Brick Walls

2010

Ever feel like you have hit a brick wall?

From Randy Pausch:

"The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls are there to give is a chance to show how badly we want something. The brick walls are there to stop the people who don’t want it badly enough."

Isn't that incredible? I have been thinking about that all week. I reminded myself of that when I sat down to plan out my food week and decide how I was going to attack my personal issues regarding it. I reminded myself of it again when I measured myself and found that my tape measure just doesn't move. I was so discouraged - I mean, maybe it is coming off my wrists (which is fine) but I want it off my belly! I just sank into a hole. I wanted to eat. Actually, I wanted to drink. But I reminded myself of the brick walls. So, how badly do I want this? And what, exactly, is it that I want? Do I want to LOOK great? Sure I do, but more importantly, I want to feel great and I want to be healthy. Sure I want to be a size 8, but I can be happy at any size with good muscle tone underneath the sagging skin. I want to be down my 150 lbs tomorrow, but I can be happy with the pounds of today.

Randy's wife, when asked if she was at peace with his dying, said she was. She said that, while she doesn't like it, she can't change it and chooses to live each day not letting the uncertainty of tomorrow rob her of today. Her mantra? "I have everything I need". Wow. Don't we all?

Unfortunately, I know all too well how to do this whole 'getting healthy' thing half-assed. But I choose to go at it full bore, with my head up running into the wind. And when I run smack into a brick wall, I need to ask myself again- how badly do I want this? And what, exactly, do I want? So, being a list maker, I keep my lists. Lists of non scale victories, lists of things I need to do, what I want to buy, where I want to be, and most importantly, what I am grateful for. I encourage everyone to do the same - maybe not keep a list, but to identify those things you are most grateful for. The little things. The things that make life worth living and leave a mark on your soul. And never, ever, let the uncertainty of tomorrow rob you of today.