Progress....

So lets talk about progress this morning. You can never ever compare yourself to someone else. Even the tiniest thing is progress. This lesson has come back around a couple of time in the past weeks, for me. 

So I started learning Aerial Silks in September, with my 11 yr old. We were neck and neck for the first month and after that she took off and left me in the dust. One of the classes we took there was a girl closer to my age who had been going for a month. I don't get to work out with her as often, but when I did last week, she could totally scorch me on climbing ( which let me tell you is NO JOKE - I come down off those things breathing so hard you may think my lungs may fly out!!) BUT I can flip upside down as easily as blinking, and she cant....YET!! Different people, different areas of strength, different progress, BUT STILL PROGRESS!!!!!

We ALL progress at different rates, don't EVER be discouraged at what you do or don't see on the scales, on the tape measure, or you perceived progress. The truth is, the LITTLEST THINGS mean HUGE changes inside. 

Last night my gymnastics class was working on kicking to handstands on mini parallel bars. Even though 30 yrs ago I was a gymnast, 6 weeks ago, I could only kick up with a booster block AND a little leg push from a spotter. Last night, I only need the booster block!!!!! It is a SMALL step, but I CAN SEE PROGRESS!!! Even though I hadn't trained on that move in 6 weeks, my over all physical activity has increased my strength and kicking and I sailed up as easily as blinking....soooo here is what you can take from this....

1. Building strength, stamina, endurance, a stronger heart, a lower BP, etc...ALL HAPPENS as long as you KEEP GOING. While there are some things you have to train specifically for to get good at NEVER underestimate the power of just keeping on training and doing what you love smile emoticon CHANGES ARE HAPPENING STRENGTH IS BEING HARNESSED smile emoticon

2. The little things ADD UP!!! I don't hashtag EVERYTHING COUNTS for nothing, because it does EVERYTHING good and bad adds up. Start putting little marks on your GOOD side smile emoticon

3. Even if you don't think you see progress, or you think your progress is too small to mention, know that thinking is INACCURATE! You cant learn to run without walking, you cant learn to walk without standing, you cant learn to stand without MONTHS of falling, wobbling, leaning, being lead, cruising furniture. So JUST KEEP GOING!!! KEEEEP GOING!!! KEEEEEEEEP GOING!!!!!!!

4. You have nothing but time. Sure we would all like to push an easy button and wake up tomorrow an ideal size weight and fitness level. Sadly that doesn't happen....but the good news is, you don't have to be at X level by next Friday lunchtime! This is your world, YOUR STORY.... you write it!!!!

My daughter will pass her level one skills test in Aerial Silks in the next month or so, and in truth , it will probably take me until well into the summer or fall before I am ready. But it doesn't matter, I am having fun and INCHING (literally) forward and every time I do a move and fail I am getting a tiny bit stronger, a tiny bit fitter, a tiny bit closer.

The time IS GOING TO PASS, spend it making teeny steps of progress - it IS worth it and it ALL adds up