Tag Archives: influence

You do what you really want to do.

Posted on February 22, 2012 | Leave a comment

There are always a few questions that we as runner’s get more than others do. 

There are two that I get on a weekly basis. 

Questions:

- How many mile a week do you run?  (“I don’t know, it depends” is my new standard answer.)

- How do you find the time?

I don’t remember the first time I heard this below, but it is a quote I heard from my Dad years ago and I think it stands the test of time.

“People do what they really want to do.”

That for me explains it all.  We can each come up with many excuses but at the end of the day the quote above reigns supreme.  I know when I am making excuses and I know the truth is not the excuses, but I do what I really choose to do.

You make time to do the things you want to do.  You save the money to do the things you really want to do.  You make time to be with the people you really want to do.  You did not get too busy or run out of town, you made a choice.

The opposite is also true.  You don’t make the time to do things you don’t want to do.  You don’t save the money to do things you really don’t want to do.  You don’t make time to be with people you don’t want to be with.

There are usually two answers to the question.

1- The answer most are looking for.  You get up early!  You sacrifice a little sleep.  You sacrifice other habits.  You might have to sacrifice some things that mean a lot to you. 

2- The second answer is one most don’t want to hear.  You end up doing the things you really want to do.  You make time to do the things you want to do.  That is it.  You can find excuses and make up your own rational but the truth is that none of us has a surplus of time.  All of us are a little bit stressed.  All of us have demands from every direction.  All of us have choices to make.

There are many things you just have to say no to, if this is important to you. 

I used to laugh because we would talk so much about this, that when someone would not show up at a gathering and found some excuse we would both say, “you do what you really want to do.”

So, when you choose to train for your first 5k, you do what you really want to do.  When you train for the half marathon, marathon or ultra you make time for the things you really want to do.  We all have to make a choice.

At the end of the day you simply do the things that you really want to do.

Happy running….

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The only way I know how

Posted on January 26, 2012 | 2 Comments

A lesson I have learned in the past few weeks reminded me of an old Sammy Davis Jr. song, “I’ve gotta be me”.  One thing I am certain of, is that we are each gifted in a unique way and designed amazingly different.  I can’t do what you do best and only I can do what I do best.

When you are a little banged up you have a tendency to read a lot and try to fix yourself.  When you do too much of this you can get confused.  My recovery has had to be done my way and it seems to be working.  I actually got in back to back runs this week and feel solid.

I had to quit reading so much and listening to others and do what works for me and my recovery.  The rest has done me well, and I will continue to ease into it.  I will be ready for Tybee next weekend.

I also had a chance to take an introspective look into others areas of my life recently and just remind myself of what I do well and make sure I am doing it my way.  I think it is easy sometimes to lose your way.  When you are always searching for the best way, there can come a time that you can get away from what you do best and your natural gifts.  It is always good to remind yourself that you need to weigh those ideas with the scale of your natural gifts.

I have heard it said, push yourself out of your comfort zone but not out of your gift zone. 

If I fail and fall on face and don’t do it my way, I will be full of regret.  However, if I fail doing it my way those are results I can live with.  Just a random thought from the sidelines the past week or so!  But I am running again! 

You gotta be you baby!

Enjoy below from Sammy and Happy Running….

I’ve gotta be me

Whether I’m right or whether I’m wrong
Whether I find a place in this world or never belong
I gotta be me, I’ve gotta be me
What else can I be but what I am

I want to live, not merely survive
And I won’t give up this dream
Of life that keeps me alive
I gotta be me, I gotta be me
The dream that I see makes me what I am

That far-away prize, a world of success
Is waiting for me if I heed the call
I won’t settle down, won’t settle for less
As long as there’s a chance that I can have it all

I’ll go it alone, that’s how it must be
I can’t be right for somebody else
If I’m not right for me
I gotta be free, I’ve gotta be free
Daring to try, to do it or die
I’ve gotta be me

I’ll go it alone, that’s how it must be
I can’t be right for somebody else
If I’m not right for me
I gotta be free, I just gotta be free
Daring to try, to do it or die
I gotta be me

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Ownership

Posted on January 25, 2012 | 3 Comments

One of the things I talk with my oldest son about is the remote control idea to discipline.  As any older brother he gets his fair share of being tested by his younger brother.  We often talk about who has control of his emotions.  Does he give the remote control of his emotions to his brother or does he take charge.

I know it bothers him but the concept is also liberating to know that he controls his destiny, not somebody else.  Each time I seem him battle with this I try to think about the same battle for me.

Who has my remote control?

Does the weather when it gets cold and does it keep me from running or getting to the gym?

Do I give my remote control over to food and temptation?

Do I turn the remote over to leaders in my life and wait for them to lead, or do I take control and be the influencer in our relationship?

The question boils down to, who is in control?  Well, I love control!  I love independence.  With control comes freedom but also restriction.  As I take control I can no longer blame others.

We are now in week #4 of 2012 and I try to remind myself who has my remote.  Who has my remote control over my 2012 goals?

Does the weather, a warm bed, competitors, excuses, food or any other outside factors?  Or have I taken over the remote?  It is a constant battle for me, and my son!  I have to tell him I can relate!

Happy running….

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