I’ve never really called myself a runner before because I don’t run fast, I'm not built like a runner. I see myself as short and stocky. I don’t have nice long lean legs. I only started learning how to run when I was 26. I ran around the playground as a young child but I never won any running events. I was usually more successful in the throwing type of events for track and field. However, once in grade 11 when I didn’t qualify for a diskus event but still wanted to be part of the track and field team, I signed up to run in the 1500 metre race. I think I had two weeks to practice and prepare. Needless to say, I got last place in the race but I improved my time! I really had no excuse for not practicing because I literally had a track and field racetrack behind my home.
Unfortunately, when you’re not motivated, it’s just not gonna happen.
I started running more seriously and consistently exercising in 2010 just after my 2nd son was born in hopes of losing the baby weight but I have really grown to really love exercising. For me personally, exercising is much easier than eating healthy. Unfortunately, I only lose weight if I eat healthy food in addition to exercising. To learn to love running, I had to keep telling my brain, “we are going to love running and like it at all costs.” I have only signed up for two races and the most recent one was in 2017 when I decided to sign up for a half marathon. After eight months of training, I was up to running 16 kilometres when I started experiencing knee pain. At that point in time, I was too stubborn and cheap to pay extra money for physiotherapy to help with my training because I thought I couldn't "afford" the physiotherapy. Eventually, I dropped down from the half marathon to the 10 kilometre race instead. I’m still proud of myself for participating in that race. Even though, I’m not a big fan of the cost involved in these races, I still wanted to cross it off my bucket list.
Since then, I have learned a lot about how to keep my hips and knees relatively healthy in order to run frequently and occasionally I still have injuries. But, after keeping a log of my running over the past six months and seeing that I am consistently running approximately 50 kilometres per month…
I have finally decided to finally call myself a runner.
(https://runningmybestlife.com/call-yourself-a-runner-now/)
It is still weird to verbalize this. I feel like an impostor because I only run for exercise and usually only run 5 kilometres per day. Not enough to run in half marathons or ultra-marathons. I run for alone time to listen to a podcast, to encourage my family to stay fit, to keep myself in shape and prevent the grim reaper from catching me early in life, and to prevent my body from seizing up when I hit my 80's. I run for many reasons. I feel uncomfortable saying it but I realize that I need to own it and not in an obnoxious way but instead this is part of my identity. I intentionally desire to be healthy and enjoy it. I especially love summertime running. I might be partially biased because my running trail has an awesome view in my opinion. I get to run alongside the local golf course. I get to soak up the early morning beauty and smell the fragrance of the variety of flowers around me and hear the melody of birds singing and see the dedication of the early morning golfers. I like to see the scenery changing, watching the leaves grow, and the poplar fuzz coat the ground like snow.
What does running have to do with budgeting?
The point of my running story relates to not just budgeting but to everything in life. When you have a goal or a purpose, like becoming better at budgeting or running then you will.
If you want to be good with budgeting and wise with your money then you will be! You got this! When you desire to be better at something than you will be!
When you research it, and you work on wise tasks to propel yourself towards your goal and you seek out accountability and observe others that you strive to be like, then gradually you DO improve. If you don’t think that you are good with math or money, you've made financial mistakes in the past and you’ve consistently told yourself this LIE then you need to STOP! And turn that attitude into one of positivity because it is vital to your Financial Health to start becoming good with YOUR money and vital to reaching your Financial Goals.
There are financial coaches out there, use them! Even just to get you started until you can stand on your own two feet with confidence. It’s like when I finally went to physiotherapy. It’s embarrassing. The physiotherapist had to look at my butt and my hips to get a good look at my pain point. Sometimes, having a financial coach look at your personal finances can also be embarrassing but the reward is definitely greater than the pain. When I thought that I couldn't "afford" physiotherapy, I was wrong, it was all about my perspective of what I could afford. I regret not going to physiotherapy sooner and maybe I could have finished that half marathon instead of dropping down to the 10 km race. Nowadays, I usually have to go for physiotherapy “tune ups” at least twice a year. Sometimes you need that "tune up" with your finances when you are entering into a new season or new territory and need coaching advice about how to navigate this new season! It's OK to ask for help when you are an adult. We are constantly learning new skills in life and we don't always get them right the first time. We need help. We need coaches. Look at the professional athletes, they all have coaches and health professionals there to help them succeed. There must be something to this coaching and mentoring process, if the professionals are even doing it.
"help people do what they already want to to do"
Now Go and Be Intentional with your Budget!
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