When Goals Aren't Met

I fell on our slippery deck last week.  We had been watering, and the stain can be slick.  I was okay, but landed on my thumb.  It shouldn't have been a big deal, but do you know how much you NEED your thumb?  A lot.  For EVERYTHING.  Did you know you need your thumb for opening toothpaste, pulling up your pants, and stirring a pot of soup?

The first 20 minutes of running is much the same way.  My feet hurt, the fan isn't blowing the right way, my knee hurts, I am suddenly REALLY thirsty, I have to go to the bathroom.  I could very well be a toddler that was just told they need to go to bed.  Once I push past the pain, and internal lazy voice, I feel outstanding.  Once I push past the 45 minute mark, I could go forever.  It feels good to tell your lazy voice it has no place in your goals.

However, I didn't get the time I wanted on the long run Saturday.  I was angry at myself.  I ran five miles in less than 55 minutes, but It wasn't under 10 minutes per mile.  Once I was situated in my run, I couldn't make up for the "jogging" I did in the beginning.  Then it hit me, I just ran five miles in under an hour!  I couldn't have done that a month ago!

Goals take time to develop.  It is easy to get frustrated and give up.  I read Hebrews 12:1 yesterday, and I thought I would share it with you.  "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles us, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." Verse 12 "Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees.  Make level the path for your feet, so the lame may not be disabled but rather healed."

But the goal this week for the mental attitude was to not even let the negative inner voice breathe.  When the inner voice said, "I don't know if I will be able to..." I shut it off.  I told myself out loud, "I can and I will."  When the voice said, "No one in our family runs."  I told it, "You know what does RUN in our family: obesity, diabetes, cancer, and high blood pressure, I am running from that."  That inner voice may have uttered, but I was able to take away the power it once held over me.

My thumb, the twinge in my knee, and thirst are not going to keep me from running.  I will finish the goals even if it takes the rest of my life.  I will tell myself how strong I am; not how strong I wish I was.  I will remove the wishes and make them into accomplishments.

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