Every now and then I set myself a little goal: something achievable, but not easy. Something that requires a little extra effort or fortitude or courage, perhaps something that takes me completely out of my comfort zone. When I reach one of these goals, I get a little zing of satisfaction — and a feeling that my bigger goals are just a little bit more achievable.
I had a little goal, and a little win, this week. Inspired by Bike to Work week, I decided to cycle to work every day: 16.5 km x 10, or 1.5 hours of riding every day. I’ve never ridden more than three times in a week, and rarely without a recovery day in between; my muscles and lungs just can’t do it.
Well, it turns out they can. By day four I was feeling fantastic, monsoon-like weather, funky shifters and a too-close-for-comfort encounter with a car notwithstanding. By day five I felt like I could take on any challenge put in front of me. Endorphins pumping through my veins, I grinned the whole way up my last gruelling hill.
“You’re the fittest person I know,” someone told me today, adding how impressed they were by my commitment to commuting. “I could never do what you do.”
So I told him what I tell everyone: if I can do it, anyone can.
Four years ago, just after I turned 35, a friend convinced me to sign up for the Sun Run, a 10 km race in Vancouver. I was a smoker at the time, and a committed non-exerciser. “I’ll never be able to run 10 km,” I told my friend.
When we started to train I couldn’t run for one minute. Literally. So that became my first little goal, followed by running for five minutes, then 10… When I reached one goal, I set the bar a little higher, and with every week my goal of running 10 km felt a little closer within reach.
So now I know to start small, and celebrate the small wins. Focus on how far you’ve come, not how far you’ve got to go, and suddenly you’re doing things you never thought you ever would–or could.
Next on my list: replacing a bathroom sink and taps.Prelude to a future kitchen reno, perhaps?
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Again Vicki you make me smile. Awesome blossom. Your ability to adapt and to be such an awesome fantastic mom make me so blessed to know you. Way to go girlfriend. Remember if you run into trouble with the taps and sink…I know a good plumber
!
Thanks Sheri. And I’ll remember the tip about the plumber