I go through fits where I wonder why I even have a blog. It's not because I think that blogging is silly-- in fact there a quite a few blogs out there that I enjoy reading, but those are usually blogs with helpful tips and hints for saving money or making delicious meals or DIYing. I've tried to post some of those things, but truth-be-told I hardly have time to do those things, let alone blog about them.
But here I am blogging. Nate is in bed (we just completed our bath, bottle and book routine, although he didn't stay awake for the book part) and I have so many things that I want to get done, that I am overwhelmed. So, I suppose you could say that I am procrastinating. And I am not a procrastinator.
But on to the reason I am blogging: I had an epiphany.
Or something like an epiphany.
One of my goals for this year is to get back in shape. Not body shape-wise, but cardiovascular and strength-wise. I have always enjoyed running 5Ks in the spring and summer, but now it's been well over a year since my last one. The Marion Arts 5K is a yearly favorite for me, in part because it takes me back to the days when Austin and I were interested in each other (but not yet dating). It was an awkward time in our relationship, but at the same time it was so thrilling and exciting. After running the race the first year we knew each other we walked around downtown Marion together. It was perfect. So for some reason the Marion Arts Festival 5K is important to me. And I am going to run it again this year.
Or the half-marathon.
Austin is planning on running the half and I think that would be a challenging, yet reachable, goal for me. So the training has begun. Today was my long-run day and I set a goal for 5 miles on the treadmill (a distance that is longer than I have ever ran on a treadmill. I hate treadmills. When I run on a treadmill I feel like gerbil or a mouse and it's near impossible to keep from getting bored). Last week I had a goal for 5 miles and did not reach it and at the beginning of my run it appeared I would face the same fate: failure to meet my goal. Mile one was easy, but as I passed the one mile mark I found myself coming up with excuses to quit early. I thought for sure that I would stop short of my goal. But every mile I convinced myself that I could go one more. And before I knew it I was at mile 4. And by that time, there was no turning back. Mile 5 came and went and I exceeded my goal. And it was exhilarating.
As I was driving home I was thinking about how accomplished I felt. Tired and sore, yes, but more importantly I felt that I could do almost anything. I had a renewed energy and a desire to give everything "my all." It reminded me of 1 Corinthians 9:24
Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.
Obviously this doesn't just apply to running but to life in general. I don't want to give things half-effort. I want to give my all--run to get the prize--in everything I do. That doesn't necessarily mean I will succeed in everything (although it may increase my chances), but rather it means that I will try hard and give all my time, energy and focus--100%--to the task at hand. Whether that is giving quality time to God during my quiet times, giving all my attention to Nate when it's play-time, or even just relaxing when the time comes to kick back (yes, it's important to give your all to observing Sabbath...that's another topic I want to tackle soon.)
I suppose I could go on, but this post is getting long and I think you are probably getting the idea:
Give it your all!
And here are a few pics of little Nate giving play-time his all!
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| Nate loves to sit up all by himself. What a big boy! |
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| A little post-play time stretching! |
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