The First Step is the Hardest – And Totally Worth The Pain!

Oh, these goals we all set…they seem so sensible, do-able, and just plain fun. UNTIL they aren’t!

 

2019 is a big year for me. I’ll be turning 60 in a few short months. What better time to set a few goals that push me out of that comfort zone I love so much. Two of these goals involve physical activity: run a half marathon and complete a century ride (100-mile bike ride). These activities have been on my bucket list for some time, so selecting them to complete this year seemed like a perfect.

 

Unfortunately, however, I fell in December. That fall derailed any running for a few months – yes, months. Arghhh!! At mid-June, I’ve run only a handful of times this year. I seem to be back healthy again, so fingers crossed I can move forward with a serious training effort to complete that half marathon in the fall. (Let me know if you know of a scenic, flat half route.)

 

The First Step is the HardestMy athletic event of choice has always been cycling. For some reason, though, my cycling miles have fallen off a bit over the past couple of years. When I hopped on my friendly pink bike for my first ride of the season last weekend, it was not a pretty ride. I selected a route I’ve been riding for 20+ years. My legs rebelled. My neck and shoulders rebelled.  Lesson learned: consistency is important. Nothing new here; we all know that, right?

 

What’s my answer to these setbacks?

Time management.
Scheduling.
Consistency.

Boom! I’m off – it’s time for a run!  Healthy living starts now.

 

The First Step is the Hardest – And Totally Worth The Pain! was last modified: June 13th, 2019 by Deb Nelson

Opportunity Knocks: Are You Brave Enough to Open the Door?

Will you venture outside of your comfort zone to take
a chance on change?

goal-729571_1280One of the most dangerous words in our vocabulary is comfortable. Life is rolling along at a pretty good pace; work is going well; family life is humming along, too. Yes, we’re comfortable. Now what?

Will that comfortable feeling – no tug of war pushing us to adjust our life – also keep us from investigating an opportunity?

OR

Will that comfortable feeling get old quickly and move you to push the envelope?

Wikipedia defines comfort zone as: “a psychological state in which a person feels familiar, at ease, in control, and experiences low anxiety. A person in this state uses a limited set of behaviors to deliver a steady level of performance, usually without a sense of risk.”

The way I see it, spending too much time in my comfort zone can lead to a mundane life, leaving me wondering “Whatchance-255282_1280 if?” all too often. The story of my life will be a dreary one if I fail to exit my cozy little comfort zone. Sometimes you’ve just gotta answer that knock on the door and take a leap of faith.

What about you? Are you listening for opportunity or stuck in the comfort zone?

Opportunity Knocks: Are You Brave Enough to Open the Door? was last modified: May 5th, 2015 by Deb Nelson