I never expected this week to be difficult. Maybe it’s the constant messages telling us “it’s the most wonderful time of the year.” You can’t enter a store, turn on the radio, or watch television without being reminded of the magic. So when holidays are less than magical, people are thrown off course. I know I was.

After a beautiful Connecticut Christmas, I was stranded in a blizzard, my car died, and then I lost my dog. My life turned into a country music song and it wasn’t music I could dance to or train by. Coping with the snowstorm was easy. Safely tucked in with family, friends, and leftovers, I was thrown into a sleepover with carbs. It was great fun but not exactly a prescription for half-marathon success. Right around the time the “gym” idea hit me, my car died, and had to be towed and repaired if we were to travel back to Pittsburgh. The quick fix let me finish 458 miles (an 8 hour car drive) without putting a mile on my pedometer. Before I could obsess about holiday weight gain, I learned that our dog Gryffin (as in Harry Potter’s Gryffindor) had lost his battle with an autoimmune disorder. Joy was replaced with heart-wrenching decisions and the need to say “goodbye” to a beloved family member. I held him one last time and cried like a baby. Gryffin was my exercise partner. Each day he’d follow me to the basement. I’d hop on the treadmill and he’d hop on the couch and wait for me. There wasn’t a physical resemblance, but we both shared the belief that the only thing better than a nap is good food. My workouts won’t be the same without him. Today I’ll have to push myself to get back on the treadmill. But in Gryffy’s honor, I’m also going to take a nap. He’d definitely love that.

Nancy Berk, Ph.D. is a clinical psychologist, humorist, & co-host of Whine At 9. See her new holiday video clip,‘twas the Night Before SATs. Follow her journey on Twitter.

Week 14:Ho Ho Hoping

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