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Just fine

After my disqualification, I felt depressed and inadequate.  How could I have missed a turn?   In 25+ years of running, I had never had a disqualification, DQ, on my official results. I had two choices, give up or get up.  I thought about giving up, but it is just not my style so I got up.  I signed up for a triathlon with a course that included hills beyond my ability. See,  I needed a redemption race.  I needed to erase the DQ mentally.

So, I decided to challenge myself. Today, I joined a local triathlon club to practice my next triathlon course.  I was scared. What if I missed a turn?  What if I can't do this?  Anxiety was setting in, especially about the bike course. Just take a peek at the course. It was quite steep.
Was I scared? Yes. I was worried that I couldn't make it up the hills.  Then I started thinking of  my favorite Mary J. Blige song, "Just fine."  I love that song and the words.

"No time for moping around, are you kidding
And no time for negative vibes, cause I'm winning
It's been a long week, I put in my hardest
Gonna live my life, feels so good to get it right
So I like what I see when I'm looking at me
When I'm walking past the mirror
No stress through the night, at a time in my life
Ain't worried about if you feel it
Got my head on straight, I got my mind right
I ain't gonna let you kill it
You see I wouldn't change my life, my life's just
Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooh
Fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooh
Just fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, fine, ooh
You see I wouldn't change my life, my life's just fine"

The words to this song just resonated with me today. I moped around all week due to my DQ then I said, "Enough! You are not dead.  You made an error in the last race.  So get on with it."   Today, I did just that.  I chose something tough and scary but I kept saying,
"You're fine."  While riding my bike in the middle of no where,  I reminded myself that I was "Just fine."  I was going to make it up those hills and I did.

What is the lesson?  Self-talk is serious talk.  Think about the words you say to yourself. Do you encourage yourself? Do you say kind words to yourself or beat yourself up?  Self-talk is REAL TALK.  It can tear you down or build you up.

You don't have to be the best or perfect.  Just move forward with a positive attitude and let the momentum propel you in the direction of your dreams.

It's all about the journey,

Coach Stacy

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