I was thinking about this today on my run. According to my running schedule I only needed a short run. I really didn’t want to follow a “plan” today. I knew when I set out to follow a running schedule in preparation for a half marathon it would be a problem. I don’t do well following a plan so even this part of the half marathon training has been good for me; I guess.
I let all sorts of things try to keep me from my schedule today. When you really don’t want to do something, it’s pretty easy to let any thing slow you down.
This is true whether it’s a deadly hill on a run, a long day at work ahead of you, issues with your children (and if they are teenagers this can be daily!) or anything difficult ahead of you What do you do to get out of bed and tackle the “not fun” stuff ?
About a half mile from my house there is an incredibly nasty hill that I have to run. It never gets easier. Ever. I knew I wasn’t going to give in and walk. At the top of the hill is a beautiful Presbyterian Church. That’s a picture of it here. It isn’t my church, but they are generous to allow me to use their gym for my bootcamp classes and even without that connection I would think it was a beautiful! As I was hoofing it up that gosh awful hill I saw this church and had an incredible burst of energy soar through me. It was such an inspiring picture. It symbolized strength, beauty, peace and energy to me. It is just what I needed to inspire me up the hill. It made me say, “go, go, go” and I could. That’s my mantra. It’s simple, but I can just “go”.
Sometimes we all need something to inspire us, to gig us. We need a mantra. It might be a song, or a beat of a song, a slogan. I often tell my classes, “don’t think about it, just do it” when we are doing triple digits of squats. Nike had it right on their “Just Do It” slogan. It makes you “do it”. Tim Tebow has a mantra, and how inspiring that he will share it with any and everyone! Who can argue with the power of Philipians 4:13?
Just hoping we can all find a good mantra to get through everything life throws at us!
What is your mantra? What inspires you?
Also, did you see the push-up contest between First Lady Michele Obama and Ellen Degeneres? Technically, Mrs. Obama did more push-ups but I liked Ellen’s form! She did go further down on her push-ups!
WEll my mother would be appalled that a first lady is even on TV doing push ups. Me- While she is not my favorite first lady- she rocked it! I think she is doing a lot of good to promote healthy eating for children in this country.