Perspective - a gift we give ourselves.

Well, week #2 is in the books. I made it - I haven't missed a single class yet and that's not always easy with three active children at home and a husband who's job is to serve and protect. I've missed a couple ball games, arranged for childcare, grocery shopped later at night and ran errands with three naughty children in tow. All so that I can carve out 60 precious minutes Monday through Saturday to make it to class. Initially, I wasn't about to waste the money we shelled out in order for me to sign up, and while that continues to be somewhat of a motivating factor, I find that something more vital and important inspires me to wrangle into a sports bra and humbly allow others watch me sweat and grimace through the pain . . . me! I want this for me; so much so that it's occurred to me that I haven't placed myself anywhere near the list of my priorities. Discovering self importance is just one of the things I'm learning about myself through this.

Perspective is another.

It's Father's Day weekend. How I would love to have Dad over for a bbq and a beer out in the backyard on a leisure Sunday afternoon. And I will next year, and hopefully many years to come. But this year, he's in Columbus, Ohio. He's washing dishes, catching up on laundry, mowing the lawn and anything else my brother needs him to do while he's sitting next to my sister-in-law's hospital bed as she recovers from another procedure cancer has forced her to endure. Yeah, cancer. Kee's 37 years old, never lit a cigarette in her life, doesn't abuse her body and honored our family by falling in love with my brother. She's a mother of a 6 and 9 year old and a stepmother to my gorgeous niece. And she's fighting for her life and for all of us who love her.

Think sit-ups suck? Those push-ups kicking your ass? Walking around the block too much for your legs? Chemotherapy's no bag of tricks, I bet. Radiation? It's not for wimps! Having hard time forcing vegetables in your diet? Imagine having a hard time keeping anything in your stomach. Need a nap after a vigorous workout? Keelee needs a nap after walking up the stairs.

I sound holier-than-thou, but that's not me. I'm the least sanctimonious person you'll meet. I know how hard it is to push my body to its limits and work past the pain. But I recognize that it's on a much smaller level than what Keelee and all the other cancer warriors out there are going through and what they're asking their bodies to endure so they can live. Today's lower body was rough for me - I moved up in bands and gave it all that I could. I wanted to quit. I wanted to stop. I wanted to die.

Keelee doesn't. And the millions that are fighting her same fight don't either.

So, I figure I can stand the pain, the sore muscles and the tired body. My sister-in-law can stand so much more. Does so much more. Is so much more.

Here's the thing - we get this ride once and we only get one body to do it in. Enjoy the ride, take care of your body and when you think you can't push it to do one more step, force it into one more push-up or endure one more sit-up...think of those who demand so much more of their bodies so that they get to take as many steps in this world as possible.

Wrap your arms around those you love this weekend, unabashedly and without reserve.

....and make sure the first person you hold is yourself!