Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 1 Corinthians 9:24
One day during a family gathering the nieces decided to show me different ways to do splits. They weren’t talking about making my much-loved banana splits either! I started going off into my own world as I remembered being young and NOT very flexible.
Since it wasn’t something that came naturally to me, I automatically would say, “I’m not flexible.” Hey, what you say you believe. How quickly I could’ve changed my lack of flexibility if I would’ve said to myself, “You aren’t flexible now, but just see how flexible you’ll be in a month!” Those words, a visual picture, and a little practice would’ve brought me to success quicker than I would’ve ever believed.
Here I was years later and I couldn’t let two young, impressionable girls think that just because you get older, you can’t keep trying! That wouldn’t have set a very good example. I did what any self-respecting aunt would do in a bit of a formal setting. I was going to overcome all odds and do a split…hopefully without ripping out my jeans. That thought did cross my mind for a second.
I figured that socks on hardwood floors would drastically help my position since once I started, I probably wouldn’t be too quick to stop! Unlike when I was younger, I had more confidence in my abilities. You see, I had been doing quite a bit of stretching exercises. I also figured that the hubby could always help me back up if I got a wee bit stuck.
It may not have been graceful and I may not have made a complete split, but I was showing the girls that we get much further in anything we try if we believe we can do it. I wouldn’t have accomplished anything if I never even tried.
I’ve learned that we shouldn’t ever tell ourselves or let another person tell us something is impossible. I’m not willing to give up before I even start. Just because we begin one way doesn’t mean that we’ll always be that way. We’re able to change! Also, we should never ever compare ourselves to another person, and we should never ever, ever let anyone else do that to us. We need to compete only with ourselves.
What about you…have you been very flexible lately? Have you been willing to attempt something that there’s not a guarantee you’ll get the first time? Are you defeated before you even can visualize the victory? Don’t worry about looking silly because you might, but you’ll have much more fun trying and laughing than sitting and not living. Remember that you’ll never succeed if you never even try.
“Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars.” -Norman Vincent Peale
