Will you see it thru?

For as long as I can remember, I've been an encourager. Someone that prods others to keep going using whatever means is necessary. I'm a firm believer in positive praise, however, I have been known to tell a little "fib" if I know it will work! lol.

When I was a boy, I loved being a part of sports teams. You name the sport, I played it. For whatever reason(s), I was often forced to quit. I can recall very few times I was allowed to finish a season. Probably the most painful was during my 10th grade year in high school. I had a pretty good Track season going and was really starting to bloom as a distance runner. As we prepared for the upcoming District meet, I found myself as the number two seed in the 3200M run. The #1 guy was pretty good and it would take a special game plan for me to beat him. My coach and I came up with a plan and we practiced it so well that I knew I could do it. Day of the meet, I wasn't allowed to go. Crushing. Season over!

I guess that is why being an encourager is so important to me. Sure quitting sometimes is a necessity, however, should be avoided at all costs. Every time you quit, it makes it easier for it to become a habit.

Do you struggle with this? Have you ever figured out why you quit? Often it can be as simple as not having support or a plan in place. If this is the case, find a support group and learn to become an encourager.

www.coachtomgriffith.com

How many days do you have left?

I posted a video earlier that used jelly beans to illustrate how we are wasting our lives. I haven't stopped thinking about that since! I realize there are some things we have no control over.....like the time we spend sleeping, eating, and other daily intangibles. The time we spend either working, preparing to work, and commuting to work is mind numbing!

On the average, we will live 28,835 days. Also, on the average, we will spend 3,202 of those days at work (hopefully doing something enjoyable?) and 1,099 days commuting to and from work. That's 4,301 days; approximately 15% of your life working and that's not even factoring in the time it takes to get ready to work.

Don't even get me started on the 2,676 days we spend on front of the TV! haha. At least that can be shared with family, but geez!

Every minute of every day counts. Hug those around you that mean the most. Time is flying by quickly........

www.coachtomgriffith.com

Positively no negativity

I recently had to change my morning routine as it pertains to social media. In the past, I would peruse my news feed before I started posting, however, I realized that the excitement I had for the day would lose some of it's glow due to the negativity that I would allow in. By simply reading others posts, the life was getting sucked out of me. I could even tell by the quality of my own posts that this routine was having a poor effect on me. Something had to give!

Now, I don't even look at my news feed until later in the morning. I've been up since 6:30 and haven't looked yet. I've knocked out my first workout of the day and am very happy with the value of my morning posts. Coffee is brewing and I'm about to get caught up with Pittsburgh sports. Life is good!

Make every effort to begin your day with positivity. Sure.....life sometimes makes that a challenge, but try. Don't allow negativity to sabotage your day. Garbage in; garbage out.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/coachgriffsbc

Back on track

Every Tuesday, I lead a group of local runners and triathletes in a "quality" workout session. Today, I jumped in the workout! It marked the first time in (at least) three years that I've done this type of workout. While my running fitness leaves a lot to be desired, I am happy to have made it thru the workout and with no pain.

It was funny to see the expressions on the faces of some of our newer runners when I arrived at the track in running attire. "Going to run today, Coach," one of the guys asked me. He has been coming for the last six weeks and, to him, I am just "Coach". In fact, since I have been leading these weekly sessions, that's all everyone knows me as. Most know that I had a decent running career back in the day, but mostly I am just the guy that provides the workout.

Since my multiple knee surgeries in 2012, my run training has been hit and miss. Since the beginning of this year, I have been able to piece together large chucks of training and even ran a half marathon in April. My wife, Natalie, and I have another half planned for early November so I need to get some miles on my legs before our training begins in late August. Also, I am helping her train for a Fit & Fabulous Mom event so we are using run training in our plan.

Will see how I feel tomorrow. Right now? I feel awesome!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/coachgriffsbc