JUMPED-TO-START

I got jumped three times yesterday. The first time was right outside my house and the second and third occurred in Riverside. On all three occasions, I was just minding my own business when the calamity struck. I was just trying to get from point A to point B. But you never can tell when the culprits of a bad day will rear their ugly heads. Fast forward to the day’s end and I can tell you all’s well that ends well because I saved a grip of money installing a new battery into my car myself.

So in case you were thinking I had been beaten up by a bunch of thugs, I didn’t mean that kind of “jumped”. I’m talking about the jumper cable, red and black, positive/negative sort. My car had that smoker’s cough wheeze going when I tried to start it that morning. And then wheezing turned to the annoying clicks stifling all hopes of the engine turning over. So I ruminated about the appointments I’d miss if I went straight to the mechanic. I felt harried and pressed to make a decision about what was the greater priority – fixing my car or training the athletes who were expecting me. I quickly figured that a jump start would get me to the first appointment and a second to the next appointment. I knew I could spiderman my way to the afternoon slingin’ jumper cables instead of webs. To me, there was no sense in panicking about a stupid battery, if that’s all that was wrong with my car.

I chose right too. And I couldn’t help but wonder, “How often does the daily mishap become an emergency?” When things don’t go as planned, it can become all you think about thus consuming the best energy you have to give. My objectives on Friday morning include providing quality personal training for my clients and only true emergencies should trump those commitments. I guess it’s a lesson in mental toughness when the things you expect to go right go wrong. Will you deliver “the goods” despite the impositions? Will you blame yourself in advance for what stands to go undone if you use the jump-start as your excuse?