I have run across some pretty inspiring posts on Pinterest, which is kind of a funny thing to say, don’t you think? I was always that kid in elementary and middle school who loved the cheesy motivational posters. “You’re right! If I aim for the moon and miss I will land among the stars!” Yep, I was a sucker for them. Still, I often find inspiration in the words of others, especially when I’m struggling. For today’s Motivation Monday, let’s talk about taking risks.
One of my favorite quotes right now has been attributed to all sorts of people and I have seen many iterations of it. In this instance Google isn’t making my life any easier, so I frankly have no idea to whom I should attribute this quote. Some say Thomas Jefferson, some say Drina Reed (a pastor from what I can find online). Either way, it’s a great quote in all of its forms.
According to goodreads.com, this is how Jefferson saw it:
According to Pinterest, on the other hand, this is how Drina Reed sees it:
Either way you look at it, the message is the same. If you are unhappy with your life, you have to change it. If you keep doing the same things you’re doing, nothing will ever change. Getting out of your comfort zone is frightening, it is called a comfort zone after all, but the payoffs can be huge.
I’ve been feeling in a bit of a rut lately so to get out of my comfort zone I decided to push myself toward a goal. Although I have already been training for a half marathon in early October, I need something a bit sooner to motivate me. Then this happened:
When I saw that Elizabeth was giving away an entry into a local half marathon, I jumped at the entry. After all, why not? Then yesterday I found out that I won one of the entries! Now I will be running a half marathon this upcoming Sunday. That’s right, I have a half marathon in six days. Talk about getting out of my comfort zone!
Because I’m not quite there in my training, I’m trying to not stress about this race. Rather than worrying about my time, I’ll use it as a practice run for the BAA Half Marathon in early October. Knowing that I have the race this weekend and that my race in October will be my third half marathon rather than my second is exhilarating. It is certainly a risk though. Will I be able to finish the race? I think so, but there’s no guarantee. To me that risk is worth it, because it is also my opportunity to shine—not as a person who will place in the top of the marathon finishers, but as a person who is willing to get out there and try.
After all, you never know what you can accomplish unless you try.
I love that quote! It’s so true. We can’t just sit around and mope about it if we’re feeling bored with our life – we need to actively do something!
That’s so exciting that you won an entry to the half marathon. Good luck girl! I’ll be cheering for you from over here in Ontario.
http://onehealthymunchkin.blogspot.com/
Thank you! I just did a quick 3.2 mile run to see how my legs are feeling and I think it will be okay.
Super excited!
I was the other winner of her giveaway. I’ve been stressing as well since I’m running one 2 weeks later, but since it’s my first half, i’m going to also use the Allstate as a practice and take it easy so I can do even better on my second half! Best of luck, maybe i’ll run in to you!
Yay! Congratulations and good luck! It should be a fun race.
So excited for you and Emily to be running the Allstate half– and I love that you’re both able to use it as a warm-up for other races on your calendar.
I am such a sucker for motivational quotes. And Pinterest. It’s kind of a problem. Hope your week is off to a great start!
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Haha, agreed. I go through spurts with Pinterest where I’ll forget about it for a day or two and then spend like 3+ consecutive hours on it.
Thank you again for hosting the giveaway!
I had the same giveaway on my blog and totally debating doing the race as a warm up for the BAA half. If my knee was 100%, I would totally do it for fun, but decided against it because I don’t want to push it (never know with injuries). Best of luck to you Becki!!!
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