Inspiration or Perspiration

So yesterday was my inaugural journey to health or achievement or perhaps stupidity; whatever it may be, it has started and I created it. I set a goal for myself that I wanted to accomplish; however it came with a catch... I wanted to accomplish something I never thought possible growing up or I never envisioned myself ever doing. This all started after listening to "The Secret" and other self help motivational tapes; I thought I will push my body to do something I never dreamed to see how much control I have over myself. My first idea was to become Mr. Olympia... after my wife laughed at me for what seemed an hour (personally I think she is still laughing at that), I decided that maybe that is something I didn't want to do (besides what would I do with all those rippling pectorals). I decided to do something I disliked; not only disliked but haven't done in sixteen years. My goal is to run a mile in four minutes; while my wife did not laugh at this one I have had plenty of people tell me it will be tough, but good luck. I don't think I ever ran the mile in less than eight minutes and that was in high school when I was in better shape and had age on my side; but yesterday I found myself running my first mile on this crazy journey. My wife loves to run and the people that run for fun I have never understood what they see in it; I was always a sprinter and good for short distances but never enjoyed anything more than 200 yards. As I was running yesterday I waited for inspiration to come and the funny thing was it never did just my breathing getting heavier and heavier. I ran my first lap in 1:44 which I though was pretty good considering 16 years of silence; I completed my mile in 9:42 which averages out to 2:35 a lap. Of course if I ran the third lap it would have been quicker, but I would not be writing this now as I would still be on the track. Overall my first run was satisfactory as I was hoping to get in under ten minutes; at least now I have something to work for. I don't know how I am going to accomplish this, but I do know as I put out the perspiration the inspiration will follow and I will find myself closer and closer to the finish line.

Balance in All Things

While this may come as a shock to some of you (especially me) I have started this blog not just to make my wife happy, but I thought it would be a good idea to jot some thoughts down on occasion. My dilema however was what to write on, and then it came to me; every couple of weeks Tiff does a scrapbook page based on one little word. I thought I could use that word to write and eventually I may give my own thoughts on the day or lifes events. Todays word is balance... Balance is a push equal to a pull, a give equal to a take, a good day equal to a bad day, a bad habit equal to a good habit, a sinner opposed to a saint, and a death equal to a life. Balance is all around us and it is necessary for us to find this balance in our lives; else why are we here. No one has come to this earth pre destined for the position they now find themselves in. We are all born equal; meaning we all come to this earth with nothing except the ability to learn and grow. So many have the attitude that life hands them lemons, or they were dealt a bad hand, or life isn't fair. Is this something they are taught to believe or is this life actually partial to some and not others. Life is fair and abundant for everyone the problem is people have a bad experience and it avalanches from there; suddenly people are "victims of life". When we are little we are unable to walk; yet with determination and desire we learn and accomplish this goal. I think if this victim attitude infected us as infants we would never walk; and possibly never grow. Of course life is going to be challenging if it wasn't what would we learn? I can guarantee if you hold out through the storm of challenges there is going to be an even bigger rainbow of blessings to follow. This is the balance of life; a challenge for a blessing, hard work for a good wage, sweating in the garden to produce fruits and vegatables. We reap what we sow, if I plant corn then that is what I am going to harvest. If I am saying garbage and complaining all the time then that is what is going to infect my life; more garbage. If I am helping, serving, and working towards a goal always positive and focusing on the sowing all of this will come back to me; balance in all things. T. Harv Ecker said "a complainer is nothing more than a living breathing crap magnet" and I believe this to be true. We create the balance in our lives; the world around us just gives us what we want and desire the most. If we desire success we will have it; granted the balance to that is hard work. If we desire to complain that our life is not perfect; the balance to that is more and more people complaining with you. Notice one changes or creates their life and the other lets it happen to them. Find your balance in life by creating it and not letting it slip through your fingers.