Get Hustlin’
Yep, it’s that time of year. Lots of people making resolutions and setting goals. I’ve never been one to make resolutions, but I definitely set a few goals for myself. Nothing earth shattering; just a few things I’d like to do. However, I’ve never published my goals before, and I’m thinking this may be a great way to keep myself accountable.
In no particular order, here’s what I’m aiming for in 2014:
Climbing 52 flights of stairs. I registered for the half climb of Hustle Up the Hancock, a 52-flight challenge up Chicago’s John Hancock Building. (The full 94-flight challenge was sold out or I may have been tempted to register for that one.) The Respiratory Health Association sponsors the event, so I’ll be climbing in honor of my mother who died after a severe asthma attack. I have until April 13 to get ready. That’s the Hancock in the photo above. Piece of cake, right? RIGHT?
Better self-talk. Not to get too heavy, but I recently read an article that really resonated with me. Basically, it said that we would never speak to our friends the way we speak to ourselves. That little voice in our heads that says we are not skinny enough, or pretty enough, or smart enough…or whatever enough. I’m making a pledge to stop that this year. This one may be harder than it seems.
Ride with no hands. I’m admitting it here now: I can’t ride hands-free. Even as a kid, I could never master it. Maybe it was that little voice that I’m no longer going to listen to! It’s a good thing I don’t race, as my victory celebration would be a lame one-handed salute. So, at this advanced age, I’m finally going to do it — or at least give it my best shot. I’ll let you know how it goes.
So that’s it. Three attainable goals. Three goals that if when accomplished will improve my physical and mental health. And that’s a pretty good thing.
What are you hustlin’ for this year?
I love your goals. they are different fun, funny and have internal meaning. They are also attainable and realistic.
I am a goals/objectives type of person but most of mine are less personally meaningful if that makes sense. (more about how I treat others as opposed to doing for myself).
The one for me though is that I intend to do at least one race this year, probably a tri but maybe a bike race or two as well. I intend to carve out enough time to have a respectable result.
Good luck on the stairs. Do you have to come back down? its the down that would bother me (knees).
That little voice is so important to how our lives go on a daily basis. I certainly dont have it masted but just being aware of it can make all the difference in our worlds.
No hands- keep trying. it really does have quite a bit to do with your bike also.
Me? Im still on my seemingly life long search for a balance in my life. Got another post rolling around in my head about it… Somewhere between having to work, having free time to live and how to attract a s/o while living said lifestyle. So far anything resembling a balance in this eludes me completely. Keep trying…
Like you, I am not one to set New Years Resolutions. Why add to the list of accomplishments that remain to be brought to fruition. Come up with a plan, work it, New Years or not, tends to be more my way.
May I commend your choice of “cake”? Excellent cross training opportunity, and more to the point, great head training. Motivated by your heart, no doubt it will be a great cardio workout.
With your permission, I would like to comment about your other 2014 Goals in an effort to support, motivate, and applaud you, and borrow from you.
Better Self Talk is such an important task, its too important to be a goal. We tend to accomplish or “fail” at goals. When those goals are associated with New Years they tend to be short lived. Better self talk is a task to master, not a goal. If at first we don’t succeed, forgive ourselves and try, try again.
Riding with no hands is another task to be mastered. Perhaps as your words indicate, you already understand this. Hopefully all who read this will reconsider and understand my suggestion that better self talk, like riding with no hands become a task to be mastered, rather than a goal. Riding with no hands is the best to illustrate what it is to take a risk, more so than better self talk, more obviously than climbing 52 flights of stair.
Risk or risk aversion is something everyone has an inclination about. All to often it is an aversion. It might be that your desire to climb 52 flights of stairs, and master better self talk are the start of mastering both, but perhaps more importantly, mastering a inclination to take risk, rather than succumb to an aversion to it has to be the ultimate of the three, if not in life itself. That you would risk better self talk, that you would risk the climb of 52 flights of stairs, and all that goes with each, not to mention the publishing and public declaration of your plans for self improvement in 2014. Overcoming risk, fearlessly is perhaps the greatest thing we can accomplish, and perhaps the most transformational.
If it is important enough to declare, I would urge consideration that it is important enough to become a task, worthy of a life long, not just a year long effort. Its been said that knowing what you want is half way to accomplishing it. Congratulations and best of luck on your journey up 52 flights of stairs, and a life time of risking improved self talk, and taking the risk to recognize it. Kudos to you.