I'm #1, and that isn't arrogant, but it's a great feeling!

I woke up this morning feeling rotten. I had inadvertently conducted a dietary test over the last couple days. For the most part, I eat pretty well, and I tend not to pack on the pounds - as is the case with lots of people - but rather, I have quite the opposite problem.

I don't consume ENOUGH calories.

Now before anyone says,

"Gee, Dave, I'd love to have YOUR problem!"

let me ask you this: Do you "power out" part way though the day? I do. Unless I keep my calorie intake up over the course of the day, I'm sunk. I might bulldoze through, but don't think I won't pay for it later.

This week two things happened to me causing a big "heads up!"

1 - For some reason I've been snaking on sugary things lately, and in the later evening, shortly before bed. This has translated to a disrupted sleep pattern: awake around 5AM or, a power-sleep of 11 hours or so.

2 - My body hurts. I'm feeling like I used to years ago when all I did was "go-go-go". I then started going to a chiropractor (I think I was about 26 at the time) and over the course of time really started feeling better. As of late I haven't been to a chiropractor nor a massage therapist: both I prefer over popping a pain killer.

I called a massage therapy school today to see if I could get in for some relief. To my surprise they did in fact have an opening, and this afternoon no less! This worked out great as their latest slot on Thursday is 5:15PM. Pottery starts at 7:00, and wouldn't you know it, the school is on the way! Sign me up!

Boy, was I a mess. My student-therapist took one look at my back and said,

"I can SEE how tight you are, I don't even have to touch you!"

We addressed all of my concerns and covered most bases fairly thoroughly. I was given some stretching exercises to do at home - my biggest problem being my right shoulder. It's dropped and forward. I've also strained a muscle group right above my right elbow. If I sleep on my right side, I tend to wake up with numbness in my third and fourth fingers.

This is bad.

I appear to have signed up on the "long-term" massage therapy plan. I could almost feel the excitement in the office between my student-therapist and the supervising teacher.

"Look, Igor!! We're going to have fun with this one!"

I return next Thursday for my second treatment.

On Monday I'll seek out a chiropractor.

All of this, as I see it, is part of what's making up my year of self-awareness. I'm feeling really good about all these things because for the first time in a very long time I'm actively doing good things for myself and my being. I remember years ago - shortly out of high school - working like a mad-man just to earn money. My very personal well-being wasn't of great concern. I remember feeling burnt out, run down, unhealthy and not really, truly happy. I remember believing a massage was a luxury, not a necessity. I remember believing chiropractic treatment was reserved for those who had experienced a trauma of some sort. I didn't think of it as regular maintenance for a generally healthy body.

A sports-guy and gym-freak I will never be - mostly because I'm not out to become "Mr. Jock". I must say, however that paying more attention to my body's well-being is translating into success and happiness in many other areas of life.

So, at the risk of sounding vain, it really is all about me. Number one on my list is my well-being. Everything else will follow in its place and time.

This is a great feeling!