How much do you really want it?

Sigh... so long between posts!

I just noticed that my last post was in June... 2 months ago. Eek.

So, given that, I will try to make a blog post every day. That is my August 17th resolution. What's funny, is I have been thinking of doing that for a few months now.

I actually have a number of posts rattling 'round in the old noggin', but I just not have really the urge to put 'pen to paper' and set my thoughts straight.

So how much do you really want it?

I use to have someone involved in my life who would always talk about how much she wanted to rehab houses, or get involved in teaching, or yadda yadda yadda.

But she never really did anything about it. I would tell her "well, your dad is a contractor, work a day a week with him and go put in a porch, or tear down a few walls, or find out how to change a light switch, or whatever. Take a class in home remodeling, and see what is involved."

Now there are 100 shows on cable about home makeovers, but at the time, "This Old House" was pretty much the only game in town, so you always had the impression that the only houses people rehabbed were victorian mansions and old barns in New England. This was also before the housing boom (and bust) that took over from 2001-2008, so maybe things have changed.

But I doubt it.

Something has to get you moving, and it has to come inside. It didn't matter what was said, suggested, prodded, etc, unless the will comes from inside, people will not change; they have to make the changes on their own.

If you really are interested in something, you will find out more about it, and then just go do whatever it is that interests you. Until you are least start finding out more about something, it's just lips a' flappin'.

I thought of this as I got up this morning, on an overnight in RDU (look it up,) when I could sleep in instead of getting up with my Little Guy; did an hour of biking on the exercise bike (using fartlek training,) then 30 minutes barefoot on the treadmill, then went for a nice 2 mile stroll in the sunshine here in the Carolinas.

I didn't have to get up early, but I did. I am doing my second triathlon on the 26th, and last year I had problems because of a little fight with plantar fasciitis that set me back a good 2 months. Now that I am running barefoot (at least on the treadmill,) and have a decent road bike, I am enjoying the run-up to the event.

Maybe last year I decided to do it as a challenge, but this year I am doing it because I really want to do it. I want to swim well, so I have watched dozens of swim coaching videos online, and tried to incorporate a number of suggestions into my stroke. The new bike has really changed how I ride, and I love putting mile after mile on my bike. I even took it down last Wednesday to get a good ride in (13 miles) before we sailed that night. And changing to barefoot running (Thanks, Holly, for suggesting "Born To Run"!!) has put me in the unfamiliar position where I actually like running.

So, if you say you want something, how much do you really want it?

Are you willing to get up at 0400 to get your workout in so it does not take time away from your family?

Are you willing to go back to school, or study online, to better your credentials so you can advance?

Are you willing to take a chance that the knowledge you have might be outdated or even completely wrong, but are willing to learn or relearn sometimes basic concepts?

There is nothing wrong with not wanting to take chances, just like there is nothing fundamentally wrong about wanting to look good, feel good, rest, live, and love. There is nothing wrong with being lazy, unless you are unhappy with your life and are too lazy to do anything about it. That is fundamentally wrong.

Now I get to go fly for the rest of the day. I love my job. I had a great job before, gassing up airplanes for mainline AA, but I wanted something more, so I went out and did it. Refueling was a great job; dozens of my coworkers put their kids through college doing it, paid for their houses, put food on the table. I still consider myself to be part of the 'brotherhood of the hose' even though I have now been flying for Eagle longer than I fueled for AA (That'll make me feel old... yeesh.)

So, really, how much do you really want it?

Scott