Monday, December 17, 2007

Good, Better, Best

Good, better, best
Never let it rest
'Til your good is better
And your better, best!


I had a choreographer one time that used to say this to us--I think she said it was something her mother used to say.

The quote came to my mind after a couple of experiences at the gym the other day.

Though I did play some sports in grade school, I have never been what I would consider an athlete--that is, I never really enjoyed sports. For one, I didn't enjoy exercising in general. There are some people who really love that feeling of a good workout. More power to 'em! I'm just not one of them.

And second, I wasn't any good. Perhaps I wouldn't mind the exercising if I felt like it was something I was good at and could be proud of, but nope--not me!

Here I am, though, thanks to my Beyond Freedom and its goal achieving system, training for a triathlon, of all things.

My trainer has been having me run on a treadmill--the weather is too cold to run outside now, and this gives us exact distance and speed. And, of course, she is making me go faster and further than I ever have before.

So the other day, there was this guy on the treadmill next me, and he was amazing! I could not believe how fast he was going, and he just kept going and going! I was panting and out of breath and feeling like I was going to throw up, and he just kept going and going. It was so motivating! "I want to be like that guy," I said to myself. And I wanted to ask him if I could run next to him every day.

A few days later, I was again on the treadmill, and this time the person next to me was a short, heavy set woman who was just walking.

As I was doing my routine, I overheard her talking to a similar woman on the other side of her. They were talking about fitness and their goals, and she turned to me, smiled, and said, "Someday, I'm going to be like her."

I almost turned around. What she talking about me? Was she talking about this woman who never enjoyed exercise and who has been struggling to make it through a simple, 30 minute program? Was she talking about the one who wanted to throw up when she was running next to a true athlete the other day?

I wanted to correct her! I wanted to tell her I wasn't so great! I wanted to tell her that we all have our challenges!

But I didn't.

I just smiled back.

You see, Beyond Freedom had taught me an important lesson. My purpose here--as well as that of everyone else with whom I share the planet--is to be the best me that I can be.

So many times in my life I have compared myself with others. It has made me depressed (she's so much prettier than I am, why don't I have as many friends as she does?, her mom is so much nicer--my life sucks!) and it has made me conceited (oh my gosh, I am so glad I'm not flat chested like her, geez, I am so tired of being the only smart person around here, why can't you guys be serious for once?)--both qualities that are decidedly unattractive and unproductive. They take me nowhere but down.

What I have learned is that comparison is only good for one thing--motivation. The man next to me motivated me to be better, just as I motivated the woman next to me to be better. And that is what life should be like--all of us striving and helping each other be better, and to make our better the best that it can be.

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