I like to think I'm a make-it-happen kind of gal when it comes to most things.
COLLEGE
Life kind of happened before I could figure out where I was going. It wasn't until later that I took the initiative to get my college education. I supposed nobody was going to give it to me. Could I be a young wife and mother, work full time and go to college full time? I could! I did! I went on to graduate Magna Cum Laude.
MORE CHILDREN
My doctor still laughs about how she knows better than to tell me I can't do something. She figured out I will do my best to prove you wrong. (She swears she is putting me in her book of memoirs.) I took the initiative to find out why I wasn't having successful pregnancies and if I could be fixed. This required time, procedures, and multiple surgeries to diagnose and then correct the problem. With the help of an amazing and persistent doctor, it finally worked! We were blessed with two more kids, only two years apart, in my mid thirties. Wow. That was a crazy time.
COMPANY WOES
When one door closes, you pry the window open yourself. After getting the news my division was closing, I took the initiative to start it over, from scratch, with another parent company! Huh, and when that institution decided to close it 5 years later, I did it again with a private investor. It is now more successful than it's ever been. Take that, corporate decision makers.
HALF MARATHON
I was running mostly on the treadmill with an occasional outdoor weekend run with the dog. But, I wanted something more. I was intrigued by the endurance required of a long distance run. I did not know one runner, except for my sister living way across the country. Although there would be nobody nearby to advise and encourage me, I took the initiative and registered for a half marathon. There was a lot of hard work and plenty of trial and error. (I laugh when I think of the bananas and granola bars I took to the park because I read somewhere I should refuel. Ha Ha.) It paid off and I was rewarded with one of the best days ever!
MARATHON
After 36 half marathons, it was (is) time to prove to myself I could run a marathon! I took the initiative and signed up for the full. And with a confusion of circumstances, I signed up for another one. This story to be continued...
No, I can't say that I take the bull by the horns in everything single thing that I do. Being completely honest -- when fatigue sets in, I tend to be a quite a bit less make-it-happen and wish someone else would do it for me. And then something very important or interesting comes along and I once again realize... It Will Not Happen Unless You Make It Happen!
Do you always make it happen?
Give me some examples of initiative in your life!
I'm linking up with Deb @ Deb Runs for the Wednesday Word.
Please visit Deb and the other participating bloggers. It's fun!
You are quite the go getter! Wow! 36 Half Marathons that is impressive. Hope to have that many under my belt some day. It always bring me great joy when you accomplish something, especially when others doubted you. Sounds like you have proven that. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteI hope I will hit 40 by year end...but I don't know with the Big Daddy I'm running in October. I admit, I take secret pleasure in proving somebody wrong.
DeleteI love it! Another type A like myself...I wish I could be more laid back. But I do get stuff done...
ReplyDeleteWhat's the old saying? If you want something done, do it yourself. I think women runners could solve all of the world's problems...don't you?
DeleteWe are a lot alike.
ReplyDeleteYes, we are! I've got to get back to racing, though.
DeleteAWESOME!! And sending you good luck with your full training!
ReplyDeleteWell, thank you very much! I admit, it's not been easy in this southern summer.
DeleteYes you definitely take initiative! Fun to learn more about you and amazing that you went back to school after kids and then had more kids. You rock mama!
ReplyDeleteOh, thanks. You do what you have to do to accomplish your goals.
DeleteOh my so many similarities here. Except I sat in the wrong, dead end job for way too long back in the day. I ran shorter distances for years before I pulled the trigger on a half. But I signed up for my first half and full marathons on the same day. The rest is history.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE that you signed up for a half and a full on the same day. Talk about initiative!!!
DeleteWell, I started my own business. I can't say it was terribly successful, but it did give us more spending money. Until I stopped 13 yrs later, seriously burned out.
ReplyDeleteMy running story is kind of similar to yours, minus the marathons. I just don't want to run 6 hrs (it would seriously take me that long) and quite frankly I'm really afraid I'd injure myself, since I've managed to that just training for halfs.
There's the blog, of course.
Searching for our first dog. :)
I really had to get over that fear of injury. It held be back for a couple of years from committing to the full. I still worry about not getting injured before I can get to Chicago.
DeleteI love your examples of making things happen! It's so easy to sit back and let things roll to you, but I think your accomplishments mean much more if you make them move.
ReplyDeleteThere is no better feeling than to look back and say...holy crap I did that!
Delete36 half marathons?! Holy buckets! That takes a lot of initiative!
ReplyDeleteOr, someone who has a screw loose! LOL. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteI love this and learn something new about you each time! I knew you took a great deal of pride in your professional work, now I know the meaning behind it :) I also can't wait to be a part of the continued story! Have a great day my friend! :)
ReplyDeleteYep, we are going to finish that story together. No matter the outcome, it will be awesome.
DeleteROCK ON, HoHo! You are so inspirational!!! I love hearing about how you handled all of these challenges in your life, especially with the children and with your division closing. Way to take the bull by the horns!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Emily! You are so sweet. I've always lived by the old saying...if you want something done, do it yourself.
DeleteI love the way you broke this down into all aspects of your life; and wow, have you accomplished some great things!
ReplyDeleteThanks for linking up!
Thanks, Deb. Love the linkup.
DeleteGreat post ! Taking initiative is so important. You never know where it will take you. My biggest initiatives have been changing jobs, buying real estate, moving to France.... I think we just need to accept that things don't always work out, and that's ok too. Half the fun is trying.
ReplyDeleteYou've taken some very big initiatives yourself! You are right, not everything works out like you planned. But, you learn from that and move on.
Delete36 half marathons is awesome!! I think I need to take the initiative and finally do a full marathon. Hoping next year when I'm all settled after the move.
ReplyDeleteYes, you have a big move in your future. How exciting though! I think it would be a great time to try a full once you are settled.
DeleteWOW! I know you're a hard worker when it ones to running, but hearing how you work just as hard when it comes to your health, work, and so much more is so inspiring! I can't wait to hear the next chapter in this story--the marathon chapter!
ReplyDeleteThanks. I'm busy writing that chapter and let me tell you, some of the paragraphs are tough stuff! LOL.
DeleteI'm so tired today, I'm go-getting absolutely nothing! LOL. I think you don't give yourself enough credit. It takes lots of initiative to get out there and run in this crazy summertime weather plus workout like you do.
ReplyDeleteWith all of those successes because you took the initiative, I don't see where you won't be successful with the full marathon! Great example of making it happen :)
ReplyDeleteI certainly hope for success, which for my first one is to finish strong and enjoy the experience.
DeleteWow, nicely done HoHo...on all accounts! And wait...you already signed up for your second full marathon?!?! I have NOT taken the initiative on a full marathon yet, that's for sure!
ReplyDeleteYes I did. I thought I didn't get into Chicago and my consolation was signing up for Disney. Well, come to find out -- I DID get into Chicago. Oh my!
DeleteIt's so true, things won't happen unless we make them happen!
ReplyDeleteI was talking to the girls in my youth group today about just this. It was a goal conversation, but tried to explain to them, very little will just fall in your lap. So how important it is, to just go out there and create the life you want, by taking the initiative to do what is needed to have that life. Trying to tell 16-18 year old girls they can have anything they want, but it takes work, probably doesn't sink into most of them, but I still have hope that a few will take it to heart and be better because of it.
Great post, and I am really looking forward to your upcoming marathon goal!!!
I think it is difficult to make these points to young girls. So many have not had to really work to have anything yet or even had to take control of their own lives. But hopefully the foundation has been laid by caring people, like you!
DeleteGreat examples! 36 Half Marathons, wow! Keep up the great work!
ReplyDeleteOh, thanks. I'm going to see how that translates to full marathons. I may go back to the half distance!
Delete