It drives my husband nuts, but when it comes to sports I don’t have a competitive bone in my body. I trained for a 10K one year and ended up walking most of it because I came across a really nice group of ladies who were just trying to finish using the run/walk intervals. I enjoyed the scenery and made new friends. The photo above is me and the group I trained with after my first sprint triathlon. I had three goals for that race: 1) Don’t drown. 2) Finish. 3) Don’t be the very last person.
I met all three of those goals, but the last one just barely. Towards the end of the run portion I had to walk, and a woman who I had met at an earlier practice race caught up to me. She just could not run any longer either. So we decided to enjoy the day and walk the rest of the way together, getting to know each other. I told her about my goals and she said she would let me cross the finish line first so that I wouldn’t be last. We chatted with the aid station workers and the guy following us in the sag vehicle. I can say it was a great day.
In other areas of my life, I sometimes have to remind myself that life in general is not a race. While I don’t seem to have a problem with sports, there are other areas where I feel behind. This week I didn’t lose any weight. I had really hoped to lose 2 pounds a week this year, so I should theoretically be at 16 pounds by now, but I’m only down 12. It’s so tempting to give up.
But one of my readers commented that they wish they had started trying to lose weight at the first of the year like me, because they would have reached their goal weight by now if they had lost 12 pounds. You know what? That was a good reminder that it’s not a race. You can start today. The day I reach my goal weight I know I’m going to be so excited to finally be “me” again that those feelings will overshadow any feelings of “gee, I wish I had done this faster.” And I’ll be so glad I didn’t give up.
I’m also feeling behind in my business class. So much research to do, so many readings, so much math, and I have a sinking suspicion that I won’t have the business plan complete at the end. Know what? I’ll have made a good start. I’ll be further along than if I hadn’t started in the first place.
Because after all, life is not a race. Though the path may meander, we will reach our destination.
thank you. it is important to remember that life is to be lived and savored and not simply run through. they might be old words but that doesn’t mean they aren’t wise – ‘stop and smell the roses’
I think it really helps to look at the big picture. This week I only lost a pound but I’m really excited because I lost 5lbs this month. There wasn’t even a ton of sacrifice goin on if ya know what I mean. Now if I lost 5lbs every month (or close enough) I’d be one hot tomale by summer! I like looking ahead! Hopefully I can keep it up. I had to start including grains in our diet again to stretch our food. It messes with my hypo and IC but I’ll just have to learn to moderate! Congrats on your weight loss and positive attitude!