Though I suspect most of you who read my blog are athletes, as many of my friends are, I want to share a term used in racing/events. “DNF.” Stands for “Did not finish.” I’ve done a lot of races, rides and events. Some I thought would kill me they were so hard, particularly some of the ridiculous climbing events on my bike. It was called the Terrible Two for a reason. Anyways…in all the races I’ve done, I’ve never had a DNF.
Not having a DNF is not because of any extraordinary skill I possess, I guarantee you. It’s my frame of mind when it comes to the sports I engage in. I have never considered quitting an option. That’s not to say it hasn’t entered my mind, but I never considered it. Not something I want to do. I start, I finish… even if it’s ugly.
So the other day I was talking about a new adventure I’m starting…during therapy. I am particularly excited about it because if I can do the training, I’ll be able to coach people about health and wellness. Different than being a “coach” but more a life coach with a focus. I’m excited because for a couple of years I’ve been thinking about how I can help women overcome their own doubts or fears about pursuing what they love, whatever that is, but particularly through sports. Recently, I reached out to a long-time friend of mine who gave me some great suggestions on how to get going with that and where to go for training/certification. Things with that are falling into place and I’m praying that trend will continue.
I told my counselor that sometimes I end up thinking about stuff too much, over-analyzing, risk assessing, to the point where I talk myself out of it and that I didn’t want to do that with the idea of being a life coach. He told me that whatever I start, I need to finish. Not the first time he’s said that to me. But that was the day I needed to hear it again. That was the day it stuck. As I was driving home I thought about that statement and realized that when I’m doing anything athletic, I never DNF. So why would it be any different in the rest of my life? Why do I allow myself to back out of things that could bring me great fulfillment and joy?
I overthink it, that’s why. I over plan, over analyze, over risk assess. In doing that, I’m not doing myself any favors. Instead, I don’t pursue what could end up being a great joy in my life. I miss out and that’s just a rip-off.
So in this current adventure, I feel determined, I have a strong passion for helping women and this training and certification is a way to do that. That means I need to figure it out, one way or another and make it happen. And once I do, I’m going to see it through, No DNF.