The Journey Is More Important Than The Destination

I’m sure this is a famous quote by someone important, but I have no idea who.  We’ve all heard “Success is a journey not a destination”; this is just another twist on that statement.

Back in December a friend of mine who runs a middle-school robotics program posted on Facebook that one of the parents called for a “do over” in a competition.  As a parent who has been involved with middle-school and high school robotics for over seven years, the line “the journey is more important than the destination” came to me and led me to craft a response based on that principle. It was well received by those who understand the program.  Still stunned a parent would do that.

The robotics program, FIRST, is about so much more than the robot. It’s about shipping, and learning, and frustration. Each season I’ve been involved as a parent, coach, or mentor, I’ve been excited to watch young people grow right in front of me.

Last week, when Seth and Winnie posted about the Your Turn Challenge I was excited. I’ve blogged in the past, more as a personal journal than anything else, and had just posted in my blog for the first time in nearly a year (Over three years since regularly posting.)  But as Monday crept up, I started thinking, I have some meetings this week, I’ll be too busy, and so on.  However, Seth’s message of shipping kept echoing in my head.

As the day went on, I started reading posts that others had done, and was stunned. My lizard brain kicked in, “I can’t do that.”  “What do I have to say that others will want to read?” I had the title for the post in my head, but the lizard was strong. So strong I tweeted saying I wasn't sure I could do it.

 

Thankfully, within 7 minutes, someone I don’t know encouraged me to do it anyways. Minutes later other chimed in. Collectively within 30 minutes they helped me kick the lizard brain to the curb.

Personally, I’m not sure where my journey will take me. I just finished my Bachelor’s degree, a mere thirty years after I started. Where the destination is, I have no clue.  I just keep hearing President Jeb Bartlett from West Wing saying “What’s next?”

What Have I Done

I stepped on the scale yesterday morning - 278 pounds. OMG.

I knew it was bad, I new my "fat" shirts were now tight. Last night I saw some photos (side shots) that were taken at an event on Wednesday.  I look horrible.

Everything the last year(s) has taken a toll on me. Geoffrey leaving, finishing school, the stress of MIL next door. Just not caring.

I have to change.

I've been trying to convince myself that I can lose one pound a week - take it off slowly - and that I will eventually get back to where I want to be.  Can I wait that long?

What if I upped it to 1.5 pounds a week? Is that doable?

I know what to do:

- Eat better
- Drop soda, drink water
- No fast food
- Have a plan
- Exercise

I have to pull the trigger. Can I?

What am I afraid of?


It time to move from survival to significance - in my body, in my career, in my relationship with God.  The first steps are the hardest.

Time to go sign up for 5k.


Look out - fat man running.

It's time.....

I think it's time to capture my thoughts here again.

Here we go again

272.5 - That's what the scale said last week. I knew it was bad. Pants too tight, shirts too tight, I feel like crap.

240 - That's what my drivers license says. It needs to be renewed at my next birthday - 22 weeks from now.

32.5 pounds, 22 weeks = 1.5 pounds a week.  I should be able to do that.



Biometric screening on Feb 6th. - can I get to 259 by then?


Plan for December is nothing dramatic.  I'm calling it WWP.

W - Walk.  Shoot for the 10,000 steps a day.
W - Water. At least 40 ounces a day. 60 would be better.
P - Produce. Five servings a day.

24 hours....so much can happen

I haven't been doing too hot on my 100 Day Challenge but there have been some good things going on.

- Landed three new customers, including one that had been eluding our organization for years.

- Attended an introduction to the new 5 Choices by Franklin Covey. Fantastic program, planning on taking the two day course in February.

- Finished Strategic Management class and landed another A, who knows may end up on Dean's List again this semester.

- Only running a couple days a week. Need to make a decision on what my exercise plan will be and if I'll do one or both of the local Turkey Trots.

This weekend will be some yardword (soooo many leaves) and a re-set on blogging, exercise, etc.

Stay tuned.

I'm stuck

But I know it. Hopefully getting unstuck in next few days.

Inertia

I was going to run on Saturday morning, but I didn't.

Maybe Saturday afternoon - didn't happen.

How about Sunday morning? Nope.

Sunday afternoon, beautiful day - perfect for a run. Nah.

Monday morning - alarm rings at 5:00. I don't want to. The best is warm and snuggly. Another half hour of sleep would be great.

I was soooo close to not going, but I went. For the first time in a long time I had no preplanned route, just a general idea of the length I wanted. It was mid 40's so I went for long pants and the cheap gardening gloves I bought for running. (Hey, at 96 cents you can't go wrong.) Started with a hill - I hate hills - and kept on plugging. I didn't even worry that much about what songs came up on the iPod, just let it play.

Plugged along, got a good sweat going, but those darn shins are still tender. By the time I finished I had done 2 1/2 miles.

I beat inertia this time, and I'm glad I did.