Getting Settled

Finally, I don't have to come in early Or stay late Just to get everything done My days off are for resting I can sleep in We have all the help we need There's no more stress Of filling two positions Calling for help when there's a line And everyone else is busy We have someone now Before work I can drink my coffee And read the news After work I go for a walk or work out Just like the doctor recommended It's getting better and I'm glad

Hate is when someone doesn't like you For no reason They don't give you a chance Because they already know everything They are too busy or don't care or are just plain mean A flimsy sign for a local concert is bent all the way to the ground As the wind suddenly swells up all around The air is thick and heavy and brooding Rolling black clouds rapidly cover the once clear blue sky and hide the full moon previously in view It's gonna rain Any second now Hate ruined my day But I got over it Because there are nice people out there Smiling faces and cheerful voices And that's what counts

I need my snacks They make me feel better And help me sleep I don't drink or smoke I exercise and eat right Mostly, except for snacks I'm suffering for no reason All I need to do is walk to the kitchen Open the pantry and grab some chips or popcorn Withholding is a stress I don't need in my life right now I don't need to lose weight or improve my physical health What I need is my moment to be happy, to be relieved But I choose well I do the right thing Tomorrow is another day My sleep will be fine With or without my junk food I will wake up refreshed and pleasant Tomorrow is another struggle With that which I should not do With that lazy, casual feeling that it's fine But I will win I am good And I'm doing what's right

I have a use for all my clothes Everything I've bought And been given And acquired Looks good until I've worn it out I have nice clothes and casual clothes But nothing just sits in my closet or dresser I have backups of everything in my pantry And weeks worth of food in the fridge and freezer Nothing gets wasted or goes bad Most days I eat leftovers Most portions are precise I have new shoes, old shoes, and pretty worn out shoes Ripped and broken shoes go in the trash I have what I need And rotate accordingly until everything is worn out I've removed everything I don't use or need Collecting dust in storage Because it's good to be useful

That first bold step onto the pavement along the side of the road The crisp, fresh, afternoon air, and the bright, warm sun blazing down upon your face as you head out In this short-lived journey of health and adventure Your breath thickens as you mechanically place one foot in front of the other Thinking about what's for dinner and how refreshingly pleasant everyone was today And nothing really Except the struggle Tired feet, half-way through or even better Stumble along the grass where the terrain isn't quite flat, but a much needed escape from passing cars Care that sometimes glare, sometimes smile about living life Living longer and better, one step at a time, one day at a time One last mad dash back home to the telephone pole designated as the ending point Dripping with victory Pouring with life

I feel fat Society tells me I'm doing OK I hear good words But when I look in the mirror I know I could be doing better I could be eating healthier meals And having fewer snacks Exercising more regularly And pushing myself harder I'm not going to live forever But I want to make it count I feel good Right now

I'm gonna play through the pain I'm on my feet all day every day For work My weak knee needs to cooperate I've been working out Strength training and cardio That's what pushed me over the edge Caused me to go weak The only way out is through I can't take time off And I'd rather not stop exercising I want to build muscle Victory over weakness