These are my kids coming towards the finish line of the Grandma’s Marathon one year…my official cheerleaders. What a vision that was to behold. But what was even better was when they turned around…the message almost made me lose it on the spot. A vision that definitely left a lasting, forever memory for me! They were cheering me on, and my running. Running had been a big part of my life already prior to then. A quotation by Joel A Barker: “Vison without action is merely a dream. Action without vision just passes the time. Vision with action can change the world.” It can certainly change your world. What is your vision? What are you doing to try to achieve it. Exercise has always been a part of my life. I started running when I was in middle school. My older brother got me interested. What helped me the most is that it gave me confidence. I was small for my age, and tended to be a target to be “picked on”. Running brought me into my own…especially when I beat one kid in particular in a 600 meter race in gym class. This particular kid was also one who tended to give me an especially hard time…until I beat him. That day gave me the vision that I could be a success…at running. That running carried on to success in many other aspects of my life, and also helped me decide on my career choice.
Here Sarah and I are one Halloween during the early years of our residency of Family Medicine. We dressed up as doctors…even though we were already doctors! We practice what we preach! Being Family Physicians we spend our whole day convincing people, and their families, how important it is to take care of themselves…to promote wellness and a healthy lifestyle, so they can spend more time with their families, and enjoy life better. It is just as important for us as well. We don’t just tell our patients to do this, we also do it ourselves! We as individuals need to find out what our vision is.
Whatever it is, have a passion about it. What is important to you? And if it is important, what are you willing to do to achieve it? Are you all talk and no action, or are you going to go after it? There will be obstacles, but are you going to let them rule your final outcome? What is important to you? What is your true vision?
You truly can do this! You will have to work for it, but don’t take no for an answer. Work at it everyday. I have been exercising on a frequent basis for the last 40 years, but my consecutive streak of not missing a day is in the process of my 10th year. What is in your future?
In order to figure out your future, you need to have a vision to focus on. A vision that will help you become a better you! A vision that can be as individual as you, because it is for you! And hopefully there will be things to inspire you along the way. Here is what I got to see from my kids coming down the final mile of one of my marathons. First was the “Go Dad Go”, and then when they were screaming for me to get my attention, my 3 kids turned around to give me the true message for that day…
After seeing this, I almost broke down, with less than a 1/2 mile to go. But, I was no longer tired…I was so pumped after this I was flying into the finish line. I was incredibly happy at that point, and not because I just finished a marathon, but because I have a great family. A family that cares about me! They are my vision! They are my life! My vision to becoming something more in my life, and with my life! I find myself looking back at this picture many, many times over the years. It is one of my favorites!
Find your vision, and then never lose sight of it! Ever!
Keep moving everybody!
Dr. Dan
Consecutive Exercise Day #: 3397
