A brand new year, 2019 is just a couple days away. For many,
a new year is a time for resolutions and a fresh start. Resolutions are great,
but only if you follow-through with them. More often than not, resolutions are
so lofty and unattainable from the get-go that the individual who set them
quickly gets discouraged and quits.
My resolutions tend to be challenging, but not unattainable.
I learned a log time ago, that If I have too many goals, I'm going to get
discouraged when I realize I can't accomplish them all. I also learned a
long time ago that in order for me to grow, I have to step out of my comfort
zone. So, I tend to pick one goal that's going to push me, get me out of my
comfort zone box.
Sometimes I've stepped out of that box by choice and other
times I've been shoved. In both cases I've learned so much and become a
stronger individual. Becoming a 5th grade teacher, moving my family to
Greensboro to pursue a writing/editing career, speaking in front of large
groups at national conferences, being laid off from a job of 13 years and going
back to school at 45, opening a small business (who does that during the great
recession?), coaching hundreds of runners, creating RunTheBoro. Each of these
life events were hard. Sometimes I wondered if I was doing the right thing. I'm
still growing. At times, I still wake up in a cold sweat thinking, "What
am I doing?" "How am I going to get through this?"
At times I had to force myself out of my element. But over
the years I've learned that your element is not cut in stone. Your element is
often self-imposed. Your element can change. It's up to you.
So, make 2019 a year of positive change for yourself.
Remember that stepping out of that box can be scary. Don't leap frog out of
that box. Take it one step at a time and remember the RunnerDude mantra,
"Trust. Believe. Conquer!"
