As the summer draws to a close in the next few weeks, it will become easier to hide under clothing and harder to drag yourself outside.  May these two disparate pieces of news provide a little inspiration for your perspiration over the course of the coming months.  One source is the NYTimes Sports article about a young double amputee qualifying for the Olympics 4X4 with a time of 45.07.  The other source is from a Facebook friend that boldly told friends of her “bucket list” plan to join a gym and journey to optimum fitness by her 60th birthday, as a gift to herself.

Disparate sources of inspiration but rallying cries nonetheless for the rest of  us that sit in between the two ends.  We have two able-bodied limbs.  Can put two shoes on the feet.  Most of us are a far cry from even thinking about bucket lists.  Yet, all of us look for and need from time to time, a little motivation to move.

Sometimes we may be moving TOWARD a goal.  Sometimes we are running AWAY from an end we don’t want. Either way, we are motivated, inspired and will sweat  in the challenge of attaining the prize at the end.

FB friend’s example is probably closer to the reality of most of us, in that it can be seen, felt and tasted no matter what age we are.  So following her steps of perspiration may help with the reality of making it happen, Pistorius achievements and the work he has to go thru may help with the emotional inspiration also crucial to changing life, mind and body.

Quoting the NYTimes, August 9th article, “As Debate Goes On, Amputee Will Break Barrier,” Pistorius was “born without his fibulas, the long bones that span from the knees to the ankles,” and “relies on carbon-fiber prosthetic limbs to propel him around the track in times comparable to some of the world’s top runners.”

Read the article for the debate as to whether he has an advantage or disadvantage with the absence of the weight the missing limbs provides in competing.  Regardless of the “ad or dis” the image of him sailing thru air like a gazelle on carbon fiber prosthetics makes me want to move anyway possible.

Further physical obstacles make his accomplishments even more awe-inspiring,  “After a boating accident in 2009 left him with a broken jaw, a crushed cheekbone and 170 stitches, he returned to training with more focus than ever, said his agent, Van Zyl. His showing at a meet in Lignano, Italy, last month showed it. That is where Pistorius shattered his previous personal best of 45.61 in the 400 to run 45.07 and meet the world and Olympic qualifying time. To be eligible for the Olympics, though, he will have to meet that time again next year.”
Following the more manageable steps of my FB friend might do the trick for a little goal planning/setting for the Fall 2011:

  • Mark the start and end date(s) – FB friend marked the start and stop day of her plan to make it realisitic and attainable.  It had a end state.  A countdown.  A marker to drive toward.
  • Publicly made the announcement – FB friend publicly announced her intention so that she was on record and was less likely to back off from the goal plan.
  • Enlisted support and encouragement from friends/family/colleagues – This is crucial and helpful to changing life and its circumstances.  Get a support group; a set of cheerleaders to go the distance.
  • Enlisted professional support (she hired a trainer to assist her) – When you don’t know what you are doing, you need outside support and help to bring the vision to reality.

FB friend gave herself 100 days.  A little more than three months.  There is a whole hell of a lot you can do do, change and re-form with that much time!

What say you as we count down the last days of summer?

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