Riding with the window down…

“Sometimes you have to take a break from the pursuit of happiness… and just be happy!”

Six months and 36 pounds ago, I didn’t really have a goal for my weight loss - and in the grand scheme of things I still don’t. I sorta pegged 200 pounds as a preliminary goal and put the deadline of June 21st (for personal reasons) as a target date.

I am four pounds away with four days to go so it is likely that I will miss it by a pound or two, but that’s not really important. What is important is that I will shortly have lost 40 pounds and be on my way to looking decent in public with my shirt off. The closer I get to 200, the more I realize that I need to add muscle and still drop some gut, but I am pleased as punch with the results so far.

I am thinking that somewhere around 180 (but with much more muscle) is a good final destination for my fitness goals, but who knows - it will probably remain one of those moving targets.  All I can say is that I feel better in general, I have more energy, and a life that was always great anyway, is feeling even better now.

A very close friend and I were talking about the subject of “getting butterflies” from a relationship. We were discussing how it is common for those to go away after the initial excitement of a relationship wanes. It was my contention however, that they do not have to end.

Scientists have analyzed the “butterfly effect” (as it applies to relationships - not a butterfly flapping its wings on the other side of the world) and many write it off to nervousness and fear of the unknown from a new relationship. That certainly holds some merit. Everyone is a bit nervous at the start of something new. I think that it is MUCH more than that though.

I have seen people who have been in relationships for decades, and you can still see the physical change that comes over a spouse with the simplest of touches, or words from the other. Those same butterflies cause a wave of emotion as strong as any created at the onset of the coupling.

I’ve long been called overly-optimistic and even naive when it comes to happiness, but I see it every single day - even in my business life. Sure, when I start something new - a new venture, or project at work, there are butterflies of excitement. But you know what? Long after the new venture has passed into the “old hat” category, I still get that excitement at the prospect of a new day in that old venture. It works because I make DAMN sure to only choose to do business with people that I love to be around. If a relationship - business or romantic - is not an expression of honest, and committed efforts by all involved - you owe it to the people who count on you to cut it fast and keep pressing forward with the healthy partnerships.

A coworker stopped me the other day in fact, and simply asked, “Why are you so damn happy all the time?” Its because I do what I love and love what I do - that causes fresh excitement every single day.

Romantic relationships are no different. Be with who you love, and commit to love who you’re with - but make sure that you choose someone who can deliver the same. The butterflies will continue to flutter long after the body sags a bit and the wrinkles get more pronounced.