10 years ago today I ran my first marathon. Sometimes when I look back I amaze myself with the things that I have done, what I have accomplished. I am very goal oriented and so I am usually focused on the future and not on the past. I need to do this more though, I need to look back and acknowledge what I have done and not put so much emphasis on what I haven’t done (yet). Nothing happens overnight and everything I’ve done, all of the little steps that I’ve taken, especially the ones that might seem insignificant, are what have gotten me to a place where I have reached the goals that I have achieved so far, and towards those that I will achieve soon.

It’s really easy to give up on things because they seem monumental and become overwhelming but I’m trying to focus on progress, on moving forward rather than the many steps that it will take to get me to the dream. Life isn’t all about the big moments, it’s about every day and the little steps that I take to get me to the big achievements. My daily habits have been slipping lately as work has gotten busier. My mindset has changed to be happy with any small step that I have time to take, as I adjust to the increased workload. Progress not perfection. Progress not perfection. Progress not perfection.

When I read the quote by Gandhi ~ Healthy discontent is the prelude to progress. It clicked. I am in a constant state of being uncomfortable, of being discontent. I realize now that this is how I continue to move forward and it’s not a bad thing, although it feels… well… uncomfortable! I do also realize that I need some contentment in my life too and that’s where looking back and acknowledging what I have done, how far I have come is important. Today I will appreciate that 10 years ago I ran 42.2 very long kilometres. I trained hard that very hot summer and I did it. And I never have to do it again 🙂 Time to go for my run!

The number one reason people give up so fast is that they look at how far they still have to go instead of how far they’ve come.