IWSG: It's All in the Attitude

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In October's IWSG post, I mentioned being anxious about participating in my first ever 5K. I asked for advice and encouragement, and you all stepped up and cheered me on so much and so loudly, I felt like I could actually hear you all as I ran (and that was even over my whining and desperate gasping for air!) Thank you all so much! I appreciate it more than you know.

The end results were not as good as I'd hoped. I didn't run nearly as much of it as I wanted, and it was a lot harder than I'd thought. But I finished the entire thing - something I wouldn't have been able to do in recent years - so I'm counting it as a win. 

Do you know what else I'm counting as a win? The fact that I'm still exercising, still training. I even signed up for another 5K (that sound you hear is the "dreadmill" cackling maniacally - bwahaha!) I'm not giving up - on losing weight, on writing, on dreams.  

Don't you give up either. Whatever it is you're working on - your health, NaNo, learning something new, dealing with a difficult situation - Keep. Going. 

I am. You can, too.

*****

Participant Medal and T-Shirt from the 5K

A Gift from My Husband

What I Learned from Larry

The tortoises were feeling rambunctious the other day. Well, at least Larry was. He was rambling all over the place...until he arrived at the spot where Mrs. Larry blocked his path. She sprawled, full after eating, content and serene, minding her own business.

Now, let me say this: Larry had plenty of room to go around her. He had options. He had choices. But, Larry apparently decided this was his path and he was going to stay on it no matter what. He bulldozed over Mrs. Larry like a small, determined tank...until he was balanced precariously on top of her shell. (Meanwhile, Mrs. L looked like she couldn't care less what was happening.)

Maybe he should've gone around her in the first place. Maybe he should've gone back the way he had come. But none of that mattered now. He had charged ahead with his plan and now he was flailing. What's a tortoise to do?

Larry had a choice: he could slide back down, skulk around Mrs. L, then continue on his way OR he could push himself forward and end up on the other side. As Mrs. L rolled her eyes, (I swear that's what it looked like!) Larry tipped himself forward and marched onward.

This is what I learned from Larry: persistence, baby. Keep going. Don't let obstacles stand in your way. If Larry can do it, then so can I. So can you.