A few days ago I made my first attempt at a timed 5 mile walk/run. I found a route that is exactly 5 miles door to door and I learned along the way, that it was the greatest discovery I could have made to better myself not just physically, but emotionally also. There is no turning back, no giving up, no way out. Once I made it half way, what would I have done if I wanted to give up? Sit in the middle of the road, miles and miles away from traffic and wait for a car to drive by at 55 miles an hour so I could maybe have them come drive me the rest of the way? First of all, I would never do that and secondly it gave me a chance to push myself harder than I would normally. I found that the more I couldn’t wait to be past that finish line, the quicker I would go or the more I would run. I would push myself to run from one mailbox to the next, seeing the next one just yards away, I’d fight through my exhaustion and go one step further.
I have found that in life sometimes we often face the same challenge. We find ourselves pushing mentally and physically to achieve our goals in life and often times just want to give up; stop what we are doing and wait for an easier path or a way out. What if on my run I would have just sat down on the side of the road and waited for someone to pick me up? I would imagine I’d be there for a lot longer than had I just kept pushing through the sweat and exhaustion and finished my run.
In life, if we just sit down in the midst of our trials and challenges, if we just stand on the side of the road and wait for it all to be over, we will find that we will be standing there for quite some time; standing in the same, broken, empty and dark spot, all alone. Instead, we have to push through, learn from our challenges we face and go from one to the next. We can think of them as stepping stones throughout our journey, just as my mailboxes are along my runs. And in the end, I think we will ultimately be satisfied with the results.
It is funny how a week after I have been doing my run/walks I’m starting to see the results, but still just wish that it could be instant BAM, I’ve lost 80 lbs. Wouldn’t that be great!? No work, but all the reward!? Daily, we all face challenges and just wish that they would instantly go away so that we could just enjoy each day. I have discovered that I am more proud of myself, and happier in knowing that I have worked hard, to reap the reward of looking better and feeling healthier. In life, I will jump those hurdles, and face those challenges and fight through the pain and the tears and the frustrations I may encounter, and know that in the end, the reward will be worth it.
