Priorities – Being all in

It became official Wednesday night at 8:33!

I was feeling it in my heart that it was time to officially register for my “BIG” race of the year, the Half Ironman on June 3rd. I’ve been writing and talking about it for a while now, already committed mentally and preparing physically for it, but I hadn’t registered. Wednesday night, I paid my registration fees and officially signed up to be a participant for the 2018 IRONMAN 70.3 Raleigh.

In 121 days, on the morning of June 3, I’ll be standing on the shore of Jordan Lake, just outside of Raleigh, NC, getting ready to start the race. I’m sure I will have some nerves come race day, but right now, I am not nervous. In fact, I am extremely excited and confident about the race.

I credit the excitement and confidence to the way my training is going and how I have been preparing physically and emotionally. I’ve been working hard this off-season to get ready for the upcoming triathlon season, but I have not made it my life, and that’s helped me so much mentally.

I am at a place in my life where I just go with what is thrown at me, or what each day presents to me. Every day I strive to live it to its fullest and enjoy each moment and experience. I used to get wound up and stressed about things so easily, but now, I don’t, especially if it’s something out of my control. Someone once told me, “control the controllables.” If something happens beyond my control, I’ve learned to try and not to let it cause me any undue stress or anxiety.

As much as I love training, I don’t get stressed if I miss a workout or have to shorten one. I have priorities in my life that are much more important than triathlon. While training for triathlons has helped me be in the best physical and mental shape in my life, it has not, and will not, become my life. There are people I’d rather be with and things I’d rather do than sell my soul to triathlon. I love it, but it’s not worth sacrificing those who are special to me.

Being in shape physically and emotionally is extremely important to me. Triathlon helps make exercise and fitness fun, but it is not everything to me, only a part of my everything and a part of what helps make me happy.

Last year, I embraced the “why not” attitude as a way to live my life. Making decisions to try new experiences with this attitude has allowed me to engage and commit more fully to the people and things that are the priorities in my life.

I continue to live my life this way, but I’ve recently added an additional mantra to it, “being all in.”

A few months ago, a friend of mine used the phrase of being all in and it has really stuck with me since I read her words. Being all in is not just being committed to something, but giving that something every ounce of my heart, soul and energy I have to see it through. Being all in means not letting outside distractions, or things that are less important, affect how I honor my commitments to those I love, myself and my priorities.

Being an all-in kind of person is just who I am. When I make commitments or set a goals, I want to do everything I can to achieve them. There are people and things, however, that take precedence over some goals and commitments I may make. I will always be all in for the people I love, my faith and my work. Those are the priorities in my life that I will give my all to each day, no matter what I may have to give up to do so.

I am registered, excited, committed and yes, all in for the 2018 IRONMAN 70.3 race in Raleigh and for the training required to achieve my triathlon goals. I will, however, easily move all out if triathlon ever starts to get in the way of my commitments to the ones I love and the priorities in my life.

I am blessed in so many ways imaginable. I strive to live each day being all in for those blessings I have been given!

Have a great weekend.