It's Time to Begin

It's time to begin? Why is that so important?
Because I probably didn't understand myself that we always have a choice, and a chance, to change something. You do too.

I was diagnosed with a life-long health condition. I thought that was etched in stone, and I could not do anything about it. But I've learned this as life's apprentice- that change could come. It didn't come quickly, or neatly. And many changes didn't feel significant.

At the time, I didn't know I was making a choice, and I didn't realize that I indeed had choices. My health condition was something that happened to me, right? I hadn't done anything to bring this on, so why should I change...anything?

But...I got up one Sunday morning in 2013 and went over to Vasona Park in Los Gatos, California. I ran a 5K, and I come in last. I didn't feel like getting up, and I didn't feel like showing up, and for a bit less than an hour, every minute, I felt like stopping. That was March. In October, I finished my first half marathon.

Today, that was almost 700 miles ago. I have also tried some other things I had never tried before. For example, 2 years ago, I ran up and down 333 enormous concrete stairs at Harvard Stadium. It wasn't the whole stadium, or even half, and I fell. But I began where I was. Recently, I have been running and lifting weights UNDERWATER. And two years from now...

Jon Kabat-Zinn said- "The little things...they aren't little." Beginning anywhere, wherever you are, and it may feel little. Don't let that stop you. I had no reason to believe getting up that morning and going to Vasona Park for a 5K would make any difference. I can't say that I've overcome my health challenges, but I can say I'm different and my life is different. I run now. I climb. I lift. Simply because I began. And you can too.

---