Well its been exactly one month since my last blog post, much to the dismay of my friends and family who have frequently asked me over the past month “when are you going to write another blog post?!” I’ve had ideas over the past few weeks, but truthfully, haven’t had much time to sit down and write a really good post. First it was finals, then it was working, then it was holidays, then I had to get my skiing fix in. I just gave about ten excuses, but it all comes down to integrity. December has been a pretty busy month, but over the course of the holiday season, I’ve managed to slip away not just from blogging, but also from exercising.
I am currently working for lululemon, a yoga and work out clothing store who stress the importance of making goals and sticking to them. The goal making has really helped me to sit down and think about what it is I really want to get done in my life, and what steps have to be taken to accomplish them. Now, these goals are not supposed to be easily attainable, if that were the case, there would be no point in writing them down. My first goal (my one year goal) is to run a half marathon by next november. It seems lofty, but that’s the point. In order to accomplish this goal, I need to start NOW with being committed to my running regimen.
At lululemon, we have also talked a lot about integrity, about doing what you say you will do, when you say you will do it, and staying true to your morals. We split into groups in order to coach one another on the importance of integrity by giving examples of times we did not have integrity in our lives. I had been trying to think of examples for days and days thinking I must always have integrity thats why this is so difficult. Then, one day, as another gym/run session was forgotten, excused, missed, or ditched for other plans, I had an example. At that busy time in my life, I was not having integrity in practicing what I preach. I was not running, exercising, etc and I was letting all of the overcommitments in my life become prioritized over my exercise which is turn is letting those priorities go above my health. Not only that, but I wasn’t blogging as much as I should be in order to hold myself accountable and to continue to show my readers what dedication and hard work can accomplish. The fact is, I didn’t want to admit that I wasn’t being true to myself.
Now, after the meeting about integrity, I really started making an effort to go to either yoga or the gym. I was doing pretty well. Alas, in the last couple weeks, my exercise has again slipped through the cracks. Hence, why I didn’t feel it was fair for me to blog. The next blog had to be an admission of guilt, of not playing by my own rules, of losing my integrity.
So here is me telling you to hold me responsible for practicing what I preach. I write this blog in my winter running gear while doing my vest, because after, I am going to go on my first run in 10 days. And after that, I am making a promise to at least work out 3 times a week (not including skiing).
While you are holding me responsible, I also ask that you hold yourself responsible. When you really begin to look at how you maintain integrity in your life, it makes it a lot easier to turn your life around. To realize where your priorities lie, to stop making excuses, to be honest with yourself. Nobody is perfect, and I challenge you to look at your life and find where you are being less than perfect, where your integrity is wavering. Then, begin to make changes, do those things you say you are going to do tomorrow, hold your morals in the back of your mind with every action you make.
After coming up with that one example in my life, I have found so many more areas that need improvement, whether it be my addiction to shopping, my over-abundance of lazy days, forgetting my true morals, or failing to stay committed to my blogging. Today is the turning point. I made a list of at least 5 different topics to blog about if I experience writer’s block or lack of creativity in the next couple weeks, so be on the look-out for blogs once a week 🙂
