and now a word from your friendly neighbourhood reconomist

I did the Grouse Grind 3 more times (a grand total of 4 for this summer). I know I promised to organize a big GG outing for you all, but things just happened too spontaneously due to the irregular weather. I haven't yet brought anybody up that I've managed to beat (my time hovers around 1.5). The likes of Candice "I haven't trained in years" Wong, Kenny "I'm a social smoker" Tai, and Reuben "I'm asthmatic" Heredia all left me trailing in the dust. I'm not at all surprised nor affected by this, but apparently some people were. I had a chat with Candice about this, and we came to the conclusion that I either physically appear more athletic than I am, or I am so quick to motivate people to do the Grouse Grind/ Sun Run/ Run for the Cure with me that they think the only reason I would want to do it is because I'm naturally good at it or at least better at it than they are.

That's just silly talk. I naturally suck at many things I regularly pursue. Sure, I could be in worse shape (it could always be worse!), but even at my best I would never think to compete in anything athletic against anyone but myself. It's because I naturally suck at it that I choose to pursue it - to be a well-rounded person, not because I'm masochistic. Nature versus nurture. The fun is finding out you naturally lack in something you need, and nurturing yourself to be better at it. If you weren't born with it, and you know you need it, then you muster up the willpower and get it yourself. The ability to do so is much more attractive than sticking only with what comes easiest and least painful. I'm not intrigued by the things that come naturally; ingeniousness, after all, is like being born inheriting a cognitive empire, but it's persistence, hard work, and willpower that make a person.

That's partly why the last three weeks up have been so depressing for me. With an MA freshly in my pocket, and no promise of another challenge in the form of employment on the horizon, I mostly moped about around home with the intention of writing job applications that don't seem to be getting any notice. Thankfully, an opportunity came up for a full time temporary receptionist at the MOA. Despite being somewhat mis-qualified, I'm having an absolute blast there as the resident receptionist-economist (reconomist) and am slowly getting over my phone-shyness. It will be sad when it ends, but I've promised myself that I won't go back to the brain-dead lazy bum that I was for 3 weeks. Knowing my propensity to make rational-sounding excuses later on to justify reneging, I've backed up that promise by signing up for a French course at Continuing Studies (to motivate the brain cells and improve my hirability), and signing up for the Run for the Cure 5km (to make sure I always make time for running). As with any economist familiar with the lessons of game theory, I don't ever want to hear or make another far-fetched promise that isn't backed up by a commitment device, I've just been let down too many times.

I really miss the mountain. After my full-time stint as a reconomist is over, I'll try to squeeze one more GG session in before the season is over and I am back to hanging out on a treadmill with the incline all the way up for the rest of the year.