Snap my fingers? - 1/30/10

As I drove to the gym this morning I was hoping that the new class I decided to attend was going to be worthwhile. It was entitled "Cardio Workout" so I envisioned something pretty low key as far as difficulty and more of an endurance workout. Little did I know what I was in for. As I stretched out in preparation for my work out I talked to the instructor who informed me of how intense this "cardio" workout was going to be. I then started to look toward the door thinking how good a walk on the treadmill sounded? However, I being an athlete love a good challenge and workout I stayed. It was so hard! I am so out of shape so for some of you this story may be a little hard for you to relate too. Just jump roping for a few minutes winded me? Terrible I know! It did become a lot harder as we continued on and as I wiped my brow full of sweat I kept thinking this getting back into shape thing is going to be so hard. I wish I could just snap my fingers and "BOOM" I'm back in shape, my body is perfect, and I don't have to break a sweat or anything!!

Isn't life a lot like this? You go through something hard and you wonder "Why, am I going through this?" - something painful comes into your life, and we ask "Why me?" Anything in life that isn't easy is always inconvenient. It really pushes us to our breaking point and through the middle of it we're wondering if we're going to make it. Today, it seemed as I pushed my body to endure these exercises I thought the same thing. "Why, do I have to do this to accomplish my goal?" And the answer although simple is difficult to accept. It is the challenges of life that make us stronger. I could sit on the couch and never want to life a finger to get back into shape but then I'd never "be" the person I want to be. Healthy, fit and in shape for both myself and my family. If I want to be better I have to be willing to work hard and push myself past my comfort zone.

I hope with all my heart that I can teach this principle to my kids. That when tough things come into their life not to be focused on the situation, to push onward and accept that this circumstance may have been allowed to make them a better/stronger/more virtuous person! I lost my Mom at age 18 and my Father at age 26. It has been a painful loss for my family and myself but thankfully, we can say that it is this loss that has allowed us to become the people we are today. I can't say that I don't miss them each and everyday since they have been gone but it is the example that they left for me that gives me something to strive for.

I'm not sure where any of you are in your lives right now. But I just want to tell you from my personal experience that the hard things of life that I have gone through has made me a stronger person. At the same time it has also allowed me to have a better appreciation for when the good stuff comes around too.

Yes, if I could snap my fingers to clean my house, the bathrooms, floors, laundry yes, I would definitely take advantage of that. But, for the rest of my life, I think I'll settle for the difficult "cardio workout" that pushes me to my limits in good and bad ways. :)