What the DMV taught me about health.
The other day I had to go to the DMV. Although the visit left me frustrated, I was actually reminded of a few important lessons of health.
1. It was a cold Monday morning when I drove up to the DMV and saw a line that wrapped around the building. I was a blink away from driving out of the parking lot mumbling under my breath about those crazies waiting in line when I decided I might as well just get it over with instead of coming back in the afternoon. I boldly marched up to that line, mission in mind, my flats clicking the pavement like a racehorse approaching a starting gate. After a short wait, I got my number, C15, and looked up they were already on C8. Really?!?! Less than 10 minutes I was up at the window.
Lesson Learned: It’s not usually as bad as you think. Putting off your workout or eating right because of time , low energy, or fear that it will be uncomfortable? It’s so much better to just tackle a big job instead of thinking and anticipating what you are about or want to do. Just do it, as Nike says. Be one of those “crazies” at the gym everyday or running in the cold at 6 am. Thanks DMV.
2. GRRRRRRR!!!!! We have some “smog laws” in CA. To make a long story short. My car didn’t pass two years ago because someone put the wrong catalyic converter in it. It was a mistake and he fixed it free of charge but it took a looooooong time. It was 2008 when I finally passed smog for 2007. Fast forward 2009 I pay my registration but get a notice that my car needs to be smogged. Smog test are good for two years. It’s been one. I call the DMV and they tell everything is fine just bring the smog certificate for 2008 in and they will give me my registration tags. I get up to the counter and they (three people later…I had to ask for supervisors) tell me that my 2008 certifcate counted for 2007 and I still need a new one. It didn’t matter that in actually it hasn’t been 2 years because in the computer it’s been 2 years. My registration was set to expire the next day. (See # 3) I tried to argue, charm, plead. Nope. No go. To top of my frustration they told me that temporary tags are now for one day ONLY and that I would have to come in EVERY day until my car passed smog. Seriously? Had the woman I called the first time given me accurate information over the phone I would not have been in this predicament. I would have gotten the smog test taken care of right away or at least not at the last minute.
Lesson Learned: Don’t believe everything you hear. There is a lot of fitness and diet advice out there. LOTS of it great, some misguided, and other stuff plain wrong. Grapefruit diet anyone? A lot of time can be saved and progress made following sound advice. Thanks DMV.
3. GRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!! Don’t wait until the last minute. Yup. When it comes right down to it, it was my fault. Yes, I had been given the wrong information but I had also waited until the last minute to fix it. Had I taken care of it sooner much of the frustration could have been avoided.
Lesson Learned : Don’t wait until it’s too late to take control of your health. Prevent what’s preventable. Stop procrastinating and get to it.
4. Ahhhhhhh!!! While I might as well been talking to my toothbrush at the DMV counter, I did run into a friend that afternoon. I explained my situation and she knew a “great mechanic” who happened to live around the corner from me. I took my car over there and sure enough he was able to “fix the problem” and pass smog.
Lesson Learned: Don’t give up hope. You can still reach those personal goals, make those changes, and drop those habits and there are nice people out there who want to help. 
In other news, Janetha from Meals and Moves, is doing a fun giveaway this week. Check out her site to see her creative fun meals, butt kicking workouts, and enter to win a Chonbani Prize Pack!
Have a wonderful weekend.
xoxo
j
This is my (almost) sane quest for insane health. Let's 
Great post Jenn! Always love your analogies
Who would have thought there was a link between the DMV and health (besides insanity)! Great Blog, really well done. So nice to see you blogging again, I miss you!
Ha!! Thanks Brandi!!!