My son was glum last night between his guitar and soccer practices. I asked what was bugging him and he said he was tired. “I push myself harder than some of the other kids.”
I smiled and said, “Really?” He does work really hard.
“Some kids are satisfied with C’s. I’m not. I push myself harder than that.”
I looked at him and said, “You, like your brothers, have amazing potential. And don’t ever be satisfied with C’s. You can do anything you put your mind to. I am amazed by and believe in your talent. Always let your heart win.”
This morning’s workout was tough. We started with the Gauntlet, which is running up and down Madison Central’s Football Stadium. My legs said no but my heart said yes. By the fourth lap, my legs were really burning. The rest of the workout was tough, mainly because like my son, I was tired, too. Then we got hit between the eyes.
We did a long plank – straight-arm plank -mountain climber session. It was the last one of the day and my shoulders were screaming bloody murder. I pushed into the pain.
I guess I didn’t have to. Could have stayed home. But I I showed up. And pushed myself when I didn’t feel like it. I’m not satisfied C’s, either. At the very end, when my shoulders hurt the worst, my mind went to another level and pushed past the pain.
I can do better than I am doing. And today, I think I figured out how.
Push past the pain. And always let your heart win.