Happy Thanksgiving!

I am celebrating Thanksgiving in New Mexico with my mom, step-dad, and husband. And of course the happy pack of canines (Lucy, Thompson, Gertie, and Gus-Gus). Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! Eat everything you can and enjoy it--Thanksgiving only comes around once a year.

I am reading a book that is completely unrelated to running and older adults--which is a rarity for me. It's not a non-fiction book, of course (that would be an impossibility for me). I am reading "The Happiness Project" by Gretchen Rubin. It's actually my 2nd free reading book of Thanksgiving break. The first was "Always Looking Up" by Michael J. Fox.

I feel sort of like I grew up with Michael J. Fox. He's at least ten years older than I am (I think more than 15, maybe?) but I loved watching him on Family Ties when I was a kid. He played a nerdy guy--which is maybe why I related to him. Anyway, I do recommend his book. It's a little bit on everything, including Parkinson's, stem cell research, faith, family, 9/11, politics, and his philosophy of life.

I learned quite a bit about stem cell research (which I have always supported but am even more in full support of after reading his book). Interestingly, and perhaps embarrassingly, I've never been able to articulate both sides of the stem cell research debate, and now I feel I could do so somewhat competently. As a professor of gerontology, I feel that I should be an advocate for stem cell research because it may be the best bet to end our battle with Alzheimer's disease.

As for "The Happiness Project," I'm only in the third chapter. I am enjoying it. It's making me think a lot about happiness. I am particularly focused on something she asks herself at the start of the book: What will make me happier? I don't yet have an answer to that question for myself, but I'm working on it. I'm thinking about the role running and other forms of exercise play in the answer, and I'm also wondering about the role of sleep...would finally sticking to that bedtime lead me to more happiness? Would working less make me happier? Or would that make me less happy--much of my happiness does seem to come from career success, doesn't it? But if I worked less maybe I would find more happiness in other things? Another question that has come to mind is the relationship between happiness and spending money...Would I be happier if I saved every last penny and had a greater sense of long term financial security? Or does splurging make me happy?

I'll have to wait for those answers to come to me (or maybe I'll have to search for them) but for now I'm back to running. I took about a week of completely from running. I worked out on my spin bike and taught aerobics, but I just didn't feel like running, so I didn't run.

Being in New Mexico the last few days has gotten me back out on the streets. I did 3.5 miles last night, and about 4 today. Obviously, my mileage is down, and I did have some IT band pain today. I am not going to panic about it. I am optimistic that the lay-off has simply caused my IT bands to tighten up. I will go back to the chiropractor next week, and it is my hope that she can help me out. It's more pain than I've had running in quite some time (probably since trying to come back from the lay-off after kidney stones). I'm not going to let myself get discouraged though.

Speaking of things that make me happy...my mom took me today to get a pedicure. I think I've only done this once before in my life, but it was enjoyable. Maybe I should do it more often.