Lazy W Marie

Carpeing all the diems in semi-rural Oklahoma...xoxo

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i love people who… (january edition)

I love people who continue to wish each other “Happy New Year!” several days past the big party. Keep it going!

I also love people who greet you for the first time since December and say, “Feels like we haven’t seen each other since last year!”

I love people who allow a few sparkly holiday decorations to linger through January, because we often need a little boost as winter persists. That said, I respect people who clean and scour their homes as soon as possible.

((Jess on Christmas morning, 2022))

I love people who openly share their resolutions and their big, bold life plans. I also love people who choose theme words for the new year and tell the stories behind those.

I also love people who laughingly reject the idea of “new year, new me” and instead chip quietly away at their goals, building their lives slowly and behind the scenes.

I love people who, within five minutes of packing away the last of their Christmas details, begin flipping through the earliest arriving garden catalogs.

I don’t know much about football, but I love lots of people who do, and this seems to be a key time of year for them. I love their excitement and seriousness.

I love people who don’t like winter much, so they busy themselves making plans for when warmth returns. They comb the internet for local events in April and beyond, and they talk about plans for summer vacation to keep their mind afloat. These people need extra cuddles and warm treats right now, and I am here for it.

I love people who are very good at hibernation, people who embrace the season. They make it into an artform with layered beds and cozy living rooms, perfect lighting, maybe a fireplace blazing and a stack of great books or a queue of movies. They wear lots of soft clothes and eat comfort foods and let their cats and dogs join the cuddle. They keep the kitchen stocked with everyone’s favorite snacks and winter meals. I love people who love staying home.

I also love people who remain active outdoors despite the weather. Either for work or for play, they layer up and face the cold and the wind. They feed themselves extra nutrients like egg yolks and soups and dark leafy greens, and they know the cold is good for them and the morning sun is too, no matter how pale and distant it seems.

((January 2014 snowfall and cold sunshine at the farm.))

I love people who take extra measures to keep our homes and our vehicles safe and running smoothly throughout winter. They check the antifreeze and oil and tire pressure, they eliminate drafty spots and clean the vents and make sure vulnerable plumbing is always protected during bad storms. They trim tree branches away from power lines. They stack firewood and fill propane tanks and make sure the bills are paid.

((night snow, moonglow, & flashlight path))

I love people who know when the next wintertime full moon is and what its Native American legend teaches. I love people who follow the season with the animals’ behaviors and with the gardens’ changes and who can estimate the return of spring.

Mostly, I love people. I love all kinds of various people who see the day for what it is and why it is unusual and special. I love people who know that seasons shift constantly, a little at a time, then all at once, overnight. I love people who don’t wish anything away ahead of its appointed time. I love people who live fully even when things are not precisely as they would have them.

I love people, and I love YOU.

What kinds of January people do you love?

XOXOXOXO

i love people who… new year fitness edition

The first week of January is either famous or infamous for being the High Holiday for Fitness worshipers. I don’t mind. Good intentions have a bad reputation, really. Let’s celebrate all the ways we silly humans find to display them.

zombie run
Me in a soapy moment at the Luther, Oklahoma Zombie 5K obstacle course, six days after the 2014 OKC marathon. The start line of this race has a great story.

I love people who decide the day after Halloween to lose some weight, but they are going to first fully enjoy the holidays, okay? Okay.

I also love people who are blissfully unaware of their wild caloric abandon until, somewhere around January fifth, nothing fits quite right or they start seeing candid photos of themselves posted to Facebook by fellow holiday revelers. (Gulp.)

I love people who never need to lose weight and can eat anything they want because their bodies just are not affected by toffee-crusted fudge cake or endless bags of magical tortilla chips. 

I love people who actually enjoy feasting on gorgeous salads and raw vegetables and don’t see this as a healthy habit, just a delicious one.

I truly admire people who nearly gag at the thought of fresh veggies but swallow a green pile of them once in a while, just because their wives say to.

I love people who buy gym memberships and new workout clothes in January.

Better yet, I love people who asked for these things for Christmas.

Hats off to everyone who works up a sweat in actual not-at-all-trendy sweat clothes. FROM THE THRIFT SHOP. (It is possible.)

Fitness gadget wearers are fabulous. 

Smoothie making fools are wonderful.

Anyone who chooses a garden variety 30-day challenge (abs, glutes, running streak, etc), prints it off and tapes it to the fridge, then actually DOES the exercises on it might not be fully human.

Thanks anyway to all my Facebook friends who share these 30-day challenges and make me think about doing them even though neither of us probably will.

I love people who keep their fitness goals close to the vest, exercising privately at home, eating in moderation without posting any photos to Instagram.

I definitely groove folks who overshare their sweat sessions, reaching wildly out into the universe for PR’s, documenting in excruciating detail every protein-heavy, clean-carb having meal so I can learn from their efforts, or at least be inspired by them.

I love early morning worker-outers.

I love full-time office dwellers who grab lunchtime miles or late night weight routines.

I love mommies who jog with strollers and daddies who swim at the YMCA while their toddlers enjoy some daycare fun.

I love adults who coach kids’ sports teams and teenagers who inspire their middle aged moms to lace up. (Hi Joc!!)

Paleo eaters are cool. So are vegetarians and pescatarians and maybe even vegans. Maybe.

Folks who swear by a sunrise cup of hot lemon water with cayenne and honey make me smile. Coffee guzzlers are my tribe. Water purists are the best of the best of the best SIR!

But if you have something mean to say about diet soda, just… Don’t.

If you lift weights before running, you are the bomb dot com.

If you run first, then use whatever energy you saved for a few stretches or foam rolling, you are alright by me.

If you have the best intentions in January but falter with Valentine’s Day decadence and late winter hibernation, then start fresh again just in time for Spring Break bikini season, then get distracted by whatever keeps you busy in April and May, then hit it fast and furious again before summer, well, you might be hurting yourself and need a hug. But you are still awesome.

If, on the other hand, you live steady and eat mindfully, exercise most days of most weeks, challenge yourself but stay in a happy zone, remember your beauty, and also focus on beautiful things other than your outer physical self, then you have attained a level of self awareness that most people in our culture can scarcely imagine. And you are my new role model.

In the same way that a balanced approach to health and wellness leads to greater self-awareness and sustained well-being, physical therapy can be a vital tool in supporting that journey. When life’s challenges or distractions leave you feeling off track, it’s important to remember that taking care of your body isn’t just about aesthetics—it’s about sustaining long-term health and functionality.

That’s where physical therapy comes in, offering a structured way to heal, strengthen, and prevent injury. With dedicated therapists and targeted programs, patients can regain mobility, improve strength, and address any pain or discomfort that may be holding them back from living their best life. By incorporating strength therapy into your routine, you’re not only treating issues that arise but building a foundation for lasting wellness that helps you stay balanced, strong, and active for years to come.

Happy New Year, friends!! Be well. Set those crazy goals and chase after them. Break personal records. Feel amazing. Get satisfied with your efforts, month after month. But please have fun doing it. Please love yourself through the process and always remember that you are more than the sum of your diet and exercise achievements.

Thank you Christy. 
XOXOXOXO