Skills for Real Life

It's only one week from today until the triathlon. I am scared! Although I know I've spent countless hours preparing for the events, I am still nervous. But it's a good type of nervous. I know that I've pushed myself beyond my normal limits and achieved a goal. Even if I don't finish the triathlon (I BETTER!), I'll still know that I did my best. I started training for this as a way to lose weight and firm up, so that I could feel better about myself. But, somewhere along the way, I've begun to view working out as what helps make me feel better about myself. I've moved the focus away from what I look like to what I feel like. I think this is important for anyone with low self-esteem - and victims of stalkers usually (not always) have low self-esteem. Here are some things I've learned from participating in the triathlon that anyone can apply to his/her life.

*You can always do more than you think you can. The two friends that I am doing the triathlon with have both been athletes since birth. I just started working out last year. So naturally, they challenge me. I have to work hard to simply keep up with them. The first time we practiced the whole triathlon - the swim, bike and run - I thought I would die. But, I finished.

*You need a support system. Kathy and Eileen are both great for this. Even though I know that I am holding them up sometimes, they still encourage me. They tell me "If we had a most improved, you'd get that!" My husband is also very supportive of my competing in the event. Whenever I start to put myself down, he encourages me.

*Don't compare yourself to ANYONE! There are several times I fall into this trap. I start telling myself that Kathy and Eileen are so much better than me and that I'll never be as good as they are, and I lose sight of the fact that I have come so far. What a way to let yourself down! Don't focus on someone else so much that you lose sight of your own accomplishments! And this also works in reverse. Just because you are better than someone doesn't mean you've accomplished all that YOU can do!

*Disappointments will occur and you have to work around them. I still can't run a full mile because of my knee. But it is getting stronger, and I've learned to walk very fast! I'll still be competitive at the event.

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