Over the weekend I was looking at my project list and the corresponding deadlines thinking, how in the world will I get all this stuff done?!?!
Cool, I’ll just work like crazy over the weekend and start knocking stuff out!
Wrong! My brother is in from Tai Pei, my mom is flying in, and regardless, I have a wife and daughter that I need to spend some weekend QT with.
Oh, well maybe I’ll skip my Long Workout on Saturday and catch up?!?!
Wrong again! Something’s are non-negotiable. My training and family time are the few on that list.
And besides, if I work 24/7, I get burned out and become far less productive.
I moved from feeling a sense of panic to frustration to resentment to talking myself back into a calm state.
Yet the reality is, that list IS still there, even though I was feeling calmer.
It seems to me that many of us strive, strive, strive to be more, have more, do more.
I even see this in my daughter. She rips open 14 presents on Christmas morning and then later that day says she needs the new Barbie that she sees in an ad. Huh?
Nothing brings out my father’s Marine Corps tone than my daughter acting like she doesn’t have enough.
I think what many of us forget to be in our day to day of striving, wanting, pursuing is … GRATEFUL! Include me on that list!
I’m good with wanting more. I’m good with striving to become better.
But the thing I think that really messes us up is a lack of appreciation for what we already have, who we already are, and what we’ve already created.
If you want to feel really good about your life … write down 5 things that you are EXCEPTIONALLY grateful for.
If you struggle with that list … think about something that IF it were gone, you’re life would be pretty bad.
- I’m thankful that I can run. This time last year my left knee was broken, resulting in my quadricep shutting down, giving me a ton of low back pain, resulting in an inability to move pain-free. I’m so thankful that today I can run!
- I’m thankful I have a job. I’m thankful I live in a country where opportunity is abundant. I once lost my income, but I was able to recreate it through diligence, hard work and creativity. The average salary around the world (with the US factored in) is $2 per day. We’re pretty darn fortunate here in the US.
- I’m thankful I have a laptop. Okay, sure there are more meaningful things to show appreciation for. But, my main computer’s hard drive at work kicked the bucket last week, meaning I’m without my calendar, iTunes (needed for boot camp playlist), etc. So I totally missed getting prepared for some key stuff, since the reminders didn’t happen. But, hey I’m typing away here on my laptop … for that I’m grateful!
- I’m grateful for Adventure Boot Campers that get me out of bed. It would be way too easy to sleep in every day if I didn’t have someone counting on me. And this goes for my running partner too!
You see the point. Gratitude really is everything. It’s hard to get more if we don’t appreciate what we already have. And man, we all really do have a ton.
If you’ve lost a job, or someone you love, or life feels totally out of control, or you’re struggling with getting your nutrition down, or if you’re battling with a case of SAD … I’m not saying it’s easy to always get to a feeling of gratitude. It takes work and persistence sometimes … but gratitude it’s the key to creating the life that you desire.
Jot down 5 things YOU are grateful for … and keep that with you ALL day long!
Your friend in fitness,
Springboro Adventure Boot Camp for Women
Tags: Crazy...or Good? Brian Calkins, Springboro Adventure Boot Camp for Women!
