Thursday, June 23, 2011

A Little Dose of Exercise

Boy am I grateful for exercise.  I was running outside the other day in between clients.  I wasn't having the best day.  At one point I could feel my perspective shift from one direction to the other, which started  a cascade of gratitude for my ability and desire to exercise.

Exercise was literally the first way in which I learned how to "take care" of myself....at least physically.  I always knew that I was doing something good for myself and in some way, it made any particular circumstance better.  I had always had a tendency to build up emotions with no idea of how to filter, channel or deal with them.  I started to learn via exercise.  I learned that exercise was a means of relief.

By now I have learned how to take care of myself in many other ways...mental and emotional.  And trust me, I'm still learning.  But every lesson becomes more clear to me by ways of exercise.  I don't always feel like heading our for a run or going to a yoga class or picking up the weights....but those are the workouts that create the most changes.  It's the same in other areas too.  For many years I avoided any difficult internal work ...I even denied that any work was needed!  Now I have come to sit through the storm and have faith that:

1)  NO emotion or feeling lasts forever.
2)  Discomfort usually means growth (as long as no major harm or injury is occuring).


Oy....always working on something.  Keep calm and carry on! 

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Dancing Outside My Comfort Zone

Ahh the comfort zone.  I love it in there.  It's cozy and famililar.  My expectations are met.  My rules are followed.  I can sit in there for days and days and days....the only problem is when I stay there for too long, nothing changes.  No miracles happen.  I have no spiritual awakenings, experience no breakthroughs, I don't get better at anything be it my job, my relationships, running or parenting.

I have learned the most difficult periods in my life have also offered the most opportunity for growth.  Period.  It doesn't make the difficulty any shorter or less painful, but I have developed a tolerance and a strong faith that I will be a much better version of myself at the inevitable light at the end of the tunnel.

I have made a habit of purposefully doing things that make me uncomfortable.  I remember as a child if I tried something and I wasn't immediately good at it, I thought that meant I never would be therefore I wouldn't continue.  I never did anything that I couldn't do well.  I never understood patience or humility...all of which came to me through the difficult periods in my my life (Thank God!!). 

A few years ago I signed up to run my first marathon...around the time I started this blog.  Thay marathon was such a great story of my life.  I was terrified.  Despite the fact I had been running my entire life.  Terrified.  But I signed up anyway.  I ran one day at a time.  My training was not perfect, not even close.  I wasn't fully prepared; I didn't take the time to learn about hydration or the fact that I should wear shoes a size and a half bigger than my feet.  I only ran two "long" runs leading up to the race.  At some point during my training, I surrendered to the idea that it wasn't going to be perfect.  I let go of any expectations I had.  I just wanted to finish...it didn't matter how quickly or how it looked....I just wanted to finish. 

I spent a few months in total anxiety over this race.  The biggest success throughout the whole process was the day I showed up.  I just showed up.  I ran despite my fear and it turned out great.  I ran the whole thing and I did really really well! I learned so much through that experience.

Another dream come true is on the horizon...I am running the New York City marathon in Novermber, another huge honor.  I'm running for Livestrong for a seond time.  It's a huge commitment.  I'm not a fan of fundraising simply because it's hard enough for me to ask for help let alone financial support.  Lots of opportunity for growth here. What a great gift.

Gratitude is the most powerful tool I have to center my mental self. 

I'm excited to share my experience throughout this process.  It's also 6 months away, which is plenty of time to train hard and do well.  After this race, I'm taking a break for bigger things :)

Be well!