Doing it for someone else

One of the most difficult things about my job (there are not many) is that I can't do it for someone else. I can encourage, teach, motivate, but in the end it is each person's decision to do it or not. Every day we all face a choice - what will I do with my time, talents, resources, etc.?

Throughout the 5+ years of Marathon Makeover, I have seen all kinds of people train for and finish a marathon. Tall, short, fat, skinny, happy, sad, quiet, loud, kind, mean - you name it, I've seen it. All types have come to us wanting to finish a marathon. They also come with all kinds of reasons ranging from wanting to get healthy to wanting to mark it off of their bucket list. I have seen a lot of these folks through to the finish and some have chosen not to continue. Unfortunately, a few could not continue or finish because of injury, illness or life circumstances and that can be so disappointing. There are those who don't continue because they just don't believe that they can do it. That makes me feel sad. My belief for someone will only carry them so far. In so many areas of life, you have to have that belief in yourself, that you can do it - whatever it is. Sometimes this has to be believed while most around you are telling you it is impossible - or crazy! It is in these times that you must bend your head into the wind and press on and just keep moving. During training, one must fight back the negative and push towards the positive.

There is a shift that occurs, however. This is what I call the magic of the finish line. Each year, we have participants show up at the starting line still doubting their ability to finish. I continually tell them that they can. A part of them must believe it or they wouldn't be there. And then. And then they do it. They run the race and they finish. I don't do it for them - THEY do it. Their belief system begins to change. It invades every part of their lives. That's what happens when you do something you were not sure you could do - something others told you you could not do. It causes you to step back and reevaluate everything in your life, especially your self limiting beliefs.

I love it when people get there but I can't get there for them. I can help them get there. I can encourage them along the way and I can tell them how to get there. In the end, it is their choice. Choices can be difficult. Choices make all of the difference in our lives.