Friday Quote Day

I consider being ill as one of the great pleasures of life, provided one is not too ill.

Samuel Butler

I'm not too ill. Massive doses of Vitamin C and a "healthy-as-a-horse" constitution find me feeling fit as a fiddle this morning, actually. Today is a scheduled rest day, and Mother Nature is conspiring with the schedule to force me to rest for another day or two. It is rain-rain-raining now, and may be snow-snow-snowing tomorrow. Spring? Wherefore art thou?

And, since Friday Quote Day is all about motivation and inspiration, a bonus quote!

Envy can be a positive motivator. Let it inspire you to work harder for what you want.

Robert Bringle, quoted in Redbook

We good little Judeo-Christians grew up thinking envy was a sin, so wrapping one's brain around the idea that there's a good side to envy can bring up some conflicting thoughts. But there are two sides to every coin, including the envy one.

If what we envy – desire, covet, want – is an achievable goal, though, we can use it as a carrot-on-a-stick, always just slightly ahead of us, spurring us on to work harder and more diligently. Feeling envious is often seen as a negative emotion, but turn it just slightly and we're happy for someone else's good fortune, and we naturally want it for ourselves.

I'm certainly envious of a toned, normal-sized body. I'm a bit repelled by stick-thin actresses and models – and I like to eat – so I'm not likely to starve myself down to perfection.

But admiring a physique that is, for me, achievable through consistent exercise and healthful meals is a great motivator.

I hope this doesn't sound too narcissistic, but my carrot-on-a-stick is me, 10 years ago. I know what's possible. I've done it before. I regret having to do it again, but I believe there's some lesson in here I need to learn, and I think it has something to do with caring for myself – outside and in.

Blog break alert: I won't be around the computer much this weekend, but most of you aren't, either, so I don't think anyone's going to miss me. If you're Irish, drink a green beer for me!

But make it light. Heh.

Forty-three days until race day.