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Going into those eight miles, I wasn't scared or nervous. I felt prepared. I knew in my heart I could do it. I've been doing a half marathon training program these last six weeks and it's helped me ease into those eight miles. I knew I could do it but the only one I told I was going for it was my husband.
Too many times in life, we're told we can't do something. As a kid, everyone is always telling us we can do and be anything we want. Find a cute for cancer? No problem. Fly to the moon? Sure. Be a doghouse builder? Knock yourself out. And for the record, my brother wanted to be a doghouse builder for the longest time! But as we get older, those believers turn to skeptics. All those "you can do anything's" turn to "you can't do that" or "it'll never work."
Why won't it work? Why can't I do it? Most of those people have never done what you're trying to accomplish themselves. Is it the fear of the unknown? Fear of being outdone? I'm not sure but I don't think I can tell anyone they can't do something they want to do. As a mother to two young children, I don't have it in me to tell my little ones, "sorry kiddo, that's just not in the cards for you." I always say that if they want to do something badly enough, they'll find a way to do whatever it takes. "Reach for the moon. Even if you don't make it, you'll land amongst the stars." Right?
Case in point: I have a relative that is a pretty heavy addict and has been for years. This person that I love so dearly has suddenly woken up and is trying to change their life. And not just the addiction part of it; their faith, their relationships, their career, their entire future. I would never tell them it's not going to happen, it's not in the cards for them. Of course it is! Our wildest dreams are always without our reach... if we want them badly enough and we're willing to do the work to make it happen.
We have been blessed with ability, with knowledge and desire. Run with it. For me, I take that advice literally. I was fat and lost some weight. I fell in love with running. I want to do a half marathon. There's the desire. Check! Great. I have two lungs and two feet that work so I start using them. There's the ability. Check! The knowledge part is easy. Read a couple books, find a training program I like and stick to it, get some tips to improve from the latest Runner's World magazine. Knowledge? Check!
My dear friend sent me this song right when I needed it, "Walk on the Water" by Nicole Britt, and it's on my running playlist. It's not a power song like Christina Aguilara's "Fighter" but the lyrics are so amazing that it moved me to tears during that eight mile run yesterday. And it moved my feet too. I leave you guys with some food for thought, the chorus:
So what are you waiting for?
What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities try to hold to you
You know you're made for more
So don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all
It takes and you can
Walk on the water too
What do you have to lose?
Your insecurities try to hold to you
You know you're made for more
So don't be afraid to move
Your faith is all
It takes and you can
Walk on the water too
Next time: The Ninth Mile
