one step at a time

Tomorrow I will close on the property I referenced last week. (Note to self: a 29-day close is not for the faint of heart.) The last few weeks I have also began an endeavor that, unlike the aforementioned whirlwind process, will require more than a month to be successful. Both of them, however, reside on the same list.

This past April, after returning from a birthday trip back to North Carolina, I wrote a list of 20 things I wanted to do in my 40th year. I did a similar exercise the year I turned 30; both times I have resisted the urge to put only lofty goals on them. The only rule was that it be authentic to me - some idea or activity that had returned to me again and again. For example, this round has “Take a dance class” and “Take pottery class.”

Deciding whether to stay in Saint Louis (and buy property) or move was one of the items. Run a half marathon is another.

In my late 20s, I ran a fair amount, racing every distance from 5ks to 15+ half marathons as well as one full marathon. Those years training and racing taught me a lot, but I was still ignorant to many things. Proper nutrition, for one; the value of strength training, a second. Coming into training now, I have a better understanding of both. Above all, I have more wisdom regarding endurance sports: you cannot rush it, either the training or the actual race itself.

I have a fairly lofty goal for that race and there is no way I will accomplish it without consistency in the next ten weeks and a cool head on race day. Could I show up on and muscle out 13.1 miles? Yes, I probably could. Could I accomplish what I hope? Doubtful.

As we close August, can you list five things you’d like to encourage yourself to do in the last four months of the year? Choose at least one item that may appear silly but you know will make you feel joy, accomplishment, or peace upon doing. Make at least one of them something that feels scary or challenging and that you know will take a little bit of time to do. Write them down and look at them weekly.

See you in September, beautiful people.