Five years ago, I was in the best physical shape of my life. 

I lived in a one-bedroom apartment on the edge of downtown. I walked everywhere—to the supermarket, bookstore, and coffee shop, even in the pouring rain—driving my vintage baby blue Volkswagen beetle only when absolutely necessary. 

I went to the gym religiously, ran fast, and lifted heavy weights while blasting power metal in my headphones at a deafening volume.

I attended yoga classes fervently and could balance on my hands and do the splits in the air. 

At this point in my life, I had no husband, no child, a fairly light workload, and significantly fewer demands on my time than I do today. Copious amounts of space to focus on fitness.

Here we are, five years later. 

Now, I live in a rural area. The closest gym is an hour away. The VW has been swapped for an SUV with a car seat in the back. I’m a homeowner and employer, wife and mom, the primary breadwinner of my household, and have more expenses and responsibilities than ever before. 

From the moment my 22-month-old wakes up at 5 am (she announces her daily rising by assertively proclaiming from her crib, "Awake! Awake!") to the moment I flop in my bed at 9 pm, every minute of the day is full. 

So, when do I work out? I don’t. I haven't for a long time. Not with any degree of consistency.

This frustrates me. I’ve caught myself complaining with embarrassing frequency, “But when am I supposed to fit it in? I just don’t have time!” 

Then I remembered something.

My colleague Andrea Isabelle Lucas once told me, “If you feel stuck, try changing the word but to and. This one little change can shift your perspective and open up new ideas.”

For instance, lately, I often tell myself:

“I want to move my body consistently but I don’t have any free time to visit the gym." This statement leads to a heavy sigh and exasperated feelings.  

What if I change one word?

“I want to move my body consistently and I don’t have any free time to visit the gym." 

Just by switching one word, now the situation feels like an interesting puzzle to solve. "Hmm, I'll need to get creative. How could this be possible?”

• I could do a "mommy and me" workout video with Nora before I head to work in the morning.
• I could stretch while watching Netflix after her bedtime. 
• I could actually use the walking pad that's in my office rather than leaning it against the wall like a decorative item!
• I could do ten squats at any point in the day.
• I could change my perspective and recognize that chasing an energetic toddler around the yard and lifting her body into the air (“Mama, pick up! Picka-me-upppp!”) a hundred times a day is exercise. It counts.

Perhaps I will never feel as strong and agile as I once did. Or maybe I will. Who knows what the future holds? 

For now, I can switch to saying and because this one change, alone, changes so much.

But is a locked door. 

And is an open window. 

And just like that, I'm feeling fresh air blowing through my mind, clearing away the dust and detritus, showing me options that couldn't see before.

-Alex