I’ve signed up for personal training recently. I’m like anyone else – I don’t like to admit when I’m not good at something. I used to get frustrated and want to give up. Remember the post about facing your weaknesses and knocking them out? I’m fighting them with both hands up and learning to be quick on my feet. I used to joke with people, especially those who tried to get close to me, that I had “problems” – in all honesty this was just a big, fat cop out and me trying to protect myself. It was an excuse not to kick my own ass and get in gear. Physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually. I know there are areas I need help in that I can’t do on my own. I need help. So, I’m getting it.

Along with becoming better you have to be willing to take criticism. No one likes to be told they’re anything but wonderful. But, we’re not always wonderful. We’re not perfect. I don’t ever want someone to think I’m perfect… because, newsflash: I HAVE FLAWS. We all do. I’d rather have the beautiful and slightly flawed diamond than the impossibly perfect diamond that holds no character. One of my friends told me recently I seem to always have it together. I don’t always have it together. I struggle daily with a myriad of things but I am choosing to overcome. I am choosing to be the best Patty Lauren I can be and that means telling life to come at me and see who walks out of the fire still standing. I refuse to do anything but keep going and go hard. Swallow the hard lessons and learn from the mistakes.

So what does personal training have to do with any of that? Well, I’m going to my personal consultation this week but I have been attending the owner’s class and she mentioned a few things to me at the end of one of our classes.

Form? Needs help.

Upper body? Needs help. (Yeah, no new news there. I hope I don’t slip on a hike anytime soon and have to pull myself up because I’m good as dead).

The natural inclination is to hear:

“#suck#notgood#failure#weak#suck#suck#suck”

Instead, I choose to hear: “#canbebetter#wanttobebetter#icandothis#bringiton#makemecry”

Yes, I used hashtags in my writing. Sue me.

So the next time someone tells you maybe you need a little help… brush the dirt off your shoulder (I may be listening to too much Jay Z while running) and look in the mirror.

Who’s your competition? YOU ARE.

Who makes you better? YOU DO.

Need a little help? TAKE IT

Go make stuff happen.

until next time… xoxo, patty lauren

~

 The dog days are over
The dog days are done
The horses are coming
So you better run

Florence and the Machine