Are You Chipper?

I had someone ask me yesterday if I'm always chipper.  In between a snicker and gasp, I asked what prompted him to ask me such a thing.  His response?  "Well, everything I read that you post is always so positive and motivating and uplifting."  My answer?  "Then I'm serving my purpose."

His question did catch me a bit off-guard because I wouldn't ever classify myself as "chipper", but I do make a VERY conscious effort to project positivity in all I say and do.  He sees me when I'm in my element - coaching runners.  I'm happy, I'm passionate, I'm working hard to have them hate me in the moment and love me when we leave.  I care about my runners and I'm trying to make them better.  If I come across as chipper, it's because I love what I do.

Think about what image you project when you post things online via Facebook, Twitter, your blog, etc.  Does your message portray you as a positive person, someone others want to be around?  Are you posting things that provoke intrigue, inspire action and create awareness?  We all know the Debbie Downers.  Does this person encourage you to be better or motivate you to hit the delete button?

With the power of social media, it is absolutely imperative that you project yourself in the most positive light.   Am I happy 24/7?  Absolutely not!   I am however genuine.  It's not about creating a false image by only writing what you think others should read, but about sharing your life with others in a manner that creates curiosity and interest.  I'm much more interested in reading about someone who may be struggling, but writes in a manner to help others who may relate to that situation, rather than someone who just thinks life sucks.

Positive attitudes are contagious.  You should always ask yourself how you would react to the messages your send.  Are you the person someone would want to hire or fire?  Are you someone who others would want to be around or the type that has a dark cloud looming over your head.  Think about that.

If you can't always be positive, be funny, be sarcastic, be witty.  Most of all, be you.  Be genuine and write with honesty.  Write from your heart and write about what you love.

“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity;
an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” - Winston Churchill

My Confession

A confession.  I don't always practice what I preach. 

I admit it.  Sometimes it's really hard for me to have the positive self image I teach you to embody.  It's something I have battled since I've been a chubby little girl.  And for the past couple  of weeks, I have been struggling. 

I try not to get caught up in the numbers game and I rarely stray from my workouts.  Self discipline has never been my issue.  Self image on the other hand is often a difficult pill for me to swallow. 

I admit that I stare relentlessly at times at myself in the mirror before I enter the shower, sucking in that, tucking under this.  It's a practice I'm not proud of, but I would not be honest if I said I never struggled.  I do.  Often.

And right now, I'm in one of those 'struggles'.  With the recent ice storm that hit our area and not being able to run for over a week, I feel at times like I am living outside of the body I know and have slowly learned to grow and love.  A different Rhonda has been invading my space lately and I don't like her.at.all.

I have been thankfully able to do my Insanity workouts at home, but this round is much different than when I first did it last summer.  Then, I took weekly updated pictures and I was so proud of my progress.  This time I'm not seeing or feeling those changes.   Perhaps it's because I'm not working hard enough or not as inspired or maybe I've just plateaued.  Whatever the reason, I'm ready for a change.  I will always love this workout, but it's time to put it on the shelf and try something new for a while.

I won't quit.  I'm not a quitter.  I'll finish the next 18 days and then I'll completely start something new, something fresh.  Something different to shock by body back to where I'll be excited take those weekly pictures again.  Perhaps I just might take that P90X plunge afterall and make it a perfect complement to my running.

So that's how I get through these slumps.  I make a plan, I allow myself a little self-pity (it feels good) and then I'll get back to where I need to be.  A slump is NEVER a time to give up on yourself and that is hardly in my plan.  I just need a little mental restructuring.  The physical will come.

Until then, here's my favorite shot taken last summer when my little Jackson kept sneaking in the pictures without my knowledge.  It makes me laugh and gives me inspiration to move forward and progress.  I want to look this again.  He's my inspiration and this is my accountability.