And streeeeetch.

My blogging muscles are limp and languid from disuse.

That’s what happens when you don’t exercise regularly, children. The condition that you built up slowly during all that investment of time and energy drops away in a flash when something interrupts the regime. Then, the longer you wait between workouts, the more insurmountable the challenge seems. If you exercise for half an hour four or five times a week, it can feel annoying lacing up your joggers yet again, but if you never exercise at all, pulling on those trainers isn’t annoying; it’s scary, and it feels nigh on impossible.

I think the exercise metaphor is close to hand because I got sick around the same time I did my last blog post. The stomach flu mauled me for about a week and then it haunted me for another two or three. I had no energy at all and it was downright depressing to see how quickly my body decided to embrace its inner (and never very far from the surface) couch potato. Even the most basic activity – like walking down the hallway – wore me out. Ugh. Hello again, week one of the 5k running program. I thought I was over and done with you forever.

Putting a blog post out there while I feel so unfit for the task seems similar to that. I feel frustrated with the unfamiliarity of the job, as well as with my own declining ability, and I seem to be saying things in the most complex way possible.

BUT. I’m lacing up my joggers, queuing up an appropriately upbeat playlist, and stretching my fingers.

So. Hi! What's new?

PS. That follow-up post to the discussion on beauty is still coming! Stay tuned.