Bridget Wright

How can a person stay motivated despite what’s going on around them? I’m a pretty motivated person, but I’ve found it slightly challenging in the last few days to stay positive with so much going on in my personal and professional life. The main thing that is annoying me personally though is the fact that I can’t run! It’s been over six weeks for me, and I still have like five or six more weeks to go. And to top all of that off, I think I either re-fractured or re-injured my toe in some sort of way the other night. It’s puffy and swollen, but not discolored, so I don’t know what’s really going on. I’m due for a doctor’s follow-up visit in a week, so I’ll have a better idea then.

In the meantime, I’ve managed to motivate myself by trying to look at the things that I CAN do versus the things that I CANNOT do. Yes, I can’t run. There, I said it. But I do love spinning, so I’ve decided to take the gym’s spin classes during my recuperation period until the doctor says I CAN run again. That will give me a new (temporary) focus, help me control my weight and strengthen those vital muscles you need when you run. I just hope I can stay motivated until this time period is up. We’ll see how things go. What do you think?

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For some, success in some areas is a challenge. There are so many distractions in our daily lives, that it’s hard to stay focused on what you should be doing. Setting goals is a big deal because it means that you’re eyeing something that you want to accomplish…and that’s a good thing. But getting to that goal is where the rub is and where a lot of people fall short and sometimes fail.

Identify any of these distractions and see if you have a problem in one or more area:

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1. You find that you spend an inordinate amount of time on phone calls that are non-productive. This includes assessing the latest gossip, finding out what happened on the soaps or what Bran-gelina wore to the Oscars. And yes, men are not exempt from this either as they may find themselves continually discussing the latest sport scores.
2. You daydream a lot or bemoan the things that you wish you could get done.
3. An hour or two has passed and you cannot identify one productive thing that you did within that time.
4. You say “yes” to every volunteer opportunity (whether school, work or community) that people ask of you.
5. You can’t say no. Ever. See #4.
6. You wake up tired and exhausted and go to bed pretty much the same. Tired.

If you answered yes to even one of the situations above, staying focused is likely a challenge for you. While you may get some things done, you may be frustrated that you’re not getting ahead or accomplishing the things that you need to be getting done. Take heart; there is a way out and a way that you can set goals and stay focused.

• Learn that saying “no” is not always a bad thing. You simply cannot do everything for everybody all of the time.
• Watch your conversation(s) and interactions with others. Are they productive? Do they advance your goals? Is the other person being helped or benefitted personally? Remember, big minds think big thoughts while small minds, well…
• Keep a to do list. Read the to do list. Follow the to do list rigorously. Do not deter from the list until all is accomplished for the day.
• Follow a daily schedule. Rise and retire at the same time daily. This will help stabilize your internal clock and keep your body energized.

sherlock holmes 2009 While these few tips are not all encompassing, they are just a few pointers to get you started on a pathway headed toward success. Just hang in there and you’ll get there!

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OK, so I know I’ve been harping on the exercise thing a lot for the past few posts, but I just want to maybe touch on one more thing today that’s semi-related to that and how important it is for us in life.

Yesterday, I went out to one of our local parks and ran 4 miles in 43 minutes. Yes, that’s right…4 miles. I didn’t think I could do it or had done it right, but some friends confirmed for me this morning that yes, I had in fact ran 4 miles because 1 lap around Veteran’s Park is 2 miles. I did it twice. That’s 4. Yep, I can add really good, ’cause I’ve got a kindergartner you know!

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Anyway, one of my gym buddies, Katie, told me that she’d love to run with me if she had known that I was going out there. Well, one reason why I didn’t mention it or tell a lot of people was not because I was trying to be all secretive and mysterious. It was because I feel like I’m such a newbie, such a green-er, that I didn’t want to slow anybody down or get in their way. After all, I am NOT a runner, and I’m a beginner runner at best. Katie is a alumni marathon runner (2006) and I just didn’t want to slow her down. Another friend, Rikki, said she’d love to run with me too, but she’s not going to do the race. But, here I have two of my workout buddies who want to support me and run together, and, they’re encouraging me to do the race too.

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Now, everyone who knows me KNOWS that I am a social butterfly. I LOVE to talk, laugh, crack jokes and just have fun. I love life, I love life’s twists and turns and I love finding the lighter side of things (when I can). Although I do have the gift of gab and the need to feed, I also try to respect others and not pressure them into something or persuade them just because it’s what I want them to do. Remember me touching on that right? But you know what? I realized another facet of need today. I realized that the reason people’s paths cross are not always to socialize or share a laugh or two, but it’s often to learn a lesson and share a lesson.

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Now, I’ve been encouraging myself and doing self-motivational talks and blogging about this marathon that I’m going to do. I’ve set out a workout schedule, consulted my trainer and laid out a plan. I’m ready. But when I talked to my friends today, I realized that the element that I was missing was that human support factor. That God-given sustainability foundation that He placed in all of our lives for us all to be a help to one another, whether we know it or not.

Mission: Impossible III download When Katie said she would do the run with me, it totally ramped up my attitude! No, I didn’t ask her. No, I didn’t beg her or pay her money. She said she wanted to do it, and she would do it if I would do it. So guess what?  I CAN’T BACK OUT NOW EVEN IF I WANTED TO!! I’m kidding, but I really wouldn’t back out. That human element factor revealed to me today a lot more than I think we’re all aware of.

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We’re put on this earth with billions of other people that we have to interact with everyday. At work, schools, churches, in the community, the grocery store, traffic lights…just everywhere. Of course, there are some people that we wish we NEVER had to deal with, but for the most part, the people we deal with on a daily basis affect our lives in some way, whether that’s big, or small. There is something that we glean from everyone who crosses into and out of our lives. We are all affected in some way.

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This is why it’s important to have an infectious attitude, full of positivity, energy and goodness. I’m not talking about running around grinning like you’re hyped up on Red Bull or something, but I’m talking about finding the good in life and acting on it. Building good things into the lives of others has the potential to affect their lives and their mood. If someone is having a bad day or just not feeling it, and you give them a kind word or a smile, just think about how that small act can change their day. Just think.

Scripture tells us to be helpers one to the other. This doesn’t always mean to pay their bills, buy them groceries, care for their children, repair their cars or huge things like that. Not always. It can mean something as simple as a small act. Or a kind word. Or assisting them in something. You may never see them again. You don’t have to even be their friend. But just knowing that you have impacted someone in a positive way can make a small change in their lives.

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So Katie and I are scheduled to run together on Tuesday, and maybe every Tuesday and Thursday as we prepare for this race. I’ve warned her though that I’m a beginner, a novice, and I don’t want to slow her down. She assured me that it is not a problem and that she will pace herself along with me. She also assured me that on race day, she won’t take off and leave me as she sprints to the finish line! So in other words, Katie is going to hang with me, help me along the way, encourage me when I tire, skooch me along when I need it and overall, do this thing with me. Did she say ALL of that? No, no at all. All she said to me was, “Come on Bridget. You can do this and I’ll do it with you.”

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How awesome is that.

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Let your life shine and speak clearly so that others will see your good works and thank God for you. Enjoy your day! D.A.R.Y.L. rip download The Jungle Book

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I’ve been aggressively working out again (you know; the stop, start, stop thing) now for over a year. It seemed that after each baby, I would get on a roll, do well, and then fall off the wagon when life presented another challenge, like becoming pregnant or chasing toddlers! But since Kenneth and I are now **officially** out of the child-bearing stage, I can totally and completely focus on trying to get my body back to my wedding day weight. HA! Fat chance of that, but I’d like to at least see my feet when standing straight up. Seriously.

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So anyway, I’ve been working out now diligently for over a year and I must say that I am absolutely hooked to the euphoric feeling that I have after I’ve sweated profusely, can’t catch my breath, look like a chicken-head and am incredibly, deliriously exhausted. It is an awe-some feeling! I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I schedule everything around my workout time because that’s one of the few times as a busy Christian, mother, wife, student, entrepreneur and woman that I have to myself. I try not to let anything get in the way of it. The dishes can wait.

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Over the course of the past year and a half, I have begun to rediscover myself in terms of where I am and where I want to be. Never mind the weight loss (which is always a plus), but I have gotten to discover MORE about the person I am. I began to see that setting and accomplishing goals can be as little or as big as you want them to be. So, last year I set a goal for something that I want to accomplish next year. Read on…

Remember when I mentioned that I would stop and start, stop and start exercising? Well, each time I did that, it would take something away from my perseverance, and chip away at my determination. Things couldn’t be helped because Life simply happened. It happens to us all…and don’t you know it always happens at the most inconvenient times? No matter that life happens, we must simply learn to roll with the punches and make the best of it.

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download Forgetting Sarah Marshall movie Since I’ve been exercising pretty regularly and noticing a reduction in my stress level (which was my main goal) and a reduction in my overall weight, I firmly decided that exercising, eating healthy, working out and getting fit would unequivocally become a part of my lifestyle. I liked the way it made me feel and deal with, again, that thing called Life. I decided to incorporate the elements of healthy living into what I do on a daily basis and in the decisions I make. Is it easy? I think you know the answer to that! No, it’s not easy at all, but when I mess up (and I do), I simply continue from there and do better the next time. And the next time, I do better.

Mercedes Marathon!

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One major goal that I’ve set for myself whilst in this vein of health and exercise pursuit, I have decided to participate in the Mercedes Marathon that comes around every year in February. Yay me! This was not a light decision, nor was it one that I thought of on a whim. It’s going to take a lot of work and a lot of focus. I actually thought about it last summer, but decided against it because you know that *Life* thingie had happened with my family. At the time, I still had an asthmatic toddler at home and a brand new sixth-grader. Nothing like ‘tween drama to keep you on your knees both day and night.

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This year however, our lives and my life have changed significantly. My baby has grown up a little and is outgrowing some of his toddler illnesses. My daughter is adjusting to middle school a lot better and Bronson has grown up so much more and his learning has evolved incredibly. My babies are my priority and I couldn’t do anything with a clear head if their lives aren’t at least 99% good. At least.

So today, I went to the Mercedes Marathon website and downloaded the form to sign up for the run. I also downloaded the training schedule. And, I consulted with my personal trainer at the gym to assess my physical condition, readiness, preparation and an overall assessment of my goal and how to get there. Kendal

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gave me her honest professional opinion (which is what I love about her) and we discussed exactly what I needed to do within the next five months to get ready to do this thing. She agreed, that it was very doable for me and that I just needed to tweak some things, increase my workouts and, there’s that buzz phrase again…stay focused. Last year I was pessimistic, doubtful. This year I’m ready mentally and will continue to work physically to finish getting ready. Her recommendation? Of course running and training 3-4 days a week, but mostly mental preparation and making good choices in eating and staying hydrated.

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Folks, I have never been a runner before. More like a jogger or a wlogger (walk/jog). I’m not entering this race to try and win it either. Nor am I trying to place or get on television. I’m doing this for me, because I can. I’m doing this for me because it is but ONE of the goals that has been in my day planner for a while as one of the things that I’d like to do. Run in a marathon. Yes, that’s what I’m going to do.

Life for me holds no more regrets. I guess I had to jump past 40 to see that! But I plan to take all of you on the ride with me. My up days, the not-so-up days, the successes, the joys, tears, laughter, pain and of course, photos! (everybody knows I love those). So, I’m not going to ask any of you to join me, but just follow me on this journey. See where it takes me. Celebrate with me, cheer me on and skooch me over when I slide too far off course. Would you do that for me?

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What goal(s) do you have set for yourself? What can I do to encourage you to stop what you’re doing now, stop wasting time and set your sites on meeting those goals? Are you ready? Let me know…

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