Looking back to move forward

Last week I wrote about time and dare I say ‘Time Management’ the term we often shy away from, thinking maybe that’s possible for someone who has a Personal Assistant 🙂

It got me thinking about time and goals that I’m pursuing.

Yes, this week I had a ‘moment’ with a goal where I was left feeling flat and disappointed. It is a running goal that I’ve set with a time and date. This is to happen in a couple of weeks time, so I thought I’d test myself out.

This run had me a little disappointed this weekend, ok I was in tears! I ran for a certain time; smiling, being grateful that I CAN run and doing the best I could on the day … and didn’t make the distance in the time planned and YES I was disappointed. “In tears about a dumb run?” The voice in my head questions almost mocking me. Yes, I cannot believe I’m admitting this to you.

This made me think of my running journey and looking back at my diary, I read:

“Jan 21, 2013 – Doing my long brisk walk session this evening, I found myself walking along a path with a huge grin on my face. This isn’t as long as I once thought… not so long ago it was a massive achievement to run this length. Now I finally take time to breathe and look back at how far I’ve come and the improvements I have made.

This is something I’m learning to do with this marathon challenge, as I have done in the past with my whole life journey, just to pause once in a while, breathe and look back and see how far I have come and where I am going.

I have heard people say, even motivational speakers, “Look forward and never look back.” I understand what they mean, but I still think looking back for me, personally reminds me of the journey that has led me to now hasn’t always been rainbows and lollipops reminding me how I have succeeded and struggled in the past to get to my goals. At this particular moment I am reminded of the fact that it takes baby steps to get to a big goal. So I look back at my small baby steps here; 30 steps, then this path and next my 5.3km fun run challenge and now it appears more achievable in my mind, encouraging me to keep believing in me.” 

Reading this brings me to a state that encourages me to keep going, keep striving to reach my goal, even if it doesn’t happen on the exact date. I must also admit, I haven’t put in the training time as I should to train for such a result to happen…

Have you ever made a goal and haven’t quite reached it at the exact time you aimed for? We all do it from time to time; I’m not claiming to be Queen Goal Achiever 🙂 So maybe we should look back once in a while and keep striving for that goal and pat ourselves on the back for the distance we have made already along the way…I’m not just talking about running.

The Power Is In Me…it’s in You too!

Donna

Ouch!

Creating time around our BIGGER picture goals is another goal in itself, it seems. I am finding this when writing my book.

Have you ever found yourself dreaming of a wish, goal, aim…whatever you want to call it? But hear yourself (whether it is out loud or that annoying voice in your head) saying; “Where will I find the time?” or “I don’t have the time!” or “There are higher priorities than me following some dream.” Oh, it looks sad when I see it written in words, but we find ourselves saying this too often.

I found this has been the case for me recently unfortunately. Yes, there have been distractions in my life in the last month or so that were truly important…but also if I think about it, I have allowed other not so important diversions get in the way.

Just the other day I had a discussion with someone about the lack of commitment I have recently felt toward my book writing, not intentionally, but maybe subconsciously through fears of my own. He stated; “Donna, you need to share your story, think of the people you will be helping when they read it.” Yes, I have heard this said to me before but then he went on; “Donna, STOP being selfish! This is not about you, this is about your message that you need to share, so give this book the respect that it needs!”

Whoa! Ouch! Was this a slap in the face OR just what I needed to hear? Whatever you call it, it shook me up! After we spoke of the lives that I have already touched, inspired and encouraged, including adults and children, and even how parents have stated to me how I have become a role model, this was the stuff that took me aback; me, a role model?! To children?! This is the kinda stuff that is honestly scary to me… maybe the stuff that makes me a little nervous about writing.

But after looking back with my friend, who just knocked me out, realising the impact that little ol’ me has given with my story already, he was right! I had to get out of my head and into my heart.

Reminding me also of other BIG goals I have achieved. The marathon I achieved by remembering “why”…Why was I doing (some would say) this ridiculous challenge? Why was it so important for me to achieve? These are the questions we need to keep reminding ourselves when setting a goal, WHY? Yes, it is important to know how too, but the real reason for reaching your goal comes from your why… and setting a date.

So the steps I now promised my friend I’d do were to set aside at least one hour (switch of my phone and email…aahh!!) to write at a specific time each day to give my book the respect it deserves AND the people who read it. Ready! Set! Go!

What steps will you make to reach your goal!

 

The Power Is In Me…it’s in You too!

Donna

A Frame in Time

Have you ever gone back in time with thoughts that bring a smile to your face? Or thoughts that may even leave you feeling in a state of agony? Or perhaps the sound of a tune brings back an emotion that captures you in the exact state of feeling and brings a picture from the past in your mind or even that physical tingling of joy that is associated with that tune. We’ve all been there right?

I am feeling this today as I write and reflect back in time of past stories I am sharing in my book. I keep going on about how scary and exciting this is, but it is also a adventure that I am happy to go back to and experience all the exciting moments all over again, which is my aim as a writer to take you into a journey as if you are in it and there with your own thoughts and eyes to see what you wish through my words of reflection. However there are moments of my past that bring tears to my heart, but also give me and the reader the opportunity to reflect and feel different emotions all over again.

Today though, I am pleased to be writing about when I first started sharing with people close to me, other than my coach’s, about my huge marathon challenge.

The feelings of excitement that I had in myself, to learn to run again came rushing back. That original feeling even gave me the past feeling before that; from a memory of myself at seven years of age, running across the school oval in a race with my classmates and coming across the line first. Not really fully realising back then the distance of what a marathon would be like on foot. Yes, I knew it was 42.2 kms but that was a number I really hadn’t initially fully comprehended. I just knew it was a huge goal and that I was going for it and that I was excited.

As silly, naive or some would say just plain stupid as that may seem, I like to think of it as an exciting time and a case of having no fear of the unknown…this makes me smile as I write.
It reminds me of how we can associate feelings we place on ourselves that we connect with any goal. This can be a positive result or even end up as a negative.

If I held onto negative feelings associated with running a marathon, then that is what would have manifested negativity, and I would not have even started training for it.
So today’s writing has put me in a frame of time, bringing back an animated feeling, giving a response of joyful overwhelm all over again as if I were back in that picture.

Who knows what tomorrows writing will bring, it’s not all sunshine and lollipops…but that’s what makes life interesting.

The Power is in Me…it’s in You too!
Donna

It’s all in the mind

Announcing my scary goal to you a couple of weeks ago was a very big deal to me! Yes I have made the commitment of writing a book that reveals my true essence, sharing my thoughts and interpretation of my journey!

This is truly a big commitment. It’s time consuming and sometimes mind boggling as to how I am going to fit this into a legible form of interest; involving my experiences, story of determination, struggles, humour, motivation and lessons in my effort to pass on encouragement, inspiration, curiosity and hope this will guide readers into a time of reflection and motivation. I have done this many times at speaking events, but to write a book; to bring a certain voice to my pages can be a tricky mission.

For those who know me well, realise I am a person who detests being called a sufferer or a victim…eeew that really doesn’t work for me. I explain my story as a grateful survivor who just likes to get on with things and believe that there’s no such thing as can’t…

In the past I never liked to draw attention to myself regarding my stroke or diabetes, but then WHAM! Run Donna Run happened www.RunDonnaRun.com.au with no other reason but to raise funds for the RCH and encourage others, it was a huge personal goal too. No, I didn’t have to make a big song about it, but it just kind of grew into something I am proud to say made a positive difference and still does.

So back to the book writing dilemma, is it a dilemma or a process that I’ll grow into as the pages come to life? Yes, I write short pieces, such as my blogs, or articles where you are so wonderful to give feedback…good or bad, I am open to opinions and constructive criticism…although it’s all been good so far, thanks! 🙂

This reminds me of my first solo art exhibition a few years ago. I was revealing my work without hiding behind other artists talent, it was all me! Whilst being exciting it was scary too when I paused before opening night! Would people like it? Would they purchase my work? Would they totally bag it? Having a conversation with a friend of a pleased buyer at my exhibition; he said once he stopped painting for himself and painted what he thought would sell, that was when he actually didn’t sell! Hmm…interesting observation.

Where am I going with this? Well, it makes me think of scary challenges I’ve faced in the past, surviving a stroke, learning to walk again, changing my little sisters nappy (she probably won’t read this… 😉 ), launching a solo art exhibition, learning to run all over again (after 34 years) 30 steps to a marathon in 11 months…now writing a book… it’s written, in my mind, I just have to transform it into text.

We all have our own version of paintings, books, running a marathon, some sort of scary and exciting challenge, but do we go with “what sells” or conform to others expectations? Or go with our heart and our own PB (personal best)?

 

The Power is in Me…it’s in You too!

Donna

Pushing Back Harder

Recently I was lucky to meet an amazing woman on a running track…
but was it luck?

We met whilst fighting our own personal war (not with each other, but with ourselves) while running a marathon last month! Yes, I am a marathon runner! It feels great to brag about it 😉

Her name is Athena and I am grateful to have met this inspiring woman.

We, my wonderful team and I, ran beside her and noticed she was at a point of struggle. We asked Athena, “Do you want to join us?” thinking she may benefit from our camaraderie. Pointing out that she was finding it tough, but looked appreciative of our offer, Athena hopped on board.  We encouraged Athena and kept up with our high spirits of “let’s do this together and achieve!” attitude, even though admittedly I was experiencing great hip pain myself.

It was at the 10km mark where we met our new found goddess of heroic endeavour, who was close to quitting, as Athena was in great pain and was fighting her own conflict of the mind. Only two weeks before she was hit by a car! Yes, physically hit by a four-wheel drive vehicle when running! But she was here! Running a marathon! Fighting her own battle! This was a very reasonable, some would argue qualified reason to stop at 10km and many would pat her on the back and say “Good on you Athena for trying, 10km is great…”

It is even amazing that Athena turned up to the start line!

After meeting us, Athena proclaimed that she would run to the halfway mark, “yes, that sounds like a great achievement, well done for going halfway!” said the voice in her mind with the white suit and wings, stroking her forehead.

We reached the halfway mark, to see Athena was still on her heroic journey! This was a tough game, made slightly easier (I said slightly) at times with encouragement, great team spirit; determination and positive self talk. I am speaking from my own experience too of this massive challenge.

As we ran, my coach revealed my personal story with our new team member. About my survival of a childhood stroke and determination to achieve my marathon goal, after just learning to run 11 months before where I could only run 30 steps. This inspired her even more to stick with us and keep going on this purposeful journey.

Stories were shared along this taxing track of challenging weather conditions and immense physical pain. We were impressed to learn that Athena had run in the Athens marathon the year before and that it was a victory like no other. (Hearing her name was Athena and she had run the Athens marathon impressed us alone!…haha).

Her Athens challenge was an amazing run, she trained with her heart and soul to run for her Grandfather who lived in Greece and was no longer able to walk, but had a fighting spirit of a soldier sharing his love and positive advice to his inspired Granddaughter and many who knew him; “When Life Pushes You! Push Back Harder!”  This quote had stuck in her mind all the way during her marathon wars and applies to her positive and inspiring attitude in life.

Sadly Athena’s Grandfather passed away before her massive Athens marathon achievement began; although he was still with her in spirit pushing her on to achieve her special marathon victory.

There are people we meet in life that inspire us, that will live in our mind forever, this is the case for Athena with her much loved Grandfather, and this is the case for me with the strong amazing woman that ran with us till the very end.

Watching Athena achieve her tough goal, for me… was gold.

The Power is in You!

Donna