do the right thing

I had to take my wife’s car to the store the other night and as usual, I get in her car and it is just about out of gas. It seems like every time I get into her car, there is no gas. I hate that.

So this time, I figure there is enough to get me to the store and back and she can get her own gas in the morning. So what if she is late for where ever she is going. She needs to learn to get gas sooner and not later. And I’m sick of getting gas all the time.

And then it hits me. Why am I getting so pissed? Why don’t I just put gas in her car? She is my wife. We are suppose to help each other, not find ways to try to “teach each other lessons”.

So I filled the tank up. It didn’t take that long. And I felt better after that. Guess it was the right thing to do.

It is very cold this first day of the year, 9 degrees at 7 AM. Wind chill makes it about -1. I was signed up to do a 7.5 mile race at a local park. And besides being cold out, I find I have csught a cold. And now I have a headache on top of everything.

So the smart thing now is to skip this race, relax and get well.

OK, I trying to convince my self this is right to skip. If I were to get hurt running today in this cold or get sicker, I would be very pissed at myself. Yea, it is not worth it. I’m skipping and maybe do a short run around the block later.

That is the smart thing to do today.

And now it is snowing on top of everthing else.

There is a week long bike ride across New York state that I have been interested in for 2 years now. From what I have been told, it is an awesome ride. The comradery and challenge is well worth the expense and effort.
But with my wife’s health problems, I cannot, in good conscience, make the commitment to this ride. The right thing is to be here for her. And have patience and plan to do this next year.
In my heart I know it is the right thing, but I miss the chance to do something challenging and be with the new friends I have made.

There was a nice long bike ride scheduled today, a 72 mile ride along a nice route I have never done before. A bunch of friends are riding and it would be great to see them and catch up on the past week’s activities.
But it’s raining; raining hard and looking at the weather map, it is going to rain all day. I hate riding in the rain. I don’t mind getting caught in it, but starting out in the rain and riding through several down pours on a long route is no good. You can’t see, cars can’t see you, and your brakes don’t work. It’s just not fun.
So I skipped this ride, for health and safety reasons. OK, this is the right thing to do today. And this decision is verified by the loud clap of thunder which shakes the house right at the start time of the ride. But I miss not seeing everyone.

Doing the right thing is not always the most satisfying thing.