This is the Part of Me...

It's been eight months since I started running.  It's been four months since I started lifting.  And in that time, I've lost over forty pounds and dropped from a size 16 to a size 8.  I've set more PRs than I care to count at this moment in both sports.  I've taken on new challenges and continuously set new goals for myself each and every month.  Sometimes I've hit those goals and sometimes, honestly, they've kicked my ass.  But, I realized tonight that fitness has brought me much further than I originally thought.

It isn't just about the PR that I've set on my mile or the fact that I hit that overhead press achievement that I was striving towards.  It's about knowing that I can always be better than that.  It's about constantly pushing to be more than I think I can be.  It's about knowing what my limit is and breaking through both the physical and mental barrier to go further than that limit.  In fitness, I always thought that this translated to running faster or further and lifting more weight.  And, yes...I won't deny that that's true.  But, it's also about accepting that in other parts of my life.

I was recently laid off from my job. Very long story short is that my position was eliminated to save money.  I was offered a demotion with a pay cut or a severance package.  A year ago, I would have been desperate enough to take the demotion because I thought so little of myself.  Today, I happily took the uncertainty of no job in order to do some soul searching to figure out what I want to do with my life.  Because, quite honestly again, I know that I am better than the position that was offered.  I have enough self confidence at this point to not grab at the opportunity to work for a company that was clearly headed in a different direction.  For me, it's about learning to accept the uncertainty that is the job market right now and push through that to discover the opportunities that await.

Another recent happy event in my life centers around Fitocracy.  Fitocracy, as many of you know, is the social fitness website that has become a part of my life.  Recently, I was selected for a member spotlight.  This is a member nominated recognition and was a huge WOW moment for me.  While I am honored and awed to have been both nominated and selected, with this came a huge realization.  I *am* an inspiration to others.  And there is great responsibility in that.  It means that I know that there are others that are looking to me to keep them going just as I look to my inspirations to keep me going.  It means accepting that fitness, both the exercise and the nutrition, is just another part of who I am.  It isn't something that is short term for the next few months.  It's become a part of me.  And, as I look to Kelly Clarkson for my inspiration...this is the part of me that no one can ever take away from me.