Don't Wait for 'Motivation!'

I  hear a lot about motivation, and I really have a hard time with motivation. I'm not quite sure what it is, or if it is a good thing in our lives.

I hear people saying things like "I am not motivated to work out," or "I need some motivation to get started with this task."

When I hear these type of statements, I usually think that this person is waiting on something or someone to come and get them started, and normally "Ain't nobody coming, especially motivation!"

It's really about just "Doing It." And "It" is whatever needs to be done.

I have starting riding my bike with this racing team, and we do a 40 to 50 mile bike ride EVERY Saturday and Sunday morning in the cold weather. Yep, in the cold weather. There is not one weekend morning where motivation comes into my house and gets me. I never think "I can't wait to ride my bike in 34 degree weather." I never get that feeling at all. But, when the alarm goes off, I hit the floor, and I go and ride with my team. It's just what I do. Motivation does not come. I just get up and do it, and the joy that I feel afterwards can not be described. I normally call my friend, Tim, after the ride and excitedly give him all of the details. After the ride, my energy level and happiness are to the sky literally.

Motivation never helps me to do things that need to be done like cooking, cleaning, washing clothes, teaching good lessons, working out.... I just get up and do these things!!!

I must give a warning to the wise: "Don't Wait for Motivation; It Ain't Coming!"

Happy Tuesday, and Get Up and Do it......

The Coldest Winter Ever....

So, yesterday was a blustery, cold day... The high was around 32 degrees, but with the wind chill factor, it felt like it was about 19 degrees.....

And, I decided to go for a bike ride...I decided that I would ride to The King Memorial and ride back home...

Crazy Right???

Well, once my fingers and my toes were feeling like they were going to fall off, I knew that I was doing something that was completely crazy…

Soooooo, why would I do this???

In a post a few weeks back, I wrote about some news things that were happening in my life that were exciting and scary at the same time. Well, I've been invited to be on a cycling, racing team, and the thought had me extremely scared and excited at the same time. At first I thought "I am not ready," but my second thought was "Why am I not ready?" I've been cycling quite a lot. So, I met with the three other ladies who are going to be on this racing team that consists of about 10 to 12 men, and after the meeting, I decided that I would Dare Greatly and give being on this team a try.

Saturday was my first ride with the team. We met at a Starbucks for coffee and laughs, and we rode out. Well, you know how I love group cycling, and I got that warm feeling as soon as we got on the road; we were a team. I have never ridden 44 miles at this particular speed before, and I was pushed harder than I have ever been pushed before, and it felt soooooo good! Yep, I finished a little behind the team, but I finished!!!!!

Well, we were supposed to ride Sunday as well, but it was cold and blustery so, I punked out. I went to the grocery store around 9, and I realized that it was cold but sunny, and pure guilt made me get on my bike. Being on a team means being committed, and I felt like I was not being committed by punking on the Sunday ride. Sooooo, I got on my bike to take a ride in The Coldest Winter Ever!

Of course this is not The Coldest Winter Ever, but when I got to The King Memorial, and my hands and toes were hurting from being cold, my brain thought that "This is The Coldest Winter Ever," and I instantly thought of the novel by Sister Souljah that is titled The Coldest Winter Ever…

I thought a lot about this novel on my way back home. I remembered thinking, when I read this book quite a few years back, that this novel was pure trash; however, it was such intriguing trash, and I thoroughly enjoyed every page. If you want an awesome read, try The Coldest Winter Ever...

It is amazing what a person can and will think about on a bike ride....

Anyway, I finished my ride, my toes or fingers did not fall off, and two of my favorite people in the WHOLE WIDE WORLD brought dinner over, and I went to bed feeling quite content.

I won't be riding in 19 or so degrees again, BUT

My people, I am Daring Greatly!

I need your warm thoughts and prayers as I explore this new adventure!!!

This is the day..... Rejoice and Be Glad!!!