I went looking for a draft post this morning and discovered this, written maybe a month ago. I know it says it’s for 6 months from now, but it’s some of what I needed to hear today. I want to blog, but desperately want laundry off my couches and into some drawers, so I thought I’d share this in case it’s a bit of what you needed today too.
Have you ever started writing a post and realized you wish you could send it to yourself 6 months ago? Ship a little encouragement to yourself, a bit of hope, mixed with a teeny tiny amount of advice? Well, today I’m doing just that and, while I don’t have a time machine, I do know myself. I have great ideas and ambitions, but I often slip. So, today’s post is dedicated to me 6 months from now.
Dear Mindy,
Your body and your house aren’t that different.
They both crave order, peace, and inspiration.
In our instant gratification, do it faster, disposable world, it’s easy to focus on the big outcome and to want – and expect – it now. Really good things – great things – outstanding things – the absolute best – almost never work that way. They take work. They take time. They take patience. But they’re worth it.
Sometimes you find yourself looking at the things you want and you only come out lacking. All you can see are thighs rubbing together, messes on the floor, clutter in the closets, feeling just too tired, lack of inspiration, the allure of the soda can, and what doesn’t get done.
You want to have an orderly home, a healthy body, an elevated spirit, and an invigorated mind. They seem so far from your current reality, though, it’s often easier to just do nothing or keep digging out of your current mess, never feeling like you get anywhere. Take a deep breath and a step back. Remember perspective.
Your cousin, who committed herself to becoming healthy through serious dietary changes and exercise is an awesome example of this. She cut out sugar completely, changed the way she thought about food, and started exercising. Over time, she lost 155 lbs. Not in one week. Not in a month. She saw her big goal, but she created incremental goals along the way. She celebrated successes. She maintained. She messed up. She kept trying. 155 lbs later, she is running half marathons and fitting into a size she hasn’t worn for years.
Today, she decided to pick up running again, something she never used to like and she basically gave up for the winter. It was difficult to start again, but doing so last week reminded her why she loves it and why it’s worth it: “Everything just feels better at the end of a good run. Laughter comes more effortlessly, anxiety is easily sublimated, and self-respect is not found wanting—not to mention the energy and feeling of overall good health that running promotes.
Running just makes me feel good—physically, emotionally.”
This feeling – the one you get after working at something challenging, pushing yourself, keeping at it, resisting discouragement – you know it too. Hang in there. Just start walking fast – you’ll be running before you know it.
This feeling – the one you get after working at something challenging, pushing yourself, keeping at it, resisting discouragement – you know it too. Hang in there. Just start walking fast – you’ll be running before you know it.
This is so true. I always feel lost and discombobulated when I don’t have a plan, boundaries and personal time. I too use running as my escape but there are so many other choices that people can make. Thanks for the post…and congratulations to your cousin.
Hey Mindy,
Nicely written post. I admire your efforts to self-motivate. You’re so highly intelligent and creative that I really believe you could/can find a way to achieve any goal you calibrate your desires to work toward. The best, yet somewhat mixed advice I can offer for working toward a healthier lifestyle is this–don’t beat yourself up, but don’t give yourself permission to quit. Hold yourself accountable and find people who love and support you that will buy into your philosophy(ies) for meeting your goal(s) and then make them your cheerleaders and exhaust their patience with talk of that goal. Heaven knows I’m obsessive enough about health/fitness goals–I’m available for support anytime. 🙂
The first step towards a goal is the hardest. But you are right – that feeling you get – it’s so worth it!