My goal was to make it to the gym at least twice this week. Now, it’s looking like it will be zero times because my ribs are really not ready to be exposed to stretching and deep breathing that an aerobic workout would necessitate. I’m getting sad looking at the calendar, thinking that I may not even be able to go next week. When will this bruising stop and the pain go away? Who knew that whooping cough could leave such dire bodily effects on you?

There’s partly vanity involved in wanting to go to the gym, but the other part about it is that I always feel fresher, more alert, and focused when I work out in the morning versus when I do not. It’s always a struggle to get out of bed, especially when it’s as cold as it is here in January, but when I get out of the apartment and hop on the train, I know all that effort was worth it. It helps that I also have gym acquaintances, including a trainer who is trying to get me to do pull ups and lifts, who keep me in check; a few of them make fun of me when they don’t see me for a while, telling me I am slacking off or getting lazy (sometimes, this has some truth; other times, it’s because I am traveling for work or pleasure, which I don’t always tell them about ahead of time). As the wedding date approaches, of course, I’m also thinking about that, too. Chris and I need to work off all the calories we ate in Australia and in Hong Kong as delicious as they were, and now we have FitBits to keep us accountable (and competitive).