I saw this picture on a R+F team page the other day and I immediately loved it. It’s been really weighing on my mind ever since and I really want to share my thoughts with you.
This isn’t about selling a glass. It is more than that. It applies to SO many aspects of life.
For example: sometimes (okay – the majority of the time) I will ask my kids to clean up their room and later I will find them playing, or even just standing in the middle of their messy room and they will shrug their little shoulders and reply “I didn’t even know even where to start!”
Have you ever felt like that? I know I have. So overwhelmed I just don’t even know where to start Maybe reading 100 books sounds like an awesome goal but you don’t even know where to start. Maybe running a half marathon sounds like a great plan, but you don’t even know how to begin.
To me the answer is simple.
Just start somewhere.
One foot in front of the other and learn to run mile.
One book at a time – and maybe learn how to log them on goodreads or keep track in a notebook.
Because seriously kids – while you stand there looking at your messy room and don’t know where to start – I’ve cleaned the rest of the house around you, now I get to enjoy the feeling of a clean room and a clean house while your room is still a mess.
A family member asked me the other day how I find motivation for running. Honestly, I just started small and I started somewhere. I didn’t wait until I had the best shoes, or the best running gear. I didn’t wait until I had lots of time in my day. I told myself I would buy those things if I stuck with it for a certain amount of time, and I made time. I started somewhere. A month later I could finally run a mile, so I bought myself some good running shoes. (no joke, I couldn’t run a mile previously!) Registering for that first half marathon really scared me. I remember sitting at my dining room table, my heart racing, and and all kinds of negative thoughts swirling around in my head, but I hit enter and paid for the event. And a couple months later I did! And then I ran a lot more! Now I feel the same way about a full marathon, and I know what I need to do to get over it. Just do it.
Because while I sit here debating about if the glass is half full or half empty.
Someone else will sell it.
I have this image saved on my phone. I don’t even know where I got it. But I love it.
Now I’m not talking about crazy obstacles. Because there are some real reasons that you might be just waiting. Real serious reasons. I’m not a Dr. (I just sleep with one…bad joke?) – maybe it’s seriously not a good time to start a workout? Health related reasons, mental, or financial reasons that hold you back. But if the only reason that you haven’t started is because you just are afraid you might fail – I don’t count that as a reason.
Tuesday night I was watching my 10 year play a basketball game and I realized something….he would rather pass than try to shoot. And he seemed unhappy about it! So I asked him about it when he had a break and he said, “Well what if I don’t make it mom?”
But what if you DO! You’ll never know if you don’t make it until you try. And maybe you’ll fail 10 times. But if you always pass the ball then I won’t have sympathy for your grumpy mood because you say that all your friends scored and you didn’t. (I am such a mean mom!)
Because while I sit here debating about if the glass is half full or half empty.
Someone else will sell it. (or shoot it in this case)
Maybe it’s just one foot in front of the other, or one book at a time, or maybe it’s a simple lego piece to get you started,…whatever! Start somewhere. One chapter of reading in my scriptures is better than nothing. and gets me one step closer to God. One vegetable at dinner is better than none. One glass of water is better than ANOTHER Diet Coke, because you and I both know I’ve already started my day with one;)
I’m not saying I’m perfect at this. I am NOT. But it’s something I’m really working on this year. And something I really want to work on with my family. My last little thought? Last year I read this amazing little book. Eat That Frog. It’s only 128 pages – and I think I might have put 120 post it note flags in it. 😉 If you are like me (or my kids) and aren’t sure where to start – this is a book full of ideas!
Because 2017 is the year I refuse to let the glass be sold out from under me. Who’s with me?
