The Olympics are over as is the ActiveRain August Olympian contest. But in the true Olympic spirit I never give up! Thus I am writing this post as I was incredibly inspired while out hiking early this morning! I wanted to share my thoughts on what makes me a winner and what has made me a winner my entire life. I'm hoping it might reach those that need some encouragement and inspiration at this time. We all need that along the way, don't we? Hell Yes!
I grew up in a family with 5 brothers and 2 sisters. That in itself will set up anybody to learn how to hold your own and be competitive! Half of my siblings, as well as myself were tremendous athletes. Do I look like an athlete anymore? No. Does my mind think I am an athlete? Hell Yes! Do I ever give up? Hell No!
In High School I was the Captain of Volleyball and Basketball teams. I learned to play well as a team. I had a fantatic sports coach and I attribute a lot of my success to her encouragement and kick ass attitude. Those were the days when girls were not encouraged to play competitive sports. But luckily I attended a girls boarding school and it was made very clear to me that I would excel in academics as well as athletics - which I did and loved it all. I had some incredible outstanding teachers that I am so very thankful for as well.
After college I was offered a job in Vail CO and I jumped at the chance to live there. I didn't make much money back then but I sure had fun cruising down the Vail and Beaver Creek slopes learning how to become an expert skier. I also took up hiking and loved every mile of it. I taught tennis, racquetball and skiing (which was part of my job) as well as lots of other subjects. I taught both adults and kids which was a lot of fun and was challenging at times too.
I learned early on which of my students had the Olympian Spirit and which ones didn't. Those folks that didn't have 'it' were encouraged but often times got in their own way with thinking and believing they 'just couldn't do it'. Well guess what? If that's what one tells oneself that's exactly what will happen. To think is to Create! The same goes for real estate agents or any other profession for that matter. I have trained and taught a lot of agents over the years and some never give up! They have an Olympian Spirit and kick ass attitude. Much like many of us ActiveRainers who went through the down real estate market and never gave up believing we'd pull through it well. Did we? Hell Yes!
Back to me. Blah Blah Blah - I know it's all about me right now. Hell yes it is! Some of you know I broke my foot and was laid up almost a year letting it heal properly. It did suck but I did my absolute best to keep my mind in a positive mindset and found other things I could do and love. I was able to start hiking (more like walking around the bottom of our mountain) last fall. It was slow going at first and I ran into several setbacks along the way. For the last 7 years or so I've been dealing with arthritis on the top of my foot. Yeah - I know it's sounds weird. I tried to just ignore it for years thinking if I didn't pay attention to it it would go away! As Doctor Phil says - so how is that working for you? Ha! Ha! This last year it's been tough finding a way to work around the pain. But did I give up? Hell no!
Last week I saw a new doctor that a few people had told me about and they thought she could help me out. In short, we didn't click at all. She took one look at me and probably thought who is she kidding? She's not an athlete! She saw what she perceived and drew conclusions. She talked on and on about her and didn't ask me more than one or two questions. It was strange to say the least. She gave me a drug prescription and said it will solve the foot problem - which at the time sounded good to me. And then she says, try walking for at least 10 minutes a day but start very very slowly. Hello? Did you not listen to me when I told you I was walking 2.5 miles or more a day, using advil. I tried her drug for one day and it made me so sick. I don't drugs well. Did I know I'd find another solution? Hell yes!
I went to another doctor Monday. She has an upbeat attitude and looks for healthy solutions and listened to what I was saying. She 'got' that my goal was to get back to hiking 5 miles+ and to eventually get back up to the top of the mountain. She suggested that it would be much better to go back to my foot doctor and 'give in' to doing the pain blockers on the top of my feet, rather than taking so much advil. Why? Because the shots were localized and advil effects the whole system. That made a lot of sense to me. She is a really good coach and she believes I will get back up to the top of the hill! That's my kind of gal! I did return to foot doctor yesterday. He gave me a shot in both feet and said if it's not right yet just come back. Ok, so I don't like shots in my feet but hey if that's what I need to do then that's what I'll do. You can't keep me down. And BTW that goes for business as well!
This morning it was raining and an absolutely gorgeous morning in Phoenix. I woke up about 5 and just had to get out to the mountain preserve hiking! I did pretty well for about a mile or so but I realized we didn't get the pain blockers correct on the right foot. I did end up hiking/walking 2.5 miles anyway this morning! I'll go back to the foot doc and get it tweaked and deal with it until we get it right.
I see my goal! Getting to the top of my mountain once again!
Will I accomplish my goal? Hell Yes!
I don't know who this post might inspire but my wish is that it inspires those that need it right at this moment. We all need encouragement along the way both in our personal lives and in business. And having an Olympian Spirit makes life and business a whole lot more exciting and fun! Hell Yes It Does!
PS I think this might be the longest post I've ever written! Thanks for hanging in there!
Olympians Never Give Up!
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