On a mission again...

It seems like I am always on a mission for one reason or another! No matter what happens I seem to have some pressing item on the agenda. Recently, I have been on a mission to become physically fit. Four days a week I drive my tired and un-motivated self to the gym. Cup of coffee in hand I arrive.... listening to the radio I convince myself to get out of the car and enter the gym. One foot in front of the other I make my way through the doors past all the energetic people and straight to the women's locker room. Once I get inside and shield my eyes from the various naked old ladies I step on the scale. Ahhhh still the same! Nothing ever changes. I have been at this for a month now, religiously pushing myself out of my comfort zone. "OK" I tell myself... "It will happen" Then I stick my ear phones in my ears and head straight to the sauna. What better way to get me warmed up than a sauna! Ha! 5-10 minutes later I am already sweating! Good start, I think to myself! I look like I have been working out for hours, its just a trick I do! lol. So, than I make my way to the mats. There are always the super hard core fitness gurus on the mats. With their eccentric and innovative stretches... I definitely don't want to sit by them! I find a quiet corner and start my stretches pushing myself to go farther every time - dang it hurts... but it will pay off I think. Now, that I am warmed up and stretched out I have found that the Precor machine is the best fit for me. I put it on interval mode and do 45 minutes... thinking the whole time, I can do this, this will pay off.... I am getting stronger, healthier! Yet, the scale would speak differently for my situation, I WILL NOT GIVE UP! My mission to achieve my goal is clear and even though in the beginning there is no apparent pay off I leave feeling invigorated and happy that I followed though with my plan.
I have also found that I am happier that day, less stressed, and more motivated!
So, moral of the story, DON'T GIVE UP! It seems that is my life theme! Don't give up - fight harder- fight longer. In the end I always feel the best when I followed though even if the results are not what I had originally hoped for!
Now, I am thinking about my personal mission statement. At the last WATER Network meeting we did a collage of magazine clippings, somewhat like a "vision board" but instead of picking things we hoped to achieve or obtain we picked things that appealed to us. Mine was interesting to say the least. I picked some random pictures and words and did not quite know what I was going to do with them. Then it finally occurred to me that all of these things encompass who I am as a person. Some of the words I picked up were "battle" "try harder" "family" All of these things mean something to me. The theme of my life. I guess I kind of see this life as a "fight" or "battle" every day we battle many external things. But, mostly we the battle comes from with in. You see, I believe the battle is between our desires for what we want and the self-control and determination to actually go after those desires. We all want a good body - but how hard to we fight to get it. Or, it is just more comfortable to accept defeat with that scoop of ice cream and favorite TV show. That is just one example of what I am talking about. I guess, the results play into it too. Are we willing to sacrifice our immediate happiness for the long term reward??? I can personally say this is one of my biggest battles. Working towards goals are never easy. But... now that I have rambled on and on in this novel of a blog I will get to the point.

When we have a goal or mission in mind and set fourth a plan to get there we must keep our focus and not give up. We must push the immediate rewards aside for our long term goal. Laying out a plan is the most helpful. I am not necessary a planner, I don't write out all the steps to accomplish my goal. But, once I write out the goal and can see it and visualize what it will take for me to get there it is much easier! So, on that note I will be working on my personal mission statement. I am on the road to discovery for my purpose! The steps, finding out what I want, what things are most important to me, and what I am willing to sacrifice to get there. I may find some things are not worth the sacrifice. But, this is a journey - and ever step a lesson to learn. I hope that I can impart on all that read this that if I can do it any one can too! On that note good night internet world - I will write back soon!