It's just above freezing outside, and the wind off the lake certainly isn't going to make it feel any warmer. This is my first thought upon waking.
Mornings like this don't make it easy to get out of bed. But, I have a choice. I can lay around thinking of all the reasons why I shouldn't get outside into the freezing cold, or I could get up and experience something new. The latter is almost always the right choice.
My life is much too comfortable without voluntarily putting myself in uncomfortable situations. Frankly, this is life-giving. My body is meant to move. My soul is meant to experience a wide-breadth of things that screens can never replicate.
This process of putting myself into the uncomfortable gets easier with practice. A memory bank of good experiences builds up over time and provides a sort-of motivational grab-bag to get out and do interesting things even when there is a good chance some of it could absolutely suck.
When I get out into nature, especially with friends, not only is my day typically better, but my life as a whole tends to get better as well. It's these very moments, these adventures that make life worth living to me. It's never NOT worth living, but it's these types of things that move me from merely surviving to thriving.
What is that, for you?
We got a few quick miles in and had breakfast. Sun on the skin in the middle of winter followed by a good breakfast with a friend is a great morning ... a great day.
