"Impossible is not a word!"

In the words of the song "What Faith Can Do" by Kutlass, "Impossible is not a word, It's just a reason for someone not to try." As one quote says, "Impossible, even the word says I'm Possible." I've considered MANY things impossible in my lifetime. BUT, I also know, as a Christian, that ALL things are in fact POSSIBLE. I once thought I'd NEVER be able to have children, it was impossible for me to conceive on my own and carry to term. Here I am now with 4 children here on earth, only 1 conceived with fertility meds. I know that God had a plan, it wasn't that it was impossible, it was just that my timing and plans don't always coincide with the plans HE has for me. Along those same lines... I thought I was just born to be fat and that it was impossible for me to lose weight. Well, one thing I know, I was not a fat toddler/preschooler. My weight wasn't "predetermined" for me. Bad habits, over eating, stress and lack of self discipline led to my weight issues. Impossibility wasn't the issue, but it was often the excuse! The issue was facing fears and putting in hard work. Let's face it, I'm a lazy person. I ENJOY being lazy. Losing weight requires hard work, self discipline and a positive attitude. How many of those things can I control? EVERY.SINGLE.ONE of them! Today, I did something that not long ago (ie: last night) I thought was IMPOSSIBLE. I fought it with every bit of me this morning. I knew I was facing this challenge and I was NOT mentally prepared for it. I've been sick this week, so I was thinking, "OH, I'll just say I needed extra rest to try and get well." Morning came and my alarm went off. I hit snooze 4 times. Reluctantly, I hoisted myself out of bed. I went into the bathroom where I'd laid out my running clothes last night. I got dressed. Still with a negative attitude, I moved on to the kitchen, filled my water bottle, got a teaspoon of nutella. As I was putting away the nutella, my elbow hit my water cup, sending 32 oz. of water all over my kitchen floor. I was pretty ticked at this point. I thought, if that was any indication of how my morning was going to go, I should probably just get back in bed. I am very glad that I DID NOT go with those thoughts. Instead, I laced up my shoes and headed out to Mom's Treehouse to meet with my fellow Mother Runners. Part of my motivation to get up and go, was seeing that a dear friend was suffering with a stomach illness after caring for her very sick son all week. I figured, I'm in relatively good health today (except the congestion I have and mildly sore throat). I decided to dedicate my run to my sweet friend! We all met at the Treehouse, took a quick group photo and headed out for our run. I am the slowest intermediate runner, and I am OK with that, if someone is willing to run back with me. I tend to have negative self talk if I run by myself. Today, Stefanie and Stephanie ran with me and Rachel ran with me some as well. At one point, even the beginners passed me... It's OK, they were just running 4 miles. I had to set a pace that could take me the long haul. Today I was facing a 7 mile run. The furthest I'd run was 6.2 miles. At about a mile in, I was already feeling pretty worthless! The beginning of this run had some pretty big hills. I was so thankful to have someone to talk with while I ran, it really helps me not to focus on the distance remaining. Before I knew it, we'd completed 4 miles and the beginners headed off for the Treehouse. At this point Stephanie W. had come back to run with me for the remainder of the run. She's so easy to run with because she happily chats along and helps you not think about what might be hurting. The first thing she said was, "Well, we are over 1/2 way done!" We kept running and at one point I said, "I'm so tired! My legs are tired." She said, "We are almost done, you can do it." We kept running. Then stomach cramps hit... the bathroom kind! I thought OMG, I'm gonna crap my pants! -- I said to sStephanie, "Now's a great time to realize I have to go to the bathroom!" Stephanie said, "Just ignore it, the feeling will go away!" She was right, and it DID go away! Then we turned the corner and were on our home stretch... as we were running I felt GREAT, I felt like I could keep running further, I dare say, today I might have actually been able to run 10 miles. I don't know if I was in a zone or if I was in complete insanity, but stopping was not an option or a desire at that point, I was feeling great. We got to our turn into the parking lot and I could not believe we were at 7 miles! We got just past the grocery store and I said, "Let's pick it up!" and we SPRINTED -- yes SPRINTED to the Treehouse! Not only was 7 miles POSSIBLE, it was possible with a sprint at the finish and a HUGE smile on my face! As I drove home from my run, the tears took over. I realized how for so very long, I let the un-word IMPOSSIBLE rule my life! It's so easy to make excuses of why we CAN'T do something. So easy to give up. So easy to be in denial. So easy to just be complacent! It's HARD to take that first step to POSSIBLE. Once you face that hard step and take that hard step you realize that "impossible" was squashing your dreams and keeping you from experiencing the most amazing things in your life! My runners high is so thrilling! And it lasts all day! My accomplishment was so sweet, better than ANY candy! I not only CAN, but I DID! All things are possible. You just have to want it badly enough! This morning, I didn't want this run, it was impossible and overwhelming, it was a thorn in my side and something I was more than reluctant to want to do. My end goal: being stronger, getting down to "One"derland was WORTH facing this run today... and it turned out to be one of the most positive and empowering experiences of my life. Did I come in last? YEP, DEADLAST, do I care? Not even a little bit!!! I faced and impossibility and proved that it is POSSIBLE! If I can do this, ANYONE can do this! You've just got to find your motivation! Make today an awesome day!!!