If you have been away from any athletic activity for a period of time or you have never exercised, you may have the question of where to start-- where to begin? In your mind, you may want to start in the position of your youth, when you felt the wind in your hair as you ran. Maybe you want to feel as though you can run forever, as though running were like breathing, something that is done naturally. Maybe you want to be one of the people you see running on the side of the roads or in your neighborhood.
The most challenging part of beginning-- is knowing-- you cannot start from your past or from where you wish you were. You can only start from where you are, at this moment, in what can seem to be a very discouraging position. This fear may lead to procrastination, which means you don’t bother to start at all.
The good news is that you can always start. You can begin from where you are an unlimited number of times. You can begin today and walk for 5 minutes and experience the pride of completing something you set your mind to. You can get side tracked by work, family and life for a few days or weeks. Yet, you can begin again.
You can begin a running routine and continue to improve over several months, only to have a minor injury set you back a few weeks. No problem. You can begin again exactly where you are at this moment. Today.
Is it hard? Yes. The courage to start is often difficult; something you avoid. You tell yourself, “I am not a runner” or “I am not built to run” or even, “I am too old to run.” If you tell yourself that and believe it then it will be true for you. Yet, when you begin from your current level or condition, it is simple and easy.
You go for as long or short as you currently are, mentally and physically, wanting to do. You choose this way because you know that you are stronger than you think. You choose this way because you know you deserve more. You choose this way because you want to be healthier and you want more energy. You start because you know that improvement is guaranteed when you just take that first step and begin from where you currently are.
Please join me on the road to a better you.
