Smith Family Ice Cream Scoop: Excuses, Excuses

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Excuses, Excuses

I think most of us are really really good at something. And that something is making excuses. Usually when it comes to running, I'm a pretty stick-to-it kind of girl. Early on Saturday mornings (my usual long run day) my legs start tingling, and I just HAVE to get out of bed and run. As much as I'd like to sleep in, my legs won't let me. On other days I get out there and run, because I know the guilt just ain't worth it. I'll think about it all day if I don't, so I just have to go do it.

Which brings us here...to my land of running excuses that I have been living in lately... It's getting darker earlier, I am afraid of the dogs in the dark, Mr. Blue Eyes doesn't want me running alone in the dark, I have to teach violin lessons early so I can't run when the sun does come up, it's too hot by the time I'm done with violin lessons, I'm hungry at dinnertime, so I have to eat, and I can't run on a full stomach after dinner, plus I'm just worn out and tired in the evenings, so I just can't..... anyway, I'm making myself sick just listening to my own excuses in my head. Other runners work, other runners eat, other runners' suns go up and down every day, other runners live in hot places, and they RUN.

So, here is to the end of my excuses. I'm finding a way, and I'm running 4 days a week, come hell or high water. You all are my witnesses.

1 comment:

Ian said...: OK. I'm going to check back to see if you're keeping good on your promise to run 4 days a week, however if you need good excuses I have a ton that I use all the time. ;); 11:07 AM

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To Do Today

* Embrace this day with an enthusiastic welcome, no matter how it looks. The covenant with God to which you are true enables you to become enlightened by him, and nothing is impossible for you.
* When you are physically sick, tired, or in despair, steer your thoughts away from yourself and direct them, in gratitude and love, toward God.
* In your life there have to be challenges. They will either bring you closer to God and therefore make you stronger, or they can destroy you. But you make the decision of which road you take.
* First and foremost, you are a spirit child of God. If you neglect to feed your spirit, you will reap unhappiness. Don't permit anything to detract you from this awareness.
* You cannot communicate with God unless you have first sacrificed your self-oriented natural man and have brought yourself into the lower levels of meekness, to become acceptable for the Light of Christ.
* Put all frustrations, hurt feelings, and grumblings into the perspective of your eternal hope. Light will flow into your soul.
* Pause to ponder the suffering Christ felt in the Garden of Gethsemane. In the awareness of the depth of gratitude for him, you appreciate every opportunity to show your love for him by diligently serving in his Church.
* God knows that you are not perfect. As you suffer about your imperfections, he will give you comfort and suggestions of where to improve.
* God knows better than you what you need. He always attempts to speak to you. Listen, and follow the uncomfortable suggestions that he makes to us--everything will fall into its place.
* Avoid any fear like your worst enemy, but magnify your fear about the consequences of sin.
* When you cannot love someone, look into that person's eyes long enough to find the hidden rudiments of the child of God in him.
* Never judge anyone. When you accept this, you will be freed. In the case of your own children or subordinates, where you have the responsibility to judge, help them to become their own judges.
* If someone hurts you so much that your feelings seem to choke you, forgive and you will be free again.
* Avoid at all cost any pessimistic, negative, or criticizing thoughts. If you cannot cut them out, they will do you harm. On the road toward salvation, let questions arise but never doubts. If something is wrong, God will give you clarity but never doubts.
* Avoid rush and haste and uncontrolled words. Divine light develops in places of peace and quiet. Be aware of that as you enter places of worship.
* Be not so much concerned about what you do, but do what you do with all your heart, might, and strength. In thoroughness is satisfaction.
* You want to be good and to do good. That is commendable. But the greatest achievement that can be reached in our lives is to be under the complete influence of the Holy Ghost. Then he will teach us what is really good and necessary to do.
* The pain of sacrifice lasts only one moment. It is the fear of the pain of sacrifice that makes you hesitate to do it.
* Be grateful for every opportunity to serve. It helps you more than those you serve.
* And finally, when you are compelled to give up something or when things that are dear to you are withdrawn from you, know that this is your lesson to be learned right now. But know also that, as you are learning this lesson, God wants to give you something better.

from "Unleashing the Dormant Spirit by F. Enzio Busche