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Growing up in our house in Vermont, we had a huge built in dining room armoire in the kitchen/dining room area. And in the middle of the very nice wooden armoire was a big mirror. And in the middle of that mirror, my dad hung this bumper sticker:
Instead of thinking: “I’m not good enough”
I’m thinking: “everyday I’m getting better”.
And everyday, I AM getting better, while having fun doing what I enjoy. It’s AMAZING what a little change in perception can do for you. This sport, for so , so many of us, is about BUILDING ourselves up. Physically, yes, but also emotionally. Running really helped me come out of my shell. I know, I’m sure those of you who have only recently met me could never imagine how incredibly, painfully shy I used to be (now I hardly shut up, but I digress). I’ve talked to COUNTLESS people who have developed an amazing sense of self confidence and self worth through their running. Build yourself up, do not tear yourself down. You ARE good enough, strong enough, fast enough. And if you feel otherwise, or are in a running slump yourself…then change your outlook. Sure, always push to be better. Don’t get me wrong there. But do not let somethign you love bring you down. You are not defined as a person by the place you finish in a race. Remember why you started to LOVE running in the first place, or why you want to love running.
Listen to Ben and Jerry. Afterall, anyone who puts pop rocks in ice cream certainly knows what they are talking about.
Happy (fun) running my friends! Have a fantastic week!
Melissa C says
Great post! I hear you on the pee on the floor, and I only have 1 boy. It has been hard telling people that I will nit be able to do an Ironman with them next year. I want it now too, but have been blessed with my patience in other areas of my life (my housing situation for example), and I know patience will pay off in endurance sports too. It took me 7 years to get my BQ, and that was AFTER being an decent runner for 4 years prior to training for my first failed attempt.
All seriousness aside, I thought of the SNL Stuart Smalley sketch, I’m good enough, and I’m smart enough, and gosh darn it people like me! ( did that just make me old?)
Kurt @ Becoming An Ironman says
That’s what life’s all about… having fun.
I agree 100% with Ben & Jerry!
Lisa says
this has been my motto all along… 🙂
Katie says
This post came at just the right time and hit the nail on the head for me in so many ways. I just got back from a 20 mile training run this morning thinking Life Sucks! Why do I do this again?!? Granted, I don’t know anyone that LOVES 20 milers, but I think that I have had enough for now. I will absolutely do my next marathon in 3.5 weeks, but I am so looking forward to not having any races on the schedule and running just because, and loving it again! I am looking forward to great easy going runs. Garmin free mind you 🙂
Rosalinda Batson says
Thank you so much for this wonderful blog. I can really relate to much of what you said (boys & their pee, wanting everything NOW). I love the bumper sticker. My husband and I base our relationship on fun because as soon as it stops being fun we are going to call it quits! lol 14yrs and counting…..
Definitely a retweet of this blog is needed. Loved it.
Katie says
Great Post! I think we’ve all had similar feelings at one time or another.
Enjoy yourself! You only live once!
Laura says
true dat girlie.. true dat! You are singing my song now. Let’s check in w/ each other again on a say.. weekly .. basis to make sure we are staying on the fun track. Let’s be real.. old habits die hard. ha ha 😀
Fun and Fit: Kymberly and Alexandra says
Your phrase: “putting a damper on teens’ fun” brings back a funny memory of my daughter complaining when she was 15 or so, “Mom, quite being such a funsucker!” Yeah, I put the damper on some forgotten unsafe maneuver! Ahh haaa Gotta love teens!
track coach and adorable wife says
That is a great post and really helpful to someone like me who is coming back after a hard pregnancy and has to take it very slow. I definitely can’t get back to where I was NOW and that is hard. But if I can keep it fun, then I can do it!