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Tag Archives: motivation

Punch fear in the face!

I just got back from vacation.

As a family, we spent two beautiful weeks in the Dominican Republic. Aside from sibling rivalry (picture two normally beautiful children making every effort to drive the other one crazy) the trip was refreshing.

We visited friends and family.

There were laughs and smiles on the beach.

There were adventures! I punched fear in the face. TWICE.

First, there was the zip line 50 feet above a 90-foot deep lagoon.

Next, on a whim, I went paragliding for the first time.

I enjoyed each of these activities immensely. But, in all honesty, I didn’t want to do either of them before I started. Oh, there was part of me that wanted to but there were 1,000 other voices in my head telling me no. My knees shook, my heart fluttered, I dreamt up excuse after excuse to not take the leap (literally).

Rather than succumb to defeat I politely but firmly told my fears to shut it. And you know what?

IT WORKED!

I’m on to bigger fears now. One of them is writing this post. Another is sharing some of my fears…here they are:

  • Lose 20 pounds.
  • Be more vulnerable with my family.
  • Be disciplined about habits I’m trying to create.
  • Manage money better and not be afraid of it.

Wishing each of you the best as you face fears and give them a whack!

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Where will you arrive?

Ten years from now you will surely arrive. The question is, where? –Jim Rohn

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I’ll never forget December 13, 2015. I was mindlessly browsing Facebook when I came across this photo of a high school friend. Pausing for a moment, I thought to myself here is a guy who graduated high school the same year as I did. We both played sports, I went on to play football in college. After that I lost the intensity and focus for exercise that I had. Here both of us are, twenty years later, he’s doing weighted pull-ups and I rarely exercise. I’m overweight.

What will things be like twenty years from now? I pictured myself on the same path – gaining more weight, health problems with my heart, joints, etc. Would I enjoy activities with my kids and grandkids or would I be too tired or physically unable to participate? Would I be here?

I made an important choice that night and signed up for a CrossFit membership. My first class was on December 15, 2015 and it wasn’t pretty. I felt like passing out. I felt like a failure. At the end of the class I walked outside, hugged a dumpster and threw up.

But I came back. Again and again I came back, showed up, did the reps and worked hard.

I’m not doing weighted pull-ups (yet!) but I’ve noticed improvements. I have more energy. A few months ago I could touch the rim again, something I haven’t been able to do since college.

Starting the day with exercise completely changes my outlook of the day. I’ve already accomplished something on a day when I would have normally been sleeping. I have energy. I have focus.

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This was me today. One year later, December 15th 2016. I made it one year! It hasn’t been perfect, but there has been progress. Plenty of pain but plenty of fun and success. I’m looking forward to what 2017 will bring!

 

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