About 6 1/2 years ago when Brandon proposed he used these tiny, glow in the dark baby feet. It was dark, but as I looked down on the ground I saw this trail of baby steps going across the floor. Each trail of steps led to note, and the last trail of baby steps led to him. And the ring. And the beginning of this crazy adventure.
I remember one of the notes saying "In order to do this marriage thing right, we have to take baby steps." He helped me understand that we wouldn't get it right the first time. We would fail at times. We would struggle. But...if we continued to take baby steps....one day we would get there. But it all started with baby steps.
About 4 years ago I ran a half marathon. 13.2 miles. For me,that was a huge deal. One day me and some friends were tossing around the idea to do it, and before I knew it I had committed myself to running in this marathon. I didn't just run it the next week. I trained for months. I ran pretty much every single day, miles and miles a day...icing my knees every night from the pain. Sometimes the training sucked, sometimes I felt amazing, I fell down twice practicing (literally), and many times I remember asking myself why in the world was I doing this? But one day I got there, I ran it, I finished (barely-more on that later), and then it was over.
But I never would have been able to do that in a week. If I would have given up after a month, or slacked off, I would never had reached my goal. Once again, I had to take baby steps. Fast baby steps since I was running :) But small steps, month after month, and one day I got there.
I could write story after story where I have overcame the odds. Stories where there was a GOOD chance that I would fail, or even times when I should have failed, but I didn't...I didn't because I took each opportunity one step at a time. One day at a time. If I had a bad day, I got up the next day and tried again. I didn't just quit. If I didn't see progress, I had to have faith. I MADE myself stick it out, through all the blisters (physically or emotionally) and through the pain. I stuck it out. I didn't try to do it all at once, or be a winner in a day. I took small, very small, baby steps...
Beauties, that is what this challenge is all about. Baby Steps. It's Wednesday, so here is my "encouraging" words for this week. One day at a time. Just one. Some of you have a bad day and you tell yourself "Well, there is no reason to keep going...I already messed up." Anyone ever had that attitude? I have, many times. And if I would have given in to that "voice" inside me...I wouldn't be where I am today. You have to ignore the negative voice, always. When you fall, get back up. When you use a cheat, get over it. When you sleep in instead of working out, you try again the next day and get your butt out of the bed. When you struggle, you should smile. Because struggles make you better.
But the key...realize you can't look the way you want to look in a day. Or in a week. If you don't lose weight in 2 weeks, it's ok. That is not the go ahead to give up. Ya, it sucks sometimes. Not being able to eat what you want, having to workout when you would rather sleep, watching others down a burger while you watch...it's hard. But...it is MUCH harder to not be happy with yourself. It is much harder to have to "feel" what you feel when your clothes don't fit, when you look in the mirror, or when you are miserable inside and out.
You must be able to see the end of the road. You must be able to see the baby steps along the way. And you can't make decisions based on one day. You just can't. Change takes time.
And just like Brandon told me about marriage....I will tell you about the challenge. You can't get it right if you don't take baby steps. Changing your thinking, your lifestyle, you outward appearance, your thoughts...all of it takes time. Stick with it, and don't forget to enjoy it along the way. Remember, enjoy the climb. Because when you get to the top, you will experience something WAY better than chocolate! Love you guys.
I remember one of the notes saying "In order to do this marriage thing right, we have to take baby steps." He helped me understand that we wouldn't get it right the first time. We would fail at times. We would struggle. But...if we continued to take baby steps....one day we would get there. But it all started with baby steps.
About 4 years ago I ran a half marathon. 13.2 miles. For me,that was a huge deal. One day me and some friends were tossing around the idea to do it, and before I knew it I had committed myself to running in this marathon. I didn't just run it the next week. I trained for months. I ran pretty much every single day, miles and miles a day...icing my knees every night from the pain. Sometimes the training sucked, sometimes I felt amazing, I fell down twice practicing (literally), and many times I remember asking myself why in the world was I doing this? But one day I got there, I ran it, I finished (barely-more on that later), and then it was over.
But I never would have been able to do that in a week. If I would have given up after a month, or slacked off, I would never had reached my goal. Once again, I had to take baby steps. Fast baby steps since I was running :) But small steps, month after month, and one day I got there.
I could write story after story where I have overcame the odds. Stories where there was a GOOD chance that I would fail, or even times when I should have failed, but I didn't...I didn't because I took each opportunity one step at a time. One day at a time. If I had a bad day, I got up the next day and tried again. I didn't just quit. If I didn't see progress, I had to have faith. I MADE myself stick it out, through all the blisters (physically or emotionally) and through the pain. I stuck it out. I didn't try to do it all at once, or be a winner in a day. I took small, very small, baby steps...
Beauties, that is what this challenge is all about. Baby Steps. It's Wednesday, so here is my "encouraging" words for this week. One day at a time. Just one. Some of you have a bad day and you tell yourself "Well, there is no reason to keep going...I already messed up." Anyone ever had that attitude? I have, many times. And if I would have given in to that "voice" inside me...I wouldn't be where I am today. You have to ignore the negative voice, always. When you fall, get back up. When you use a cheat, get over it. When you sleep in instead of working out, you try again the next day and get your butt out of the bed. When you struggle, you should smile. Because struggles make you better.
But the key...realize you can't look the way you want to look in a day. Or in a week. If you don't lose weight in 2 weeks, it's ok. That is not the go ahead to give up. Ya, it sucks sometimes. Not being able to eat what you want, having to workout when you would rather sleep, watching others down a burger while you watch...it's hard. But...it is MUCH harder to not be happy with yourself. It is much harder to have to "feel" what you feel when your clothes don't fit, when you look in the mirror, or when you are miserable inside and out.
You must be able to see the end of the road. You must be able to see the baby steps along the way. And you can't make decisions based on one day. You just can't. Change takes time.
And just like Brandon told me about marriage....I will tell you about the challenge. You can't get it right if you don't take baby steps. Changing your thinking, your lifestyle, you outward appearance, your thoughts...all of it takes time. Stick with it, and don't forget to enjoy it along the way. Remember, enjoy the climb. Because when you get to the top, you will experience something WAY better than chocolate! Love you guys.
Some pictures from our family day. We took Brylee to the doctor, she had to get a shot. That is never fun. Brandon was off work so we had lunch, ran some errands, oh and then we had this idea to go get Chinese food for dinner. I am usually not a fan, but it sounded good. Until I realized that fried rice is fried. And the chicken. So I had to use a cheat. SOOO not worth it, I am feeling it now! I can't wait to wake up tomorrow and feel like I can start over! I am going to stick with my strawberries and bananas :)
Interesting face from Brylee today in her summer dress. No smiles for mommy today! That face just screams attitude!!
But then she gave a smile....
She does this new cute thing where she wants to touch your face if you are holding her. I love it. She usually grabs my hair, or my cheek when I am holding her. It is like she is holding onto me so I won't let her go. It is so sweet....and here she is doing it to Brandon!
Have a great WEEK 2 Beauties!!!
2 comments:
You are so amazing! So encouraging. Just what I needed to hear today. No I haven't cheated this week but last night instead of working out I just sat on the couch. I really needed the encouraging words today! Thanks Tanna!
Even though I'm not participating in the challenge I really enjoyed reading your post today, because it applies to all of life's challenges, which of course we all have to face. I always love your encouraging and uplifting words, and I just adore the pictures of y'all!!! Brylee is such a little bit of sunshine!!!
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