August is my blogoversary month, and a time when I like to share my thoughts and insights on blogging itself. Lately I’ve read a lot about blogging with integrity. I’m sure we all agree that blogging with integrity is important, but I’ve realized that it can mean different things to different people.
This week’s Friday Five theme is a fun one–A Day In The Life. But my life is so routine, only the weather has changed since I shared this glimpse into a day in my life in January. Because I’m going on vacation next week, I thought I’d mix it up and share five thing I won’t be doing. 
1. Running. Usually when I plan a vacation I have to figure out where and when I can sneak in a run without feeling too guilty about leaving my husband behind. With my lingering foot injury, that won’t be an issue this time, although I’m still packing my running shoes, Garmin, and Nathan hydration vest for all the hiking we plan to do. (That won’t bother my foot at all, right?)
2. Going to Starbucks. How can it be a vacation without Starbucks? I’m trying not to panic, but it doesn’t look like there’s a Starbucks near our hotel. I will have to make do with the in-room Keurig–oh, wait, maybe I should pack some Starbucks K-cups? 😉
3. Working. This is probably wishful thinking, but I am really going to try to delegate or defer any work “emergencies” that crop up next week. Yes, I will triage my emails every day and ask my secretary to text me if anything truly urgent comes up, but I’m pretty sure I need a week off more than my clients need legal advice before August 17th.
4. Blogging. I usually manage to keep up with blogging while on vacation, but I plan to limit my computer time next week and focus on doing things I can’t do at home. I’m sure I won’t be able to resist sharing pictures on Facebook and Instagram, but I don’t plan to pull out my laptop unless there’s a work emergency I can’t fend off.
5. Going to the movies. We often see a silly movie on vacation, but this time we got a head start and saw Vacation last weekend. I didn’t have high expectations, but for some reason my husband expected it to be better–or less bad. I guess that leaves Ant-Man or Pixels, but neither looks that interesting. Is it just me, or has this been a slow summer for movies?
[Tweet “Things I Won’t Be Doing On #Vacation #FridayFive”]
Check out what others are doing at the Friday Five link up at Eat Pray Run DC, Mar on the Run and You Signed Up for What!
It’s been a while since I’ve tried a new food product, so I was glad to be selected by FitApproach and SweatPink to have an opportunity to do a product review and giveaway for Freekeh roasted green wheat.
While I like to supplement my road biking with indoor cycling, my husband likes to take his mountain bike on unpaved paths through the park. I blame credit his childhood love of motocross which he redirected to BMX when our kids were younger. He loves the rough terrain, jumping over logs and crossing creeks. Since I am not running these days, last weekend I agreed to join him on an “easy” path.
Putting on a brave face.
We started out slowly. He led the way so he could pick out the smoothest parts of the trail and show me the way through the rougher parts. Just as I was gaining confidence, we approached the first hill. I panicked because I really hadn’t figured out how to change gears, and knew I needed to downshift. I gave the hill my all, but it won. Right at the crest, I lost momentum and fell over, slowly enough to unclip my left foot, but not my right. I wasn’t hurt, and wasn’t even that embarrassed to have several cyclists and walkers witness my fall. I got back on my bike, my husband showed me how to shift gears, and we kept going.
After a few miles on the gravel trail we arrived at Lake Accotink Park, where we picked up a mostly-paved section of the Cross County Trail. I enjoyed the scenery, practiced shifting gears, and got a bit more comfortable with my bike. Still, I was cautious. While my husband cruised across this creek crossing, I dismounted and used the stepping stones.
We were about 45 minutes into our ride when I realized that our route was not a big loop. The paved trail wasn’t going to let us out near the parking lot. I was going to have to turn around and make it back the way we’d come. Back up the hills I had just cautiously coasted down. Back through the sand at Lake Accotink. Back over those gravelly hills.
As I rode, I thought about my fear, and the importance of respecting fear. My husband was good. He didn’t minimize my fears, or tell me I was silly to be afraid. He was patient with my slow pace. He tried to be helpful and encouraging without being overbearing. Would I do the same for a friend?
When I love an activity that I want friends to enjoy, I may prod them to join me without respecting their hesitation. What is there to fear about running (except maybe this)? Why wouldn’t you want to join me at an indoor cycling class? What could hold me you back from walking into a CrossFit box? If I let my passion override my compassion, I may scare my friends away instead of helping them get comfortable enough to join me.
I wasn’t going to let my fear stop me from riding my bike, but I had to acknowledge my fear, go slowly, and gradually gain confidence. Respecting fear doesn’t mean giving in to it. It means facing it down on your own terms.
[Tweet “Respecting Fear #cycling #sweatpink #fitfluential”]
How do you face down fear?
Happy August! Thanks for starting the month with the Ultimate Coffee Date Link Up! Make sure you thank my co-hosts Deborah and Lynda, and visit other blogs in the link up. For more tips on how to get the most out of a blog link up like this one, you should check out this post.
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