Submission

So I've been slacking, I know. I was determined to start the new year out writing every week, if not every day. Instead, I've been too busy, I had no inspiration, I had nothing to say, I had nothing to say that anyone would read. Eventually it became out of sight and out of mind. Way to trip on the first hurdle.

Recently, as I do at the beginning of every year,
I've gotten back into running. Normally, as work picks up, I start to slide off the track and my running shoes end up waiting faithfully, gathering dust by the door. Kind of like the dog you had as a child but then you grew into a teenager and suddenly didn't seem to have time for anyone, let alone Fido. "Not today guys, too busy." "It's way too cold, maybe if it gets warmer later." "I am way too tired" "Oops I forgot and now it's too late." But thanks to determination, Nike+ coach program, and being woken up when my boyfriend leaves for the gym at five am everyday anyways, I feel this time is going to be different.

And true to my word, I have been keep up with the program. This time, instead of trying to pick up where I left off the previous year, I am more focused on developing a routine and technique over speed and distance. Those things take time. Right now it's more important to get the habit. And I have to remind myself this. Especially on days like today. In Florida, 45 degrees is a hell of a lot colder than it was in Colorado. Combine that with a strong head wind (seemingly in both directions) and you have quite the pace killer. By the time I was done with my run, I was cold, my ears were killing me, and I felt disappointed by my overall stats. I could have gone faster, I could have gone farther, I could have done better.

But at least I did it.

And I realized, that's the important thing. Whether it's the best thing you've ever done, or you fall flat on your face and fail miserably, at least you did it. And sure enough, as if to prove me right, the first tweet on my feed this morning was a retweet from my amazing photographer Susan, which was a quote from Jim Rohn.

"Success is steady progress toward one's personal goals."  

Every time you get up and make an effort at something you want to accomplish, you progress. Say you're trying to make a top secret mind control potion and one day you  blow up your lab. Well that's not a step backwards, it's a learning experience. Every "failure" is merely a chance to learn that that way doesn't work. Or say you're a writer trying to maintain a blog so to gain international fame and recognition, even if it's only on the internet, even if you write a bad or boring story or article, that's still more progress than if you never wrote at all. 

So till tomorrow, Digital Land, have a great one. Make sure to go out and take that first step. Or 21st step. Or stand up from where you fell down and get back on the path. Nobody every accomplished anything from sitting in the mud wallowing in self pity and doubt.

...unless you're an internationally famous and recognized performance artist that expresses the trials and stresses of the modern world and the crushing weight of self doubt put upon us by unobtainable realities as portrayed in all forms of media by sitting in a kiddie pool full of mud and interchangeably crying and screaming. Then good for you.