The power of saying "I CAN"!!

We have all heard the story of the little train that said I think I can I think I can! How much does it really sink in. For years I have had it in my head that I am not a runner and I could never be a runner. However, when I met Don and he ran my interest was tweaked. Partly because it's something that he really enjoys and has always wanted a partner to run with. Anyway, I think since I have been exercising my mind set has changed a little bit. I slowly have started to run with him but it's been pretty sporadic. One day we went four miles but it was walking and running. The farthest I had run without stopping up until recently was about 3/4 of a mile. That's nothing but I had it in my head that I could never run a mile. Like I said I think it all started to change since I have been going to the gym. It was just a decision that I made that I wanted exercise to be a regular part of my life. I definately want to loose weight but more then that I want to be healthy and I want Brody to have an example of regular exercise so that hopefully he will grow up enjoying exercising. Anyway, I have worked hard for months now and have built up to an hour on the elliptical. It feels good. So one night Don and I decided to run. It felt like it was out of no where and I ran a mile and half. Wheew!! I went over a mile. It was like I jumped the I couldn't hurdle and went above and beyond. The next day I went two miles. Since then it keeps going up. Today I went 4 miles. :) WAAHOOOO!!! I don't think I have ever thought that I could run 4 miles. My body feels strong. Regardless of running I am learning something that is greater then exercise. I fully understand what it does to you when you tell yourself you can't do something. You won't ever be able to because you have already decided that you can't. In some ways I have chosen to exercise and I do it on my own. I go to the gym almost everyday without someone telling me to go. I choose to exercise for a full hour and give it my all, I don't quit because I have made a decision to make it a regular part of my life. In some ways I think that choosing to exercise and persevering is harding then choosing God everyday. Then allowing God to be in control of my life, my heart, my mind, and my soul. I realize that saying I CAN and I WILL is all I need to do and yet some how I make it way harder then it needs to be. This has really impacted me spiritually and it all started by choosing to exercise. Isn't it amazing the way God teaches us things about ourselves and about him. If anyone of you is out there and there is something that you feel you need to do but you keep telling yourself you can't, try and figure out why! Stop saying I can't and just try. I think you will realize YOU CAN do more then you expected. ;)

PS. In the big picture I also don't think I exercise on my own. I think that God gave me the desire so that he could teach me something greater.