NFL Tight End

Yesterday I handed my credit card to the barista at a local coffee shop.

"Nathan Collier" he said, drawing out my name in what I can only describe as an announcer voice.

"Sounds like an NFL name," he said as he handed my card back to me. "Yeah, you have the look of a tight end."

I smiled and laughed.

I know. I know.

Obvious attempt to earn an extra tip, right?

Almost certainly.

This barista is one I've chatted with a few times. He's older than most of the other people at the shop. He's always laughing and joking with customers. He seems like one of those people who just genuinely enjoys making people smile.

Whatever his motivation...

I'm 45.

I am not (and never was) built like a tight end.

I'm also not someone who has ever gotten comments like that one. Like... ever.

But last year in October I decided I needed to start taking better care of myself.

Not to look good or increase my athletic performance.

But just so I could move through my days feeling a little stronger, a little more resilient.

I don't do anything fancy. Once a day, I try to move or lift or ride for 30 minutes or so.

I am not perfect at keeping up with it.

Especially as I've been coaching baseball this spring, I've had weeks go by when I didn't get a workout in.

Still, nine months later, I do feel better.

I've lost some weight. I can do things for longer before I get tired.

I have a knee that will never not hurt thanks to an injury when I was 16. But it hurts less now.

I've had to buy some new clothes, which is somehow both wonderful and annoying.

My work is better too.

Ironically, taking an few minutes each day to take care of myself ends up helping my productivity, not hurting it.

I wish I'd learned that lesson a long time ago.

But better late than never.

I did give the barista an extra tip yesterday, btw.

Blatant attempt to earn a tip or not...

His kind words made me feel seen, if only for a moment.