Last month, I started a new habit. One I absolutely despise but know that it is good for me. One that was born out of a desire to become stronger and maybe even healthier. Before you assume that I probably joined a gym or started running, you should know that I'm not the least bit athletic. I needed to start small. So I chose to start climbing the stairs every afternoon during my break.
The first day was by far the worst. By the fifth level (which equates with the 18th stack of stairs), I was pretty sure I was about to meet Jesus face to face. I wanted to bow out and take the elevator the rest of the way. But my climbing buddy forbade it. She urged me onward and upward.
The second day, I didn't have to stop. I didn't set any records, but I didn't mention the "elevator" word, which was a measure of success.
Then came the weekend, and no climbing. So Monday posed a new challenge of urging my muscles to remember that they had done this before and could do it again.
Each day since then, I've hoped it would get easier. So far, it hasn't. There's inevitably a place along the way when my leg muscles start to send the burning sensation to my brain, and my brain has to fire back that they can't stop until we've reached the top.
But the hope that one day it will get easier actually burns stronger than the burn in my muscles. It's what fuels me to climb the stairs each day, just to see if today's the day. Because I don't want to miss it.
9 comments:
GO, ALYSSA, GO!!!! What a great testament to how hard the small things can be, yet how they change us anyway. I am inspired.
good going, friend, admirable to be starting a new habit... esp one that includes exercise!
I love it!!! You make me smile! Thanks for sharing!! It's great encouragement for me to keep going even when I want to stop, too.
Loved the story even more in person and let me be the one who mentions there is no A/C in the stairwell!
Proud of you!
Good life encouragement as well - thanks for sharing. Finally trying to get back into the blogging world and catch up on some reading. Looking forward to catching up with you soon!
Love that! I have been taking the stairs at the hospital. I agree, it's a good place to start.
Sarah, TJ, Kacey, Krista, Tina, & MB - You all are the best cheerleaders! Thanks for the encouragement!
Alyssa! So good to connect again! It's been a while... Sorry! I've been pretty busy moving and settling and writing and all kinds of stuff.
Anyway, I can totally relate to the stair climbing analogy - and I think it fits for any kind of perseverance. Perseverance is just hard. No matter what area of our lives, sometimes we just have to tough it out and keep going, burn or no burn. Because we wouldn't want to "miss" the good parts - especially the part where we get to the end of the hard times and get to experience some of the fruit of our labor!
Blessings on your journey!
Madison
Hi Alyssa,
Thank you for stopping over and commenting on my blog.
I'm enjoying your writing, this post made me laugh. I feel your pain. I believe it will get easier and I love that you will persevere so that you don't miss it! Beautiful!
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