Subcreature of habit

Between 1993 and 1996, I worked out religiously. For the first time in my life, I became highly addicted to exercise and improving my health.

In 1997, I got married.

In 1998, I became a father.

In 1998, I became a business owner.

In 1998, my exercise regime went to hell.

In 2000, I turned myself around and recommitted to working out. Fighting my own genetics, I even became a morning guy, waking up at 5am four and five days a week in order to go to the gym. I stayed with it for more than three years.

In 2004, I dislocated my shoulder. My workout regime suffered.

In 2005, I discovered World of Warcraft. My workout regime evaporated. What once was a noble addiction to self improvement was rapidly replaced by mindless self absorption.

The escape into Azeroth was a welcome diversion from the stress of my IRL existence. While I tapped into the evolving online world again and enjoyed many-a-long weekend night interacting with like-minded people, I realized I was feeding an endless quest for some virtual immortality that would never come.

A month or two ago, I came to the realization that, after playing WoW for two years, it was time to excise the tumor. The anticipation of the new expansion pack finally made me confront the dilemma of another probable year of descent into cyberlimbo, or choose to arise like the phoenix from the ashes. Or in my case, like a phoenix from off his asses.

I've totally let myself get out of shape. While my renouncement of soda -- the sole remnant of my low carb lifestyle of a few years ago -- has helped me keep my weight from spiralling too far out of control, I have just generally felt lumpy and lethargic for the better part of two years. I've sensed WoW at the root of it, for some time.

So, amidst other biorhythmic changes I've been acknowledging and letting manifest, I finally decided to cut the WoW cord this month. And this time it's for good. What's let me finally flip the switch is my decision to shift my addiction back to working out. I've been to the gym 4 of the past 6 days and it feels great. My body clock is ready for the change. The pendulum has swung and it's time get my butt back in shape.

I think mentally what has allowed me to turn the corner is the idea of supplanting one habit for another. (We'll avoid calling it an addiction.) While I was playing WoW, I was fully aware that I was getting out of shape. My feeble attempts to lead a double life at the gym failed miserably. It seemed I could only really have one habit. And that was finally what let me get my head back in the game. I told myself that I could only have one habit. And it had to be either WoW OR the gym. Once I thought of it as a binary decision, the choice became clear.

(Me on WoW.)

(Me off of WoW. Well, after a few more months at the gym.)

We're all creatures of habit. Some constructive, some destructive. I feel good about my decision. I'm sure it sounds stupid to people who haven't witnessed first-hand the mesmerizing power of WoW. Perfectly understandable. But take a look at your own life and I'm sure there's at least one equally nonsensical habit you have that you'd be better off without.

I found mine, and I'm looking forward to using my habit slot for a greater good. "Slot"...my last WoW reference ever. :(