OVERdoing it

I am the champion of overdoing it, especially when it comes to all things sports or physical activity. The glaring problem is that...well...I'm getting older. And to be honest, I'm still in a state of denial. If there were a 12 step program for this type of thing, I'd still be hung up on the first step. Unfortunately, although I'm in denial of my declining physical prowess and deteriorating athletic skills, my body has gladly broken down and admitted that "Houston, we have a problem." See, this week I'm still paying the price for last week's multiplicity (DYoung word) of events.

• Monday: PM chest workout at the gym

• Tuesday: AM early morning legs/ back workout at the gym

• Tuesday: staff olympics - part of a 10 person team that participated in about a dozen random, goofy activities out on the football field

• Tuesday (continued): staff relay - part of a 6 person team that had to do a 6 stage obstalce course. It was a race...yes we lost in the championship. My stage you ask? Climbing through the front of an inflatable bounce castle and then out the back side to tag my teammate. Simple, right? Except there were three men donning Sumo suits with large joust sticks ready to pound me the entire way through. My first run went well. I managed to jump over all three of them. Seriously. I think there's a video of my heroics floating around somewhere. Yes, I will show my grandchildren one day. My second run...not as good. Though I managed to slip by the first two Sumo studs, the third jumped on my back and tackled me to the ground. Like a cat (a very senile, old, arthritic cat) I shook him off and proceeded to get out alive to tag my teammate. Adreneline pounding, I was on top of the world.

• Thursday: PM shoulder workout at the gym

• Thursday: 2 co-ed flag playoff flag football games...Once again, we lose in the championship. If I wasn't a competitive super-freak, I would tell you we had a great showing. We won second place. Secured the silver. Fell just short. But in my mind: second place is the first loser baby!

• Friday: AM arms workout at the gym

• Saturday: stood for 4 hours on an over-crowded bleacher watching A&M take care of business against Nebraska.

Let's fast forward to today (Monday). I have muscles in my legs that I didn't even know could get sore! I've issued personal apologies to both of my hamstrings since Saturday, but they still have yet to respond with anything kind. Worst of all, in the midst of my inflatable obstalce course conquest, the flowing adreneline kept me from the realization that a large Sumo man bruised a few of my ribs. I have whined to my poor wife more times than I'd like to admit over the past four days. And she's already accustomed to a fair amount of whining between two toddlers, a needy 95 lb. lab...and now me.

Now that I've written a small book...

It dawned on me as my body was in the midst of boycotting any hope of a "no soreness day" today, I have a certain propensity for going a little too hard some times without any thought of the toll it will take. Sometimes, I even (willfully?) ignore the warning signs. When I need to rest, I don't. So to all you men out there trying to rewrite your athletic history, please learn a lesson from this guy - don't over-do it! For you, maybe it's not sports or athletics. Maybe you over-do it in another area: golf, music, leisure, hobbies, work, cars, toys, quilting (okay, I just slipped that one in).

My point? Sometimes I just need to slow down. I need to rest. As men we are champions at pouring ourselves into things and dealing with consequences (or not dealing with them?) later. Actions have consquences. Beliefs have consequences. Good or bad. Some men believe they can pour themselves into _______________ (you fill in the blank for you), put off important things and important relationships (i.e. family) and it have no ill effects. How's that working for us guys? How's the intimacy, transparency and authenticity in our most significant relationships? When it comes to overdoing it, whatever it is, it's not worth it.

Take it from me! Because a fractured home is a lot worse than a sore hamstring or back. Take it from Luke (above) and Levi (below). Rest! Enjoy your family. Pour yourselves into what counts. Don't over-do it!