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It’s Not Often I’m Blown Away But….

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This is a tiny tease but I have to express my gratitude to the world.

As you know my latest book is at the proofreader/editor. I was at a loss, though, for someone to write a forward. Since the book is not lighthearted like “It’s Not About the Miles”, I knew I had to find someone who could relate.

As usual, the universe took care of me. Just after the academy awards I read a post about the movie “the Whale”. After reading the post, I just had to watch the movie. It was phenomenal and spoke to me as did the post. I wrote a comment and confessed to two things that had never been public knowledge. For me to do that after 74 years, you can imagine I had to have felt a massive connection to that other person.

So, the not-so-brave little me found a pile of courage along the road and reached out to her and asked her to write the forward to my book if she felt it was good enough.

I just received her forward. I cannot tell you what it did to me. To say I was blown away is the biggest understatement of my life. I am excited to have her compelling missive at the beginning of my book. The book is important and her writing leads you right into it. In fact, you’ll probably be disappointed in the book given how beautiful this masterpiece is.

Thank you, Dana! You have made my decade! I can’t wait for everyone to read it (and then the book).

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“Enough”

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 It’s funny how things come to me but I don’t take action until the universe throws something else in my face.
I’ve been thinking about this word, “enough”, for a few days now. But it wasn’t until I read Amy’s post about her struggling to find joy (or a reason to go on) after a grueling 192 or so miles that I thought today would be the prefect day to write it.
It’s such an individual word. We throw it around haphazardly like we do so many words (where the heck did “woke” come from and what does it mean – I guess i am too old).
But because it is so individually oriented, I think we lose sight of that and we go back to our default – the Comparison Game! That is always deadly and rarely has any long term positive effects. I mean, even the world class marathoner didn’t win the Boston Marathon yesterday (interesting question – did he lose it then? how do you lose something you finish? Alas, as usual, i am going down another rabbit hole. Sorry).
Why do we have such a hard time saying “enough”? Maybe we don’t define it for ourselves. We ignore it until we don’t “feel like” doing any more. But is that really “enough”? Next week will we still consider our decision correct because we acted on our feelings?
Can we define what “enough” means or will mean ahead of time? I think maybe that is part of why I’m being led to write this. I will have to define what “enough” is for me regarding my foot and my knee both BEFORE I would leave for Tennessee in July and also BEFORE I toe the start line. What will be “enough” pain? What will be “enough” internal struggle? We have to draw on our experiences to figure that out and what’s enough for me is not necessarily what’s enough for you. Most of all we have to steel ourselves against comparing my enough to your enough because that will only end in disappointment, discouragement, or worse yet, perhaps damage.
I am still second guessing my dropping in the Bloody 11W race last labor day. Why did I drop? Yes, my heart rate was way too high but what if i had taken a long rest somewhere? I had done 25 miles before sundown so I was actually on a good pace, but the fear (a feeling) overtook my rational mind as so often happens. I knew I had only had one iron infusion so I should have considered that I might have problems. I should have planned better but most of all I should have determined ahead of time what would be “enough”.
Take a look at your past and the times you, perhaps, didn’t do all you really wanted to. Did “enough” play into it? How can you use this word to your advantage in the future?
I guess this is “enough” for today!
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Why I Dislike All Those 30 Day “Challenges”

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 I was trying to use a politically correct word, “despise”, rather than express how I really feel..ha ha

I used to get excited when I’d see someone post a “30 Day Challenge”. Then every time I turned around, there was another one. The challenge became NOT getting hooked on them.

Aside from them being just another fad (in my opinion), I never finished one because they were too hard for me. Even if they started out easy (although they rarely did), the next day and then the next got way beyond me. I just gave up because I couldn’t do what “they” prescribed. Also, i really didn’t know where it was going to take me. Despite all the hype, it generally takes more than 30 days for a habit to be really embedded and new neural circuits to be created.

I just didn’t have a real “why” other than it seemed like “maybe this time it’ll stick” – alas, it never does.

We say we like challenges and at some point we probably do but I really don’t like that word. If I had to pick one instead, it would be “accomplish” or “accomplishment”.

The idea is to figure out what you want to do in general terms, like “get fit” or “write a book” or whatever you want. Then, break it down into really really small pieces. Why? Isn’t that too tiny to motivate you? That’s the point. You want to be able to do it every day whether you’re motivated or not. To say “I’m going to run 5 miles every day” might not be doable EVERY day, especially if you’re just starting. I’ve talked about chunking in my book and I use it all the time, especially in long races. I just have to make it out the door (unless I’m at a race, then it’s assumed I made it out the door). That is a win, an accomplishment. Tomorrow I also have to make it out the door, not bump up higher like most of the “challenges” do. For many (including and especially me), just getting out the door can be a challenge.

The point to all of this is that if you’re going to engage in (or even promote) a “challenge”, it needs to be customized to fit your situation. And it needs to be something you will do every day – that’s why it has to be so easy. Good book is Mini-Habits by Stephen Guise. Excellent ideas.

Have a “challenging” (whatever that means to you) day!