Midlife crisis? What midlife crisis?

I was accused of being in midlife crisis today.

Except I'm not depressed or questioning my past. Or acting any more immature than usual. I'm definitely in a phase of re-examining some of my priorities. But having a crisis? No way.

This friend was noticing the changes I've been going through over the last couple of years -- all the shallow stuff like the clothes and the shoes and the music. I think it's more a function of the weight loss than the age. I haven't been hit as hard with the age issues that bother a lot of people when they're around my age. It doesn't hurt that I have nearly as much energy and I'm in better shape than I was twenty years ago.

There's a funny Paul story about the whole midlife crisis issue. He was talking to a friend of his when he was, oh, 45 or so. He told this friend that he didn't believe in the concept, that he thought it was so much baloney. His friend just laughed and pointed at me: "What are you talking about? Your midlife crisis is right over there."

The knees

Things I'm doing to help my knees:

1) Took some time off from running. Now, that might not be the most brilliant idea. But that's what I've been doing.

2) Leg-strengthening exercises.

3) Flat shoes. Yes, it kills me to give up my heels, as I'm now used to appearing to be 5'10" or so, but I thought it was worth a try. I managed to get a blister from the flats.

4) New running shoes! I got new versions of the same ones. I'd heard that there might be some advantage in switching around a bit, just in having your feet not getting too used to the same shoes, but I ended up just staying with the familiar. It was amazing how much firmer they seemed.

In contrast with the last time I went to a running store, the salesguy gave me absolutely no attitude.

Do it or don't do it

It's amazing how some of the decisions that caused me the most anxiety, that I hesitated the most about, have been ones that have ultimately worked out so well.

First off, the diet, of course. I fought and fought the idea of not eating sugar, wheat or flour. I could be moderate. I wasn't even a big bread person. Why did I need to go to extremes? Of course, now I'm glad I did.

Second, the decision to leave staff newspaper work. I wanted the steady paycheck and the regularity and identity I found in going to the office. When I left staff work, however, I met the editor who took my work to the next level -- and he paid me better as a freelancer, working at my own convenience, than I'd been making punching a clock.

Recently, I agonized over giving up one of my clients, the client who paid me terribly and used up a lot of emotional energy. Since I've stopped working for that client, however, I've had more time to do so many other things and cultivate more lucrative assignments. I've figured out to make up for the lost income with a lot less time -- and stress.

Rhetorical question and food for thought: What other things am I (or you) holding onto simply because I (or you) cannot imagine letting go?

Before-and-now-pictures

OK, I'm not big into pictures.

Sometimes, I regret this, as I don't have a whole lot of family pictures. Or pictures of me at my various weights.

Because I don't have them, I don't often post pics.

Glenn sent me a couple from the race, however, so I am joining the herds with race photos on my page. I haven't done a before-and-after in a while, and this will do.

My "before" pic, I must note, is a little bit deceptive because those pants are rather baggy. That photo was one of my wake-up calls.

Being bad

After nearly two years of being on the plan, I am slacking a bit.

Oh, don't worry -- I'm not eating sugar or anything crazy.

I'm forgetting stupid things like drinking enough water. Or taking my Omega-3 (or glucosamine) supplements.

I'm feeling tempted to eat extra things -- lovely peaches at a potluck, bananas at home. I really need to stop buying the bananas. Today, when I thought about eating one, I took a drink of water instead. I'm guessing I'm letting myself get a little dehydrated and mistaking thirst for hunger.

More thoughts on the race: I forgot to mention my knees hurt terribly after the race. It has to be time for new shoes.

Other news: I got myself an editing gig via Facebook, as a college pal tracked me down and then asked for help in editing his website copy. It's not a big assignment, but it could lead to others. And a little extra money is always nice.