Time and Patience

As a little girl with two older brothers, I was reluctant to be labeled anything that might reflect my lesser experience . . . always vigilant to prove my equal standing. Whether by not backing down on the soccer field, in braving a ski jump well past my skill, or in an invitation to take a dare . . . I rarely turned down a challenge. 

Photo credit: http://globalsportsdevelopment.org

And yet, well into my 40s, I will now only accept a challenge if it is clear that I will benefit from it. Because one of the greatest benefits of age is that the draw to impress diminishes, while the drive towards excellence improves. What that means is that I'll be the first in line to try a new skill that looks fun and will help me build strength. . . even if I know it will take me 10, 50, or 100 attempts. As long as I am provided a path to my success (scaled steps to gradually build my skills), I will bear down and strengthen my resolve for the 1000 mile journey.

Just this week, I spoke with the senior citizens in our 2nd Wind class . . . and commended them for their steadfast commitment to attending class and putting in the work week after week. Their decades of experience has taught them that all things of value take time . . .  there is no such thing as easy results . . . and the time spent building a skill makes the success all the sweeter. As a result, they look incredible in their squats, deadlifts, plank holds, and russian twists. They've taken the time, applied their patience, and it shows.

For any of us to make our journey doable, we are served by breaking down the steps into manageable pieces . . . calling on a mentor to help us take the first step and to keep us accountable. We are running a 3-week food habits challenge in February, for example . . . as a chance to mentor people who are ready to take that first step to healthier eating. [you can find that here . . .  https://www.thefittestme.net/february/fit-smart-3-week-challenge]

Whatever spurs you to action . . . grab hold . . . and then stay on the path. If you like the feeling of catching air off a ski jump but keep landing on your bottom, you're not going to let anything get in the way of learning to keep your balance. Likewise, if you'd like to shed a few pounds, sport your fit physique, and feel light, you're not going to let a few setbacks get in the way of your long-term goals. And it is our job to make sure you don't give up along the way.

As long as you're willing to embrace the journey ahead (even if it's a long one), your success is ensured. Because any behavior repeated enough times will become part of what you do . . . and will then define who you are.

Join me.

- Coach Rebecca