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I got back on the treadmill today.

In the best possible way. People like to use the treadmill as an analogy for the endless run of effort an unhappy life can feel like. Running as fast as you can to stay in the same place. Exertion without direction. It's a valid analogy.

But it's not how I feel.

I think I've mentioned before that I'm not a natural exerciser. In my vainglorious youth, back when I could eat anything and never show it, I liked to say that I only walk, never run. Hey - I was a teenager. I thought it was cute to say things like that.

Now I run. Because I have to. But I'm not a natural runner. The treadmill keeps me on track. I don't have to worry about if I'm slowing down (which, left to my own devices, inevitably occurs) or how far I've gone. I set my speed and my time; all that's left for me to deal with is keeping going. Thus, for me, the treadmill is about consistency and discipline. It's all about daily progress.

No more eating whatever strikes my fancy - like the birthday crab-fest above - or lolling about drinking wine and being lazy. I've worked it out of my system. It feels good to reapply the discipline, work back into stretch of muscles and the glow of a healthy sweat.

I might even try to pick up the speed a little.