REALwomenmove Archives - Be Brave Coaching

September 10, 2016

The Wonder Woman Inside Me

Let’s b wonder_woman_linda_carter_p e honest, for those of us who grew up in the 70’s, Wonder Woman was awesome. She had mystical powers, the Lasso of Truth, those cool bracelets, and the tiara. I can’t forget the awesome costume she donned when she headed out to kick some bad guy butt. I think a lot of women, secretly and not so secretly, think that they’re Wonder Woman. She could do it all, nobody could stop her, all while holding down a day job.

I’ll admit, I’m drawn to Wonder Woman because of the outfit and tiara. Being honest. I also like to tell myself that I can be like Wonder Woman. I can do it all, no one can stop me. Except here’s the thing, it’s a lot of work. I say yes to people, yes to myself, why yes I can do 3 half marathons in as many days, yes I will crush my body with a workout and get back up and do it again, yes, I will take on that extra work. I mean, really, that’s just what you do. That’s the expectation I created for myself. Bring home the bacon, fry it up in a pan and make a BLT.

But back to Wonder Woman for a minute. She could do it all, or could she? She is in the Justice League and had her super hero friends to lean on when she needed help. Even if she didn’t need help, she recognized that there were other people who could get the job done better, faster, safer, so that she could tackle the bigger fish in her pond. My opinion is that Wonder Woman’s hidden strength was that she would ask for help and she could say no.

And I’ve been thinking about this quite a bit, not Wonder Woman exactly, but being able to say no. I’ll admit, not a fan. Here was my recent struggle. I really did sign up (in April) to do the 3 half marathon’s in 3 days. It’s coming up soon, beginning of October. But, as I get older, my body is resisting me more. And I don’t like that. I want to be invincible. Last week though, I couldn’t stop thinking about this race. Thinking how I could do it, but it would leave a mark. One would be fine, but 3 would hurt, and some hurt is ok, expected even, but not hurt to the point where I knew in advance it would not be my smartest move. Would not be the best for my health. Would leave me tired for a while. The voice in my head told me to suck it up, not be a quitter. Reminded me that I paid good money to do the races, most of which I would not get back, and only some of which I would get in the form of a deferral to next year’s race.

All these thoughts were swirling in my head and I actually felt slightly nauseous as I went online and dropped 2 of the races. It’s done. And the world didn’t end. Except that I’m telling you, no one even really knows. The funny thing is, after a couple days, I actually felt stronger inside. I realized that sometimes the strongest thing I can do is say no. No to the wrong things so I have more time and energy for the right things. And more and more, the right things have to do with people. Spending time with my tribe, my family, my friends, those I care deeply about. Saying yes to focusing on people brings me a lot longer lasting joy than events which I love and still will do, but which have a day-long instead of lifelong impact.

So back to Wonder Woman. She rocked it and in my mind, she rocked it because she knew where her strengths lie and built on that. I’m seeing that there’s strength in not being invincible, so today, I’m embracing that – and feeling oddly stronger. I think that’s because we all have a little Wonder Woman inside of us.

September 4, 2016

Lane Lines or Open Water?

I’ve mentioned it before, but I am a swimmer. And if you’re a swimmer, you know that lap swimming involves staring at the bottom of the pool for however long you’re out there. In the lane where I swim, and in most lap pools, there’s a line at the bottom of the pool that, in my case, helps me make sure I’m swimming straight. Given that my swimming can be a little bit crazy at times, I value the line, keeps me on the right path.

But I also swim in open water. When I swim at the lake, I think that a GPS picture of my swim would look like a squiggly line. I sight often and try to stay straight, but for the life of me, that doesn’t seem to happen. I veer to the right, then the left, but never really in a straight line. Now, I like doing things right, which in this case would mean swimming straight, but if I’m being honest, I’d have to say that I really like swimming in the open water. It’s always beautiful, the air is fresh, no chlorine and I’m outside, which I would rather be any time. The factors I love tend to outweigh the fact that I feel like I must look like I’ve been drinking and that there could be sharks…ok not really, but I still think about it.

I’ve been thinking about swimming compared to the way I operate in my day to day life. Gotta say, my set point is to follow the line. I follow the rules. I want others to follow the rules. I play the responsible card, all…the…time. Sure, it’s predictable and there is some comfort in that. For anyone, right? You operate in the comfort zone, play small, stay safe. Ends up being tasks before people. Before you know it, you’re living in a super clean, organized, house, all your bills are paid, you’re doing well at work, but you wake up one day to realize you are bored and…alone.

With the straight line, you get stuff done. In the pool, I’ll crank out my yards. Back and forth, the p Underwater lane lines.jpg.opt479x270o0,0s479x270 predictable path. Open water? I’m zigging and zagging and don’t swim as far as in the pool, but it’s so beautiful! Open water is where the adventure is. And I’m realizing that I want that for my life. I want the open water. I want to explore. To take the unknown road and discover something I may have never found otherwise. It’s a way to find new passions, to actually, fully, experience life instead of staying in my lane. To focus on people, not tasks, and people can be zig zaggy too, but I’m willing to take that chance. To share those adventures with someone I care about, to make memories.

So I’m making that promise to myself, to live in the open water. And I’ll be honest, it scares me and really, that’s ok. I encourage you to think about your own life, where are you swimming the straight line and where are you in open water? If you’re not getting in the open water, why not try?

August 28, 2016

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

This quote, by famed minister Robert Schuller, is used all the time in inspirational quotes or speeches. I’ve always liked it and was thinking about what I would do today during Paddleboard Yoga. Stirring around in my head were happy memories from going to Boulder for the weekend and other adventures I still have on the drawing board in my head but on which I haven’t made a move.

I tend to think that I hold myself back from taking action, from taking risks, because the thought of failing gives me a fairly heavy dose of anxiety. No kidding, I strive to do things which I know I can accomplish. Things that are dependent only on me. It’s why I like individual sports. I’m responsible for my performance, for how well I “hit the bar.” I can be like that at work sometimes too. While I’ll always say yes to a project, I make darned sure I will succeed. While the thought of working collaboratively with others makes sense to me, and, in concept, is something I want to do, push comes to shove, I’m taking that puppy over. I realize this isn’t my healthiest thought pattern, but I own it. I work on it.

This morning I was doing SUP (Paddleboard) Yoga, which I love. It’s hard, my balance is not fantastic, and today I was really wobbly. I had the “opportunity” to cool off several times when I fell in the water. I’ve done SUP Yoga 4 times now through REI. Each time, the main instructor is Dyanna, who is awesome and who encourages me to try hard balancing poses. The last couple of times, I’ve been trying to do a headstand. Tried again today… more opportunities to get wet. Today in the midst of my efforts, the other instructor, Megan, told me to think about the journey not the destination. Another familiar quote, but one which always resonates with me.

And something clicked for me. It wasn’t the headstand, no, that’s well photo documented as not happening yet. What clicked is that I was trying something which, in all reality, I had a high chance of failing. (In my head right now and at that moment, mic drop) I tried, knowing the headstand is thus far elusive to me, and nothing bad happened. I took risk, I fell, and nothing bad happened. No one mocked me, I didn’t get hurt, I’m not on the SUP Yoga blooper role. Instead, I got encouraged for trying. I was proud of myself for merely making the attempt.

I thought about some of the other areas lately where I’ve been brave, taken a risk, and maybe failed a little, but still tried. And the world hasn’t stopped. When I went to Boulder, I had a great time, after having an anxiety attack standing in the Denver airport and nearly starting to cry. But I pushed forward. I’m in my class to become a certified coach, and it’s hard, and I feel like my first peer coaching session was a hot mess, but I’m pushing forward. I had a really hard, honest conversation with someone last week, and I don’t know where that will end up, but I was brave and I put myself out there.

In my head I so often think that I don’t take risks, that I keep myself in a safety bubble or safety zone. But now I don’t think that’s really true. If I can shift my mind to think of things I’ve tried, maybe failed, maybe not, but that I chose to experience nonetheless, couldn’t that go on the win side in my mind? If I could remember that even if a small part of the adventure is hard, or that I might not succeed, like my SUP Yoga headstand, but that overall I was still brave and took a chance, what else might I try? Where else have I had success but let the “fail” become how it’s defined in my mind?

There’s the challenge. I have a choice how I want to define and characterize my experiences. I can choose fail or I can choose brave and fun and success. In that light, wow! Many more successes, being very brave. So think about it, I’ll bet you are very brave, and that you’ve had a million wins! Make the shift and you’ll see it too.

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?

August 14, 2016

Knowing the difference

Here’s a few things I know about myself. I like things the way I like them, I’m fussy – truth. I can be a little tricky, much more of a daisy than I’d like to own up to. I like playing pretty and my eye Royal Arch Journey lashes. I love my early mornings of journaling and coffee at Starbucks. I’m a neat freak, trying to reform, but ask my kids, it’s a real thing. I make the bed, every day. I floss, and use mouthwash, leftover food taste in my mouth – that’s not happening. I arrive early for appointments, or when I meet people – it’s polite. I don’t like anger as an emotion in me, it doesn’t happen. Frustration happe
ns, irritation happens, but not anger (yes, I know I’m splitting hairs). I am independent. I am an athlete. I am passionate about athletic fitness – not gym fitness necessarily – but fitness outside, in God’s beautiful creation. I am emotional, I cry sometimes and sometimes more than others. I care deeply for people and want the best for them.

I also know that I am ok being alone. I like it, to some degree. I can do what I want to do, or not do, when I want to do it. That’s an adventure I’m on right now. A weekend alone…away from home. Wait, what? The away from home threw me for a loop. Maybe I’m ok being alone in my realm at home, with my home base to go back to when I make day trips. It gives me security. This trip was brave for me. I came to Boulder alone on Friday and have to be in Denver Sunday afternoon for work. It was the perfect time to make a little side trip. I was packed and good to go. But when I arrived, I felt overwhelming anxiety. What was that about?? I made myself push through it, and it’s been hard. Saturday I hiked for hours and it was beautiful, and I was at peace in nature, like I often am. Afterwards though, my not so friendly friend anxiety tried to come back. I’m aware it’s there, but I’m trying to blow it off, or at least make friends with it so it doesn’t get in my way.

All those things I know about myself, I like them – tricky stuff and all, I like being alone – sometimes, so why do I feel like this on a weekend where I’m working on being brave? I think what I’ve come to realize over the last couple weeks is that even though I’m ok to be alone, I’m lonely. All those things I like about me, I want to share them. I want to be sitting here talking with someone about how much fun today was, how beautiful it is here. I miss that. It’s something I’m aware of, and I have a lot of thoughts about it that are for another day.

What I do know though is that the feeling I have of wanting to lean in, it’s still there. I know that sometimes people will think that when you’re alone it means you’re lonely. But it doesn’t. I wasn’t lonely for a long time even though I was alone, for a lot of reasons. I think that in these moments, the best I can do is to lean in to what I have, the family, the friends, the passion. And really, that’s what we all should be doing anyways, leaning in to those we love and care about. When we do, when we have connection and love, loneliness will fade and we can enjoy where we are – at that moment.

July 30, 2016

Moving past the clutter

Last weekend I was in the San Francisco Bay Area for the first module of iPEC’s Coaching Certification training. An awesome weekend where I experienced a sense that what I was doing, learning, experiencing, was on track with my gifts, talents and the purpose God has for my life. I came home on a high that lasted all week – gotta love that!

As I always do, I think a lot about life, even in the midst of my training. Didn’t hurt that because we practiced coaching throughout the course, I felt like I was in therapy all weekend – I thought my brain would explode. On Sunday morning, I left my hotel early for a walk along the Bay Bridge Trail which I’d discovered on Saturday, it’s my favorite way to start the day! I love new adventures and I think it’s super cool to walk over the Bay. I’ve done it on the Golden Gate Bridge, so the Bay Bridge was calling me.

I had about an hour and a half to walk so I could get back and ready in time for class. No sweat (well, there was sweating), 6 miles-ish and that would certainly get me at least halfway across the bridge from where I started. One of the things I was excited about was walking on the new span of bridge that opened a couple years ago. Off I went and after making my way through the maze under the freeway I was on the bridge. If you don’t live around here, you may not know that after they opened the bridge, the next project was to take down the old bridge. It’s a steel, ugly thing that now is cluttered with equipment used in deconstructing it.

So there I was, on the bridge, walking, walking, walking. Seriously, when was I going to move past the old bridge and have an unobstructed view from the new span? Cut to the chase, I didn’t. I ran out of time and had to turn back.

And that was ok. But here’s what ran through my head. My life is on a new the bridge, so to speak. I finally feel like I’m on a path to live out my passion, my desire to help other people, to help them move their lives closer to where they want it to be. Making choices instead of letting life just happen to me. But as I walk on that new path, the bright and shiny path, I’m not free from the clutter of my life thus far. Granted, I’m making progress, a lot of it, but it’s still there. Occurred to me that it’s like the Bay Bridge. The new span is beautiful and you can walk on it, enjoy it, experience it, but at the same time, you have to deal with the deconstruction of the old span. They’re making progress on it, just like I’m making progress in my own life, but it’s not gone yet, even in the midst of finding my purpose.

I’m going to get there, I know I am, but it can’t be rushed, it’s on its own time schedule, God’s time schedule. Trying to move it any faster will just frustrate me, I don’t have control of the timing. But unlike my walk on the bridge, I won’t turn around. I’ve made a choice to move forward, and my clutter will be there for a while, truth is, even once I clear out the old stuff, more will appear. That’s part of the deal and it’s ok.

I’d enourage anyone moving through change, and truthfully, isn’t that all of us in one way or another, to think about the bridge. To not lose sight of the fact that you’re on the new span – celebrate the fact that you’re on the new span. The old is still there, but you’re making progress. It’s one step at a time, enjoy the walk.

July 25, 2016

Stuck in a Rut

This is one of those times when I have a million things happening in my head. So I’m just going to see what spills out. I think it’s interesting to think about how I perceive myself vs. how others see me. I often see myself as stuck in a rut. And really, it’s dumb because I know I want to do something different, but I don’t. I tell myself there are many reasons, but in truth, those are just excuses. I know if I really put my mind to it, I could make change. So why don’t I?

Well, if I’m going to do something new, I better figure it out first. I better have all the answers, I better not make a mistake. Wait, what? Oh yeah, that’s the perfectionist in me. The perfectionist knows I’m not perfect, but doesn’t want anyone else to see it, it thinks it’s protecting me. The perfectionist tells me there are a lot of things to be afraid of. Tells me I better weight all the risks first. The perfectionist procrastinates, all to avoid blame, shame, all the feelings that come from making mistakes (thanks to Brene Brown for the spotlight on all that, ugh, why did it have to make that much sense to me!?!?) I tell you though, the perfectionist is no friend of mine. I should name it and then every time it shows up, I can tell it to get lost.

This weekend, I’m at a coaching course, learning how to help others realize their potential, work through what holds them back. The thing about a class like this is you have to/get to deal with your own crap for practice…yay. Three days of working through my stuff. As I go through it, I’m noticing the feelings that come up. One interesting one is that I feel wound up inside. Full of anxiety, a nervous stomach, feeling like my heart is racing. Yesterday, I thought maybe I drank too much coffee, it’s possible. But it happened again today and so instead of chalking it up to my Starbucks habit, I paid attention to. Every time we had to do a “practice” exercise, it came up again. What started to click for me is that as I was forced to work through some stuff for the sake of “practice” I had to push past that perfectionism, push past the rut. It was new.

I think that’s one of the things that’s hard about getting out of the rut. It’s new, it’s unknown. I might not like the rut I’m in, but I know it. It’s oddly comfortable. But in the rut, I don’t grow. And if I don’t grow, I die, maybe not visibly, but on the inside. I know I have to make change and to do that, I have to be able to live in the tension, live in the discomfort that comes from making different choices. I’m learning that no matter what happens, it’ll be ok. It’s ok even if I make mistakes. I won’t fall apart. This weekend has shown me I can move into a space not knowing what’s next. What I do know is that I’m going to stop moving through well worn rut, and step outside it. And in that space, I’ll find the fulfillment I want because my choices and path will be driven by my purpose. So hold on, it’s going to be bumpy ride.

And oh, Ellen’s doppelganger was at my training…ok maybe not really, but she said I wasn’t the first one to say it. Kristin was a lovely woman!

June 26, 2016

Doing my best

Paddle Board

I’ve been thinking about how I sometimes choose not to do something because I don’t know how, or I think I’ll look stupid. This weekend though, I tried two new things just because I thought they sounded fun. First, I’ve been doing free classes at Athleta and this week was a barre class. I’ve never done it, but it was a lot of fun, even if I couldn’t point both my toes. But today’s adventure topped it all, seriously. I went paddle boarding for the first time, but not just straight up paddle boarding, I thought, hey, let’s try paddle board yoga, and I’m hooked!

In the past, I’ve aced myself out of paddle boarding because I can’t get my prosthetic leg wet. But earlier this week when I got the email from REI advertising their class, I stepped outside my comfort zone and signed up. I have spare legs (I know that sounds weird, but I do, a couple of them), so I wore the oldest one today and figured if it got wet, I didn’t care. It was the most peaceful, challenging, relaxing experience! Being on the paddle board made me stay focused and that helped keep my mind still – which is hard with all the randomness that roams around in it. There were geese, an osprey, and an otter that came to check me out in my plow pose. I’m so happy that I ignored my second-guessing and just went for it, to think I’ve missed out on paddle boarding all this time!

So it also has me thinking about the expectations we bring with us when we consider doing anything new. I’m learning that if I show up and do my best, that’s all that matters. It doesn’t matter if my friend is better, is doesn’t matter if I fall in the water. What does matter, and what gives me energy, is being outside, showing up, and knowing that I did the best I could. That was today.

I saw a great movie last night, Eddie the Eagle, which drove home this point. First let me say that I love the sports underdog movie, I’m a sucker for them. Rudy, Miracle, I could keep going but you get the picture. If you haven’t seen it, it’s a true story about an Englishman in the 80’s who wanted to go to the Olympics. He was not athletic, but didn’t care. Everything he tried he did the best he could. Eventually, he made it to the Olympics in Lake Placid as a ski jumper. He came in last but was so excited fans embraced him. At one point, “The Flying Fish,” Chris Fischetti, who was the top guy in the sport, told Eddie that they were the same. They both showed up and did their best, no matter that they placed vastly differently, they were the same.

I just love that. I love the idea that if you do your best you’re at the top of whatever it is you’re doing, whatever it is you’re pursuing. I think if more people could embrace that thought, instead of the self-imposed expectation that results in comparing ourselves to other people or what we think is “ideal,” we’ve find ourselves a lot happier and actually doing things we might not have otherwise tried.

Just do my best. That’s all God expects, that’s all I should expect. Look how it turned out today…I’m feeling “filled up” inside, motivated as I go into my week, and thankful for the joy today brought me.

June 20, 2016

What’s your story?

Inspire You I think about a lot of stuff, which you know if you’ve read my blog at all. It all flows out of my brain and lands here. It’s sort of how I process stuff. It’s like processing out loud and it’s a little therapeutic. Today I’m thinking about my story, and what I want it to be 15 years from now. Of course, it’s not one of those things where the answer has leapt out. I wish it was that easy.

Here’s the low down as I see it so far. Did all the planned stuff. Grew up in the woods, great family, normal ups and downs like any other family. We were the family that was always doing. Winters, we were skiing. Summers, we were horseback riding in the backcountry, sailing, boating. Bottom line, lots of doing. Not a lot of downtime. And we had a great time. So when I had my kids, I felt like I should always be doing. I wasn’t content to just sit around the house. It made me antsy, anxious, feeling like I was missing out. But I stayed busy doing stuff, just stuff, nothing that really made me happy. Ok, of course hanging with my kids was fun, but there was still more I felt I should be doing.

Then, somewhere in my late 30’s, I found I could ride a bike, a long way, and I was in love. At first, 20 miles was a long way. I thought I’d die. But it got easier, and I kept going. I discovered that I really like to ride a long way, seemed like my body was meant for it. I had great friends and we had some crazy adventures! Overnight bike trips, double centuries, competing, riding with fast guys…things I never would have thought I could do. I meant so many kind, amazing, inspiring people. People who accomplished much more than I ever could, who rode in with me on some of those rides that were tough, encouraging me along the way. Cycling was my passion.

Then life threw me a few curve-balls. So what else is new, right? That’s what life does. Ok, so now what. Well, you adjust, that’s what. I slowed down. I hated it, but I slowed down. But I got used to it and as much as I still had passion for cycling, not spending all day on my bike wasn’t a bad thing. Except, I missed my bike. I missed getting out in nature, in God’s creation. Getting out and exploring, pushing my body, seeing what I can do.

So I started swimming, and I can’t run, but started walking, fast. And if endurance was good for cycling, I’d better do that for swimming and walking. So into the Bay, onto Half-Marathons, Marathons (or, marathon, one…but I’m not done). I don’t know what it is, but I really like endurance events. I love the camaraderie, I love pushing my body, and I love the adventure.

I think today this is spilling out my head because it has to do with my story. At least my story so far. And I don’t know that it matters, but here’s what I think. I think that anyone could do what I’ve done and all that I still have on the list to do. I honestly do. I think too often we self-impose limits on ourselves. We listen to what other people say, or what we say in our own heads, about what we can’t do rather than what we can do. This is where I am thankful. I had my foot amputated when I was 4, and my story could have been much different. But my parents never treated me like I was any different than every other little girl. So all that “doing?” I was doing, I didn’t have a hall pass, I didn’t get out of PE, I did everything everyone else did. And what a difference that made, it set me out on the right course. So it never occurs to me that I can’t do something.

That’s the same challenge I’d put out for anyone else. The only thing limiting you or anyone else is that voice in your head – or maybe it’s someone’s voice – but you can ignore it, that’s ok. And I think I want that to part of my story. I want to find ways I can help shape someone else’s story. Help some other woman believe in themselves and believe that those big dreams they have don’t have to be dreams, they can really happen.

June 13, 2016

Do you ever need a vacation from life?

Am I the only one or do you sometimes feel like you need a vacation from your life? I’ve felt like that before, probably more often than I’d like to admit. The idea of just getting Vacation from Life away from all the stress, the responsibilities and the worries of my life. I tend to feel like I’m busy all the time, like there’s always something pressing on me. Is that just me or is that just what life is about in today’s day and age? I’m not going for it. Although my kids are older, I see it in kids’ lives these days. There’s soccer, baseball, dance, gymnastics, and oh yeah, school, homework, and tests. What about just playing? What about just playing for adults? That’s what I want more of. That feeling of being so relaxed and enjoying what I’m doing that it feels like play.

I saw a quote today, “Don’t create a life that you need a vacation from.” I felt like it hit me over the head with in an aha moment. From where I sit, that’s not the kind of life I want, although I wonder if, to a large degree, it is the life I’ve created. But lately I’ve been thinking about it a lot lately. I figure I’m probably more than halfway through my life. Definitely more than halfway through my working life. I’ve been doing the same work since I got out of college, and I like it, I feel I’m good at it, and I love the company I work for, but I still wonder if this is how God wants me to ride it out. Something in my gut tells me it’s not, although I don’t know what else is in store.

I do know a few things. I want to play more. I want to make choices in life that are intentional and don’t pile on stress. I want to be better at saying yes to the right things and no to the wrong things. I’ve already pledged to more adventures, so yes, more of those. I want to travel and explore. And along the way, I think God might show me a few other things. What I do know is that life should be worth sticking around for, vacations are just a bonus.

June 5, 2016

Being Brave Today

Lisa Forresthill Bridge.JPG So yesterday, I cooked up plans with my friend to go hiking today. Connecting with a group of gals from her gym and going to Lake Clementine for an early Sunday hike. Sounded awesome, especially since I have wanted to start hiking more. Since I love walking half marathons, hiking seems like a natural extension of it. Plan was set, all good. And then last night the “in my head” talk happened. Here’s how it goes for me. I make the plan, woohoo! and then start second guessing. I think about how it would be nice to have a low key morning, get a few things done – or not, but just be mellow. Ok, truth be told, it was about staying in my comfort zone, my routine. I even thought about my recent “take it easy” recommendation from the doctor, he lifted it last week but, well, maybe. In the end, I told myself to stay strong, be brave with myself, step out of my comfort zone and do it.

So I did. And it was awesome! I met some great women, hiking beautiful land, enjoying God’s creation, felt GREAT! Made me think about why I do that, why I wimp out sometimes – falling back to my routine, my safe zone. I know that the safe zone doesn’t lead to the big stuff – the big fun, the big joy, the life God has for me. So why do I stay in the safe zone so often? Fear? Maybe. But fear of what is the question. I don’t really know what. Because the thing is, when I do step out of the zone, it’s always good. I never regret it. I’m always happy for the new experience. I don’t have this mental struggle with my day to day life. Getting up at 4 a.m. to exercise? No problem. Swimming an hour and half? Check. Walking my half marathons or cycling 100 miles? All good. I might question my sanity, but I do it. But new experiences? Let me think about it, think about how to get out of it, re-convince myself to do it, but still question.

I’m tired of thinking so hard, figuring out ways to stay in my zone. It comes back to choices and I want to have fewer of them. It means making a decision and sticking to it. Less choices when I don’t second guess myself, my plans, re-thinking, making a new plan. When I move forward with my original decision, less choices, so much easier! Motivation is not the problem, it’s a little fear, and little being “stuck,” and that’s not a space I want to live in. Somehow, I don’t think I’m alone in this. If it’s you, you have your reasons, they may be like mine, or they could be different. The reasons keep us safe, but we miss out on so much. So I ask you the same thing I ask myself, are you ready to be brave?