Look Good, Feel Good, Am Good
This was a saying often repeated in the Marines while running and gasping for air.
Now, Marines are stubborn, egotistical, cultish people, usually emotionally stunted except for a few possibly negative emotions.
What can you expect from those that willingly call themselves crayon eaters?
Seriously though, my time in Marines was great for what it was, but it did it’s damage and I am still sorting it out today. I learned a lot and it gave me tools to understand myself and the world I wouldn’t have received from anywhere else.
Like the title of this post.
Look good, feel good, am good.
Often sung loudly at 530 in the morning to remind us why we were up running at 530 in the morning. It reminded us of our discipline, and how by working on our bodies we were working on our esteem and self-worth, of how if you are happy with your physical manifestation in the world you will feel better about yourself, at least in one way.
It didn’t make hungover zero-dark-thirty runs in nylon booty shorts any more fun though.
It has stuck with me, like many of the repeated sayings did, and it still influences me today, reminding me that I have the power to change my habits, and to change how I see the world in an overall pretty crappy situation, like the aforementioned fun runs.
Do I wake up a 0530 to run? Not usually, but with two young kids I will likely have to start claiming morning hours as my own here pretty soon. Especially if I want to keep up with my little gremlins as they get older and want to play soccer, or run with me.
So, what can we gain from this?
Work on yourself. Every day, at least a little. Get your repetition in. Don’t shy away from the stuff that sucks, make it tolerable, if not fun.
Learn to love yourself, work on your flaws, and find joy in the work.