A-T-T-I-T-U-D-E

"The only disability in life is a bad attitude.”

~Scott Hamilton

“Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it.”
~Ella Williams

Often your tasks will be many,

And more than you think you can do.

Often the road will be rugged

And the hills insurmountable, too.

But always remember,

The hills ahead

Are never as steep as they seem,

And with Faith in your heart

Start upward

And climb ’til you reach your dream.

For nothing in life that is worthy

Is ever too hard to achieve

If you have the courage to try it,

And you have the faith to believe.

For faith is a force that is greater

Than knowledge or power or skill,

And many defeats turn to triumph

If you trust in God’s wisdom and will.

For faith is a mover of mountains,

There’s nothing that God cannot do,

So, start out today with faith in your heart,

And climb ’til your dream comes true!

--Author Unknown

Today, I got beat up by my workout--and I only was told to do HALF of what was called for.  Here is what was called for:  "Do this as fast as you can--1 mile run, 100 pull-ups, 200 push ups, 300 squats (body weight), 1 mile run."

I did half of each of those.  On my final half mile run, my legs were jellied, my lungs were on fire, my arms/shoulders/etc. were hard to keep up, and my heart was pounding out of my chest.  I walked 1/4 of that 1/2 mile.  But as I approached the turn around spot to head back to the gym, I thought, "I could just cut this a few yards short.  It wouldn't be a big deal..."  Then I thought about something I read that Will Smith said about when he goes for a run, "when I go out/say I'm going to run 5 miles, I run 5 miles.  Because if I listen to that voice in my head, I'll never finish it EVER..."  So I thought to myself..." shut up voice in my head."  Then I thought about what Seone from the biggest loser said durning a recent challenge when asked if everybody would be willing to stop the challenge where they were instead of finishing.  He said, "you all do what you want, but I would feel like I would be cheating myself.  I have been cutting short my whole life, that's why I'm here, that's why I'm fat.  So, I'm going to finish..." 

So I finished.  I went all the way to every line.  I did every thing that was asked of me.  I had to change my attitude.  We might not be in control of everything in life, but we most certainly control that.  Choose to be grumpy and miserable, and that is what your life will be like.  Choose to be happy in those exact circumstances, and you life will not remotely resemble that former life of misery--even amidst the same situations.  

Push through defeat.  

Push through change.

Push through self-pity and doubt.

It's rewarding, and besides, that is the only way to win the race.  

Have I?

A poor, wayfaring Man of grief
Hath often crossed me on my way,
Who sued so humbly for relief
That I could never answer nay.
I had not pow’r to ask his name,
Whereto he went, or whence he came;
Yet there was something in his eye
That won my love; I knew not why.

Stript, wounded, beaten nigh to death,
I found him by the highway side.
I roused his pulse, brought back his breath,
Revived his spirit, and supplied
Wine, oil, refreshment—he was healed.
I had myself a wound concealed,
But from that hour forgot the smart,
And peace bound up my broken heart.

In pris’n I saw him next, condemned
To meet a traitor’s doom at morn.
The tide of lying tongues I stemmed,
And honored him ’mid shame and scorn.
My friendship’s utmost zeal to try,
He asked if I for him would die.
The flesh was weak; my blood ran chill,
But my free spirit cried, “I will!”

Then in a moment to my view
The stranger started from disguise.
The tokens in his hands I knew;
The Savior stood before mine eyes.
He spake, and my poor name he named,
“Of me thou hast not been ashamed.
These deeds shall thy memorial be;
Fear not, thou didst them unto me.”

This morning, I was singing this song in the shower, and found that I couldn't sing it anymore.  My heart was full.  I thought, over and over about my life, and where I am, and what I'm doing.  I couldn't help but think that I too have "myself, a wound concealed."  I attempted to stem my emotions by singing another hymn.

"Have I done any good in the world today?

Have I helped anyone in need?

Have I cheered up the sad, or made someone feel glad?

If not, I have failed indeed."

Singing this song did not have the desired effect.  I continued to think, "Have I?"  I thought of the second verse to that song:  

There are chances for work all around just now;

Opportunities right in our way.

Do not let them pass by, saying 'sometime, I'll try',

But GO and do something today.

So, for what it is worth, I am going to try and do something good today--to "stand up, and do something more than dream of my mansion above."  I want to share with all my testimony of Jesus Christ.  He is that poor wayfaring man of grief.  And if he asked "if I for Him would die", my answer would be yes a thousand times over.  I can't wait for the day that I can look upon him and see the tokens in His hands and feet.  To kiss Him and bathe His feet with my tears of love and gratitude and with hope that I hear Him say, "of me thou hast not been ashamed".

"I have myself a wound concealed", but I know that he can bind up my broken heart.  I may stumble through the rest of my existence struggling with my "wounds", but I want anyone who is listening now to know that my testimony of the Savior is real.  I hope that one day, my words can mean the same as Pres. Hinckley's did when he said, "I love him.  He is my friend.  He is my redeemer."  I too love Him, and He IS my friend.  My entire body is filled with the Spirit's confirmation that Jesus lives.  That He died for me willingly.  He is the way, the truth, and the life.  He is Jesus Christ, and He did it all for me--despite my imperfections, my sins, my stumbling blocks, etc.  He loves me.  I Love Him.  

Have I done any good in the world today?  I hope so.     

Success!

Today we did a lot of dumbbell clean and jerks.  I'll refrain from explaining what those are to any of you who might not know (I suggest going to youtube or google and looking up clean and jerk, then imagine that with dumbbells).  Anyway, we were going for a 3 rep max.  When the dust settled and the smoke cleared, I had the highest weight lifted.  Jason (the trainer) suspects it might last the whole day.  He said, "I have some really strong, muscly guys, but you have better form than they do, so I suspect you will be able to hold out."  

Needless to say, I was pumped.  Especially since I have been in the middle to bottom in workout placements thus far.  I'm definitely seeing improvements already and I'm only in my second week.  I'm loving this.  As for what weight I hefted....85lb dumbbells. The highest before that was 65lbs.  One guy did 75lbs. right after me.  So, there you go.  That's 170lbs. in total dumbell weight...let you think otherwise. :)  Mind over matter guys.  Also, chiropractor over sore necks and hip flexors.  Man, did I tweak my neck on my last rep!  

I cannot go to school today said little....

Here is a link to a video that I think says it all.  I want to publish the actual video on this post, but I don't know how to put an actual youtube video on here.  Anyway, just click on the link and enjoy.    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obdd31Q9PqA

For the last few years, I've made countless excuses for my failures--Tatum was just born and she's waking up in the night and I'm SO tired I can't keep it up...Dane was just born....My knees hurt...I'm having some allergy/asthma issues...and the list goes on.  Some of these are viable excuses, but that is all they are; excuses.  

On the biggest loser, one of the contestants who had to spend time at home for a little bit before coming back said something to the effect, "when I got home, I was exhausted every day.  I was helping with the kids, around the house, and working.  I didn't think I had time to work out, nor the energy.  But somehow, I found enough time to watch 2-3 hours of t.v. a day.  So, I stopped the t.v. if it was getting in the way of my health."  Again, not his exact words, but the gist is the same.  

I have been going to a place called competitive fitness for the last 2 weeks and have come to realize what I have been missing out on.  My body is more sore than it has been in years, and I've been getting up at 5:30 to go.  The crazy thing, after the first few days, I now wake up at 3am then 5am anticipating my alarm.  My point is, this whole getting fit, eating right, etc. is MENTAL!!!  Nearly every physical challenge we face can be made better, easier, or fixed, if we strengthen our minds.  I'm doing that.  I've just started.  I mentioned in an earlier post that I might fall off the back of the wagon, but I will not let go of the rope this time around.  I will keep pulling myself back on.  So, I'm still riding the wagon and feeling great.