february 2024

sweatin for serotonin

Mar 12, 2024

Hello! 👽

feeling grey

I got sick at the beginning of February, and my job got tougher. So I was a bit grey this month. It’s not a feeling I’m super familiar with. It feels like boredom but also no energy. Or just laziness.

This time of year in general is hard for me. Things are slower, it’s usually rainy and grey outside. Daylight saving time is still stealing daylight.

And when the sun goes down here, it gets particularly dark because we often have cloud cover. No moonlight :(

Work has been tough in the new year too. I’ve been working harder for longer hours without finding much purpose.

I’m learning that in those moments it's best to try to do something and not consume. Start reading, drawing, writing, and exercising.

fitness

Thankfully, February was a great month for fitness. Despite sickness at the beginning of the month, I was able to keep up my normal schedule.

Not being able to exercise would’ve made this month infinitely harder, I’m sure. Exercise is one of my principle sources of the good hormones (serotonin/dopamine/endorphins), especially on weeknights.

climbing

I got a red tape for the second time in my bouldering career which was awesome. Climbing is weird in that the feeling of progression comes and goes depending on the current setting and my mood. But this month I felt good.

gymnastics

I started an adult gymnastics class this month in an effort to finally deliver on my two long-standing resolutions (one minute handstand and standing backflip).

The teacher scolded me in my first class for flipping without his permission but we get along famously now. I’ve successfully irritated my right hip flexor with the amount of backflips (into a foam pit) I’m doing.

weightlifting

I hit 225 on bench press this month which felt good. They were perhaps the worst-looking reps ever performed in that gym. But still legal I think.

running

I started running on Sundays with a group of friends. It’s great to get outside on the weekend and have an excuse to get a little pastry treat afterwards. This combination of pace/distance/frequency means I’m not getting injured (🤞) which is wonderful.

the bachelor

We started watching the Bachelor this month. I’m convinced that this show is actually just a cult disguised as a reality television show.

This season’s Bachelor, Joey, is so sincere and honest that I can’t help but trust that he actually believes in the concept of the show:

Dating six women at the same time and picking one of them will result in finding your true love.

The cult is most striking when Joey is sitting in front of the parents and has to justify why it’s actually okay that he’s dating three other women in addition to their daughter. That takes some skill! And a lot of indoctrination!

Somehow, he explains the concept in such a sincere way that most of the parents walk away content. Incredible.

The amount of propaganda required to convince me to date someone who is also dating five other people at the same time is insane. And for it to be televised?

Here’s a handy instagram account that summarizes some interesting data about the show.

the end

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading!