Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Give Me a V! VICTORIES

Welcome to The Blogging A-Z Challenge April 2012! Some of the most popular posts here at The Shellshank Redemption are the Motivational Mondays. So, after consulting the tortoises, we decided to make April our Motivational Month! Please join us for this (almost!) daily dose of alphabetical inspiration. We hope you enjoy it! 

* WE IMPROVE OURSELVES BY VICTORIES OVER OURSELVES. THERE MUST BE CONTESTS, AND WE MUST WIN.  (Edward Gibbon) *

I’ve mentioned before on this blog about how I enjoy bike riding. My husband and I have done a few organized bike rides, usually around a 15 mile route. We “train” in two ways. The first is by riding around our neighborhood. I look around at the trees and the water, notice how people decorate their courtyards, etc. Before I know it, we’ve gone five miles. Whoo hoo!

The second way we ride is by going on the nice long stretch of road outside the development. Yeah, us and everybody else. This includes not only the “real” bicyclists, clad in their spandex, perched on their sleek bikes, but also the folks in their eighties with tennis rackets strapped to their backs.

Do you know what happens? Everyone passes me. Every. One. The bicyclists go by in a polite blur and the others give me a smile and a wave as they toodle on past. Yeah, toodle.

The first few times this happened, it bothered me. A lot. But then I figured out that it didn’t matter so much what they did; it mattered more what I did. So, I learned to set my own goals - whether for bike riding or writing or anything else I want to learn or accomplish - and to compete for, with, and against myself.

We are our own, our best, competition.

11 comments:

  1. That's a great story to illustrate your point and somehow, it's just the thing I needed to hear today. Thanks for that!

    ReplyDelete
  2. First, I admire you for riding a bike and getting exercise. I need to do more of it.

    Second, your advice is spot on. It doesn't matter what others do, it's what we do.

    Great post!

    ReplyDelete
  3. M.J. - I'm glad my bike and I could help. :)

    Donna - don't be too impressed, I've been kinda pooping out lately. But I've got one of those organized rides coming up soon so I better get moving... :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love this story and it reminds me of how I've been trying to do a bit of running. When I do run, everyone can pass me as I am the ultimate tortoise, but I'm trying not to let it bother me. Thanks for more inspiration!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Julie - Larry and Mrs. Larry said to tell you there's nothing wrong with being a tortoise. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yes, I tend to get passed a lot at the walking track and at first I was bothered by it, but then, I realized that it's all part of the flow of the walking, and the best thing is that I keep walking.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great advice. There's no point worrying about what anyone else does, we have to follow our own path to try and improve.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Margaret - you're right, keep on going!

    Nick - it's true, but it's sometimes easier said than done. At least for me. :)

    ReplyDelete
  9. This is so true. I have a hard time with people passing me. I'm way too competitive. It's hard for me to compete with myself, but I do think it's important to learn.

    ReplyDelete
  10. You are right...we can't compare ourselves to others. We all have our own unique gifts and talents.


    Eat Live Move: Intuitive Eating from A to Z

    ReplyDelete
  11. Leigh - I think the problem is that there's most likely/usually going to be someone who's faster, smarter, better at something, etc. and if we're always competing with them, we'll just end up feeling bad instead of feeling good about what we did accomplish. :)

    Ro - thanks for stopping by! :)

    ReplyDelete