Musings of a walking machine

So it is 7:09 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, and I've already been out and about, getting my morning walk in around the city of Dover, and I feel great. Needless to say since I've started my little venture into the get-in-shape field, it's been an interesting experience that's helped me look deeper inside myself as a person as well as getting into some semblance of shape.

For those curious about my route, I walk from my campus apartment through the little courtyard, out of Parking Lot 25 and onto Route 13 until it turns into State Street. State Street then turns into Walker Road and I go up Walker Road until it turns into McKee Road, then College Road, and through the back entrance of campus back to my apartment. Translation: 10 miles roundtrip. I must be crazy. Or really determined. Either or, I've lost 25 pounds overall from January 1st to November 15th, leaving me at my lowest weight in three years, so this is definitely a good look that I hope to continue for a while.

These crack of dawn strolls are absolutely perfect for brain dumps and self-catharsis, something I've been avoiding for quite sometime. They always say that it's hardest to look inside yourself and be honest about what's going wrong or what you're responsible for. I've had some cringing, teeth-gritting, "damn, was that really me" moments so far, but hopefully I can learn from the bad and take some good out of it.

One thing I'm starting to pick up on is that it truly is your opinion of yourself is what matters, even though I'm always going to be curious about how others see me. I can honestly say that even though I've had a blessed career as a student journalist, this is the highest I've held my head in quite some time. I feel good about who I am, what I am, and what I can do. I really don't get into what I have to offer women too much anymore, simply because it's not meant to be at this school as far as dating goes. And for the first time, after 5 1/2 years of this, that and the other...I'm straight with that.

And the strangest thing about that is, as soon as resign myself to just chillin', rumor has it that females are saying I'm a cool person, says one of my co-workers at the Writing Center. Yeah, funny thing that "wooking pa nub in all da wong pwaces" mentality will do for you. I should relax more often. And I should keep walking. Apparently there's a whole lot of good to Chris Stevens that I haven't even discovered yet.

So as I'm shedding pounds, inches, spare tires and such, I'm also shedding the completely hopeless attitude that I've exhibited for the majority of my life. The latter is something that is I'm happiest with, even if I don't lose another pound.