Goals

`Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?' asked Alice.

`That depends a good deal on where you want to get to,' said the Cat. 

`I don't much care where--' said Alice.

`Then it doesn't matter which way you go,' said the Cat. 

Just like Alice, if we don't have an idea of where we want to end up, then it doesn't really matter where we end up!  If you float around aimlessly in life, then you won't have much say in what happens to you.  The same principle applies to your health and fitness.  If you don't know what you want, then how do you know what to work for?  How can you track progress?  The best way to track progress and to make sure you end up where you want to is to set some goals.

Right after I had my first baby I decided that I wanted to train to run a half marathon.  At the time I could hardly believe that I had set such a goal.  I hadn't been running for the past year and I wondered if I could be ready in time.  Once I got the 'okay' from the doc to exercise again I had three and a half months to train and to be ready to run.  I must say that setting this goal was the best thing for me.

On days when it was hard to run, or I didn't feel like training, the thought of finishing my goal helped motivate me to get going!  I remember my first 'long run' day... six miles.  I got home from my run and tearfully told my husband that I couldn't do the half marathon.  I had just about died running six miles!  How could I ever run 13.1!  But I had already registered and paid for the race and I was committed to finish.  I got excited to think that someday I would actually run a half marathon.  Me!?  That's crazy!  I loved the thought of accomplishing something I thought that would be "too difficult" for me.

I was nervous and excited on race day.  I was ready and I wanted to run!  My goal was to finish the half marathon under three hours and I did!  It was such an amazing feeling!  I was so happy to finally cross the finish line!  The last couple of miles had been brutal!  

I got my medal, and my creamy (best creamy I've ever had) and met up with my family.  They were such a support to me and I couldn't have done it alone!  It felt so good knowing that I had set a goal, worked really really hard, and I had accomplished that goal!  I felt so powerful!

The thing that I love most about goals is the direction they give you.  Your goals are so personal and they belong to you.  I hope you all have your own goals that you are working towards.  Write them down!  Look at them often!  I like to keep a list by my bed so I can read over them often.  If you need to revise and write new ones there is nothing wrong with that.  Just do what you want to do.  Set some goals regarding your health and fitness.  Set some goals involving relationships and personal growth.  Have something to work towards and stretch yourself.  Stretch yourself and you will be amazed at what you are able to accomplish.  

I hope you sit down and seriously think about what you want to accomplish.  Have fun with it!  Don't stress and as my mother use to say, "believe in yourself, it works!"