The quest

It's time. You know how when you have a seemingly insurmountable mountain to climb and the hardest part is lacing those shoes and taking that first step?  I've taken a lot of first steps in my life, and the second and second thousandth steps always seem easier.  I've been on a journey the last few years that has required me to just treadmill for a bit.  Well I'm done with the treadmill.  I'm ready for the climb.

See the legs in the pic to the right?  Those are mine from three years ago and I want them back.  I found them in a long lost photo archive and added some goals, and presto chango you are looking at the new lock screen on my phone.  Now those legs taunt me every time I grab my phone to check the latest poll results (kidding!!).

Three years ago I incurred a neck injury on the job.  It's amazing how a couple herniated discs can really affect weight lifting and general fitness.  After 6 months of thrice weekly physical therapy and countless neck stretching sessions at home, I was able to return to the job that I loved and continued to get stronger every day.  About 8 months after that, I was diagnosed with a career-ending medical condition that quickly led to medical retirement from a vocation that had become my very identity.  To say that I hit mental and emotional rock bottom is quite the understatement.

Since last wearing the uniform of a firefighter paramedic, I have been so blessed to return to the nursing field and have found a work that is very rewarding.  As a forensic nurse examiner, I am able to still be there for people on what could easily be the worst day of their lives, and can help support and care for them and get them onto a path of recovery.  I am very grateful for that.  

But in the process of all this change, somehow my physical fitness took a middle burner.  I've told myself that if I could just maintain to the best of my time and ability, there would come a day when I would have the mental and physical space to get back to the level that I once was.  And so that's what I've been doing.  I've been kind to myself and haven't expected perfection.  I've gone on long, soul-searching power walks and hikes sans i-pod and just given myself time to process loss, to grieve a little every time I hear the siren of a fire engine wind up, and have been able to look back on a career that will always be one of the highlights of my life.  All of that takes time folks.  It does no good to force the process.  And so I haven't.

But now it's time.  I've been in school for a year and am halfway to graduating with my MSN.  My job has reached the level of researching and applying what the best practices are and how can I be even better at what I do.  My family life is solid and my kids are excelling on the paths they've chosen.  My husband still comes home to the same house as I do every night and we still laugh at the silliest things together.  We are celebrating 25 years of marriage this fall.  He's been my rock through all of the above.  Life is about as steady as she gets.  Time to get those legs back! :)

So here is my strategy in no certain order.  Tell people.  Make your goals known.  There is enough ego in me to strive really hard to accomplish something once I've told people I want it.  So I'm telling you, people.  I want it.

Write it down.  Yes, we all have goals and dreams swirling around in our brain.  But for me those goals don't really become real until I can see them in black and white, and see them in black and white multiple times a day.  Seared into my brain.

Find a visual that works for you along with words.  If you want to travel to Italy (a future screen saver goal for me), then find a picture of that lovely villa surrounded by vineyards and crusty artisan bread and snap a shot of it.  See it every day.  Want it badly.

I put down on my screen shot to enlist God as my partner.  I believe that we all have a higher power that we hold on to.  One that helps guide us and lifts us up. My higher power is God.  He has never let me down.  I need to remember this. Sometimes I relegate him to the role of silent partner.  He is capable of so much more.  

Believe that you can do this.  Know that it will take hard work but will be so worth it.  I wrote my goals down with the acronym of EARN.  I believe that anything worth achieving is worth working hard for.  I wouldn't appreciate the reward half as much if I didn't push hard for it.  Success amidst a bath of sweat and elbow grease is so much sweeter to me.

And finally, NEVER STOP.  There is something you can do every single day that will get you closer to that goal.  Whether it's doing air squats while brushing your teeth (it's been done...), or reading one last chapter in that textbook, keep moving.  Keep stepping. Build good muscle memory. There are tough days when habit will see us through.

I'm well on my way to those legs.  I've been working kettlebells and squats back into my daily.  I've gotten my asthma under manageable control and know what triggers to avoid and have made peace with the fact that longer distances of running are now in my rear view.  This was hard to give up as I did enjoy being able to just trot along as long as I wanted.  But we work with what we have don't we?  I will soon be adding hill sprints in as part of my High Intensity Interval Training regimen.  The beauty of HIIT is it's scalable to anyone's ability.  I don't care if you've been a couch potato for decades, there is a HIIT workout for you and you will see results (back to that sweat and elbow grease).

Long story short - lace up those shoes.  Look up at that mountain and know it is within reach.  There is nothing holding you back.  You own that mountain.  And the view from on top will be pretty sweet!  Thanks to all of you for being my accountability partners.  We need each other.  Feel free to hit me up and ask me how I'm doing.  I'm betting I will tell you that my legs are SORE! :)

Make it a great day.