It's official!

I am so excited to launch not just this blog, but also this joint training site with my husband. If you've explored the page at all, you may have found my Instagram, which has sorta transformed into a blog-like outlet for me over the past year or so, or maybe you found the blog from my Instagram. But either way, I'm happy you're here!

By treating my Instagram like a blog for the last several months, I've discovered the benefits of sharing the thoughts and feelings associated with running and fitness and the support of a community of like-minded people. It's often the sharing with those people--- both total strangers and friends-alike--- that sometimes gets me to lace my shoes up or just alter my perspective or attitude a little. As a soon-to-be stay at home mom, I think it's increasingly important to continue to build that supportive community. I've been so inspired by people I've never met via blogs & Instagram; people that have come a long way in their own fitness journey, people who managed to stay in phenomenal shape during pregnancy & bounce back quickly post-baby. You're all amazing. I think it's brave to put yourself out there in the social media context, and it's especially brave when we're able to admit our short-comings & share the way we pick ourselves back up.

That's what hits close to home for me.

I am the queen of "once was lost," and I am so thankful for where my journey has taken me so far. I used to believe that some girls were just lucky or that my body just wanted to be a certain size or shape, but all of those things were copouts for me. They were excuses for me not to try. I played softball for 14 years, year-round for my last 4. I played mostly outfield. We practiced diving on our bellies in the grass ALL THE TIME. I played on a team that we warmed up and dove at the beginning of every practice & game. I had the best little scars on my inner arms & hip bones for years to prove it. In theory, I was a pro. In game situations? Not so much. I never pinpointed why back then, but when it came to that moment in a game where I could have dove & caught a ball in the outfield, I never seemed to take the chance. I played the one-hop, played it safe. In all those years of softball, I made ONE diving attempt (successfully!) the entire time! And you know what? It was awesome.

I wish I could say from then on, I didn't mentally second-guess myself the moment before the opportunity to dive presented itself, because I did. Apparently, I have a fear of failure. I'd rather not try than try & fail. Failing sucks! It is so much easier to not put your body on the line, to play it safe, but where is the growth in that?

Only by failing can we learn. And you know what? Sometimes, maybe rarely, but sometimes, you don't fail! Holy cow! If you're like me, you may even be surprised when you don't fail, but that's a pretty good surprise. I think I've even learned to relish failure, a little. It gives me direction.

I don't know if I can fail at blogging, I guess I'll let ya know. But if I don't try.. If I don't take some risk & put myself out there, then there isn't much chance of me succeeding is there?

#firstpost #fitness #failing