Barking Dogs

As I rounded the corner from my home this morning and began my run my legs felt very heavy. This is not a good way to begin a run. I felt a little discouraged and knew that I was in for a difficult experience.

For me, running is more of a mental experience than a physical experience. If I can get my mind into the run I generally will forget about my physical self. If I feel good in the beginning of the run, I am able to move into some other place where I forget about my body. If I feel lousy, the transition is much more difficult and I usually feel every step no matter what I do.

I live in a hilly area and nearly every way I turn to start my run begins with a steady and sometimes long uphill climb. As I crested the first hill this morning I was really huffing and puffing. I was tired and I was barely two miles in to what would eventually be a ten mile run.

One of the houses near the top of the hill is home to a family of five or six dogs. One of the dogs started barking at me and pretty quick all five of them were barking at me. It seemed to me as if with each bark they were saying, "why are you even trying?" "You are not going to make it?" "You are out of shape and old!" You can't win!" "You can't do it!" I could hear them yapping at me as I ran away. They continued even after I was no longer in sight.

Sometimes the people around us are no different then these dogs. They bark and yap negative messages that can demotivate us and cause us to be less than we really can be. Some of us only receive negative feedback and have no where to turn for uplifting and encouraging support.

The great thing about the program we are piloting is that we have established a positive support system. When was the last time you had somebody around you that was only allowed to give you positive feedback and positive suggestions on how you can become the best you? If you are like most of us, it has probably been a while. Yet this is exactly what we are creating. Each person in the program is committed to being a positive voice to facilitate the development of the other's best self.

My experience is that these positive voices crowd out the negative voices that are so prevalent in our world and help me become the best Andrew that I can be. The process is intense and I am definitely pusing myself. My partner in the process is there to help me when I want to give up or feel like I can't go on.

Because of this support, I feel very grateful and able to actively move towards my goals. Today I ran 10 miles again. I was a little slower than Wednesday, but I ran every step and made it home. What more could I ask for?

See you on the road!

Andrew

Comments

[Gdub]

I've noticed what you're pointing out as well. Positive feedback has been a great help so far. Today I had a business meeting with someone else in the program and it was the most efficient one we've had in a long time. I owe that to the positive re-enforcement we've been getting into and the goals we are so focused on now.