September 2023 - Do Hard Things

"Obesity is hard. Fit is hard. Choose your hard. Being in debt is hard. Being financially disciplined is hard. Choose your hard. Communication is hard. Not communicating is hard. Choose your hard. Life will never be easy. It will always be hard. But we can choose our hard. Choose wisely." 

- Mind Journal - 

One year mark, everyone! That means that we have done 12 different challenges together. And for me, I have managed to write 12 blog posts. (Not always on time...but still done:) Take some time and celebrate how far you have come; maybe go get a cup of your favorite coffee, or if you're like me and don't really care for coffee, grab some ice cream. Ice cream is always a great choice:) Then settle in and prepare to start a new year of challenges. 

This month I get to steal my chapter from another book. While camping with my family, I enjoyed the pleasure of reading Do Hard Things by Alex & Brett Harris and ended up with 11 pages of copied notes. I hate copying while reading, so that tells you how good the book is. At the conclusion, I decided to set out to achieve a hard thing in the month of September. As it's no fun to do hard things alone, I've decided to drag you along:)

To begin with there are five different types of hard things that you can do:

1.  Things that are outside your comfort zone.
2.  Things that go beyond what is expected or required.
3.  Things that are too big to accomplish alone.
4.  Things that don't earn an immediate payoff.
5.  Things that challenge the cultural norm.

You will need to create a five-step action plan that will enable you to chart a clear course. While creating your plan here are a few things to keep in mind:

• Identify what you need to get honest about and to whom.
• Decide what negative actions or patterns need to end.
• Recognize which people could best help you get from point A to point B and make a plan to get connected.
• Figure out one or two key action steps that, once taken, would make it a lot tougher for you to chicken out and turn back -- decide when and how you will take the steps.
• Acknowledge that you won't succeed without God's help, and make a practical plan to stay close to Him.
• Expect -- and be excited about -- success! 

Once again we are headed back to school and sports, so I have decided to work on #4 and a little on #2. I recently read Tim Tebow's biography, Through My Eyes, and he said something that hit me. "I was two things to this team: a leader and a Christian. As a leader, I needed to be in front and set an example. As a Christian, I needed to lead in a manner that was pleasing to Christ." As one of the oldest players on my church soccer team, I realize that I am an example for the younger girls that I play beside. I tend to have an out-front, leader-type personality, and with the realization that I am an example came the understanding that I was not being the best that I should be. 

So for this month of September, I am determined to work on the little things; the things that do not earn an immediate payoff but will compound over time. For instance: working out, eating right, taking my vitamins, practicing consistently, showing up to every practice and game - physically and mentally - with a good attitude, getting up on time, only saying things that edify, and prioritizing my time with Christ. These things not only affect how I think and feel; they also affect everyone around me, especially my teammates. 

Our theme verse for our team this year is Psalm 34:3, "O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together." My personal goal is to do the small things that will allow me to both be an example - having my body as fit as it can be in order to be out front and setting an example for my teammates - and to be an example that magnifies the Lord by my words and actions, prioritizing Christ. Choose your hard and lets do this! "We are too young to realize that certain things are impossible, so we will do them anyway." - William Pitt