Whistle While You Work

My dad was known as the “whistling dentist” His office was filled with music from the 40’s and 50’s. It was fun working there. People often commented on how happy and carefree he was, but I learned the secret as his employee. He whistled when he was stressed, and when things got hard, the deadlines impossible and people were grumpy. It seemed to make him happy.

This morning I went on my run as usual. I felt discouraged, no motivation, my hamstrings seemed too tight, and it was dark and I was tired. I mused about my dad, and wondered if I could apply the same practice. Knowing it would be difficult to whistle and run at the same time I thought about dancing. Running is just dancing in a straight line, right? I juiced up my ipod to its highest setting and started to sing with Shiana. “I feel like a woman.” Because it was dark, I used the cloak of anonymity to play the air guitar. The run became fun and another mile disappeared.

When I was in Canada I decided to try an idea that I read about in Runners World. When you get to the peak of exhaustion instead of stopping to walk, run at a full pace as far as you can. I was at the crest of a hill, just passing a dairy farm and could see the turn around point. I ran as fast as I could. It was amazing. I felt like I was flying. Like a little 3rd grader grinning as she chased her friends. I was wonderwoman. It was joy!

This morning remembering my fast run I decided to do it again. I flew from the stop sign to the turn around spot. It felt like I was young again. Don’t get me wrong, I had to stop and walk after, and my lungs seemed headed for certain collapse, but for a moment my 39 year old body became young, and I flew. I grinned as I pushed past the previous endurance line. I had no limits, knew no bounds. After recovering I went back to my usual trot and smiled at what I had just accomplished.

My challenge to you this morning is to fly, to dance, to sing. Find the joy. Be a 16 year old with a brush for a microphone. If we truly believe Nephi and believe that men are that they might have joy, then we had better learn to find that joy through difficult things. Please understand the finding process is a verb. For us real people excercise does not come automatically with a smile to paste on our faces. Find means to be creative and discover what can make you happy. Dance on your elliptical, sing through your sit-ups, go your hardest, do your best, find the joy!

Or in other words, “Whistle while you work”.