Mantras are wonderful things, and you gotta live by mantras that speak personally to you. My usual life mantra is "the sweet is never as sweet without the sour," picked up from Jason Lee's character in Vanilla Sky. Good feels a hell of a lot better when we have a bad batch of bad to compare it to.
Then there's the one I constantly throw around to my friends, family, and total strangers "life is not designed for our comfort, but for our struggle, for in struggle there is growth." And to add to that: I believe growth gives us purpose--something to live for--and I don't know about you, but I find comfort in that!
As for running, the world is bursting with inspirational mottos. But something I found today really hit home for me: yet another gem from SUAR Girl aka Beth Risdon:
"I have never finished a run and wished I hadn't done it."
It's not complicated and it's something I can calmly digest when my alarm goes off at 5:30am. Or when I'm exhausted at the end of a classic Kohl's day and didn't listen to my alarm at 5:30am. Or when a half marathon seems daunting as I'm losing energy at Mile 4.
I've never finished a run and wished I hadn't done it.
No matter how frustrated we get on our runs that don't go so well, deep down we know we're ridiculously awesome for having gotten out there. A few more miles on the old shoes is a badge of honor no matter how shitty we felt that day.
Do you have a personal motto or mantra that helps you get out of your warm oven of a bed or through the hot magma you occasionally feel like you're running in?
[Sidebar: I got a really good motto in an email from running-bud Claire: "Get comfortable with being uncomfortable." Now THAT says running haha!]
My First Stroller 5K
1 week ago
Oooh, I REALLY like this post! I'm really trying to wrap my head around this type of thinking for this upcoming "running season." I ran (no walking) a full 5K the other night. I didn't time myself but know I was slow, but I felt great that I was out there - looking forward to many more runs in the coming months - almost so much that I didn't want to stop running once I got home (my body did, tho!). So yea, I gotta remember the "never wished I hadn't" mantra. Because no matter how slow I am, at least I'm TRYING! And last year, I was so down on myself over times, and while I was doing all that fretting, I lost 10lbs! So even in my "failure" - I had a great accomplishment!! Um, sorry this doesn't really answer your mantra question - so how about this? "In every failure, there is accomplishment." Live it, learn it!
ReplyDeleteI have tons of mantras...my most recent is Positive Energy Activates Constant Elevation. P.E.A.C.E.
ReplyDeleteSee you in the morning!!
You always know what to say! I definitely had a "snooze" day this morning. They seem to be more frequent lately, no buena. I think I might write this down and keep it by the alarm clock! Here's to making up the run tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteMonica!! Awesome that you're getting back out there!! Who cares if you're going slow, because you're right! At least you're running!! I like your mantra because it flips what you think is failure on its head. Even if you THINK you've failed, you usually learn something to apply or work through next time around...accomplishment.
ReplyDeleteClaire I love that mantra too!! It makes me feel light :)
Myra I hear you!!! Today was super dark and blustery and I just wanted to stay in bed, but I thought through my day and decided that there's no way I WASN'T getting up to run haha! So hopefully you're able to get out tomorrow! ;)