Pick Your Battles

My body was just off yesterday. All day I was experiencing different aches and pains in my feet, ankles and back. The day was spent productively executing different plans for my business, but the time came to get some exercise in before the daylight was gone.  In hopes that a breezy 3 mile run would work these kinks out, I hit the pavement with my running partner. Quickly I noticed that my right hamstring was not having it but I pushed through, thinking that it would open up and work itself out. I stayed light in the forefoot and shortened my stride to protect any over straining on the muscle. After 10 minutes, rather than getting better- it was clearly tightening up more. Every part of me wanted to push through and obey the trainer inside me saying "You got this. Push through! Push!" but I knew that this wasn't a battle to prove my toughness. Pushing through pain or warning signs of injury is not tough. Rather it is a weakness, because you are giving in to the voice of an old coach, teacher or parent telling you that you fail unless you complete the task at hand. Whoever has told you to 'Push through it' without encouraging you to discern the battle at hand, did you wrong.  Your body is your ultimate coach. Listen to what it tells you and what it needs first, then apply yourself to your challenges. Yesterday I had the choice to listen to my body or ignore it. Reluctantly at first, I sent my running partner forward and walked my way back home. The strange part was that I felt empowered and victorious rather than defeated. I chose to protect my body, my greatest vessel in life. As scaled down as this example may seem, it represents the practice of owning your body, decisions and experiences in life. Listen, take it easy and pick your battles wisely.

Pick your Battles Picture from 2012 at a Columbian fort