecdote about looking at the bright side?

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40 Responses to Looking At The Bright Side

  1. Life is definitely all about perspective and how you look at things! Some days I do a better job of finding the bright side of things. Have a great week!

  2. Cari says:

    I recall using a gym treadmill with a no adjustment setting like that – so weird. Nice gym selfie. What a great sunrise.
    Long trip for a short term – do you even try to get on pacific time or just don’t bother?

    • Coco says:

      I didn’t bother, but I had to stay up past my bedtime for dinner meetings!
      The treadmill had a button for incline, and you could adjust it sometimes, just not all the time? So odd!

  3. kookyrunner says:

    Awesome job getting in your workouts this week! I love that you were able to utilize the hotel gym, and it looks like it was a pretty good gym too!

    I know I’ve said this before but I absolutely love your spinning shoes! That’s one way to make a workout for fun πŸ™‚

  4. Steena says:

    Love the pest control sunrise, ha! Great reminder to look for the bright side too, everyone needs it!

  5. Darlene says:

    I am trying to be more positive this week…it is sometimes tough.

    It is single digits but there’s no ice,

    My cat died but he lived more than 20 years.

  6. I’m not sure I would have seen the bright side of a sign flying into your window! Well, you weren’t hurt, so there’s that.

    I think I would have snuggled in in the morning after a cross country flight but of course there is the time difference, too.

    Can’t even imagine a sub 8 mile. Pretty sure I’m never gonna see that! You go, girl!

  7. I do not think I would have kept such a good attitude after seeing that a sign broke my back window. I did not read that particular post so of course I had to visit that blog post to read more!

    Your hotel view is lovely. Where where you staying?

    • Coco says:

      That hotel was in Del Mar. I wish I had been in downtown San Diego, but on the bright side, I was right where I needed to be for work and could walk to a Starbucks. πŸ˜‰

      The car window was ridiculous. I think because the wind was so fierce it made me laugh in a “this is crazy” kind of way. πŸ˜‰

  8. therightfits says:

    Love the pest control route πŸ™‚ At least you’re out there running! And the hotel view of the pool looks lovely.

    • Coco says:

      Of course, I didn’t even know it was there until I started running! Luckily that’s one local busi=ness I haven’t needed to support. πŸ˜‰

  9. Marcia says:

    You’re right it’s all a matter of perspective. I could go for some lounging around that hotel pool about now.

  10. I think I have always been a glass-half-full person, but it was reinforced during my surgery recovery in 2017. I was bummed I couldn’t run for three months, but I was very thankful that I could still get up early and power walk. I have not complained about the heat of summer since. I was so grateful to actually be outside and active in it, no matter how sweaty it made me.

  11. It really is all about perspective, isn’t it? You always do such a good job about getting your workouts in despite the business travel!

  12. Laurie says:

    Your hotel pics are too funny! You really did a great job getting some varied workouts in despite traveling. Way to go!

    • Coco says:

      When I was booking my room I was surprised for the option for a “pool” view based on the view I had on my first trip. You never know!

  13. Lesley says:

    I know all too well about waking up super early on the west coast. It was always hard going on vacation from Boston and being awake before breakfast was available. McDonald’s makes good breakfast!

  14. Liz Dexter says:

    Well done fitting everything in! I had that contrast with my clock picture on my blog – if you turned round 90 degrees, it was in front of a lovely Edwardian house, but looking down the main road you got cars, offices, cranes …

    • Coco says:

      Hah! See, I’m not the only one. When I take pictures I often notice less lovely things that my brain filters out when I’m enjoying the scenery.

  15. I love that you always choose to see the bright side of life. I remember your car incident very well because I so admired how well you took it! Well done on getting those workouts in when you were travelling for work.

    • Coco says:

      Thanks. The time difference made it easy. Not much else to do that early — although the Starbucks did open at 4:30. πŸ˜‰

  16. Wendy says:

    I love that you see the positive of everything. I always wear my “positive energy” bracelet to work to remind myself to do that very thing. It’s a work in progress!

  17. Farrah says:

    I’m with you there! I like trying to look at the bright side whenever possible too! Great job on getting in your week of workouts too! :]

  18. Love your outlook on seeing the positive side of thigns – that tropical view would work for me!!

  19. you did amazing for being away and not getting your usual workouts in! what a view at that hotel too, wow! I never knew about the sign flying into your car (and then the mirror falling off) but I think I’d probably also make a joke about it and move on… I guess the way I see things (which makes me sometimes just feel like I’m neutral about the whole thing) is that you can laugh or cry about it but laughing is much more pleasant πŸ™‚ I am likely more cynical that the rest of you positive people, but I try very hard not to let things keep me down.

  20. Ethel Grant says:

    Look all things from positive view is good way to make the life more lovely and your life brighter like the sky in the pest control pic o^V^o

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