Hide and Seek Is Supposed To Be FUN!

As if I needed yet another reminder to be consistent with my stretching….

Briefly let me tell you what happened the other night with my kids. In an effort to separate my kids from their electronic devices, I suggested we play Hide and Seek. My kids are suckers for this game (so am I) and it didn’t take too much arm twisting. I was part of the hiding crew, while Jordan (my oldest) counted. We were snowed in, so we were playing inside. It had been almost a year since we had played this game here in our house, but I figured I would use a spot that worked for me last year: in a bathroom, crammed between a door and a toilet. I knew Jordan would eventually find me, but I was hoping it would take awhile.

Imagine my surprise and shock when I was unable to squeeze myself into the same spot I had used last year. To be clear, I don’t remember it being super easy to fit into that spot. But I don’t remember it being so painful and almost impossible! My hip flexors didn’t want to release, my hamstrings didn’t want to stretch and slide…and the noises I was making as I tried to fit into the space were all but giving me away. I don’t give up easily, so I did manage to hide there – but it took way too much work and it was not at all enjoyable. As I was hiding, I found myself wishing Jordan would hurry up and find me – it was extremely painful to stay put in that position for any length of time. “One year ago, I could do this!” was running through my head. Right then, right there, I made (another) promise to myself to stretch everyday. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve said this in the past year – those of you who know me know I’m always talking about how I need to be better about it. I do sound like a broken record. And I have certainly been stretching more than I’ve ever stretched in my life. Though, clearly, it hasn’t been enough, or as regular as it needs to be.

I am terrified of being unable to do the things I love doing, both with and without my kids, because I’ve lost too much flexibility. I know it’s possible to get it back – but I’m working against the clock and it takes more than the five minutes I devote to the process after weight training. I’ve been working with a professional who helps me stretch (keeps me honest) but it’s the time and energy I put into it on my own that makes the most difference. Like with most things in life, consistency is the key. All this muscle looks good but means nothing if you can’t move!

And yes, since this night, I’ve been much better about stretching. I find myself stretching smaller muscles, trying to be inconspicuous, in the lines at the grocery store. I try and stretch some while still in my bed in the mornings, before jumping out of bed and running downstairs. I have a foam roller in almost every room in my house, so there can be no excuse (though foam rolling helps, it is not the same as stretching). I’m sure there are some of you who are in the same boat as me, but hopefully most of you have been smart enough to stretch throughout the years. And if not, it’s never too late to start! Painful as it may be in the beginning…..

Mark my words: next year, I am going to be able to fit into that same hiding spot and stay there, quiet, until one of my kids, or their friends, finds me!