Comparison kills joy. Period. I know this, yet over the past several months, i have fallen into this cycle of constantly comparing my performance to other athletes around me. I’m not sure if it’s because there are no races to evaluate my own performance or improvement or exactly why I am doing something i know is so ridiculous. Why in the world would I compare myself to a 30 year old guy in the pool? Or a guy who is a foot and a half taller then me and can run an 8 minute mile? OK – any guy…… Or women who are naturally-gifted athletes, much younger than me, who have been doing this their whole lives?
My story is different. So there is no comparing what I do to what anyone else does. My end game is my goal, my journey. It’s very personal and I will achieve it. And it doesn’t matter if other people look at me and think she’s too short, she’s too old, she’s not a natural athlete, she’s not strong enough, she’s not thin enough. Not one thing anyone else thinks about me matters one bit. The only thing that matters is I keep focused on my goal and I work my ass off to get there. Because the one thing I know for a FACT (because I am old) is that HARD WORK trumps natural ability every.single.time.
While I rarely miss a workout, one thing I have fallen into is not giving 100% to each one. So going to focus on challenging myself to do give each workout my full attention.
I am going to ditch posting my workouts on social media and stop looking at other people’s data online. I am going to worry about my data, my goals and my dreams. Don’t get me wrong, I wish everyone else the very best. I just don’t want to feel bad about myself because I am not doing what they are doing. This realization has also made me think that I may have made some people feel bad with my posts. And that makes me feel awful and terrible. So from now on, I am going to blog about my journey, but leave social media for puppy posts.
I have five years to reach my ultimate goal. Seems like a long time but I know it really isn’t. I am going to take advantage of every day I have on this journey. If there is anything that is not bringing me joy on this journey or is making me feel bad about myself or forcing me to compare myself to other people, I am going to eliminate it. So I have some changes to make. And that’s OK. Sometimes you just have to say “this doesn’t work for me” and move on.
Time for some real change. And I’m ready. I can. I will. End of Story.
ironcheryl2018 
Well this hit the spot!
Good job writing this Cheryl, take guts to be honest about how you feel as an athlete for all to see, how many of us have the balls to actually say all of this about ourselves for the world to read? I think the ones that say too much things like “I don’t give a shit” “I do me” “I rarely check my FB hahah” are the ones that compare themselves the most!!!!
This also can come I believe because there are people out there that loves to label others, like you belong in this box, and stay there!
I say to those, you are more insecure than anyone, even more than me, me who you think so little about! They made you feel inadequate, not enough and contribute to the awful and destructive behavior of showing or posting only the AWESOME you when in reality you are feeling super sad and lonely inside, contribute to you not wanting to be you, no showing any sign of weakness not even to your own teammates, oh but they will clap for you when you do a mediocre performance (ONLY) no worries 😂
I will recommend you to watch “The price of Gold” in HBO 👌🏼
The BS is at olympics levels too my friend!!
Take care of your body and your mental health too, is very important, in the end the only ppl for sure that will be happy to see you succeed is your husband, kids and dogs!!
Love,
Gaby Coates
LikeLike
Thank you Gaby – you are so amazing in so many ways!!!!!!!
LikeLike