New Year 2014

It's New Year's Day, Day 1, the beginning of a new year, a fresh start, the first day of change.  In the past, I have been guilty of making lofty goals and have written many posts on what I have accomplished and what I want to achieve in the new year.  This year I am in a different mind set.  Last spring I missed 5 months of training and completely had to refocus and realign my goals, but this is how the real world works.  The new year does not ignite a spark any more than next Friday will.  It is all about decisions and sacrifice, resolutions are rarely to do less but to go into the unknown and accomplish more.  So, if today you wrote out a list of five great things you plan to achieve in 2014, I am happy for you.  My question though is how will you react when life says "NO" to what it is you are trying to do? 

In John 6, the masses grew and grew for the people wanted to see and perhaps even have a miracle performed on them.  It was not until Jesus claimed he was the living bread sent from God that the people started to leave and question Him.  When Jesus was healing the blind it was easy to believe, but when it got harder to handle what He was saying, the people left and only twelve remained.  It is simpler and easier to pursue one's goals when everything is going well, when it is early on, and when the fire still burns from that moment they decided to make the change.  But now, the tides have turned, and suddenly it is not so easy, and the world appears to be against you.  This is the point when one needs resolve, the point when one must decide whether to go with the masses and make excuses or dig deeper.  Jesus asked, "You do not want to leave too, do you?" to the twelve.  Peter answered, "Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.  We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God." These are the words of one who is committed, one who believes.   

In 2014 you may have goals; that is the first step.  The second is your plan for when life throws a wrench into those goals.  Will you be committed as Peter was or will you flee with the masses?

The coach in me wants to help you who want to start something new this year with some advice.  Make your long term goals, but make shorter goals that in turn will lead you to the larger goals.  Also, while choosing these goals think about what these goals mean to you, because chances are there will be a bump in the road that may interfere.  It may not be a 5 month injury, but it may be weather, it may be time, or a multitude of other possibilities.  Think of what might derail you and have a plan for when things don't work out.  If you can write these goals down along with why they mean so much to you as well as your plan if things don't go according to plan, you will be prepared for the worst and have a much more successful 2014.

God has been good to me this year even in the time of injury.  I trust that 2014 will be even better.  I owe so much to my family, friends, and to my sponsors Brooks and Honey Stinger!