healthy reflections – Living, Loving, Laughing….

The best inspiration is not to outdo others, but to outdo ourselves.

– Anonymous

Winning victory against yourself

No one likes to lose. The thrill of victory after competition is hard to match. But the wins that leave the most significant, long-term impressions are the ones where you win against yourself. Beating a friend in a game of hoops is much less meaningful than setting a personal best time while running. We live in a highly competitive world, and everything around us screams that we’ve got to be number one in order to feel successful. Truly though, the best measuring sticks are your past and your potential–not against someone else’s standards. Raise the bar for yourself!

Brought to you by Sparkpeople.

Outdo myself. What a concept.

Seems like most of my life, I tried to be who my mom wanted me to be. Who I was supposed to be. Then, who my husband wanted me to be. Who would make everyone happy. Who would make everyone get along.

When I become a mother. I measured up to other moms. Was I going by the book guidelines? Doing what other moms did? Was I teaching my daughter the right things? Moral things? I beat myself up if i didn’t reach their standards.

Did I live how other people live? Work as hard? Have as much?

It seemed life WAS about measuring up to everyone else around me.

Now, as I near a new year, the year I turn forty, I have finally, not only grasped the concept of potential, but the victory of winning for myself.

I take on photography as an amateur and student of knowledge.

Knowing I’m only as good as my last shot.

And my last edit.

I can do it….for me.

I am not competing with anyone else. I’m just doing what I love. Learning what I love, and not being afraid to try.

I write. I blog. Maybe, it’s not as good as other technical writers. I may not win a writing contest, or be featured, or get published, but as long as I write from my heart, it’s all that matters.

In relationships, I can be me. I am accepted and loved just as I am. I don’t have to pretend to be something I am not. I can love who I am. Because I am true to myself and I believe in what I can do.

As a mom, I can tell my daughter and step-daughters. I am far from perfect, but willing to learn from and help them learn too.

As an employee, maybe my numbers won’t be first, or at the top, but I can take pride in what I do. I can admit to having a bad day and not fall apart over it. It’s okay. Some days are better than others. I can grow in my field. I can be stress-free.

I don’t have to be the best. I only have to be better.

What are you reflecting on today?

A man who wants something will find a way; a man who doesn’t will find an excuse.

– Stephen Dolley Jr.

Do you see possibilities or problems?

It’s been said that some of the smartest people around would make lousy entrepreneurs. How can that be? The fact is, some people are so smart they can easily see all of the problems, roadblocks, and snafus that they’ll need to overcome to succeed. They can think of all kinds of reasons why their idea won’t work. This knowledge can overwhelm any thoughts of possibilities or dreams. When you think of your goals, do you focus on the positives of making it happen, or the negatives of potential barriers? To reach your goals, you gotta really want them. More importantly, you gotta really believe that you can do it. Think more about why you CAN make it happen instead of why you can’t. No more excuses.

Source-Sparkpeople Healthy Reflections.

Like a corn maze, we navigate life – sometimes blindly and, sometimes certain of our path.

Seeing problems-
Which way do I go? What turn leads to the exit? If I make a wrong turn, will I remember which way I came from? Every path looks the same. How am I supposed to get there when I am so turned around?

Seeing possibilities-
Making all right turns could lead to the end. Following others who look assured in their destination will help me find my way. The thrill of discovering new paths is exciting. I don’t worry about the end, it will come soon enough, I am enjoying finding the way. Look, a new path!

If you are like me, then you have traipsed through the maze of life with both thoughts in mind. I value each of these reflections. If it weren’t for the problems and the wrong turns, would I really be as grateful for the journey? Or reaching a new place on the path? If it weren’t for the dead-ends, would I ever meet the trail blazers that inspire me to seek alternate directions?

Yesterday, Jason and I, worked at the duplex. I needed a little help chopping down the chest high grass. Okay….a lot of help.

Come to find out, yard work is not my forte. The charm wore off years ago. Besides, it’s 101 outside.

Love those pink goggles. See what happens when you work at my place? Ha.

Inside, under the ceiling fan, and chilling A/C, I stood and saw problems. How was I going to get this three bedroom place packed up? Where was all this “stuff” going to go? Jason’s house is fully furnished. Most cabinets are full. He has washer, dryer, refrigerator, couches, chairs, and tables, and everything else I have. I stood there – overwhelmed, and exasperated. I didn’t feel scared about moving from the duplex; no, the duplex wasn’t home anymore. I knew that. It was just the sheer impossibility of moving it all.

So, I began ONE thing at a time. Choosing the keepers, polishing the gotta gos. One piece, one area, one room, one section and just tackling that part without thinking of the rest or the frustration (Sydney’s room).

I got one box packed and an assortment of items to distribute. That felt good.

I had a few more things to do when Jason realized he only had 15 minutes to get to the pharmacy before it closed. Umm…it’s a 20 MINUTE drive. He was out of night-time insulin. For those Type 1 diabetics, you know the problem that could be. I was sure we could make it. He was sure we couldn’t. We dropped everything where it was and just left (thank goodness the yard had been finished).

I have to hand it to him. He did not tear out of the driveway and take turns on two wheels. He did not speed. He did not even sigh or grumble, when we hit EVERY red light. Honestly, I saw problems….Jason not getting his insulin. Jason saw possibilities….maybe the pharmacist would stay a few minutes late. He called them at 5:57pm, we were 5 minutes away.

The pharmacist promised to wait……and…..he did. We got to the drive-thru at 6:04pm. Four minutes after they closed. I have to thank Walgreens for their excellent customer service. Now that’s going above and beyond. And that was definitely a possibility I did not see, especially in a big city.

So tell me, what do you do, when life is like a maze? Do you sit it out? Or go for it? What can you make happen?