Can't...

It has been a while since I have had anything to say that has felt "blog worthy," but last night while working out with Adam, I had a revelation and a strong desire to share it with anyone who might be reading this. 

My inspiration was the word "can't."  Last night I accomplished something SO small that most people wouldn't even recognize it as an "accomplishment," but to ME it was HUGE.  Ever since I started working with Adam, I have been using the stairs as a regular part of my training routine.  We started out only doing a few reps at a time, and believe me, I was not moving fast or with any amount of grace.  As time went on, he began asking me to take the steps 2 at a time.  This was not easy for me.  Hoisting my over 200-pound, 5'4" body up one step at a time was hard enough!  Taking the steps 2 at a time I would wobble, bang into the wall, have to grab onto the hand rail, etc.  Recently, however, I have been able to walk up 2 at a time with ease.  Still, in the back of my mind was a "can't"!  This "can't" was that I just knew that I could never RUN up the stairs 2 at a time.  With my fear of falling, and my lack of confidence in my athletic ability, I told myself, "I can't ever do THAT"!

Well, last night we spent some time on those damn stairs.  All of a sudden, Adam decides that I'm going to RUN up them 2 at a time.  Of course, my cowardly self just stands there and stares at the steps, hoping they'll somehow magically disappear or something.  All the while, he's behind me saying "You got this...don't think about it, just do it!" (one of his favorite sayings).  Well my first two attempts were lame, and I only made it about halfway up before I had to slow down to a walk, but after a while, I was able to make it the whole way at a run (maybe a "jog"?).  Adam pushed me into making a "can't" into a "can."

So... that little episode got me thinking about all the "can'ts" that I have now eliminated from my life:

I can't run (I am signed up for my second 5K on 5/22)
I can't fit (I fit in a size 10, an airplane seat, chairs with arms, roller coasters, etc.)
I can't jump (I can do jumping jacks, jump rope, jump up onto a box, etc.)
I can't keep up (Most people have trouble keeping up with me, now!)
I can't do a single pushup (I can drop and do 20 ANYTIME!)
I can't do situps (I can do them on an incline, now!)
I can't live without fast food (other than an occasional salad, I don't eat fast food anymore)
I can't enjoy shopping (I can now try on clothes in the regular stores--SO much fun)
I can't do it (I may not WANT to do it, but I CAN do it!)

What are you telling YOUR self that YOUcan't do?  Are you sure?  What if someone ELSE told you that you can't?  Would you try to prove them wrong?  Sometimes we have to have the courage/fortitude to prove our SELVES wrong!

Turn a "can't" into a "can" this week.  After all, if you prove your SELF wrong, aren't you still RIGHT?

We CAN do it!