My Cowboy told me a story this evening about an old man who tripped over a piece of iron at Mobley’s Welding a couple of years back; The man made a big circle and came back around to the same spot, but the second time passing the iron, he stepped extra high and extra long to make sure he cleared the thing over which he first stumbled. (Cowboy wouldn’t tell me all of the expletives uttered in the process…). That reminded me of what my friend Kim said to me today, while we were running in the afternoon sun, along the Blanco River. I was complaining about feeling heavy and slow. She said, “Me, too.” Then she said, “Well…that just means we have to push ourselves a little bit harder, to make up for it.” I laughed at that and told her I was in high gear already. We made a date to run again Tuesday morning (so watch for us! Haha!) We plan to run faster and farther.
I have, on occasion over the years, asked, “Is this as good as it gets?” The answer to this question, in large part, is up to me. Whether or not my slow 4.5 mile run is the final result, or a longer, faster 7.5 mile run-- it is up to me. I can be satisfied with less (which is more than I used to do, don’t get me wrong), or I can continue to push for more (when I’ve allowed too much eggnog to slow me down, as is the case right now!).
How many times might I have to pass by that same piece of iron, and make a special effort to step over, instead of stumble? How many times will I gain a few pounds and then have to work to take it off? How about you? We each have our stumbling blocks; our pieces of iron…our eggnog. It’s the human condition. We don’t all struggle with weight. Some of us struggle with addictions to harmful substances. Some of us struggle with depression. Some struggle with financial hardships. There is no end to the list of human struggles. The question isn’t whether or not we will struggle. The question is HOW we will face the challenges that life will inevitably place in our path. There will be something to trip each of us, no doubt about that. Will we fall and stay down? Will we fall, then get up…then fall again? Or will we be like the man who stepped higher and longer, and stepped over that iron?
Sally Windham-Blackburn is an ACE Certified Personal Trainer and Fitness Instructor in Blanco, TX. Please send questions and comments to sally_blackburn@yahoo.com
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