Inspirations/Motivations

If you have joined my Facebook group "The Fitness Challenge," you might have noticed that Shelli, the co-administrator for The Fitness Challenge and who is a real encouragement on the wall of the group hasn't been on The Fitness Challenge lately. She was diagnosed with colon cancer two weeks ago, so her life has been turned upside down. God has been faithful through the whole process from the doctors finding both tumors quickly (one in the lung, one in the colon) to the fact that her tumors were operable. She had surgery on Thursday and did very well. Please be praying for her and her family. I don't know what will be needed, but if you would like to help her family, please send me a Facebook message. If/When I find out what they need, I'll pass that info on to you.

I have been a bit absent from blogging on this site and on "The Fitness Challenge" as well. Every now and then life throws you some curveballs. In my case, our basement flooded, and all my time has gone to taking care of getting everything moved, carpet ripped out (1300 sq. feet of it), and setting up my office in the upstairs. I lost 7 lbs. moving boxes and furniture this week! It's interesting how God has provided through friends and family. Friends made time to help us get everything moved quickly. Another friend volunteered his enclosed trailer in which we can store some of our stuff. The men from the Trinity Chapel Men's Ministry came and hauled off 10 truckloads of trash to the dump. The upstairs is so full of furniture and boxes from downstairs that there isn't even a place for me to fit a blow-up mattress. However, my next-door neighbor (who happens to be a close friend) is providing me a place to sleep at night.

Of course, this presents a unique challenge for me. I had been exercising in my basement. No big deal though. I'll just take it outside; I'll do a little more running, right? I'm sure that's why we now have snow here in Knoxville! It will be just a bit too chilly to be doing exercise outside.

We all have times like this where everything (and sometimes everyone) seems to be working against our getting fit and healthy. That's the time when we have to be resourceful and creative. I thought through my situation. I don't need much room to exercise. I can do a whole workout with a set of resistance bands and bodyweight. My next door neighbor has a very large playroom for his kids. I'll get up early before they do and it's the perfect spot to get in a workout. In addition, he has a set of stairs that start in that same playroom. Instead of running in the cold, I'll be running stairs for my cardio.

In both Shelli's and my circumstances, we each have a choice. Every person chooses to either be a victim or a victor in their circumstances. Here's the difference.

1. The VICTOR looks at the circumstances and finds a way to accomplish his/her goals regardless of circumstances. Sometimes it may mean doing things very differently. Most of the time it means that they have to try multiple times and fail before they finally find the balance to achieve the desired outcome. However, no matter how many tries or how long it takes, they will reach their goal, because they will not quit until they get there.

2. The VICTIM looks at circumstances and if they cannot see a clear path to the goal or some type of opposition or experience hinders them, they think that they cannot get there and give up.

YOU CHOOSE WHICH YOU WILL BE! What is your biggest challenge that tries to stop you from reaching your goal? Are you a Victor or a Victim?

If you are the Victor, then achieve your goal and encourage others along the way. If you have been a Victim in the past, you do not have to stay that way. It takes practice and work, but you can change the way that you think. Each time you think that "you can't," immediately stop and make yourself think of a way that you can and then follow through with the plan. If the new plan doesn't work, think of another way and continue this process until you find the solution to either conquer or get around the opposition. It's hard at first, but the more you do it, the easier it gets.

I challenge you this next week to choose to be the Victor and encourage others.

In the next 7 days, click here to visit The Fitness Challenge. (If you haven't joined yet, you will need to join.) Leave a message on the wall there. Your message should be either of two types:

1. If you have an experience of being the Victor, share what it was and how you beat your challenge. It's ok to brag a little. Your story just might be the solution that someone else needs.

2. If you feel like life is stopping you from meeting your fitness/health goals, post the situation on the wall. I don't promise that your problem will be solved there, but we just might help you think of some possible solution(s).

I look forward to reading your stories this week!

And remember: a fit and healthy life is possible. You can do it!