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Thrive or Survive?. The Choice is yours

During the winter Arizona probably has some of the best weather, but that doesn?t take away from the fact it?s still cold, especially the early mornings. This day started like any other. I woke up, threw on my running attire, but now a couple extra layers. If you?ve every witnessed the state of misery I slip into when I become cold you would never believe this girl grew up in MN.

Over the last few days Arizona has been getting some rain, which only happens a few times a year. When clouds and scattered showers roll in it?s welcomed and appreciated?.. Well I guess speaking for myself as long as I can enjoy it from the warm, cozy side of a window. The night before I had checked hourly forecast and miraculously it predicted no rain from 5am- 7am. Perfect! My time slot was clear to run. Well I soon discovered that wasn?t exactly true because as I set out I realized it was obvious?. Accuweather.com wasn?t so accurate. It was sprinkling, but lightly. No problem I can handle that, but the cold rain came accompanied with chilly temperatures. ?Mind over matter? was all I said to myself. Little did I know, that in a few short moments my super mind power theory was about to be challenged. It began to pour. In my mind, the only thing worse than being cold, is being cold and wet.

I remembered over the summer when I was visiting MN and running by Lake Superior when it started to rain. I was grateful and imagined the warm rain as a gift of love pouring down to heal my physical body as well as everything on earth it touched. The warm fresh air that morning, the sound of the rain drops as they joined the earth?s surface and plummeted into the lake will be something I will always remember. However, there was nothing that felt healing nor did I appreciate the cold rain slapping my face. My sweat pants and sweatshirt were now soaking wet and heavy. To make it even more uncomfortable, it was pitch dark out and the down pour made it difficult to see the ground. The pools of water in the street were unavoidable and my shoes were completely drenched. I could feel water swishing between my toes every time my feet hit the ground. I?ll admit, the thought of the retreating to the comforts of my warm bed was looking pretty good, but I quickly decided that it wasn?t an option. I needed to get over it, and move on? rain or shine. I felt challenged both physically and mentally. I needed to push myself harder and faster to keep my body temperature from dropping. This wasn?t easy because my clothes and shoes were sopping wet and heavy.

Deep down I know for every experience there is a purpose, whether I understand it or not. Have you ever tried to run in heavy wet clothes? This struggle, discomfort, and pain I was experiencing needed to somehow serve me. How could I bring meaning and purpose into this? The thought of this unexpected storm, heaviness of my clothes, and my will to preserver melded together sparking thoughts of memories from my past. This extra weight and burden I was carrying this morning wasn?t something I had expected to have to overcome today. When you think about that neither is tragedy or the difficult times we endure. You never know the complete truth of what?s in store or exactly how you will respond until you?re submerged in it. Death, sickness, accidents, financial issues, heart breaks, job loss, sadness, hurts, and betrayal are typically almost never planned or turn out the way you imagine. And in the midst of these ?stormy times?, just when you think it can?t get any worse, you realize it can?. mostly because it does. The heaviness created can make it feel very difficult to move forward each day. For some people this doom and gloom will wrap them in a state of depression making it seem almost impossible some days to get out of bed. Leading some to question, ?How will I ever survive?? People always ask me how I get up as early as 5 am everyday and run 5+ miles. My answer is simple. It?s not will power, discipline, or a force that drives me. It?s a way of BEING. There is something about the peace and stillness that fills the air this early in the morning.

Everyday when I run and I completely take that in though my breathe. That quieting sense of peace fills my body, flows though my blood, floods my mind with clarity, and is part of me?. It?s a way of BEING. So, what gets me out of bed and moves me no matter what the weather? That peace and stillness residing within me that needs to be nourished and fed every day. In so many ways these morning runs have shaped who I am and each day allows me to see a glimpse of who I?m becoming. Regardless of what is going on in the outer world, we all have this within us and it?s yearning to be fed. However, somehow when we step out into the storm and feel that heaviness created by what seems to fall upon us we forget and become lost. Instead of connecting to that quiet peaceful place that resides within the stillness of all human BEINGS we fall victim to the storm grasping for survival. As victims we complain, whine, blame, get angry, feel mislead, and will never truly step out into to the world to claim and bask in full potential. We go back and forth testing the waters and as soon as it gets uncomfortable retreat back to what is known, feels safe, and life seems easier. But is it? It?s a survival tactic.

Everyday waking day presents a choice regarding how you want to live your life. You can choose to THRIVE or SURVIVE. It?s really quite simple. By surviving you stay inside, keep people out, play it safe, and remain in the realm of comfort. Choosing to survive means you will never live up to your fullest potential. Reflecting on your choice to survive you find a mental list of a million and one reasons that justify your story. But how can you justify being trapped in limitations or fear? When you choose to THRIVE you take chances and risk being uncomfortable. You know that when you?re uncomfortable it?s because you are reaching, stretching, and growing.

Did you ever get growing pains when you were a child? From a very young age growing almost never felt good. As we age these ?growing pains? only take on different forms. When you THRIVE you find ways to bring meaning and purpose into everything you do. This means seeing that heaviness not as a limitation, but as a form of strength training. Learning to THRIVE may appear to be work, but ultimately it?s the opposite because deep in your soul you find peace in knowing you?ve let nothing or no one stand in the way of your fulfillment?. Rain or shine.

So the question I have for you is obvious?. Are you thriving or surviving? The New Year has arrived and every year billions of people make resolutions to THRIVE. Visions of a better, healthier, and more fulfilling tomorrow are created. My question is, ?Why wait?? You see, I don?t believe it?s about surviving the way you are until a certain time and resolving yourself then (which most likely will fail and is repeated year after year). It?s about THRIVING NOW and ALWAYS. It?s about BEING THE CHANGE YOU DESIRE. Are you ready to DO WHAT IT TAKES TO THRIVE, or will you be the one who remains in the realm of comfort? The answer to that question exists in your WILLINGNESS to get out there do what it takes to THRIVE. That means BEING THE CHANGE YOU DESIRE no matter what the time or the weather brings.

May your heart and soul be awakened to peace my friends?May you be healed.

Many Blessings, Lesley

*Lesley Pelkey is available for life coaching at Luna Fitness on Monday, Wednesday, and Fridays by appointment only.