Saturday, August 20, 2011

Born To Be Alive

If you are a regular reader of this blog, you know one of my favorite themes is taking risks, challenging yourself, living outside of your comfort zone. I truly believe this is how we can live fully and make the most out of our days, hours and moments.

My most recent article on the Athleta Chi Blog this month focused on this very principal and is entitled, “Do Something That Scares You.” The comments alone are perfect example of why it is never too late to try new things or to live on your own personal edge. What are you waiting for? This is it. Right here, right now. Don’t ever let fear hold you back.

Check out the full article HERE, and learn what I’ve done lately that scared the shit out of me.

SUAR

17 comments:

  1. "...one of my favorite themes is taking risks, challenging yourself, living outside of your comfort zone. " One of them, I guess, though I'd have thought you'd have mentioned bodily functions first. And being very funny.
    Wait, let me guess, that Athletica Chi is a family rated magazine. I get it now.

    Just go on doing what you're doing, enjoying the moment, and blogging about it, and all will be well.

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  2. Your timing was perfect. I had an opportunity to run a marathon - something I swore REPEATEDLY I'd NEVER do. The catch? 5 weeks to train (plus a taper week.) I'm trained now to do an Olympic tri, so I have the endurance - just need to get enough miles in to make race day not exquisitely painful. I said "YES." I know the training will be hard (I'll do 25% in the pool to avoid - hopefully - injury) and race day will most likely bite me in the butt, but when the dust settles, I'll have done a marathon! After just 5 weeks of training! (I'd always dreaded that whole 18 week training idea!) and no one will ever be able to take that away from me. :D Thanks for posting the perfect motivating blog for me JUST when I needed it!

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  3. Great article, Beth. I whole-heartedly believe in pushing outside the limits of one's comfort zone.

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  4. Great article and extremely well written.

    I truly enjoy coming here everyday for something that will make me laugh or think and sometimes both.

    Keep doing what you do my friend.

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  5. "Putting myself out there" by starting my own blog just a couple months ago was a "scary" step for me.

    Now, I look forward to my entries and am learning so much from other writers such as yourself.

    Thank you!

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  6. Yup putting myself out there is always scary because I fear failure. Not so much from myself but from people around me. I put high expectations on myself and frankly I don't meet them. This last one was hard for me, I'm not sure what big thing I'll try again. Sky diving? UH NO

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  7. Dammit Beth you inspired me again - Off to go find a poisonous snake to play with (-:

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  8. I really enjoyed your Athleta article. Sometimes it seems daily I am setting myself up to be uncomfortable in some way. The thing is...it almost always turns out for the best. Like...I can't think of a time where it didn't turn out to teach me a valuable lesson, turn me on to a new activity I love, or meet wonderful new people. I love being in my 40s and I wish I had learned this lesson a long time ago.

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  9. Here goes.... SUAR, will you go to the prom with me?

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  10. I had a super crummy workout this morning. The worst thing? It was getting later in the morning and every car that passed I was sure was thinking "What is that fat chick doing on that bike huffing and puffing away?" I was feeling very mentally defeated. Never mind the physical suffering from multiple hills kicking my ass. I rode (and walked my bike) just short of 7 miles at a wretchedly slow pace. Scares me that anyone I know may have seen. But I did it anyway. Thanks to your lovely post, maybe I care a little less about who saw.

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  11. You AND Jeff have inspired me. I shall go and provoke a bear.

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  12. TriMOEngr - never, Ever, EVER care what anyone who sees you working out thinks. You are out there, doing something, working to get into better shape. They might be sitting in their car thinking what you thought they were thinking, and maybe they are, but really, how DARE they?!

    Do not "maybe care less". Stop caring entirely! Stop thinking about what other people think when you are working out, except when it comes to safety and traffic management. Focus on your goals, and your progress. Never let anyone tell you that you should be doing better, or shouldn't be doing it at all.

    When I started this I was 50 pounds overweight and very unfit. Yeah, you could say I was slow, and compared to some, I still am. So What? I'm doing my workouts and I WILL achieve my goals. Every person that doubts me, or said less than positive things just made me more determined to show them how wrong they were.

    Keep a journal. Record your big goals, and break them down into smaller steps. There will be setbacks, but stay focussed. An achieved goal is all the sweeter for the struggle. Keep at it, and next year that 7 hilly miles that kicked your ass will be a warm up. Believe.

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  13. I totally agree with "Do one thing a day that scares you" philosophy. Athletes in general seem to be "driven" and Type "T" (Thrill Seeker) personalities so are contantly looking for and needing a new challenge.
    I decided that by age 40 I would learn to Surf ! I am now 46 and just got back from my 6th Surfing Safari !!
    It's one of the most diffcult and humbling sports I have ever undertaken - but when you catch your first wave, there is NO feeling like it !

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  14. Great article. Without taking risks in life, we'd miss out on so much. You are clearly living it to the fullest!

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  16. I wish I read this Saturday and not 2 days later when I am been a little pissyass baby on the brink of tears cos I am feeling all whiney and booboo-ed from a 13 mile run and hour of bootcamp. Thanks Beth... way to force me to suck it up. :)

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