Shut up already!

If everything happens for a reason, then I know exactly why I woke up with a terrible stomach ache yesterday morning.

I mean, it's certainly not an ideal situation when you have to call out sick from work AND skip a workout because you're not sure how long you can stand, sit, or even lie in one place without...well, I'll spare you the gory details.

Like most negative things, my sickness had a silver lining.

It forced me to slow down and shut up.

That's not easy for me to do. Not only do I very much enjoy intense physical activity, my brain tends to move at WOD-speed even when I'm not working out. I'm a wiseass, too, who feels the need to either say or write every witty (or not so witty) comment that pops into my head. I'm always looking for the next joke to make, the next blog topic to tackle, and sometimes, personality-wise, I feel like a runaway train veering off the tracks.

I like who I am, and after 30-plus years of trying to grab on to self-confidence like I was fishing with my bare hands, I'm proud to be able to say that. But it's always helpful to take a step back, to reflect, to breathe and to listen to what the universe is trying to tell you. This goes for all personality types.

So, what message did I receive yesterday in between naps and trips to the medicine cabinet, microwave (to heat up the heating pad) and, um, the other vital area in the house? I need to allow myself more quiet time, both in public and in private. Listen a little bit more, talk a little bit less, and when in doubt, breathe. Sure, I make a living commenting on the world around me, but I don't have to live every minute in that world. It's not my job to be the world's peanut gallery, the flesh-and-blood equivalent of the Muppets in the balcony.

I don't always have to be "on."

Type-A Syndrome isn't a disease or anything like that. I think there is much to love about people who approach their activities with great passion and intensity and express themselves without fear of what other people will think. At the same time, there is much to love about some good old peace and quiet every now and then.

Here's hoping your next dose of quiet doesn't come with a side of extra-strength Aleve by the bottleful.